Mellow & Sleazy Celebrate Amapiano & Barcardi Infusion in Ballentines Stay True Cities Documentary
Anyone who knows me is aware of my deep found love and appreciation of Amapiano. The hyrid sound of Bacardi house music, jazz and lounge music is infectious to say the least and during this era where the sound is seeing the height of it’s popularity, many acts have spawned from the sound’s inception. Out of the slew of Amapiano artists, Mellow & Sleazy are a duo that undoubtedly stand out. If you had to reflect on the most popular Piano songs that have been released in the past year, you’d discover that it’s highly likely Mellow & Sleazy produced them.
The duo that hails from Soshanguve & Ga-rankuwa embody the essence of the local zeitgeist which is a significant feat. So you could imagine my excitement at the discovery of Ballantine’s Stay True Cities documentary which features the trailblazing duo, by honouring the unique sounds and impact their hometowns – Soshanguve and Ga-Rankuwa – have on their music.
Ballantine’s took to the streets of Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve to experience and showcase the grassroots of Mellow and Sleazy as they pay homage to the sounds that influenced the unique fusion of amapiano and bacardi sounds that this dynamic duo creates.
“We are super excited for this opportunity as it’s a chance for our fans to get to know us better. Shooting the film was cool because we got to hang out at our favourite spots with the Stay True Cities team. They were super cool and supportive, experiencing that was an honour and we’re thankful for the opportunity. We hope our fans enjoy it. Bacardi to the world!” said Mellow and Sleazy.
The Ballantine’s Stay True Cities: A Blend From the North film showcases the richness of Pretorian sounds highlighted through featured interviews from friends, neighbours and local residents of Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve. Throughout the film, Mellow and Sleazy unpack their music journey and skillfully describe how they fused the loud snares and hi-hats of the Pretorian original bacardi sounds with dark beats. They also touch on what propelled them to become the dynamic duo they are today.
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The Chipi Ke Chipi hitmaking duo also celebrates other inspirational musicians who also come from these townships such as Maphorisa, Focalistic and Black Motion and explain how they, like these powerhouse musicians, will take this sound to the world.
The Ballantine’s Stay True Cities campaign launched in South Africa with A Tale of Two Cities, a film that celebrated how the amapiano sound impacted the culture of Pretoria and Soweto through the lens of the Possible hitmaker, DBN Gogo and amapiano legend DJ Stokie.
Watch the film below that celebrates the ever-evolving amapiano sounds that come from Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve through the experiences of Mellow and Sleazy as they seek to create a global mark in the industry through their music.
