Following the global success of previous hits like Kind of Love and Falling, which dominated airwaves from Café Mambo Ibiza to BBC Cambridge and Kiss FM, South African EDM producer Undertone returns with his most experimental release to date — Non-Type Certified.
A track that defies categorization, Non-Type Certified is as emotionally charged as it is structurally bold. Inspired by an old-school doo-wop/Motown-styled vocal hook that “invoked real emotion”, Undertone builds a futuristic soundscape that boldly plays with musical form.
“This song was born from a feeling — the kind of raw emotion only a classic vocal can stir,” says Undertone. “I wanted to honour that vintage soul while completely flipping the framework around it.”
The title Non-Type Certified reflects the track’s rebellious structure. It transitions fluidly between time signatures — shifting from a standard 4/4 into a waltz-style 3/4, back to 4/4, and then into 3/4 once more. Throughout, the bass riff changes four times, offering a dynamic sonic landscape that feels anything but linear.
At a steady 123 BPM, the rhythmic complexity is balanced by careful production choices: an arpeggiator-led main synth melody, analog-style percussion designed to complement the Motown trumpet accents, and a carefully layered open and closed hat interplay. Even the vocals themselves tell a story — the first verse is sped up, while the last is stretched, each set in different time signatures to mirror the tension and release in the song’s emotional arc.
Non-Type Certified takes the listener deeper into Undertone’s creative world — one where genre rules are rewritten, and nostalgia meets innovation head-on.
With his unique blend of business acumen and relentless creative drive, Undertone is proving that EDM can be both deeply human and structurally adventurous.
Non-Type Certified is out now on all major platforms. https://lnkfi.re/Undertone-NTC
Watch the video – https://youtu.be/aWh3HPe4Csw?si=gjRdsBtBXOlqG6dQ