ctrl NIGHTS: OMAGOQA [ZA], Cocco Mio, Maglad & Mitici 18+

Omagoqa is a trio coming from Durban, South Africa, very active in the past two years throughout Europe, with Sonar, NTS Radio, Rinse UK, Refuge Radio & Kiosk Radio being part of their tour.

They are the gqom new wave pioneers, set to elevate traditional dance music with some indigenous influences. With a sound deeply rooted in Zulu drums, Omagoqa bring a unique blend of kwaito (South African sub-genre of house music) and gqom and add a modern twist to it.

Actually, they coined their version of gqom as ‘uThayela’ & ‘Is’qinsi’. These translate into “a rougher sound with a harder bassline that it is made for clubs” and an infusion of electronic sounds generally associated with foreign based Electronica type musical elements.Raw, rhythm, repetition – these are the quintessential qualities of a gqom track.

Pan-African Music described them as “having the freshest, rawest, sound around”.

Cocco Mio [RO] – alias of Andreea Ilisăi – is an illustrator and graphic designer based in Bucharest, Romania, with a big passion for both art and sound. You’ll find her where these two worlds collide, in love with the hypnotic side of every genre among the electronics. Digging and music are a part of her creative process since forever, blending drawing with listening sessions as a lifestyle.