South African Gqom Trio “OMAGOQA” Release Their New EP ‘Back To Emombeni’

South African trio Omagoqa share their hard-hitting new-wave gqom with the release of their deluxe EP ‘Back To Ebombeni’, out now via independent imprint ‘The Other Side Recordings’.

Hailing from Durban, Omagoqa are creating rugged and raw new wave gqom with the artistic intention to always let the masses feel the indigenous authenticity of sound. Their new music showcases a version of gqom coined as ‘uThayela’, which translates literally as “corrugated iron” and is used to describe “a rougher sound with a harder bassline that it is made for clubs”. Having performed at events like Boiler Room, their sound and energy already has a solid reputation in the South African music and nightlife scenes. Harnessing the hypnotic powers of heavy basslines and deep, rolling rhythms, they specialise in rugged, bass-heavy percussive gqom. Whether producing or mixing they emphasise the darker, rawer and rougher side of pan-African club music, though there’s plenty of hooks buried not far below the surface.

Made up of Andile Mazibuko (stage name Ma_A), Franco Makhathini (stage name KB) and Njabulo Sibiya (stage name Chase), the trio have been together for over 7 years and are a collaborative team that have worked alongside the likes of DJ Lag, Que DJ, Zvri, Jimbo Soundz, Cultivated Soulz, Scelo Gowane, Madanon & Newlandz. On the EP, they state: “Back to Ebombeni represents our core identity as a collective. The EP influenced by ‘ibomba’, a minibus taxi from Durban, KZN, synonymously known for playing high energy unreleased gqom music, is inspired by where we originally met, Ebombeni, and the music we were making at the time, in that environment. It is a showcase of Omagoqa’s roots and original hard hitting sounds.” of their trance-inducing sets.

You can listen HERE.