House Music In South Africa

The latest in Resident Advisor’s Real Scenes series, Johannesburg, takes a look at house music in South Africa:

RA tells the remarkable story of the South African city’s thriving house scene.
South Africans are the biggest consumers of house music in the world, and Johannesburg is the beating heart of their scene. If you’re looking for proof, there is no need to visit a nightclub. In turning on a television, listening to the radio or walking down the street, it’s clear that a 4/4 pulse is the metronome of everyday life. The city’s preferred sound—vocal-led, percussive, melodic—is largely at odds with what’s popular in other international markets; this coupled with cripplingly slow internet speeds goes someway to explaining SA’s absence from the global house music conversation.

via residentadvisor

17 thoughts on “House Music In South Africa

  1. Talking about SA…Have you ever heard Die antwoord?. If so.what are you thoughts about them?. I”m still don’t know if I like the cheesy use of rave sounds or not…what about you?

    1. I really LOVE it. The point about using rave sounds is not for all their style or music production of course. Once you go beyond the spookiness of their look (marketing) the music production is very good (taste is personal of course)

    2. I saw them live, and that night I swear the sky was falling on us and we were dancing in mud to the ankles.
      That was AMAZING!!! They gave us so much energy all 3 of them(dj, and 2 mc’s) I’ll remember it for the rest of my life, pure tribal vibe!

  2. Very moving and inspiring and a really great post.
    Its very nice n’ sweet to see people turning knobs to make music, to help, and educate other than just pointlessly comparing bitching and trolling…
    Very, very refreshing Synthtopia.

    More like this please.

  3. Yes. More, please. Seeing how positive they are, and how inspired they are to make music was really moving. Perspective and priorities. Thanks!

  4. This was such a great watch ! It was wonderful to see how motivated these people are. And not giving up once you “make it”. LOVE IT !!

  5. I’m at a loss for words. As someone with South African blood, this is truly inspirational.

    I love the vibe and the emotions those guys had going for them, just happy to be able to make music that makes others happy.

    Amazing, I think I’m going to go make some music now. This is just too inspiring.

  6. Well worth the watch.

    I love documentary shorts like this, it always serves to help me re evaluate what it is I strive for and why.

    Also it has put South Africa as somewhere that I would really like to play before I die.

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