Shakes & Les: Unreal Funk
Shakes & Les are a dynamic duo making waves in the Amapiano music scene. Kamogelo Shakoane (Shakes) and Sihle Lukhele (Les) joined forces in 2021 after individually exploring music production and DJing. Like many musical talents, playing instruments in the church is a foundation they have.
Notable tracks like “Funk 99,” a collaboration with LeeMcKrazy, and “Funk 55,” featuring DBN Gogo, Zee Nxumalo, Ceeka RSA, and Chley, highlight their innovative approach to blending traditional Amapiano rhythms with contemporary beats.
Their contributions to the Amapiano genre have not gone unnoticed; they have received nominations in categories such as Best Duo and Song of the Year, reflecting their growing influence in the South African music industry.
What has been unreal about your career trajectory that you’re amazed by?
Shakes: Shakes and I are both amazed by the rapid growth and global recognition our music has received, especially with songs taking off so quickly. It’s hard to explain, but it feels like it happened so fast. We started traveling early, and even the music gained international recognition. On my side, it’s been an amazing journey, and I’m really happy to see it all coming together. It feels like we’ve finally gotten the recognition we deserve.
Les: Yeah, it’s incredible that we had the opportunity to collaborate with major artists who we’ve admired for a long time. Suddenly, we gained easy access to all these big artists, and it felt surreal. Another amazing thing is that our music was also part of the Metro awards. This is our second year being nominated, which is such an honour.
As pioneers of your sound , what is at the centre of your creative process?
Shakes: Positive energy and teamwork.
Les: Another thing is that both of us are able to play live instruments, which really makes the process of creating our music so much more enjoyable. Being able to incorporate that element into our work just makes everything flow more naturally.
I was taught how to play instruments by my dad. I played the piano, and he’s been involved with church music for a very long time, up until we started doing Amapiano. As for Shakes, he played drums at his church. So, that’s where we both got our musical foundations.
What was in the Air when you made Funk 99 & Funk 55 ?
Shakes: The Funk 99 track was created in separate sessions. We started with the beat, played it live as an instrumental, and it gained traction. After a gig, LeeMcKrazy freestyled and we decided to hit the studio. He recorded his vocals, and we mixed them with the original instrumental. Once finished, we played it live, and the crowd’s response was amazing. The collaboration happened naturally, and we didn’t know who we’d feature until LeeMcKrazy jumped on the track. Every step felt like progress.
Les: Funk 55 was created the day before Funk 99. We were on a funk wave, making tracks like Funk 11 and Funk 22, when our manager, Bandile, told us Zee Nxumalo was trending. Although we were working on soulful music for her, Zee came to the studio and, with her Uber just minutes away we decided to switch up the vibe as soon as we played the Funk 55 beat. She wanted to feature and she recorded one line. After she left, Shakes and I tweaked the track, and we knew it was going to fire. Bandile sent it to DBN Gogo, who played it at Makubenjalo that night. The crowd went wild, and we realized the song had potential but needed something extra. We called Chley, who added an amazing verse, completing the track. That’s how Funk 55 came together.
Failing forward – have there been moments where you recognised that you just have to keep going and be bold and divisive in your pursuits?
Shakes: Every brand faces challenges, and we’ve had our tough moments, but we’ve always pushed forward. Early on, we released unmastered tracks, but as we grew, we realized the importance of leveling up. With the Funk series, we created a new Amapiano subgenre and started releasing properly mixed and mastered tracks. This growth helped us understand the value of quality music that stands the test of time. We want our music to be enjoyed by future generations, so we prioritize quality in everything we release, ensuring it sounds great wherever it’s played.
Les: During our first international gig in Tanzania, we were excited to see artists like Diamond Platnumz, but our experience was bittersweet. On our way back, we realized we had lost a bag with all our essential music gear, including USBs, external hard drives, and headphones. It was a huge setback, especially since it was our first time traveling internationally. We lost all our projects, but instead of giving up, we started fresh. That experience taught us the importance of backing up our work, which is why we now always have extra backups and ensure our music is mastered before release.
What legacy do you hope your contribution at the present time leaves behind? (individually and as a musical duo)
Shakes: I hope we’re remembered as pioneers who helped shape and elevate Amapiano, creating sub genres like Funk, Sgija, Soulful Piano, and Barcadi. Our goal is to inspire others to contribute to the genre’s growth through collaboration, which was key to its rise. I want us to be seen as part of the movement that pushed Amapiano to the top and set an example for others to follow.
Les: I want us to be remembered as an example of how experimenting with new sounds can work. I hope to inspire producers and artists to believe in their unique ideas and create something impactful in Amapiano. When Shakes and I started, we were both focused on our solo careers. After a back-to-back set that got the crowd hyped, we realized collaborating was even more powerful. Since then, we’ve been creating amazing music together, and I believe it will always be this way.
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