If you know your deep house, chances are you know “Love We Have.” Originally released by French producer Alexkid in 2003, the record found a particularly devoted following in South Africa, becoming a firm favourite on dancefloors and remaining in DJ bags long after its initial release.
Twenty-three years later, “Love We Have” is back in rotation.
Today, Stay True Sounds releases Love We Have (Kudbeu & Kana Remix), pairing Alexkid’s much-loved original with a new interpretation from South African producers Kudbeu and Kana.
Kudbeu is the new alias of South African producer Pierre Johnson, who joins forces with longtime collaborator Simeon, working as Kana. Together, they approach the record with a light touch: preserving the instantly recognisable vocal at its centre while opening up the production around it. Warmer, deeper and more spacious, their remix carries the spirit of the original without trying to recreate it.
Ahead of its official release, the remix has already begun finding its way back onto South African dancefloors. Early DJ support, radio play and growing online attention have given the track an organic second life, introducing it to new listeners while reconnecting with those who remember what made the original special.
It is a fitting return for a record whose relationship with South Africa has endured for more than two decades. Rather than simply revisiting a classic, Kudbeu and Kana bring “Love We Have” into the present, allowing a familiar vocal and melody to sit comfortably within the country’s contemporary deep house landscape.
And with Spring arriving in South Africa, the timing feels right for an old favourite to find its way back into rotation.
Love We Have (Kudbeu & Kana Remix) is out now via Stay True Sounds, alongside Alexkid’s original.
