Soulful house curator The Real Phatsoul blends jazz, funk, and Afro-rhythms to make listeners truly feel the music. Chosen during Beatlab's inaugural submission round, his mix recently aired on Mutha FM’s Glitterball Grooves. Read on for the story behind his sound.
“Phatsoul” feels less like a DJ name and more like a philosophy. Where did it come from, and was there a moment that shifted music from something you loved listening to, into something you knew you needed to share with others?
The name comes from FatSoul. When I started DJing I was a bit obese, and in slang, when something is extraordinary we use the term ‘phat.’ While trying to make a name for myself in the DJ scene I discovered there was another guy using the same alias, so I modified it to The Real Phatsoul. And most definitely, I knew I had to share the groove with others.
Your sound draws from jazz, funk, and Afro-inspired rhythms woven into deep soulful house. How did those influences naturally find each other in your ears, and when you are in the moment behind the decks, what are you watching and feeling for that shapes what you play and when you play it?
I normally listen to the emotions of each track and try to match them by mood, climax, and vibe, while maintaining the same mood throughout. When I am behind the decks I observe how people are understanding the music.
Your sets are described as both healing and high-energy, two forces that can pull in opposite directions. How do you hold both in the same space without one overtaking the other?
That is actually an interesting question. I personally think that music with soul and jazz is very, very healing. It is all about maintaining the same mood and building a climax.
Beatlab’s first submission round and your mix gets selected. For a DJ whose whole identity is built around connecting people through feeling, what did it mean to have this community respond to your sound in that way? And hearing your mix on Mutha FM, what does that do for you as a DJ, and what would you say to a fellow Beatlab member who has the mix ready but has not yet taken the leap?
I was so excited to hear the mix on Mutha FM, and to get positive feedback was validation that the groove I groove is legit. All I can say to a fellow Beatlab member is just submit. You have nothing to lose but everything to gain.
Responses may have minor edits for clarity.
The Real Phatsoul has shared the dancefloor with some of South Africa’s most celebrated names including DJ Vinny Da Vinci, DJ Claude, and DJ Shimza, as well as international acts Vicky Lavender, Harrison Crump, Rocco, and Marissa Guzman.
The Real Phatsoul is proof that an authentic sound and the courage to put it out there are all it takes. Beatlab exists to give moments like his a platform, and the next round of submissions is open now.
If you have a mix that deserves to be heard, join the Beatlab community and submit. Your sound could be next.
