Nino Augustinos combines Amapiano with his Panamanian roots on 'Encendío'

Nino Augustine carves his own lane and pioneers new fusions, singing Amapiano pieces in Spanish. On Friday, he delivered his latest Latin-South African fusion with “Encendío,” a dance-ready single featuring Major Lazer's Walshy Fire.

“I deeply admire the musical movements in Africa and draw a lot of influence from them [and] My Panamanian roots infuse the piece with a distinct Latin flavor,” says Augustine Rolling rock for the Jahboy production track. “Having grown up in Atlanta, the southern music vibe also resonates in my work. Musically, I'm always trying to push the boundaries, both sonically and lyrically.”

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, backed by a crew of dancers and surrounded by burning trash cans .

Augustine also shares his excitement about collaborating with Fire, one of the three members of Major Lazer, on the song. He describes the Florida producer as an “industry legend” who has long worked to bring global exposure to dancehall and reggae with Major Lazer.

“Given Jamaica's huge influence on various genres of music, from reggaeton to afrobeats, [Fire’s] The willingness to work with an independent artist like myself is really remarkable,” says Augustine. “It's important for me to continue to merge these different musical worlds because I truly believe that an artist like myself acts as a bridge, connecting all these cultures.”

“Encendío” is the Afro-Latin star's first release this year after the singles “Fiesta y Borrachera” and “En La Mía” were released in 2023. The new track will be part of a full-length project due in April. He recently released his afrobeat album Champion Ninz in 2022, with tracks “Mine” and “Energia” with Jossman. Rolling rock called his LP Global Ninz as one of The Rolling Stones top Spanish-language and bilingual albums of 2021.