DJ Spectacle’s Amapiano Reimagination of Kachi’s Soulful Songs Is A Spectacle
By Michael Kolawole
DJ Spectacle’s (real name: Clinton Ugochukwu Emenyonu) reinterpretation of Kechi Okwuchi’s soulful songs, “All The Time”, and “That Is Just Me” is mesmerising. On his exciting DJ mix, he changes the songs’ Pop and contemporary R&B styles into the infectious South African Amapiano tune.
“All The Time” is a bright, romantic Pop song built around the feeling of being completely consumed by love. The song lyrically focuses on infatuation; the dizzy, almost child-like excitement of constantly thinking about someone dearly to one’s heart.
“That’s Just Me,” unlike the infatuated “All The Time,” is a self-assured break-up song built around emotional independence and perseverance. It captures the mindset of someone who has been hurt but refuses to be knocked down by the heartache.
Leaving the lyrics of these songs intact, DJ Spectacle overlays Kachi’s voice on upbeat, percussion-heavy Amapiano instrumentals. The hastiness of the bears softens Kachi’s sentimental feelings into a club mix, solely for dancing and merrymaking.
The reinterpretation goes beyond the typical whimsical DJ mix because of DJ Spectacles’ understanding of pacing, knowing when to pull the energy away and reintroducing it at the appropriate time.
At several points, the mix bears the feeling of house music by repeating the percussion to inspire the audience to move their feet.
The changes of styles, however, trivialise the songs’ messages and intentions. The songs’ personas understand that they are lovely but emotional, stubborn and expressive, and capable of rebuilding themselves, regardless of the severity of their heartbreak. Combining a merry song with another one filled with subtle displeasure into Amapiano is polished, but their initial moods could be misinterpreted. The remix improves the songs’ physicality for clubhouses, the lyrics are slightly distorted. This makes the songs lose their original clarity to the dense layers of the percussion.
The mix feels uncertain towards the end, it’s as though the DJ contemplates whether to further speed up the performance or to slow it down. The indecision creates a lull in the mix, slowing down its enjoyment.
Notwithstanding the mix’s minor failing, DJ Spectacles’ reimagination of Kachi’s soulful, pop songs creates a contrasting but pleasing mood that makes them suitable for headphones and social gatherings.
It’s truly a spectacle.
About
Michael Kolawole is a screenwriter, playwright, poet, essayist, cultural journalist and critic
