Amapiano music has seen a meteoric rise since its inception in the 2010s, and few have been at the forefront of the genre’s evolution like Kooldrink.
The prolific Zimbabwean-born producer is behind a number of amapiano music classics as well as official remixes for the likes of Ed Sheeran, Masego, and Tyla.
“My focus is on translating amapiano music for Western markets, exploring crossovers with different genres to make it more accessible to a wider audience,” Kooldrink tells us. “From the start, EDM, especially Skrillex, was a huge inspiration for me. When I first heard amapiano, I wanted to see if I could blend it with an EDM / pop sensibility. At the time, I was working with Tyla, and it felt like the perfect opportunity to experiment with this approach. As we’ve seen from her success, I also found my production style—what I call ‘Pop Piano’—had real potential.”
In celebration of the release of his Pop Amapiano sample pack, Kooldrink joined us for an in-depth discussion of amapiano music, where we explore what it is, its prominent artists, production techniques, and more—read highlights below, and watch the video above to see his tips and insights in action.
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What is amapiano music?
Amapiano is a South African electronic genre that blends influences from the likes of deep house, jazz, gqom, and lounge. Emerging in the 2010s, it’s characterized by its distinctive log drum basslines, smooth piano melodies, and rhythmic percussion.
“Amapiano, like many other African genres, is percussion-driven,” Kooldrink says. “You’ve got to get the drum groove right for it to be amapiano—and the drums aren’t something you learn; you either feel it or you don’t.”
Amapiano artists
While one can look no further than Kooldrink’s own discography to get a taste of amapiano, he recommends Surreal Sessions and Vigro Deep as other key artists who are pushing the genre forward.
“Muziqal Tone’s ‘Quick To Judge’ is one of my favorite amapiano songs of all time,” he adds. “De Mthuda’s ‘John Wick’ is also one of the first OG amapiano songs. Real ones know what I’m talking about.”
How to make amapiano music
If you’re interested in learning how to make amapiano music of your own, Kooldrink shares some of his go-to instruments, plugins, and key production techniques that you’ll want to be aware of below—see the video above for even more in-depth insights.
Instrumentation
“When it comes to instrumentation, the essential element is a big log drum,” Kooldrink tells us. “Without the log drum, it’s not amapiano.”
Here’s Kooldrink’s checklist for instruments and elements that are key to amapiano:
- Banging log drum
- Moving drum grooves
- Trumpet timekeeper
- Jazzy chords
Plugins / VSTs
“I personally couldn’t live without the Fruity DX10 plugin—this is where the OG amapiano ‘Log Drum’ preset is,” Kooldrink shares. “I like to run the log drum through the Fruity WaveShaper or DECAP’s KNOCK plugin to give it a little more oomph and get it shaking the room.”
Production techniques
“Always layer the log drum with a sub that follows the same ADSR envelope,” Kooldrink recommends. “Don’t bother cutting the low end of the log drum when layering the sub—more is more here. Just make sure that the log drum and sub are phase-aligned, and you’ll be good.”
“Also, always have a timekeeper—an instrument or element that tells people when to bop their heads. It keeps movement. I like to use offbeat trumpets playing quarter notes. You can find the exact sample I use here.“
“In general, treat your drums like the backbone of your song. If the drum loop by itself doesn’t get your head moving, swap it out. And don’t be afraid to clip that log drum for extra crunch—a best practice is to put a soft clipper on the log drum for added drive.”
Amapiano music BPM
Most amapiano music falls within the 110 – 115 BPM range. This tempo is slightly slower than typical house music but faster than deep house, creating the genre’s signature laid-back yet danceable groove. Some tracks may be slightly faster or slower, but this range maintains the balance between chill and energetic.
Amapiano sample packs
Last but not least, if you’re looking for amapiano samples to incorporate into your productions, Kooldrink’s own sample pack is a great place to start your search.
“Making a sample pack is such a unique experience, and I’d implore every producer to make one, even if it’s just for themselves,” he shares. “Creating a sample pack forces you to hone in on what defines your sound. I had to sit down and really sketch out what Pop Piano is—it’s something that has always existed in my head, but what is it, exactly?”
“For this pack, I found that the best way to approach it was ironically to make full tracks. I made about nine full songs, and then exported their stems. From there, I sat down and created loops out of those songs. To me, that was the most intuitive way to go about it.”
Looking ahead
And there you have it—hopefully this guide gave you a solid foundation for the key elements of amapiano music and actionable ideas for how you can produce your own track in the genre.
Given its general recency, amapiano music is also certain to continue expanding and evolving at a rapid pace. “My take on where amapiano is headed is unique, since I’m the pioneer of Pop Piano, an offshoot of the original genre,” Kooldrink reflects. “I think amapiano in South Africa will always find new ways to evolve sonically, but I believe its real growth and evolution will come from how it’s packaged for the rest of the world. We get it at home, we understand it in the streets—but how do we make it more digestible for a larger audience? I hope the work I’m doing now will inspire others to learn, experiment, and ultimately embrace and appreciate the genre as a whole.”
Incorporate Kooldrink’s grooving sounds into your own productions:
March 1, 2025
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