FOCUS #1· Amapiano
Amapiano is one of the biggest sounds on the streets of South Africa and a genre at the verge of international explosion. In our first FOCUS, we want to shed some light on the genre and its relevance.
More than a genre
If there’s a word that has been repeated in many music conversations during 2020, it’s “Amapiano”. The South African genre has undoubtedly become one of the most creative currents in music, and a sound at the verge of international explosion.
But Amapiano is more than a music trend, it's a culture and a lifestyle with dedicated clubs, festivals, radio shows, slang and dance moves around it.
Origin & Expansion
While it is still up for debate, many claim that the genre was officially born around 2016 in the townships of Johannesburg and Pretoria. In similar manner to other coeval genres like Gqom, Amapiano’s spread came from being played at the Kasis (SA’s townships), where local Dj’s began to introduce the sound in their sets and mixtapes, and being shared through messaging apps and download websites.
In a short period of time, Amapiano has become one of the main sounds of SA’s streets, with tracks hitting the country's Spotify Top 50 Viral playlist on a regular basis.
It’s all about the keys
The influences that have shaped the Amapiano sound vary depending on where you look or who you ask, but Kwaito, alongside Pretoria’s Bacardi House Music, seem to be the foundation of a genre that has been combined with Deep and Afro House along the way.
The sound of Amapiano is recognizable for the combination of jazzy keys and epic synths, with thumping basslines, playful drums patterns and vocals. With all elements working together around 112 BPM, the combination draws crowds into a celebratory and almost hypnotic trance.
Where to start?
We’ve made a playlist reflecting on different styles around it, featuring staple names like Kabza De Small, MFR Souls, Vigro Deep, Jazzidisciples, and many more.
