Africa

"Africa" by Toto is one of the most iconic songs in rock history. Written by David Paich and Jeff Porcaro for the album Toto IV (1982), it won the Grammy for Record of the Year and has become a cultural phenomenon that continues to resonate with new generations. The song's layered arrangement — featuring lush synthesizers, intricate percussion patterns, and that unforgettable chorus — makes it both a joy and a challenge to recreate.

It's always a challenge to produce tracks for Malinda, and this time it was even more special because Toto is one of my favorite bands. Recreating the instrumental of one of their most iconic songs was a dream project. Africa, like every Toto song, has been meticulously composed and instrumented — every part has purpose, from the signature keyboard intro to the complex guitar work by Steve Lukather.

The percussion sections in particular took me the most time. Jeff Porcaro's drum patterns on this track are legendary in the music production world — layered congas, marimbas, and the drum kit all interweave to create that distinctive African-inspired groove. Mentally separating the different sonorities and patterns from the dense original mix was the biggest challenge of this remake.

You can see and listen to the final result in Malinda's video from her YouTube channel Translator Fails: Africa - Translator Fails.