From the colourful streets of SA straight to music festivals abroad, amapiano – translated from the isiZulu words ‘the pianos’ – is taking the world by storm!
With many crediting Soweto as the birthplace of this unique sound. According to the BBC News Africa documentary This is Amapiano, DJ Stokie was among the first DJs to play this popular musical genre. ‘For me, it is crucial to be in the township. Everything started here,’ he says.
Legendary kwaito Music Producer Oskido explained the genre’s definition to Documentary Presenter Kutloano Nhlapo, ‘Kwaito is the foundation of amapiano. The guys who really influenced amapiano started playing deep house, but at a slower pace than usual. From there, they started programming at a slower pace, which is how kwaito started.’ DJ and Producer Mas Musiq adds that what actually ‘changed everything’ was the log drum – a raw baseline with a heavy kick-drum effect. Amapiano has opened doors for new artists who have acquired a large following.
Here are four artists rising in their field:
NKOSAZANA DAUGHTER
Nkosazana Nolwazi Kimberly Nzama, better known as Nkosazana Daughter, is originally from KwaZulu-Natal but grew up in Johannesburg and Soweto. She started sharing videos of herself on social media, which people later shared. Regarding her stage name, the singer explained that she is the only girl out of five boys in her family. ‘Nkosazana means princess, which automatically means daughter. I am the daughter, so it literally means the same thing.’
The artist, who describes her sound as soulful, says of amapiano, ‘I don’t want to lie, it wasn’t something I thought I would do. By the time amapiano was growing [during COVID-19], people started to notice me.’ Her knowledge of amapiano soon grew and she excelled her field quickly. ‘There’s still a lot more to achieve,’ she says.
NELLZ
Singer Neliswa ‘Nellz’ Dotwana represents Site B in Khayelitsha. ‘Growing up in Khayelitsha exposed me to many things, negative and positive.’ Classifying her exposure to music as one of the positives, Nellz says many Khayelitsha residents use music to express themselves. ‘I was enthralled by the groups I saw then.’ In 2006, Nellz was part of a kwaito-focused group, so her transition from kwaito to amapiano was a breeze. ‘[The transition] wasn’t difficult for me because it was something I’d been around and exposed to.’
She adds, ‘This generation doesn’t take things too seriously. Amapiano gives you that [opportunity]. You get to hear the song’s message, but at the same time, have fun with it.’ Having released her single ‘Ziwa Ngale’ with producer Koisan Smaz, Nellz lists Kabza De Small, Master KG and Nkosazana Daughter among the musicians she would like to collaborate with. As for her future aspirations, Nellz says, ‘I see myself travelling Africa, even abroad. I see myself on big stages with my crew doing everything we always wanted to, and our vision getting bigger and brighter.’
KOISAN SMAZ
Sipho Zwane, also known as Koisan Smaz, was born in Soweto. His love for music stems from his days as a dancer. He didn’t know much about producing music until he was introduced to the programme FruityLoops (now called FL Studio) in 2009. The producer explains that the name Koisan originates from a group he was in. He kept it after the group members went their separate ways. ‘I was inspired by the Khoisan, the first people found in Southern Africa.’
He also says that the movie The Gods Must Be Crazy served as inspiration. ‘I liked that [the characters] made sounds with a bottle.’ He says he adopted the nickname ‘Smaz’. Koisan Smaz’ became interested in amapiano in 2018 and only started producing the genre during COVID-19. ‘There was this other sound; if I’m not mistaken, I think it’s called mamelodi, which was like the broken beats of amapiano. I started playing that a lot in my DJ sets. That’s when I started understanding and producing amapiano.’ When asked about his plans for the future, the DJ said he wants to see more Cape Town-based artists dominating the amapiano scene. He concluded, ‘I would also like to see myself as one of the pioneers of the sound.’
SNXPER
Born in Vereeniging, Lehlohonolo Mokoena – stage name Snxper – was raised by his grandparents in Katlehong. ‘I became interested in amapiano in 2014, when MDU aka TRP and DJ Stokie were introducing it. The genre was picking up the pace, and adults would play it when they met and chilled at the shisanyama in my neighbourhood. This gave me a sense of adulthood, and at the time, I never really thought I would dive into it. It wasn’t until Moscow on Keys put his sister Nkateko on a house or amapiano song called ‘Shona Le’ that I realised it’s possible to have vocalists and lyricists on an amapiano beat.’
Speaking about his vision for the future, Snxper says he sees himself collaborating with amapiano producers Mellow & Sleazy, TNK MusiQ, and Visca, and releasing three EPs to secure his spot in the industry.
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