MBABANE – The winter chill did little to deter deep house enthusiasts as the iconic 23:28 Lounge hosted another successful edition of Rhythm & Groove on Friday night, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere that kept patrons immersed in soulful sounds until the early hours.
Presented by NewLife Entertainment, the popular deep house session drew a full house, with music lovers packing the venue to enjoy a carefully curated line-up of local talent before South African headliner Dustinho delivered a memorable performance.
The evening opened with performances from some of Eswatini’s respected selectors, including DJ Cup, Mixmash, Fantacy, DJ Cybos, Keisy and Slotta. Their seamless sets set the tone for the night, building anticipation ahead of the headline act.
At 11pm, South African deep house DJ and producer Dustinho, born Tshepang Ntsala, took over the decks, treating the audience to his signature soulful sound. His performance proved to be one of the standout moments of the evening as he effortlessly guided patrons through a captivating musical journey that complemented the intimate setting.
Speaking after the event, organiser and DJ Welcome Zama Maseko, popularly known as DJ Cup, expressed satisfaction with the turnout and overall success of the session.
“It went well. The seats were full, and it was great. It was a cosy session, although it was cold. We are happy with how everything came together, and having Dustinho take over the decks at 11pm was definitely one of the highlights of the night,” he said.
Dustinho has established himself as one of South Africa’s respected deep house DJs, producers and songwriters. A self-taught artist who began DJing at the age of 14, he gained wider recognition after veteran house music pioneer Vinny Da Vinci introduced his remixes to broader audiences by incorporating them into his sets.
Since then, he has built an impressive catalogue, releasing projects such as For The Time Being EP, Once Every Blue Moon and Keep It Healthy, while collaborating with acclaimed artists including Chymamusique, Tebza De SouL and Brian Temba.
His appearance at Rhythm & Groove further cemented the event’s growing reputation as one of Mbabane’s premier platforms for deep house music, successfully blending South African star power with Eswatini’s vibrant local DJ talent.
For NewLife Entertainment, the successful staging of another Rhythm & Groove edition reinforces the brand’s commitment to delivering quality, intimate music experiences while contributing to the continued growth of Eswatini’s nightlife and deep house culture.
With a packed venue, an energetic crowd and a headline performance that lived up to expectations, the latest Rhythm & Groove session demonstrated that even the coldest winter evening could not dampen the spirit of true deep house lovers.
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