- An energetic take on gqom with big basslines and even bigger drops that could help push the underground genre into the mainstream.
- Gqom has been a fixture on the global underground for some years now, and like any dynamic art form, it's spawned a few sub-strains. There's a vocal-heavy, slowed-down take known as gqom 2.0 by the genre's kingpin DJ Lag, a UK variant combining techno and garage courtesy of Manchester artist Avernian and a guttural, industrial version by Menzi, among others. Durban-based trio Omagoqa, who have previously collaborated with DJ Lag, offer a rendition that's harder and faster, replete with surging basslines and formidable drops. Dubbed uThayela, which translates to “corrugated iron," this full-throttle interpretation is likely to appeal to clubgoers in commercial settings where classic gqom has yet to fully take over unlike its dance music cousin, amapiano.
Half of these tracks appeared on the 2022 EP Back To Ebombeni, and now Johannesburg label The Other Side Recordings has released a "deluxe" version with five new cuts. Described as a rougher take on traditional gqom, uThayela sets the stage for further gqom crossover in mainstream clubs. Conventional gqom is minimal—weighty, stuttering drums and menacing synths do all the talking—but Omagoqa accelerates the tempo. Their productions also pack a lot more details like fat bass whomps, mounting build-ups and strategic, suspenseful pauses, all held together by a catchy producer tag. The result is an action-packed, peak-time sound that careens through highs and troughs like Durban's iconic ibombas (minibus taxis), a key inspiration for the trio.
On "Batman," explosive synths and polyrhythmic drums crescendo and recede throughout the track with gqom's heaving beats in the background. "J A T I," one of the five new cuts, features a poignant introduction of tribal drums and bird calls before the arrival of intense snare rolls and staggered vocals, which instantly lift the vibe. Sometimes, Omagoqa's arrangements get a little too crowded—there's so much going on in "Gida" that it's hard to appreciate the layered drums.
Omagoqa's brand of gqom gives dancers a straightforward formula to turn up to. It retains the original sound's hypnotic mood but adds EDM-ready climaxes. There are generally few chances for a DIY subculture to get on a bigger stage, and this brash take on gqom could be a tipping point for one of South Africa's most exciting musical exports.
Tracklist01. Not For Kids (feat. ZVRI)
02. 4th Wave
03. Space Gqom feat. Dee Traits
04. Batman feat. L2 & Nota
05. Speed Limit feat. General C'mamane
06. Uzamcolo
07. J A T I (Interlude)
08. Suka feat. Da Lego
09. GWY feat. Chumza
10. Gida (Outro)
11. Back To Ebombeni