Music

We House Sundays: Champions of Deep House

We find out how the event got started and how it evolved to what it is today

Written by Themba Kriger

4 min readPublished on 12.12.2019 · 06:52 UTC

We House Sundays is an authentic music event that began in the heart of South Africa’s Mother City – Cape Town. Combining food, music & friends, WHS celebrates the true essence of House Music and brings together our uniquely diverse cultures, connecting artists, music lovers & dancers from around the globe. With the upcoming WHS Festival taking place from the 14th - 16th of December we caught up with the crew to find out how it all got started, how the event has evolved over the years and what some of their highlights have been thus far.

When was the idea for WHS born and what was the catalyst?

Initially, WHS was a collaboration between Soul Revolution, Nomadic Music and Clarity Audio. The event was born out of a need to find a home for Deep House lovers in a time when the club/festival scene in CT was predominantly focused on Techno and EDM sounds. We hoped to create a space focused on House Music culture. Equally important to the music, we wanted to provide an environment where our diverse followings could socialise, eat together and really connect with each other. Colorbox Studios was the perfect fit.

When and where was the first event held? Who was on the lineup?

The first event was held in 2015, at ColorBox Studios, with Soul Revolution (Cassiem Latief, Leighton Moody, Erefaan Pearce) and Nomadic Music (Dix Lawrence and Floyd Lavine).

How has the event evolved over the years?

The event evolved organically, over time, with like-minded individuals finding out about the event and dancers finding a place that they could call home. It is honestly the amazing people that make up the vibe and energy that WHS has become known for.

What is the core concept of the event and how do you try and make it distinct from other events?

The core concept is Love & Unity through Music. We believe that music is a powerful medium that has the ability to bring people together as one and breaking down the many barriers that divide our beautifully diverse country.

What have been some highlights and challenges over the last few years?

Some of the most rewarding highlights are seeing people, who were once complete strangers, become friends and family over time and seeing the look of pure excitement when dancers walk through the door and see each other. From an artist’s perspective, it has been amazing creating a platform for local and international DJs to truly express themselves musically to an open-minded and appreciative crowd.

Regarding the challenges, no matter how good your intentions are, the club/entertainment industry comes with a host of difficult obstacles. You have to constantly learn and adapt through trial and error. There’s a lot of unseen risks and challenges faced but we are fortunate to have an amazing WHS following that has supported the movement through the highs and lows.

What are some ideas you still want to execute?

The weekend camping experience, this December, is something we have been dreaming about since our first outdoor event “Under the Tree”, back in 2016, and it’s finally coming into fruition, thanks to our Sunday People, and the sponsors involved who help make it all possible.

We also have an exciting new project that we are ready to launch in January 2020. We can’t wait to reveal it all soon!

What can attendees expect at the upcoming WHS?

Expect that same beautiful energy that WHS is known for whilst basking in the summer sun and dancing under the stars with loved ones. Let’s say goodbye to 2019 while indulging in a sonic journey, exploring the many different textures of the music that we all love…House Music all weekend long!

The We House Sundays Festival is taking place from the 14th - 16th of December. Visit wehousesundays.co.za for more info and to buy tickets.

Music