Sequence Series Sikhokele Ntutu

Shane started collecting music in primary school. Both parents were musicians so music was constantly playing at home. Record collecting started in 1985, R&B, Smooth Jazz, Disco & 12 inch Singles. In 1991 he landed a residency at a Night club in Downtown Jozi called Harlem Shuffle. The first taste of a big crowd moving to his every beat. Life took a different turn in the following years with Shane venturing into a trade as a mechanic. Work took on the main focus & being a Dj took a back seat. In early 2000’s the music bug bit in a Deep way, the 12 inch vinyl collecting resumed & in no time Shane was back in it. Purely through his unique taste in music he developed relationships with Dj’s at the record stores he frequented. These relationships lead to bookings for gigs around Jozi from Soweto, Kagiso, Voslorus, Mamelodi & Tembisa. A pub called Hippo’s Place in Tembisa proved to be the top venue he enjoyed playing at, Friday, Saturday & Monday nights. Shane then became a regular on lineups at a weekly event called Delectable Sundaes at Shikisha in Newton Jozi. He found himself playing alongside brilliant local & international Dj’s...the likes of Harrel Salcoh boss of then Soul Candi, Clive Bean, Dj Ady, Lino, Dj Claude, Dj Duzy, Dj Fingers, Kid Fonque, Vinny Davinci, Dacapo, Oscar P & Charles Webster to name a few. In the past 10 years Shane has assumed the role as mentor to a number of young up & coming Dj’s & producers alike. Guiding & sharing his vast experience & knowledge of the dance music scene. In 2009 Shane met up with a band Meat The Veggies from Kagiso which seen life long relationships formed with Tiko. Bongani & Sol Stringer. This collaboration gave birth to his Stage name “ Soulcentric”. Collaborations which followed brought Deep house & Afro Kitchen Jazz together to create something special & unique which captured the attention of many music lovers. To this day their collaborative sets remain in demand. Look out for upcoming live colabs with Sol Stringer & Tiko. Shane has also become a regular feature on Bestbeatstv platform. Check out his most recent live mix on Bestbeatstv page on Facebook. In 2018 Shane was offered a weekly show on a Canadian online radio station Deep Roast Radio, which he called Deeper Horizons. 2 hour mixes were the standard this seen him attain international recognition for his unique track selection, sequencing & mixing. He now provides mixes for numerous podcasts around the globe.

**Mahal (Japan, RHR/ Deep Explorer/ Inner Shift) Interview**

@SK: Hi Mahal hope you well, welcome to In Sequence Series. We are very privileged to have you here and a great honor to have and hear from you about your music. Firstly could you tell us about yourself and the music, because you produce some great deep house.. when and how did you realize you have this love for production?

@Mahal: My name is Tetsuharu Shimohira a.k.a MAHAL, my artist name which came from my nickname MAHAL. ( I used to use this name on SoundCloud because it looks like a little sequret and interesting. no deep reason, I come from a Japanese old city NARA and lived in KOUENJI TOKYO and moved to YOKOHAMA where I now reside at. I have had a special feeling in music from childhood. I used to escape from reality by music. I think it saved me and made me. My childhood dream was being a DJ. My dream is coming true. In my school days I was member of the noise band “MU” That was first time my music release out from my head.

@SK: From where you’re from in Japan, there’s quite some good deep house producers like your Kez YM, Kuniyuki Takahashi and so on. How have you ensured you keep up the quality standards of such production?

@Mahal: I think Japanese people are good at delicate work but almost a lot of people don’t make music. There are many DJs in Japan but producer not so many. In Tokyo especially 90s there were so many DJs. Now the scene is shortened. So there were so many second-hand cheap good records in Tokyo before nowadays vinyl revival, But I think that Japanese club scene is not mature and there are many problems.

@SK: You’ve released with some big names like Lady Blacktronika, HVL and now recently Brad Peterson, Dubbyman & Rai Scott. How has it been like to work with such people?

@Mahal: It was much of a very dreamy time for me… 15 years ago I dropped out noise band and started to DJ. And soon I found Dubbyman’s record and played it many times. This Great Japanese senior DJ I like often played Dubbymans tracks. At that time I couldn’t imagine that in the future my record release would be from his label. Also it is interesting that there is common point on Spanish and Japanese roots music.

@SK: Your new EP release on Inner shift music and Deep explorer, how did it work to release with 2 great names on a joint venture?

@Mahal: I’ve received Many messages, reactions and props from world wide. Especially from South Africa. I have a big interest in South Africa. I believe that music can change people and world better. They proved that, And the messages from legendary artists. Original followers of these labels are very cool and kind. I’m very happy to join in these great labels.

@SK: With record sales, would you say artists get any kind of value from their contributions and efforts in terms of sustaining themselves going forward and even making more music for us?

@Mahal: Yes. I really appreciate props from worldwide. Before pandemic, I received some DJ offers from EU also.

@SK: How do you think the current generation is keeping up with the culture of collecting records and producers releasing on vinyl compared to the new digital world, are the young ones moving away or they’re still keeping it together and better nowadays?

@Mahal: Current generation can choose both degital and vinyl. I used to choose vinyls for usability and it’s sound especially dance music, kick and bass is different. But when I listen ambient music at home, sometimes I choose degital. For ambient music, it is good for me that has no record noise. The current generation will choose by contents.

@SK: With the current Pandemic going on, how are you and other artists affected?

@Mahal: We will realize something really important. Power of love is getting strong around me. I really thank my beautiful people. Beautiful people around me always treat me right. I think that now is the turning point for humans. Human race is

exclusive mix by Msyco and a short interview.

Exclusive mix by Moliti 'Double Flexx' and a short interview.