The rise of Gqom music has taken South Africa by storm. This Saturday, April 21, DJ Tira and Gqom kings Distruction Boyz, together with music streaming services JOOX, will be staging a strictly all Gqom concert at The Pavillion in Durban.
Dubbed the Gqom in Concert, the show is beyond just entertainment, according to DJ Tira, but about the promotion of the Durban genre, ‘by the people, for the people’.
DJ Tira also says the aim for the concert is to escalate the Gqom sound to an international level.
“We are putting together a show like Gqom in Concert because we want people to experience Gqom in its entirety and enjoy it in a nice safe environment, presenting a respectable event.
Well Protected... #GqomInConcert loading... #PositiveVibesOnly 😊 #NoRush
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“This (concert) is going to be one of the biggest events this year as it is very important and close to our hearts. This music represents who we are,” said DJ Tira.
Gqom music first became big in South Africa post Babes Wodumo's release of Wololo and the music scene has since seen multiple Gqom stars rise including the Dj’ing duo Distruction Boyz.
“The sound originates from KwaZulu-Natal townships and was originally done from back room studios in townships where you’ll find a guy with a small computer programming music. That is where the Gqom started and we want to celebrate that.”
With this in mind, the Durban kings hope to commercialise the sound and host such concerts for the masses on a regular.
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“You find other genres with international starslike Kendrick Lamar hosting massive hip hop concerts, we are also aiming to do the same, to showcase our music in other parts of the world. This is the beginning of big things,” adds DJ Tira.