Hailing from Jeffreys Bay in South Africa’s Eastern Cape and now based in Johannesburg, DJ and producer Jay Music‘s club-focused sound threads together amapiano, gqom, gqom tech and flashes of EDM, drawing on early influences from jazz, hip-hop, kwaito and house. He first broke through with 2022’s Trip Sessions, followed by the DeepGroove, Vol. 1 EP in 2023 and the collaborative East Kings project with CalebX in 2025.
Most recently, his track Midnight Session featured on TraTraTrax’s Shannen SP-curated Mzansi Bass compilation – the first release in the label’s new sampler series, which captured the ever-evolving spectrum of South African bass music and its growing influence worldwide. As Shannen told Crack: “Jay Music is pushing the boundaries of bass music with a sound that resonates across UK bass just as much as it does the South African diaspora scene.”
His Crack Mix is made for when the party’s in full swing. Get stuck in.
Who: Jay Music.
Where: I’m from Eastern Cape, Jeffreys Bay. Now based in Johannesburg.
What: I work mostly on amapiano fused with gqom elements, as well as some EDM elements. It all depends on the project and idea.
When: This mix is for peak party time. I’d say around midnight – you’re with friends, drinks are out, the vibes are nice, you’re having a great time with this mix banging from a car system.
Why: Music has been a part of my life since I can remember. As much as I feel like I’m sometimes disconnected from music, before the day is over, it reminds me why I love it so much. No day goes past without thinking about, making, or listening to music. It’s the feeling it creates that keeps me inspired.
Read next: Decoding… Mzansi Bass
Crack Mix 615: Jay Music
Crack Mix 615: Jay Music
Hailing from Jeffreys Bay in South Africa’s Eastern Cape and now based in Johannesburg, DJ and producer Jay Music‘s club-focused sound threads together amapiano, gqom, gqom tech and flashes of EDM, drawing on early influences from jazz, hip-hop, kwaito and house. He first broke through with 2022’s Trip Sessions, followed by the DeepGroove, Vol. 1 EP in 2023 and the collaborative East Kings project with CalebX in 2025.
Most recently, his track Midnight Session featured on TraTraTrax’s Shannen SP-curated Mzansi Bass compilation – the first release in the label’s new sampler series, which captured the ever-evolving spectrum of South African bass music and its growing influence worldwide. As Shannen told Crack: “Jay Music is pushing the boundaries of bass music with a sound that resonates across UK bass just as much as it does the South African diaspora scene.”
His Crack Mix is made for when the party’s in full swing. Get stuck in.
Who: Jay Music.
Where: I’m from Eastern Cape, Jeffreys Bay. Now based in Johannesburg.
What: I work mostly on amapiano fused with gqom elements, as well as some EDM elements. It all depends on the project and idea.
When: This mix is for peak party time. I’d say around midnight – you’re with friends, drinks are out, the vibes are nice, you’re having a great time with this mix banging from a car system.
Why: Music has been a part of my life since I can remember. As much as I feel like I’m sometimes disconnected from music, before the day is over, it reminds me why I love it so much. No day goes past without thinking about, making, or listening to music. It’s the feeling it creates that keeps me inspired.
