Gqom is an onomatopoeic sound that a drum makes, which becomes easier to reference when creating a genre that is led by drumlines. Zulu native speakers usually use this word to describe a structure that is hollow that has been banged to create an internal combustion sound. An inside look at Gqom’s own origins: Gqom was birthed by…
Imvuselelo as a Gqom compilation has taken over speaker systems around the globe and has gone as far as gaining new traction that has assisted in its organisational structure. Durban-based Sabusa Records has agreed to marry the prestigious Dumbanengue, which hails from Geneva, Switzerland in collaborating on their endeavours as a unit. Their release of…
“I think of music — South African music in this case — as having a heartbeat. A heartbeat that tells us something of the places we have been, of our desires and our strifes, that tells us something of those we have met along the way and of the Edens we hope to one day…
Sanelisiwe Twisha, originally from Port Elizabeth and famously known as Moonchild Sanelly is occupying different states grounded in the specificity of the femme experience and she is not holding back. Moonchild Sanelly has proved herself to be a master of heterogeneity. She flows between various — even seemingly contrasting — musical genres like R&B, Pop,…
It has been over a decade since DJ Lag stepped onto the scene as one of the pioneers of the Gqom music genre. His rise to stardom was rapid – becoming a prominent DJ in South Africa and collaborating with some of the world’s biggest artists and brands, while getting the opportunity to travel through…
It has been an incredible three year run for Sho Madjozi. She became an international superstar performing on the biggest world stages, creating viral records, and collaborating with pop and rap royalty. And even though she has built her musical artistry to elevated status, Madjozi has not lost a sense of connection to or pride…
Gqom has undergone a massive transformation in the last ten years. The genre has swept dance floors across the country and made its mark on the international stage — and Griffit Vigo has been around to witness it all. As one of the standing pioneers, he was present when the sound was still burgeoning and…
While Amapiano runs supreme on South Africa’s dance floors and charts, Gqom is still an ever-present force in the country’s music landscape. The sound is global and several major international artists have experimented with the sound and collaborated with some of the most prominent figures of the genre. It is no longer is an exclusively…
Over the last couple of years the sounds of Amapiano have been a mainstay in the South African house scene. Its unbelievably smooth rhythms and elements of jazz and kwaito bringing a sense of familiarity ultimately making the genre accessible across the board to lovers of electronic music. With this saturated splash of Amapiano filling…
Unlike the rest of the country, Cape Town’s affinity for the sounds of AmaPiano is limited to a few pockets of the city and a handful of DJs. But, much like when its coastal cousin Gqom first appeared, the sound from Pretoria is slowly starting to gain popularity. Cape Town-based DJ and producer Thibo Tazz…
The last decade has seen golden era kwaito give way to the likes of new age, future- and Durban-kwaito as well as a growing number of genre-fluid articulations of the style along with artists who count kwaito as one of their many influences. These artists are at the forefront of evolving the genre; moving away…
Khetsiwe Morgan, better known as Doowap first broke onto the scene in 2012 as a DJ and quickly made a name for herself thanks to her fresh sound and high energy performances. The British-South African artist would go on to host shows on YFM, SABC1 and Berlin Community Radio and perform at events such as…
