Bloody Civilian just dropped an absolute banger titled “Head Start” via Def Jam Recordings/0207 Def Jam UK. This track is impeccably balanced in terms of its sound. Featuring soaring synths, background sirens, tight percussion, excellent drum beats, a moog bass, and not to mention, infectious vocals, it's a complete package. The song carries a "shout out to my haters" vibe, with Bloody Civilian declaring, “Enemies they shake shake. You’re the best dancers”. Personally, I think it's a brilliant line, enough to hold my attention throughout the entire song.

So this track is Amapiano. Amapiano mixes in elements of a whole lot of genres and originated in South Africa. There might be R&B, Hip-Hop, Gqom (South African electronic music), Deep House and Kwaito. All valid but not mandatory ingredients in an Amapiano track. “Head Start” definitely has a confident, little bit of a dark mood. It is heavy, but in just the right way. If you like this track and you want more like it, you can of course continue listening to Bloody Civilian. But you could also try one of the following: 

-Forever Yena 2.0 - Major Keys

-Mina Nawe - Soa Mattrix, Happy Jazzman, Emotionz DJ

-Sgudi Sync - De Mthuda, Da Muziqal Chef, Eemoh 

The track was produced by Bloody Civilian, Ditweni and Yung Willis. Bloody Civilian states that her music influences go back to her childhood where her dad, a civil engineer, would play in a band during his free time. This naturally sparked her interest. She got exposed to all kinds of Jazz, Blues, R&B and hip-hop music. She concludes that her biggest influence is African music, as she sees it as an originator to all the others. Naturally, it didn’t take long for her to want to write and also record her own songs. Now, the music she makes is reflecting her Nigerian roots, where she was born and raised. 

If you're searching for the perfect spot to blast out "Head Start" (and trust me, it's a song meant to be blasted), here are a few suggestions: road trips, cookouts, live shows (obviously), and afterparties. Of course, you can also enjoy it just fine with headphones while at work, just like I am doing right now. Whether you're familiar with the genre or not, this could be an opportunity for exploration. If you're already acquainted with Afrohouse/Amapiano, I can assure you, this track is already a certified banger. So, why wait? Give it a listen!

Author: Peter Källman

Peter Källman is a writer from Sweden who loves playing in bands, writing reviews and going to live shows!