- One of amapiano's most dynamic duos come correct with a romantic and swinging EP featuring touches of tech house.
- There are many great partnerships making massive strides in South Africa’s amapiano ecosystem over the last two years. Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa have joined forces as Scorpion Kings, plus duo Murumba Pitch, Mas Musiq and Aymos and Kelvin Momo and Babalwa M, to name just a few. Tyler ICU and Nicole Elcoin have moved in sync throughout the pandemic lockdowns and are now returning with a honeyed four-track EP, Emoyeni. These two first appeared together with the 12-track Money Heist EP, where their rework of the political-and-pop-culture anthem "Bella Ciao" offered a some lush lightness as South Africa hunkered down—all while amapiano started making waves as far as Tokyo, Berlin and Nairobi.
Now, after racking up millions of views on YouTube, Tyler ICU has become one of the most trusted producers in amapiano, with infectious arrangements and blissful chord progressions that cradle Nicole's sweet vocal runs. Though the most successful tracks on their last outing featured guest artists, this EP shows the duo as seasoned, grounded artists capable of greatness on their own.
There's a thread of love and partnership through all of Emoyeni, whose tracks pair rhythm with romance. There is a guest appearance with amapiano vocalist Bassie—who made leaps in 2021 alongside pioneering producers MFR Souls and T-Man SA—on "uThando L'Wakho" (Your Love), where the EP takes a more slightly desperate and tech house-led turn. But the other songs are hopeful and uplifting, with Nicole's vocal range most effective on the effervescent "Emoyeni" ("In The Air"). The title track is rivaled only by the dynamic nature of everlasting love on "Siyathandana" ("We Love Each Other"), rounding off an EP that not only establishes Tyler ICU and Nicole Elocin as one of amapiano's core duos, but raises the bar for collaborative work well into the genre's future.
Tracklist01. Emoyeni feat Tyler ICU & Sawce
02. uThando Iwakho feat. Tyler ICU & Bassie
03. Siyathandana feat. Tyler ICU
04. Ignite feat. Tyler ICU