Piano to the world! Emerging South African superstars Major League Djz and American group Major Lazer have announced that they will be dropping ‘Piano Republik’, their forthcoming collaborative album, next Friday 24 March. The amapaino record is set to showcase the genre to a global audience, and lead single ‘Mambgobhozi’, which features a vocal sample from the late South African singer and activist Brenda Fassie’s ‘Vuli Ndlela’, leads the record.
“Brenda Fassie was not only an icon, but she inspired many black South Africans to be their authentic selves,” Major League Djz say. “Her energy was infectious on and off the stage. Her music catalogue brought joy to the many South Africans that filled stadiums to see her perform and is a true reflection of South African history. ‘Vuli Ndlela’ is undoubtedly one of Brenda Fassie’s best bodies of work, holding the title of ‘Song of the Decade’ and a song we heard playing at every South African wedding and home then and now. It embodies the township sound of the late 90s, a true anthem as it celebrates a mother’s joy as her son gets married. Brenda Fassie knew how to narrate the African story, and her music catalogue speaks for her long after she has left us, a true force.”
The new track follows initial album offerings, “Designer” featuring Nigerian star Joeboy, and “Koo Koo Fun” featuring Nigerian icon Tiwa Savage and DJ Maphorisa, Major Lazer’s first new music since 2021 that features further contributions from Don Jazzy and Stargate. The track was later remixed by Bianca Costa, Chloé Caillet, Francis Mercier and Nic Fanciulli—listen here.
The music on Piano Republik falls under the genre of amapiano, a South African style of house music that emerged in 2012 and is descended from the South African house genre kwaito and Afrobeats. Pioneered largely by Major League Djz, amapiano is a hybrid of deep house, jazz and lounge music characterized by synths, airy pads and wide percussive basslines and is currently topping charts in the U.K. and beyond.
‘Piano Republik’ drops 24 March. Listen to ‘Mambgobhozi’ below and read more music news here.