Creative extraordinaire DJ Doowap is nothing short of chameleon-like — an artist in constant motion, forever pushing boundaries and reinventing herself. Fearless in her approach, she’s unafraid to dive into the unknown, exploring uncharted sonic territory with an open heart and an ever-curious mind.
From hip-hop to gqom to electronica, the muso has consistently evolved, refusing to remain boxed in by any single genre. Her artistic journey is one of experimentation, curiosity and reinvention.
Now, in her ongoing quest to stay ahead of the curve and discover the next big sound to emerge from South Africa in the wake of amapiano, the global DJ and producer has found her rhythm in Bacardi — not simply to ride the wave, but to be a leading force in its global resurgence and push it onto the world stage.
DJ Doowap | SUPPLIED
Real name Khetsiwe Morgan, the club DJ’s latest single, “Seroba Ke Seh”, follows the success of her high-energy single “Shay’sthombe”. Both tracks are pulsating, dancefloor-ready bangers that have firmly positioned her as Mzansi’s rising Bacardi Babe.
“I am convinced the next big wave is Bacardi after amapiano… especially since so many of the amapiano elements already come from Bacardi,” she affirms.
But before embracing this sound, and true to her nature as a genre shapeshifter, Doowap took a significant pause in her career—stepping away for four years without releasing any new music—because her soul was hungry for something new that truly moved her.
“I just wasn’t feeling inspired at all,” she explains. “And while in that funk, in efforts to revive myself, in 2023 I created a full Kwaito album—I had the listening session, I did the cover art and everything—but deep down, I could feel that ‘this was not it’. I just wasn’t feeling it.”
DJ Doowap | SUPPLIED
That creative’s dissatisfaction became her turning point. She made the decision to stop drinking and smoking weed, determined to reconnect with the source of her creativity in a more intentional, focused way.
“It was through meditation, making music and meeting new people that I discovered the Bacardi sound. I could feel that it’s the next big thing. Sure it’s been bubbling under since 2013, but I don’t think it’s ever really gotten its time to shine,” she shares.
Speaking about her latest single, “Seroba Ke Seh” — a title drawn from Pretoria slang meaning “Here is this banger”— DJ Doowap reflects on the track’s organic creation process.
“I knew that to truly tap into the authenticity of the genre, I needed to collaborate with the genre’s pioneers, like Enny Man Da Guitar. From when we created the first song, the feeling I was searching for instantly manifested. I knew right then and there that I was on the right path.”
DJ Doowap | SUPPLIED
DJ Doowap adds that the song came together effortlessly.
“It flowed naturally — and that’s my mantra when it comes to making music: never force a song. Let it take its own form. This one was done in three hours. The track is high energy, just like me — and that’s something I had been missing in my previous songs. I couldn’t even DJ them before because they didn’t reflect me. These Bacardi tracks reflect who I am, through and through.”
With another Bacardi single in the works, DJ Doowap vows to continue her collaboration with Pretoria’s very own lyricist C.JayMnandi, further rooting her sound in the city where Bacardi was born.
DJ Doowap is also intentional about her position in the genre, too.
“I want to be at the forefront of Bacardi as a woman,” she says. “So often, women help create and build genres, but they’re rarely the face of it. I want to change that and take Bacardi to the world.”
Speaking of her relentless drive to evolve musically, DJ Doowap reflects on how innovation can often be isolating.
“It can be a lonely road — because you’re usually a few steps ahead, creating sounds that others don’t understand yet. You end up walking the path alone… until the world finally catches up.
“When you first come up with an idea, you first look like the crazy one but then later, they get it. I have grown to understand it so much that I’m appreciative of the loneliness,” she added.
DJ Doowap | SUPPLIED
Her debut Bacardi song did so well that it landed her a sync deal with the brand Maybelline.
“In August, I am going to drop my third Baracadi song, ‘Areyeng’, which is honestly probably the best song I’ve ever made in my entire life. It is unbelievably dope,” sharing that that song will be accompanied by a simultaneous music video release.
The aim, for now, is to release singles while she builds an audience with the hopes of one day releasing a full body of work.
As DJ Doowap enters this bold new era, one thing is clear: she’s not just experimenting with Bacardi — she’s embodying it. From rediscovering her creative spark to intentionally carving out space for women in a genre she believes is next in line to take over the world, her journey is a personal as it is pioneering. With more Bacardi singles on the horizon, a growing international audience and a fresh sense of purpose guiding her sound, DJ Doowap isn’t just riding a wave—she’s creating one. And this time, the world is paying attention.
