DJ Lag is the South African Gqom artist making an Impact

For a lot of people over here, Gqom Oh! Is the extent of what they know about gqom but there’s so much more going on.

People tend to say, "Good music are those tracks that make you travel without moving" which is more like deep house. Gqom Oh! represents a lot of the underground producers in Durban and has put them out on a compilation – spread their sound internationally. The compilation and all the mixes Malumz Kolè did helps a lot of spreading the sound of Gqom and the Gqom movement and culture all over the world. Gqom is growing. It’s starting to be played on radio, even the big names from South Africa are starting to get into Gqom like Babes Wodumo, Okmalumkoolkat, Cassper Nyovest and Big Nuz. Babes Wodumo is working with the Gqom producers and becoming very popular and Okmalumkoolkat has worked with Gqom a lot in the last two years. He started playing Gqom in London and people loved it then other DJs started listening to the music. I think that’s why it got loved so fast.

I saw that you said that people used to be annoyed when Gqom would get played – what do you think changed?

Yes because of how it used to be at the start. It makes me laugh because people started realising that gqom is being played on the UK radio and clubs, and then they started to love it. Most people just dance to a track if other people love it in my point of view. It’s weird; maybe they didn’t think it could make it this far. I actually don't mind because in the end I've had those who felt and heard me pumping some Gqom music and that's when those who weren't dancing start understanding and appreciating it and the space given to them to physically dance to it.

In Durban, do people find Gqom through the internet or word of mouth or through your parties?

Yes we distributed Gqom via internet social media and people usually made house parties/street bashes where new house music or the latest Gqom tracks were being played and from them after it would travel through word of mouth. Some were after parties, some are just house parties done when schools are closing. A lot of high school students were the ones who supported Gqom a lot but now everyone likes Gqom.

The 'DJ Lag' EP is out now

Aurora Mitchell is a freelance journalist based in London. Follow her on Twitter