Nino Augustine Fuses Amapiano With His Panamanian Roots on ‘Encendío’
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Nino Augustine is carving out his own lane and pioneering new fusions, singing Amapiano tracks in Spanish. On Friday, he delivered his latest Latin-South African fusion with “Encendío,” a dancefloor-ready single with Walshy Fire of Major Lazer.
“I deeply admire the musical movements in Africa and draw heavy influence from them [and] my Panamanian roots imbue the track with a distinct Latin flavor,” Augustine tells Rolling Stone about the Jahboy-produced track. “Having grown up in Atlanta, the southern musical vibe also resonates in my work. Musically, I’m always striving to push boundaries, both sonically and lyrically.”
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The fiery video for the track, directed by Jimmy Usma and Alejo Gutierrez, sees Augustine, looking dapper in a yellow suit and vest, singing the lyrics from empty streets while backed by a crew of dancers and surrounded by waste cans up in flames.
Augustine also shares his excitement about working with Fire, one of the three members of Major Lazer, on the song. He describes the Floridian producer as a “legend in the industry,” who has long worked to bring global exposure to dancehall and reggae with Major Lazer.
“Considering Jamaica’s immense influence on various music genres, from reggaeton to afrobeats, [Fire’s] willingness to collaborate with an independent artist like myself is truly remarkable,” Augustine says. “It’s essential for me to continue merging these diverse musical worlds because I genuinely believe that an artist like myself serves as a bridge, connecting all these cultures.”
“Encendío” is the Afro-Latin star’s first release this year after dropping singles “Fiesta y Borrachera” and “En La Mía” in 2023. The new track will be part of a full-length project expected in April. He last released his afrobeats-infused album Champion Ninz in 2022, featuring tracks “Mine” and “Energia” with Jossman. Rolling Stone named his LP Global Ninz as one of Rolling Stone’s top Spanish-language and bilingual albums of 2021.
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