By Topsy (The Beat London)

Amapiano is everywhere right now — from the streets of Johannesburg to London day parties — but for South African producer and DJ Cyfred, the genre isn’t a passing moment. It’s identity, culture, and something deeper than language.

I caught up with Cyfred while out in South Africa to talk about the global rise of Amapiano, what people outside the country still get wrong, his artistry and latest project.Along the way, he also gave us a dance move to take to the club (yes, you can try it at home).

“I’m happy because it’s our very own sound”

Amapiano has become a global export — but Cyfred’s pride in it is rooted in what it means at home.

“I’m happy because it’s our very own sound. It’s authentic… it means a lot to us South Africans — let me not even say South Africans, Africans.”

For him, it’s not just about a genre becoming popular — it’s about a shared connection.

“I feel like Amapiano is spiritual… it’s where we can connect as Africans and help the rest of the world connect with us.”

What the world gets wrong: “Amapiano is not up-tempo”

One of the most interesting parts of our conversation was Cyfred calling out a common misconception: that Amapiano should be sped up to fit international club expectations.

“Outside of south Africa the tempo is high and that’s not what Amapiano is.”

He got specific about BPM ranges, explaining that there’s a sweet spot — and once you push past it, you lose the point.

“Healthy music… and spiritual music”: Cyfred on his identity

When I asked Cyfred to describe his musical identity, he described and “Healthy music… and spiritual music.”

But what stood out most is how he explained his projects: they reflect where he is in life emotionally and mentally. His sound shifts depending on his season:from street-focused records to love-led projects to spiritual work.

“I make music with where I’m at in life.”

He broke it down idea through different bodies of work — including his recent EP 

“I just released the EP called Nomoro… it’s more street, it’s more banging… not much message behind it besides it just being a street project.”

He contrasted that with a more romantic era:

“Before that we had All I Wanted Was Love… it’s a love-based project… just singing about love.”

And before that, a spiritual lane with “Made under the spirit”

The takeaway is Cyfred doesn’t box himself into one lane, he documents life’s seasons through sound.

Favourite collaborator: “He understands my emotion before I explain”

When I asked who his favourite artist is that he’s worked with, Cyfred shouted out Optimist, describing him as a vocalist who understands him instinctively.

“He’s someone that understands my emotion… where I’m at before I even have to explain. So us making music is very easy.”

He also called Optimist versatile and tipped him as one to watch:

“Very soon people — the world will know about him.”

The one who taught him the most: “Don’t compromise the quality”

Cyfred named Musa Keys as the person who sharpened his approach to quality and discipline.

“He made me realise… make sure the music is clean, take your time… the quality is good, the mixing and mastering needs to be well done. You don’t need to compromise the music.”

Why Amapiano connects with the UK: “You don’t know what we’re saying, but you feel it”

As The Beat London, we’ve been supporting Cyfred’s music — and I asked why he thinks Amapiano translates so well in the UK.

His answer came back to spirituality and diaspora connection:

“It’s a genre that is versatile… there’s a spiritual side… and the UK is also full of Africans.”

And then he delivered one of the truest lines of the whole interview:

“You guys don’t know what we’re saying… but you feel like you are with us. You guys will sing word for word but you don’t know what the song is saying.”

“It uplifts your spirit… you don’t even know what’s going on, but you’re happy to hear it.”

Where to hear the “real” Amapiano: “You need to go to the hood”

One of the biggest differences I noticed while being in South Africa was how soulful and deep the music felt compared to the more up-tempo, lyric-led versions we often hear back home.

Cyfred agreed — and took it further: for the “real” Amapiano experience, you have to go where the culture is lived.

He even said if he’d known we were around sooner, he would’ve taken us to the right spots.

“If you wanna hear real piano, you just need to go to the hood.”

And honestly? The night we did, it clicked: people were dancing, vibing, and the music felt like its own language.

From dancer to DJ: “Right now we’re doing the Zap Zap”

Before music took over, Cyfred was a dancer and he says the moves are always changing with the times.

When I asked what his go-to dance move is right now, he laughed and introduced the “Zep” — a simple, repeatable step he says is the current wave.

Consider this your official invitation to bring it to the dance floor.

Final word

Cyfred made one thing clear: Amapiano isn’t just a soundtrack to a party — it’s a feeling, a culture, and for many people, a spiritual connector.