Music
Julz Da DeeJay on producing his gqom sound
Find out how he achieves the raw, dark and minimal tones that define Durban's sound
Duban based gqom producer Julz Da Deejay has been making beats since 2011 influenced by the sounds of corner house. Now signed to Gqom Oh!, a label aimed at showcasing the sounds of Durban, his track recently appeared on the labels’ The Sound of Durban compilation. We talked to him about his take on gqom and what goes into producing the sound.
There’s a very DIY approach to gqom, can you describe your setup?
My setup is a computer connected to a bunch of speakers and sub speaker, which allows me to hear the tracks, the beats perfectly. When I’m creating bass and stuff it’s easier to listen. So I just use my own computer and speakers and my own creativity when creating a track. I use my own beats. I use my own samples. I use my own vocals as well.
Do you share tips and techniques with other producers?
I have other friends that also create music so when we come together and meetup we usually share ideas. If someone has a better idea than mine then we’ll use it. Both ways we learn something out of it. Step by step we work together to create the beat. Using Fruity Loops like everything else, practice makes perfect. It takes you a while to become familiar with the software but it allows you freedom of choice in terms of production. We just learn stuff from each other.
How do you approach vocals, are they recorded or sampled?
Most of the time gqom doesn’t really need vocals but things are changing. I usually record using a cellular microphone or other people send me vocals and I edit it using Virtual DJ, Fruity Loops or Audacitiy. So I’ll just edit up the vocals and add them to the beat that I have. It doesn’t really have to be with a microphone because the sound actually amps up when you play it along with the gqom so you edit everything as you do in the track. You don’t really need a microphone, but it does come in handy.
Julz Da DeeJay
© Tommaso Cassinis courtesy of Crudo Volta
Compared to other local genres such as kwaito or deep house this is very raw and minimal…
Yeah it’s actually a very dark sound. You don’t really need too many elements in a gqom track. The nice thing about it. And you don’t need a recurring pattern. It’s very broken up. It’s very unique actually.
What do you think are some important elements of gqom?
I’ll speak about what I use. I completely oppose the use of cut samples in my music. Too many producers use common sliced beats and samples in their gqom tracks. I agree with the use of plugins. I don’t like to overcrowd a song using drum kits and cut samples and screams, but a simple ‘Hey, Hey, Hey!’ could help you, gives a person something to sing along to. I use plugins like Purity, Nexus, Hypersonic, Cytrus, Harmony and stuff like that. I don’t like to use too many elements in my tracks mostly synthesizers and vocals. It’s very dark. People use brass leads, wind chimes, drum kits, pianos, guitars, detuned saws. It’s very creative.
Check out Red Bull Music Academy's mini-documentary series H∆SHTAG$ Season II for a look at what happens after a homebrewed music scene or movement becomes a global phenomenon. Featuring gqom, health goth, kawaii and grime – see what’s happened since you last paid attention and where they’re going next.