By Jeremy de Tolly
There’s so much hot dance music and hip hop emanating from South Africa at the moment. Rhythmically, SA tracks have something that the rest of the world doesn’t. What you’ll hear here are cutting edge beats – it’s African music’s time to really start shining on the world stage.
DJ Black Coffee is producing superlative house music and killing it worldwide, getting major respect from international critics and publications. His Mixmag set was described by them as “Technically, musically and spiritually the most amazing Mixmag Live we’ve ever had…surely?”. That’s an incredible accolade. Check out “We Dance Again”, featuring Nakhane Toure.
OKmulumkoolkat is one of South Africa’s most rated rappers, and recently put out Free 100kMaCassette. This tune is cheeky – there’s no kick drums or high hats – basically the whole song swings around his killer flow.
Gqom is a hard, dark minimal house genre that’s been emerging from Durban youth for the last few years and is making waves amongst on the ground in South Africa, and in the UK (but far away from South African radio or TV). Check out Rudeboyz
Nozinja is the emperor of the Shangaan electro movement. It’s a really unusual genre of electronica – he’s turning semi-traditional South African Shangaan music, into crazy beautiful electronica. Many song are at least as fast as drum and bass, so IT’S GOT A VIBE. He’s touring the world at the moment and released an album on Warp Records this year.
__________________________________________
Jeremy de Tolly is the lead singer of South African afrotronica band Original Swimming Party
He’s also a composer and producer at We Love Jam Studios, and the ex lead singer of South African indie rock band The Dirty Skirts.
Win free tickets to Original Swimming Party’s show at The Assembly on Friday night (13th November) Check Facebook event for copy and event details – https://www.facebook.com/events/1661132397477394/).
