- Killer gqom bootlegs and originals, including an essential Everything But The Girl flip.
- DJ and producer duo Surreal Sessions found their love for dance music as teenagers growing up in the Cape Town suburb of Kuilsriver. From Yaadt—a nostalgic Cape Town dance sound relegated to old CD rips—to early '00s South African house, Surreal Sessions fold their earliest influences into a unique take on gqom. Dragon Package, their latest record, was made in a month of exchanging FL Studio files with South African collaborators Snev and Sambeazy. A mix of original tracks and recognisable bootlegs, it reflects how gqom is changing through its travels across South Africa and the global diaspora.
Gqom is so popular because of its explosive energy, whether you're hearing it in public transport across South Africa or on world-class club sound systems, and Dragon Package makes that power obvious even to a newcomer. The record begins with "Heartbeat Running Away," a window into gqom through electro and R&B, featuring rhythmic chants and ad libs in isiZulu. The duo pay tribute to the heavy sounds of early gqom with "Asphuzeni"—meaning "let's drink"—while juggling it with more progressive sounds, beat drops and sentimental storytelling. They indulge in nostalgia with "Missin (Bootleg)," a throbbing rework of Everything But The Girl's '90s hit "Missing," hinting at the bigger, more EDM-influenced sound that has been pushing gqom's boundaries.
Dragon Package speaks to how diverse the Durban-born sound has become as it has evolved and moved beyond its hometown. The duo toy with classic gqom beats with a distinct Cape Town flair, inspired by local pioneers like Mr Thela and Mshayi, and fueled by nostalgia for their childhoods. In this roughly 28-minute compilation of bootlegs and new cuts, Surreal Sessions use clips from old club bangers to create a stronger emotional and narrative element in their original, party-starting style of gqom music.
Tracklist01. Heartbeat Running
02. Rehab
03. Everybody's Fool (Bootleg)
04. Asphuzeni
05. Missin (Bootleg)
06. Broken Leg