Okzharp Explained

Okzharp
Birth Name:Gervase Gordon
Birth Place:Cape Town, South Africa
Origin:South Africa
Instrument:Piano, keyboard, vocals
Years Active:2015–present
Label:Hyperdub

Gervase Gordon better known as, OKZharp is a South African music producer and DJ.

Early life and career

Alongside his previous partners in the UK-based trio, LV, he also helped produce the single "Boomslang" which featured rapper Okmalumkoolkat in 2010 and was released through Hyperdub.

For his own productions, he has frequently collaborated with performance artist and singer Manthe Ribane. In 2015, he released his debut EP, Dumella 113 featuring Manthe Ribane which was released through Hyperdub.[1]

In early 2016, he released his second EP Gated with Samrai[2] and in that same year, he released his third EP Tell Your Vision which featured Manthe Ribane and was released through Hyperdub.[3] The EP was written and recorded in London over two weeks in January 2016.[4]

In 2018, he release his first debut R&B-influenced album, Closer Apart, featuring singer Manthe Ribane and was released Hyperdub.[5] The title of the album referenced their long-distance musical relationship, with Ribane being based in South Africa and OKZharp living in Britain. Explaining his album:

Most of the music came out of headphones moments in hotel rooms, planes and airports in the brief periods of time that we spent together, mainly on tour, in Paris and later Vienna.[6]

In 2019, he collaborated with DJ Lag on the gqom EP, Steam Rooms.[7] The pair had formulated plans to record the album while touring together and the resulting EP was named after the clubs of Durban gave rise to the gqom sound.[8]

He has played on BBC Radio 6 Music's guest mix.[9] He has headlined at Afropunk Festival[10] and has also featured at music festivals and venues such as the Glastonbury Festival[11] and the Africa Centre Summer Festival in United Kingdom.[12]

Discography

Collaborative albums & EPs

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Album details
Dumella 113
Gated EP
Tell Your Vision
Closer Apart
Steam Rooms EP

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Watch: Okzharp To Release Debut 12" Through Hyperdub. theransomnote.com. 11 April 2021.
  2. Web site: OKZHARP & SAMRAI - GATED EP. djmag.com. 11 April 2021.
  3. Web site: OKZharp & Manthe Ribane - Tell Your Vision EP. Resident Advisor. 11 April 2021.
  4. Web site: Okzharp & Manthe Ribane, Tell Your Vision. hyperdub.net. 11 April 2021.
  5. Web site: Okzharp & Manthe Ribane: Closer Apart. pitchfork.com. 11 April 2021.
  6. Web site: Better together, and closer. Mail & Guardian. 11 April 2021.
  7. Web site: DJ Lag and OKzharp’s ‘Steam Rooms’ EP is Gqom Like You’ve Never Heard Before. bubblegumclub.co.za. 11 April 2021.
  8. Web site: DJ Lag & OKZharp - Steam Rooms EP. exclaim.ca. 11 April 2021.
  9. Web site: Okzharp guest mix. BBC. 11 April 2021.
  10. Web site: Afropunk is heading to its spiritual home - Africa. iol.co.za. 11 April 2021.
  11. Web site: Hidden gems on the 2019 Glastonbury lineup. The Guardian. 11 April 2021.
  12. Web site: Africa Centre Summer Festival: Wiyaala Excites Fans. modernghana.com. 11 April 2021.