Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
dj tiralatest news & developments
In his element: Amapiano producer Mthuthuzeli Gift Khoza, better known as De Mthuda, in his natural habitat – manning the decks at Universal Music’s headquarters in Rosebank. (Photo: Sabelo Mkhabela)
ACE OF SPADES

Meet De Mthuda, the landlord of amapiano

Amapiano super producer De Mthuda is shaping the soundtrack of summer, but prefers to speak through his music, not to journalists, except in this case …

  • Sabelo Mkhabela
10 min read
Glamour’s gone: Mampintsha and Babes Wodumo. (Veli Nhlapo/Gallo Images/Sowetan)
BABES WODUMO

Life imitates art for Babes Wodumo

Babes Wodumo’s live Instagram post appears to be her latest attempt to break free from what many are characterising as a suffocating relationship

  • Aaisha Dadi Patel
  • Kwanele Sosibo
4 min read
Ambitious: DJ Lag has come a long way from the boy who learnt to mix as an apprentice in Clermont and is on a mission to explore the transmutability of gqom to other sounds around the world. Photo: Jono Ferreira
DISTRUCTION BOYZ

DJ Lag: The gqom whisperer comes home

DJ Lag’s mission is still to explore the transmutability of gqom to other sounds around the world.

  • Kwanele Sosibo
7 min read
New wave: Emo Kid is an IT geek from KwaZulu-Natal who is problematising the move towards a mainstream sound in gqom. Photo: Tommaso Cassinis x Crudo Volta
DJ TIRA

The muted thump of Gqom Nation

The genre is morphing from its roots in house into a mash-up, as artists try new ways to get released

  • Kwanele Sosibo
6 min read
Unstoppable momentum: Artchild says the beat dictates what her body should do — and it makes some pretty amazing moves.
DISTRUCTION BOYZ

Expanding gqom’s visual palette

Dancer Artchild’s colourful presence in music videos is just the first step in her expanding career

  • Kwanele Sosibo
7 min read
Bhizer
DJ TIRA

Bhizer adds more ingredients to his gqom mix

Will gqom’s precarious position in the kwaito food chain get the better of Bhizer?

  • Kwanele Sosibo
5 min read