EDM Producer Undertone Releases a Modern “Twist” on 80’s classic – ‘Still Not Taking It’
South African EDM producer Undertone returns with “Still Not Taking It,“ a banging electronic take on one of rock’s most recognisable songs – Twisted Sister’s 1984 anthem We’re Not Gonna Take It.
Thanks to Apple Music South Africa for adding it to their New Music Daily Playlist –
The project has been years in the making. It first began in 2023 using the original vocal recording, but it soon became clear the track could never be officially released due to copyright restrictions. Rather than abandoning the idea, Undertone set out to secure the necessary permissions. After initially approaching Dee Snider, he discovered the rights had been sold to Universal Music. Following months of discussions, adaptation rights were finally granted, allowing the project to move forward.
With the legal hurdles cleared, vocalist Damian was brought in to record a brand-new vocal performance. Over the following weeks, Undertone carefully rebuilt the track, keeping the spirit of the original.
“I wanted people who grew up with the original to recognise those little details,” says Undertone. “At the same time, I wanted it to feel like a new song that younger listeners could enjoy too.”
Rather than simply recreating the song, Undertone spent time studying the original recording to understand what made it so memorable. A subtle bassline from the 1984 version was reimagined in both the bass and lead synth, while a snare was chosen to closely match the character of the original recording. As a final nod of respect, a short guitar motif based on the original riff (E, D#, C#, B) appears throughout the track, tying the new production back to the song that inspired it.
Known for his melodic, uplifting approach to electronic music, Undertone has steadily built a catalogue of releases including Kind of Love, Falling, Don’t Ask and Running Ahead, with his music receiving support on radio stations in South Africa and internationally.
Mastered by Fin Mastering, Still Not Taking It is a club floor filling tribute to a timeless rock anthem while confidently standing on its own as a modern EDM production—bridging generations.