Award-winning producer and Deep House tastemaker Fatso 98 officially returns with the third instalment of his acclaimed EP series, THE XO EFFECT III, arriving May 29th across all major digital streaming platforms.
Widely recognised for his signature producer tag “Sho” and his emotionally rich, Soulful and Deep House sound, Fatso 98 continues to cement himself as one of the genre’s most consistent and innovative voices. With THE XO EFFECT III, the producer once again delivers a deeply intentional body of work rooted in creative freedom, musical honesty, and the evolving spirit of South African Deep House culture.
Originally launched in 2023, THE XO EFFECT (pronounced “The Sure Effect”) was created as a personal and artistic platform allowing Fatso 98 to fully express himself outside the pressures of industry expectations and algorithm-driven trends. Following the strong reception of the first two instalments, the series has now grown into an anticipated annual release that continues to showcase the producer’s ability to transform every collaboration into an immersive Deep House experience.
The six-track project features an exciting lineup of collaborators including Warren Justin, MDU aka TRP, Salvation Pablo, LebtoniQ, and recurring collaborators Deep Essentials — the Tembisa-based duo who once again appear on the project through the standout collaboration “Ovi” (short for “Obvious”). Together, the featured artists contribute to a project that feels deeply rooted in community, experimentation, and musical chemistry.
THE XO EFFECT III arrives as a statement about artistic integrity within South Africa’s electronic music landscape. Through layered production, soulful textures, and immersive grooves, Fatso 98 uses the project to encourage musicians to remain authentic to themselves creatively, without sacrificing their artistry in pursuit of numbers or trends.
As Deep House continues to evolve globally, Fatso 98 remains committed to preserving the emotional depth and storytelling that have long defined the genre, while simultaneously pushing it into new sonic territory.
