Amapiano Selections

Description

Amapiano is a South African electronic music movement that originated in the Gauteng provinces. Over the past five years, what was originally completely underground has become a national phenomenon. It serves as a sort of tasting menu of the country’s musical heritage (marabi, kwela, mbaqanga, maskandi, jazz, deep house, afro house, diBacardi), a lineage that has been both a backdrop for the times and a catalyst for change in the country. Amapiano Selections, the debut album by DJ and producer Lutendo Raduvha, aka Teno Afrika, gives listeners a glimpse into the vibrant nature of amapiano. At just 21 years old, Lutendo Raduvha has spent most of his life moving between the various townships on the outskirts of Johannesburg and Pretoria in Gauteng province. The palette of styles reflects these influences. The striking "Ambassadors," which opens the record, perfectly represents the current stage of the amapiano movement. Here, organ solos dance over understated sounds of drums, bass, and percussion for a sophisticated result that will appeal to both enthusiasts and newcomers. He achieves something similar on "Conka" by incorporating kwaito influences popularized by the collaborations of DJ Sumbody and Cassper Nyovest. With "Storytellers," "8 Ubers," "Lerato La Bass," and "Trip to Vlakas," Teno Afrika offers his take on the sound that is evolving on the outskirts of Pretoria, locally known as gong gong amapiano. It was a thoughtful choice by Teno Afrika to emphasize vocals only on the final track of his project. The goal was primarily to convey the feeling of his productions and style on this debut album he delivers under Awesome Tapes from Africa. "Chants of Africa" gives us a taste of what’s to come.