TRACK AND VIDEO RELEASE DJ Lag collaborates with producer Sinjin Hawke on epic club track "Raptor"

Titled "Raptor", the instrumental represent Gqom's endless possibilities and manifestations across borders, bringing together DJ Lag's gift for creating a minimal, percussive-heavy, looping sound with Hawke's genius for relaying elements of grandeur and melody through his eclectic approach to producing.

"There's something special about the way Lag uses drums, they're so tough and epic yet minimal and spacious at the same time, has been a treat working with him," says Hawke of the collaboration.

"We made a bunch of songs together over the pandemic and 'Raptor' stood out as the most potent mix of our styles. It was initially composed as an instrumental for a vocalist, but we later found that it sounded great on its own and decided to release it on Lag's album as a club track."

Scenes of Lag and others engaged in near-anarchic moshpit dancing complete the compelling visual that makes clear the track's intention: to get people heaving, in unison, on the dancefloor. The video is directed by Johannesburg-based photographer and visual artist Travys Owen who brings his exceptional eye for high saturation and lighting to "Raptor". It is produced by Black Major's Sevi Spanoudi and styled by Tebogo Ribane, one-third of the Dear Ribane collective.

"Raptor" will be followed by "Destiny" – a song that brings DJ Lag back home through a powerful collaboration with South African singer songwriter, Amanda Black.

The global anticipation for the release of Meeting with the King has been stoked by DJ Lag's first DJ Mag cover and a multi-layered feature that traces his journey from its early days, the battles he's fought to earn his position as a "pioneer of the world-conquering South African dance music genre, gqom" and his deep-seated and ever-expanding creativity. He also recently completed a high-profile tour of Europe, including playing the Boiler Room Festival 2021 in London and Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE).

Meeting with the King will be released worldwide on February 18th 2022.