From Polokwane to Paris: Darque Keeps the World and the Turntables Spinning
Mzansi is a nation that loves dancing and groove life as much as it enjoys the music that sparks those mechanical movements. From “Sister Bethina” to modern-day hits such as “Banomoya” and “Izolo”, dance and house music have been the soundtrack for many memorable days at the beach and eventful evenings at the nightclubs. This is a reality DJ and record producer Darque is privy to (and has been for years) and is a programmer of.
Born and bred in Limpopo as Molapo Malatji, Darque began his love affair with house and dance music in his teens, earning his stripes by putting his head down and teaching himself the art of constructing beats. It wasn’t until 2012 that he struck gold through scoring songwriting and production credits for Garth and G-Rel’s “Inhliziyo Yami”, and from then on, the gears of ascension were in motion.
And through the years, he built his rep as a record producer, and the momentum culminated in a string of solo releases: This Is Africa (2016), Must Be Africa (2020), and, most recently, More Life (2023). With the projects came songs with the likes of acclaimed singers Locnville, Ayanda Jiya, and Sino Msolo, as well as Grammy-winning artists Black Coffee and Zakes Bantwini. And through it all, Darque expressed gratitude for not only being a part of something bigger than himself but also being a catalyst in the growth of dance and house music, pushing the frontier to international realms.
“The dance scene in South Africa has always been big but has now grown to be known internationally, especially with a sub-genre like amapiano being so dominant in the music space! The music industry in SA is becoming more serious and professional and is now feeding a lot of young people who have now found and established roles within the setup. As Darque, I bring a different vibe and perspective into the whole music scene! My sound, image and the way I do things just set me apart from everyone,” said Darque.
While still on the topic of growing the genre, Darque merged forces with like-minded visionaries in their respective fields on More Life. He linked up with BET Award-winning Afropop star Sjava for “Mngani” and fiery amapiano duo Murumba Pitch on “O Khokho”. The music video for the latter went on to amass over a hundred thousand views on YouTube.
For him, making music has been more about diversifying his skill set by working with musical artisans from different lanes. A mission he was pleased to have fulfilled with the two singles.
“Both artists are phenomenal, and I just wanted to be different by having musicians in a far different space, and it worked out well. It’s been long overdue. I hit up Sjava a few years ago, and by the grace of God, it’s only happening now, at the right time! A beautiful experience to make music with someone as experienced as he is! As for Murumba Pitch, they are undeniably among the best talents in the country right now, and as young as they are, I learnt a lot from them,” he said about working with Sjava and Murumba.
The journey, though, doesn’t end behind the decks for him.
Alongside his trusted industry mate DJ Shimza, Darque has been hands-on in the elevation of Kunye, a fast-growing platform for young and local DJs and record producers to pool their talents for the enjoyment of the people. Dubbed “South Africa’s Coachella in-the-making” by its founding father Shimza, Kunye has been at the forefront of promoting and connecting homegrown acts and exporting Mzansi’s rich and eclectic musical heritage. Kunye has reached global heights, touching Parisian soil and British territory, to name a few.
Using Kunye as a template, Darque expressed interest in cultivating U’R, a similar platform he co-founded. Overseeing its growth, he mentioned that one of his hopes was to see it rise to be among the same stars as its older sister event.
“We wanted to create a platform where we could showcase what we do without any red tape! Most importantly, a platform where the unheard could be heard and where we were bringing music to the people. The vision is to build U’R into a world-touring dance festival too, like Kunye, adding the much-needed dopeness to our genre and style!” he said about the growth and development of U’R.
As young as U’R is, the platform has established a respectable fingerprint, sitting on a comfortable forty thousand-plus followership on Instagram, boasting the swag of having hosted Black Motion, Oscar Mbo, and Culoe De Song.
Prospects for Darque seem to be bright, boisterous, and buzzing like a busy day when he’s slated for a Kunye set. Whether he’s spreading feel-good vibes behind the turntables or as an events curator, it’s an undisputed fact that Malatji is an exemplary brother of his time, making strides worth noting for future generations while building on the legacy of those that paved the way for him.
