Podcast: Amapiano – the rise of the South African house music genre (with God Knows & Godwin)

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On Episode 143, we are joined by the Limerick rap don God Knows and his actual little brother, producer Godwin.

The siblings recently released a song called ‘Glory’ which features vocals from Senita Appiakorang (ex Shookrah), drums from Micheál Quinn (Meltybrains? / Dermot Kennedy), , production by Ian Ring (Boku) and engineering by David Anthony Curley (The Clinic) and a special phoned-in appearance from their sister Geraldine Jonas.

‘Glory’ is an Amapiano song – the genre of South African house music that brings in jazzy synths, organs, air pads, bass hits, Zulu vocals and percussion on long danceable tracks.

The genre emerged in 2012 from genres like Kwaito, Gqom, Bacardi house and Afrohouse, and its biggest players include DJ Maphorisa, who co-produced Drake’s ‘One Dance’ and his group with Kabza De Small – Scorpion Kings.

God Knows and Godwin take us in to the Ampiano sound through ‘Glory’ and tracks from some of its biggest players.

Listen to the episode here or subscribe in your favourite podcast app:

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Songs played on the Nialler9 Podcast Spotify Playlist

This episode:

God Knows, Senita, Godwin – Glory (2021)

Dj Maphorisa and Kabza De Small – Emcimbini feat. Samthing Soweto, Aymos, Mas Musiq & Myztro (Scorpion Kings Live, 2020)

DJ Skelez & Cassper Nyovest – Malobolo (Scorpion Kings Live, 2020)

Dj Maphorisa and Kabza De Small – Dubai ft Vigro Deep & Mas Musiq (2019)

Semi Tee – Labantwana Ama Uber ft. Miano, Kammu Dee (2019)

Samthing Soweto – “Akulaleki” ft. Sha Sha, DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small (2019)

Jorja Smith – All of This with GuiltyBeatz (2021)

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