Mix of the Week: Distruction Boyz
You won’t be able to sit still to this hypnotic mix from Durban based DJ’s and Producers Distruction Boyz.
Over the last few weeks, Mix of the Week has been highlighting not just excellent mixes, but also providing snapshots of music scenes around the globe. This week we turn to the Gqom scene in Durban, South Africa, which is slowly making waves around the world.
Gqom is an offshoot of South African house music characterised by broken beats and tom-tom drum rolls layered with dark synths, chants and whistles. Popularised in share taxis and township bars, it’s a dark and hypnotic style that lies in contrast to the soulful sounds typical of South African house.
Beginning as an underground movement, it has risen into the mainstream of South Africa. Simultaneously to its rise in South Africa it started to get noticed by a host of European DJ’s and soon found it’s ways onto the dancefloors of London and beyond. The last few years have seen Gqom releases on labels such as Goon Club Allstars, Hypermedium and a label dedicated entirely to Gqom music called Gqom Oh!
Distruction Boyz are one of the artists responsible for Gqom’s increasing mainstream acceptance in South Africa. Their track “Shut up and Groove” has racked up millions of plays and their debut was the first Gqom album to be certified Gold in South Africa. This mix, recorded for Sónar Festival, features the aforementioned track as well as a their Gqom version of “Mans Not Hot.” It could be a little bit of a tough listen at first for those not acquainted with Gqom, but it’s rhythms quickly draw you in, impossible to sit still to.
If an hour of Gqom isn’t enough also worth checking out is the Gqom Oh! Rinse FM takeover featuring almost 13 hours of music.
