TuneLab
Larizzle
Mixmag Lab London | CULTUR FM x AlphaTheta Takeover
When the AlphaTheta takeover hits Mixmag’s London Lab for CULTUR FM, you expect gear talk, but Larizzle delivers something far more vital: a flawless amapiano immersion. This is for those of us who’ve fallen down the YouTube rabbit hole of South African dance music, trying to decipher log drum patterns and vocal ad-libs. The vibe is instantly recognizable—that laid-back, sun-drenched shuffle that makes even a London basement feel like a Johannesburg lounge.
Technically, it’s textbook amapiano, cruising at a signature 115.7 BPM average and weaving between the sunny keys of 7A and the deeper, soulful hues of 3B. The energy is all about the bounce, with a dominant, swinging low-end (0.56) and a rich mid-range (0.40) full of melodic keys and vocal snippets, while the almost non-existent high-end ensures a smooth, warm texture throughout. The mixing is intuitive and groove-focused, letting the spacious tracks lock together without overcomplication.
The tracklist is a who’s who of the scene: opening with Malumz on Decks & Mpho.Wav’s ‘Teka’ sets a perfect, rolling tone, while Kabza De Small’s ‘Sponono’ is a monumental, star-studded anthem. DBN Gogo’s ‘Balimele’ is a masterclass in percussive complexity, and including her own ‘Moto (Remix)’ shows a producer’s pride in the craft. The journey is a seamless ride, starting with the infectious groove of ‘Teka’, building to a vibrant peak with the global hit energy of ‘Sponono’, and closing on the cheeky, viral flip of Shats’ ‘Bloodi Samaritan (Amapiano Remix)’.