For Kolè, it was the genre’s unique balance of percolating beats and dark synths permeating them; a sense of the uncanny on the dancefloor. “I always feel a weird, powerful ‘high’ energy when I play it. It’s a perfect mixture of deep and dark atmospheres with African rhythms. Gqom is on a boundary between conceptual music and ‘body’ music (not mental music). It’s tribal and urban at the same time. It’s incredible how much you can dance to it with those feelings and emotions and without a 4/4 kick.” FACT Mag
“The apocalyptic sound of gqom is something extraordinary,” Kolè told The FADER over email. “It’s mostly produced by young teenagers from the suburbs and townships, and mainly is tied to a specific dance called bhenga. It encompasses many genres and at the same time is unique. In each track you can feel the dark side of electronic music, hip hop and deep tribal African vibrations. You can especially feel the troubled history of South Africa. It’s riot music.” The FADER
“INSMIX011 By Kolè will take you on a journey of deep bass and booming kicks, painting a picture of the Durban sound. We expect Gqom to keep growing in popularity and for this forthcoming EP from GQOM OH to play a major part of it.” INSERT
“This is thunderous prime time music that avoids dropping into a full on club piece, rather drifting into a mesmeric yet rather unsettling plateau” HYPONIK
Named “Nan Kolè” after a trip to Liberia, means “bright man” in the Kpelle language.
Working for many years with contemporary African music and cultural exchange, he is also the resident DJ for “Afrodisia l’Afrique a Rome” and runs the Soupu Music label.
DJ/producer Nan Kolè recently set up the label Gqom Oh! to further spread this fast-growing genre Called Gqom to share that new sounds coming out of Durban, South Africa.
[Gqom - Sgubhu - Afro House]
07-02-16 CTM Festival, Berlin
13-02-16 SONIDO CLASSICS, Elita Milano
19-02-16 CA LOOSE Preview, Ravenna
18-03-16 C2C Absolut, Ex-Dogana Roma
22-07-16 MILHOES DE FESTA, Porto
29-07-16 ORTIGIA SOUND SYSTEM FESTIVAL
24-09-16 Kode_1 BARI
06-04-17 DESIGN WEEK FESTIVAL (Biko Club, MILANO)
27-05-17 SPRING ATTITUDE FESTIVAL, Roma
12-06-17 FONDAZIONE GUGGENHEIM, Venezia
booking@afrodisia.it
