Afro-rave and Afro-bass stars Rey Sapienz, Toya Delazy, Catu Diosis and Hagan discuss making the music faster so it feels like a workout, what traditional elements make their way into their music, and the importance of dancing while creating.
Rey Sapienz is a producer from the DRC, who relocated to Kampala in Uganda during the Congolese civil war. He started rapping at the age 12, and was the first person ever to spit his lyrics over the traditional Congolese soukous, earning him the nickname El Rey Mago – the wise king. He released his debut album Na Zala Zala in collaboration with the Congo Techno Ensemble earlier this year.
Toya Delazy is a London-based South African Afro-rave artist. Heavily influenced by her Zulu heritage, she blends contemporary electronic sounds with the deep percussion and energetic grooves that underpin Zulu culture.
Ugandan DJ and producer Catu Diosis has been making waves across Kampala’s underground electronic scene since the age of 16. She blends everything from Afro-house to techno, gqom to kuduro, and is guaranteed to get everyone on the dancefloor.
Hagan is a London-based Afro-bass artist known for his dark, energetic sound. His music is heavily rooted in Ghanaian culture, blending African rhythms and dynamic percussion with the gritty sounds of UK garage and grime.