Sizwe Alakine joins forces with DJ and producer duo Mellow & Sleazy for an extended ampiano ode to the origins of his sound. “Mang Ka Pa Mang” is slick and minimalist, hinged on light percussive textures and breathy vocalism which slips seamlessly from SeSotho to English and back again.
In keeping with amapiano’s minimal stance, the track artfully layers beat upon beat – brassy synth textures, kwaito-inspired rhythm, and lush piano chords flesh things out, while Alakine drops cleanly orchestrated verses – flexing masculine energy and effortless bravado.
The accompanying video, directed by local legend Monde Dube, sees Alakine take to the culturally-heaving streets of Mamelodi to seek out just what bacadi mean to them – and for those of you in the dark here, it’s a fusion of house, kwaito and electronic music conceived in the heart of Mamelodi circa the early 1990s.
Cutting a swaggy figure, Alakine dons a candy-striped outfit and cuts shapes on street corners, chats up a lady, and delves into the beating heart of the brawny and unique music culture of Pretoria’s back streets.
Feature pic supplied by artist
