South African AfroTech powerhouses Karyendasoul and Drega unite on ‘Don Rosado’, a landmark collaboration between two of the genre’s most forward-thinking artists.
A defining voice in modern South African dance music, Karyendasoul continues to shape the sound of contemporary AfroTech. Behind the RiSA-certified platinum hit ‘iMali’ featuring Nana Atta which spent five weeks at #1 on South African radio, he’s become a trusted name for both club-driven and emotionally rich productions. His ‘Oh, Hello EP’ released in 2025 drew heavyweight support from Black Coffee, Zakes Bantwini, Francis Mercier, Shimza, and Marsh, while he remains a regular fixture across major editorial playlists such as Spotify’s AfroTech Now. On the live front, Karyendasoul’s profile has surged through key appearances at Tomorrowland in 2024, a recent Shimza & Friends event at the 10,000-capacity Durban Exhibition Centre, and the Black Coffee Foundation Benefit Concert held at Melrose Arch in November 2025. Upcoming Anjunadeep shows for Karyendasoul include open air events in Johannesburg and Cape Town in April, plus a 2026 return to Anjunadeep Explorations Festival in Albania.
A groundbreaking producer with global reach, Drega brings equally impressive credentials. His production work on Nomcebo Zikode, Wouter Kellerman and Zakes Bantwini’s ‘Bayethe’ earned him GRAMMY-Award winning status at the 65th annual ceremony in 2023, with the record picking up ‘Best Global Music Performance’. His recent Kharnju II EP garnered support from Black Coffee, and he continues to expand his international footprint with exciting activations like a filmed DJ set recorded at KODA in Nairobi in November 2025. Drega closes out the year with a headline performance at Wanderbay Festival on new year’s eve alongside Karyendasoul. Both artists stand at the forefront of AfroTech’s global rise, each with recent projects championed by key tastemakers on a global scale.
Karyendasoul and Drega’s ‘Don Rosado’ is out now on Anjunadeep.
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[review top="1"]
[item value="10"] Karyendasoul & Drega - Don Rosado[/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"] Karyendasoul and Drega’s collaboration on Don Rosado is a stunning example of AfroTech mastery, fusing deep tribal grooves with highly emotive melodic structures. The track sits comfortably at 120 BPM, positioning it as both an introspective listening experience and a dancefloor-ready piece. From the opening bars, the production showcases a meticulously layered foundation of pulsating basslines, syncopated percussions, and cinematic chorus voices that immediately establish a moody yet uplifting atmosphere. The use of tribal drums and rhythmic shakers creates a driving groove that is immersive and texturally rich, perfectly supporting the track’s harmonic and melodic layers. From a technical perspective, the sound design and production quality are exceptional. The low-end energy is carefully balanced with the mid-range melodic elements, resulting in a warm, full-bodied mix that retains clarity throughout its dynamic range. Beautiful piano chords provide harmonic depth, while subtle reverb and delay effects create a spacious, three-dimensional soundscape. The track’s transitions and build-ups are executed with precision, using filtering automation and dynamic layering to maintain energy flow and momentum. This ensures that each drop lands with maximum emotional and rhythmic impact, ideal for club and festival environments. Additionally, the mix demonstrates a superb loudness balance, avoiding over-compression while maintaining a polished and professional sonic signature. The arrangement is a testament to both originality and cohesion. Karyendasoul and Drega employ progressive layering techniques to guide the listener through a journey that feels both cinematic and deeply personal. The track’s intro and outro structures are DJ-friendly, offering clean cue points and loop potential for seamless integration into live sets. This makes Don Rosado not only a rewarding listening experience but also a versatile tool for professional DJs seeking dynamic energy flow in their performances. Beyond its technical excellence, Don Rosado can have profound positive effects on mental health and overall well-being. Research has shown that rhythmic music at moderate tempos, especially in the 110–125 BPM range, can enhance mood, reduce anxiety, and improve focus (Thoma et al., 2013). The track’s combination of driving beats and emotive harmonies is ideal for fitness and wellness classes, including yoga flow or dance-based cardio sessions, where music synchronization with movement enhances physical performance and perceived exertion (Karageorghis & Priest, 2012). Furthermore, the atmospheric and immersive qualities of AfroTech music can facilitate meditative states, promoting relaxation and cognitive restoration (Koelsch, 2010). In group settings, tracks like Don Rosado can foster a sense of communal euphoria, which has been linked to the release of endorphins and improved overall social bonding (Dunbar et al., 2012). Emotional resonance is perhaps the strongest aspect of this release. The track’s melancholic yet hopeful tone elicits a deep visceral response, making it highly replayable and memorable. For audiences seeking both mental engagement and physical stimulation, Don Rosado succeeds as a work of art and as a tool for enhancing human experience through music. #PureGold Loveit[/content]
[item value="10"]Rhythm, Groove & Drive[/item][item value="10"]Melodic Hooks & Harmonic Layers[/item]
[item value="10"]Transitions, Drops & Build-Ups [/item]
[item value="10"]Energy Flow & Momentum [/item]
[item value="10"]Sound Design & Production Quality[/item]
[item value="10"]Originality of Arrangement & Structure[/item]
[item value="10"]Use of Effects & Spatial Design[/item]
[item value="10"]Dynamic Range & Loudness Balance[/item]
[item value="10"]Atmosphere & Immersion[/item]
[item value="10"]Emotional Resonance[/item]
[item value="10"]Creativity & Artistic Identity[/item]
[item value="10"]Cohesion & Storytelling[/item]
[item value="10"]Vocal Performance & Lyrical Impact[/item]
[item value="10"]Catchiness & Replay Value[/item]
[item value="10"]Club / Festival Suitability[/item]
[item value="10"]Track Intro/Outro Structure[/item]
[item value="10"]BPM Consistency & Sync Ease[/item]
[item value="10"]Cue Points & Loop Potential[/item]
[item value="10"]Dynamic Energy for Set Flow[/item]
[item value="10"]Crowd Reaction Potential[/item]
[/review]
Dunbar, R. I. M., Kaskatis, K., MacDonald, I., & Barra, V. (2012). Performance of music elevates pain threshold and positive affect: Implications for the evolutionary function of music. Evolutionary Psychology, 10(4).
Karageorghis, C. I., & Priest, D. L. (2012). Music in the exercise domain: A review and synthesis (Part I). International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 5(1), 44–66.
Koelsch, S. (2010). Towards a neural basis of music perception – a review and updated model. Frontiers in Psychology, 1, 25.
Thoma, M. V., Ryf, S., Mohiyeddini, C., Ehlert, U., & Nater, U. M. (2013). Emotion regulation through listening to music in everyday situations. Cognition and Emotion, 27(3), 534–543.
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