There’s a special electricity that runs through South Africa’s dance music lineage. A current that links the spiritual pulse of Afro House with the raw minimalism of Gqom. Afro House in particular grew out of South Africa’s Deep House movement in the late 2000s, blending four-to-the-floor rhythms with traditional percussion, choral vocals and cultural influences. What started as a local, spiritually rooted sound quickly spread through Johannesburg, Durban and beyond, becoming a global force. Meanwhile, artists like Black Coffee, Culoe De Song and DJ Lag carried its grooves onto international dance floors.
DJ Lag, whose early experiments in Durban’s townships helped shift global club culture in the 2010s, is still going strong. Having just released his new mixtape Southside, he’s writing a new chapter in the history of Afro House, Gqom and African dance music. We asked DJ Lag to trace its journey, spotlighting the artists who shaped the sound and continue to push it forward. One thing is for sure: Afro House emits an instinctive sense of movement that speaks first to the body, then the dancefloor.
Rudeboyz SA – Gqom Spring Jams
Andile T and Massive Q make up RudeBoyz. They’re a South Africa-based production duo that played a huge role in bringing the sounds of Gqom from Durban’s townships to the world in the 2010s. Since 2015, RudeBoyz have released albums and singles that have brought Gqom forward. This mix is quintessential Gqom, ground zero for anyone hoping to catch up. Carrying intensely stomping energy, the short but certainly sweet mix captures the essence of the sound: heavy, raw and minimal. Who better to provide this slice than the originators of the genre?
Djoon – Culoe De Song @ Atmosphere, February 27th 2014
South African producer and DJ Culoe De Song has been transmitting Afro House to the masses his entire career. From his 2014 set at Paris’ Djoon, he took it back to basics with a hypnotic set stepped in four-to-the-floor greatness. With some African inflections added in for good measure. Culoe plays his own tracks as well as the very best from Cuebur, Freshlyground, Sister Pearl and more. Perfect to soundtrack the pre-party, party party, after party and everything in between.
Live From Las Vegas – Ape Drums @ Holy Ship Miami To Bahamas
Mexican-American DJ Ape Drums tries his hand at Afro House, blending it with bundles of edits, Techno, Minimal Prog and other sounds. The result is a true experience – on a cruise ship no less! – that explores the depth of House as an overarching sound. There are literally hundreds of corners and directions the sound has been taken, and Ape Drums’ mix is a testament to that amazing fact.
Quadriatic Sound – Enoo Napa
Siphiwe Mkhize, better known as Enoo Napa, has established himself in Durban as a must-watch House producer and remixer. Growing up as a dancer in the township of Umlazi, his passion for dance has since been a core element in his music. The proof is in the pudding with his soulful House mix. It merges skippy African rhythms with the depth of Deep House, effortlessly taking us through an hour of our lives.
Rudeboyz SA – August 2016 Mix
Rudeboyz are so nice we had to have them twice! Unleashing yet more drum-pounding vibrations, this mix hums with intoxicating basslines and hints of Tribal House. It makes it impossible to stand still and to not lose yourself in the rhythms, which works just fine for us!
Follow DJ Lag on Instagram and check out his new mixtape Southside, out now.