Though their stint was short-lived, Liquideep left an indelible mark on South Africa’s house scene with their soulful melodic jams. The duo formed in 2007 when U.S.-born Jonathan ‘Ziyon’ Hamilton, intrigued by SA’s famous house scene, asked Thabo ‘Ryzor’ Shokgolo (born in Alexandra) to teach him how to DJ in exchange for producer training. The 2009 breakout hit, “Fairytale”, from their debut album, Oscillations, combined expressive songwriting and angelic vocals with deep-house production; this soulful sensibility also carried their megahit “Alone” from 2010’s Fabrics of the Heart. In 2011, Liquideep proved their creativity extended beyond soothingly amorous singles when they collaborated with hip-hop’s Teargas and HHP on the motivational anthem “Born For This”. But fans can only wonder what other tricks the duo were waiting to unleash; a few months after the release of Welcome Aboard (2013), Liquideep announced their split, citing divergent future goals. While Ryzor remained under the radar, Ziyon went on to have a successful solo career as a vocalist, songwriter and producer.