Amapiano
House · 2020 · 110 to 118 BPM · also known as Piano, Yanos
South Africa, 2015 to 2020: a slow hybrid of deep house, kwaito and local jazz, instantly recognizable for its log drum, that hollow, bouncing percussive bass under the pads. Tracks run long and patient, carried by real pianos and welcoming vocals. Now the dominant popular music of the continent, it is redrawing the map of global club music, one patient introduction at a time.
16 reference tracks
- Mapara A Jazz: John Vuli Gate (2020)
- Focalistic ft. Vigro Deep: Ke Star (2020)
- MFR Souls ft. Major League DJz, Kamo Mphela & Bontle Smith: Amanikiniki (2020)
- Young Stunna: Adiwele (2021)
- DBN Gogo: Khuza Gogo (2021)
- Kabza De Small & DJ Maphorisa ft. Ami Faku: Abalele (2021)
- Amaarae & Kali Uchis Feat. Moliy: Sad Girlz Luv Money (Vigro Deep Amapiano Remix) (2021)
- Uncle Waffles: Tanzania (2022)
- Tyler ICU & Tumelo.za: Mnike (2023)
- TitoM & Yuppe: Tshwala Bam (2024)
- Tyla: Water (Remixes) (2024)
- Tyla: SHAKE AH (feat. Tony Duardo, Optimist Music ZA & Ez Maestro)
- Tyla: IS IT
- Tyla: To Last
- Tyla: MR. MEDIA
- Dj Maphorisa: Wami (feat. Sir Trill & Kabza De Small)
At a glance
- Tempo: 110 to 118 BPM
- First appeared: around 2020
- Machines: FL Studio, Native Instruments Massive, Xfer Serum
- The sound: Log drum (basse percussive), Piano et claviers jazz, Shakers
- Labels: Kalawa Jazmee, Stay True Sounds, New Money Gang, Piano Hub
- Key artists: Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, MFR Souls, DBN Gogo, Young Stunna
Producing Amapiano
Sit between 110 and 115 bpm, slow for house, giving the log drum room to bounce between hits, with a marked shuffle on shakers and hats over a straight kick, percussion often laid in triplets over the 4/4. Build a round, short kick, a discreet rim or clap on 2 and 4, and a driving layer of shuffled shakers at different speeds, sampled African percussion, bells, whistles, keeping the intro nearly complete except for the missing log drum. The log drum is bass, percussion and melody in one, a pitch-dropping sine or triangle played in syncopated patterns on root, third and fifth. Layer played jazz piano chords, Rhodes, soft deep house pads, welcoming vocals in call and response, sampled saxophone, and long reverb on piano and voice.
The full production course, in French: tempo, drums, bass, sounds, arrangement, mix, plugins and machines, and a step by step start.
Frequently asked
What is Amapiano?
South Africa, 2015 to 2020: a slow hybrid of deep house, kwaito and local jazz, instantly recognizable for its log drum, that hollow, bouncing percussive bass under the pads. Tracks run long and patient, carried by real pianos and welcoming vocals. Now the dominant popular music of the continent,…
What tempo is Amapiano played at?
Between 110 and 118 BPM.
Who are the key Amapiano artists?
Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, MFR Souls, DBN Gogo, Young Stunna.
