admin(DJ Lag / Courtesy PR)
DJ Lag, the internationally acclaimed South African producer and DJ, is widely recognized as the pioneer of Gqom, a genre that has electrified the global dance music scene. Dubbed the “Gqom King,” he has solidified his legacy with chart-topping anthems like ‘Hade Boss’ and the multi-platinum ‘The Re-Up,’ which boasts over 20 million streams, alongside a standout collaboration with Beyoncé on her GRAMMY-winning album The Lion King: The Gift. His explosive live performances have lit up prestigious stages, including EDC Las Vegas, MTN Bushfire, Ultra South Africa, and Fabric (UK), showcasing his dominance in global dance music. His latest single, ‘Woza,’ released on June 6th and featuring rising vocalists Sykes and Sir Trill, fuses his signature Gqom energy with the emerging 3-Step sound and Afro Tech influences, marking an exciting evolution in his artistry.
In the following interview, DJ Lag opens up about the creation of ‘Woza’ and the innovative sonic path he’s carving forward.
How would you describe the energy of Gqom to someone who’s never heard it before?
GQOM is a broken beat, uptempo, dark genre from Durban, South Africa. It started in the townships, and we used to have dance crews around the city, and we’d compete every month end—that’s when GQOM started. Naked Boyz were the first to do a broken beat track, and it took over Durban. That’s when I also started producing the same style they were doing, but we didn’t realize we were starting a new sound, which is GQOM.
What’s been the most memorable moment from your recent performances at festivals like EDC Las Vegas or Ultra South Africa?
It is an amazing experience and achievement for me. I’ve been working hard since high school to get onto those stages; to finally see it happen, it’s like a dream.
How did the collaboration with Sykes and Sir Trill on ‘Woza’ come together in the studio?
It started with the beat. I made it last year and recorded Sir Trill in December, and I had the song unfinished for months, trying to think of who I could add to the song, and Sykes was the best choice.
What inspired you to blend 3-Step and Afro Tech into ‘Woza,’ and how do you feel it reflects your evolution as an artist?
I like to mix genres into one song. It makes it easy for everyone to enjoy it.
How do you balance staying true to your Gqom roots while exploring new sounds like in ‘Woza’?
GQOM is my baby. I can do 3-step, but you will still hear a GQOM influence in it. I won’t stop making it.
Growing up in Durban, what local influences shaped your sound and made you the “Gqom King”?
Growing up, I was listening to Durban kwaito like Big Nu, DJ Tira, and DJ Bongz. Those are the types of beats I used to make back then, but when I first heard the first GQOM song, I just felt connected to it, and I couldn’t stop trying to make it, and that was the sound that started my career.
Working with Beyoncé on The Lion King: The Gift must have been huge—how did that experience influence your approach to music?
The whole experience has been a dream. It started in 2018 December when Beyoncé came to South Africa for Global Citizen. When she started performing, she used one of my tracks, ‘Trip to New York’, and the next day, Kwasi, who works with Beyoncé, gave me a call and said he’s coming to Durban and wants to meet me. So we met, and I sent him some beats, and on those beats, they wanted drumming. Yes, I’ve worked with a lot of international artists such as Kelela, MIA, Okzarp, Moses Boyd, and Molskin, and most of my releases have been through international labels like Mad Decent/Good Enuff, Hyperdub, Goonclub, and Parametric in the States.
With Gqom’s global rise, how do you handle the pressure of representing South African music on stages like Glastonbury or DC10?
One thing about me is that I only play South African music. I’ve never tried to fit in anywhere.
If you could DJ a set anywhere in the world with no limits, where would you pick and what’s the vibe you’d bring?
I want to get a residency in Vegas. The type of sound I’m making right now will work perfectly, and that’s my next big dream for my career.
Stream ‘Woza’: