Top 5 Amapiano Newbies Of 2023. With amapiano being the most popular sound at the moment, the sub-genre has witnessed many upcoming and already popular artists releasing dance music that has kept Mzansi entertained during the pandemic. Most new artists progressed in the music industry releasing smash hits under the amapiano category.
Check out the amapiano newbies making waves in 2023:
Mashudu
A smash hit across South Africa produced by another amapiano pioneer in Djy Jaivane, along with Kappie and Amu Classic comes in “Qhude,” complete with the amazing vocal range of an immensely talented vocalist known as Mashudu. She makes her presence known across their One For The World EP on tracks such as “uThando,” “Indoda Enemali” and “Mashimane” reaching for eye-watering notes that sit incredibly well on the gents’ well-sculpted grooves. Keep an eye out for the “Qhude” music video coming soon, which promises to be the gateway to her own full length debut.
Snenaah
Sinethemba Mashiane is a composer, singer and songwriter born in Mpumalanga, raised on indigenous music in a small rural township called Silobela. Now based in Centurion and adopting the moniker Snenaah, she’s stepped up to meet amapiano with a host of audible life experiences. Snenaah has been sharing a slew of breathtaking acapellas and cover versions on social media, breathing new life into familiar favourites with her smoky tones and layered melodies.
Makhanj
Mbali Makhanya is a vocalist and songwriter (and possibly a comedian), with sights set as high as her cheekbones. She’s collaborated and performed with Musa Keys, Phil Keys and Kizz Daniels on various stages in her come-up after setting the proverbial bar high at sport-and-entertainment law school and becoming a certified attorney in 2019. Best known for her contributions to DBN Gogo’s Thokoza Café EP, she shines on vocals for “Nawe,” and wields her pen proudly on Sunde’s and Al Xapo’s “Awazi” and Stagz Jazz’s Daydream album where she hints at a promising career on “private school” productions. She is presently working on collaborative projects as well as her own debut EP in order to establish her solo career path in amapiano, RnB and hip hop, by venturing out as not just a vocalist but a certified songwriter who can, and will, stand on her own.
Xolani Guitars
Xolani Guitars (born Xolani Gift Skosana in Tembisa) is a regular feature on DJ Maphorisa and Madumane’s live performances. However, the world of ‘piano first took notice of Xolani’s gift through his contribution to Kabza De Small’s I Am The King of Amapiano: Sweet and Dust album, where he collaborated on “Mapiano Blues”, “Qula” and the Jonathan Butler-interpolating “Many Faces”. Originally a guitarist for the genre-fusing quintet Jazzmeloz, Xolani has played live for acclaimed house vocalist, Monique Bingham. The self-taught guitarist credits Jimmy Dludlu, Jonathan Butler, B.B. King, Themba Mokoena, George Benson, Norman Brown, and Ronny Jordan as the artists who sparked his love for music and have been most influential in his technique.
Moscow (on Keyz)
Outside of the producers who would add screeching piano solo’s into their original compositions, instrumentalists are arguably equally responsible for the genre’s eventual name. And keyboardist, Moses Khumbulani Mlambo, professionally known as Moscow on Keyz was at the forefront of it all, grinding it out during amapiano’s formative years with pioneering outfit MFR Souls. Moscow enthusiastically played the keyboard during the duo’s live DJ sets and exhibited his prowess playing with the instrument on his back.
