Presence - From The Hill (2025)

Producers Allan Nicoll (Kid Fonque) and Charles Webster brought together leading South African artists across the Jazz, Soul, 3-Step, and Deep House genres to create a collaborative album. Webster has a decades-long history of influencing the South African house scene, starting with his 1997 hit "Better Day" and continuing with 2000s remixes that set the blueprint for the local, bassy and soulful deep house sound. Many contemporary South African producers, such as WAPO Jije and FKA MASH, cite Webster's work as pivotal to their own careers. Nicoll, the founder of Stay True Sounds, curated the collaboration, serving as the A&R who connected Webster with the artists, many of whom grew up listening to his music. The project originated from a suggestion made to Webster during a lunch gathering with key figures of the scene in South Africa. Collaborators like Sio and Thabo Tonick expressed deep respect and excitement for working with Webster, hoping the album showcases the coming together of different generations and cultures. The artists are delighted with the finished result, which Nicoll believes sounds like a "cohesive story" and aims to shine a light on South Africa's thriving underground scene.

Tracklist:
1-1 Presence;Charles Webster;Thabo Tonick - Flame [7:48]
1-2 Presence;Charles Webster;Atmos Blaq - Free [7:03]
1-3 Presence;Charles Webster;Sive Msolo;Sakhe The Conquerer - Qiniseka [7:25]
1-4 Presence;Charles Webster;Daev Martian - Up The Hill [4:01]
1-5 Presence;Charles Webster;Daev Martian - From The Hill [3:40]
1-6 Presence;Charles Webster;EMAMKAY;Bokang Rematlapeng - Rain [5:04]
1-7 Presence;Charles Webster;Sio;Daev Martian - Film Me [3:44]
1-8 Presence;Charles Webster;Bokani Dyer - The Artist [5:45]
1-9 Presence;Charles Webster;Muzi - Bakulindele [3:30]
1-10 Presence;Charles Webster;El Payo;Girly Mbambani - A Journey [6:06]
1-11 Presence;Charles Webster;WAPO Jije - Part Two [7:13]
1-12 Presence;Charles Webster;China Charmeleon;Girly Mbambani - Many Blessings [7:05]
1-13 Presence;Charles Webster;FKA Mash - Soweto Sunrise [8:28]