Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Brenda Fassie - Vulindlela
It was a hell of a shock hearing yesterday’s news about Lebo, as I mentioned in my previous post. Today’s news tells more of her last moments; of how she had been thrown clear of her Land Cruiser Prado meaning she wasn’t wearing safety-belts; that there were so few injuries visible, but that she had been crushed internally; that the driver either fell asleep behind the wheel, or was distracted – enough to lose control.
There are so many lessons to be learnt by this tragedy.
It seems to be a sad time for South Africa, also having recently lost Moses Kumalo to death that could have been prevented.
Sipho Gumede, Moses Molelekwa, TK, Ben Shabalala, Chas Smit, Gito Baloi & Brenda Fassie (UPDATE - and now Jabu Khanyile...)– these are all artists in the last number of years – all huge talents that are lost to us well before their time.
Ma Brrrr, as Brenda was known, is one of the most famous residents of Langa Township, just outside Cape Town. Ma Brrr was the undisputed queen of SA music, and even felt she had the right to class herself as the Madonna of Africa. And she was – she sold more albums than Madonna did, and enjoyed shocking her audiences just as much! But she lived life in the fast lane, and it eventually caught up with her.So, in honour of fallen hero’s, I would like to feature Ma Brrr’s hit Vulindlela. That we can all enjoy every day as if it is our last that; we look around and appreciate who we are, and where we are, and most of all that we think, and take care of ourselves.
Labels: Brenda Fassie, Jabu Khanyile, Langa, Lebo Mathosa, Moses Molelekwa, Sipho Gumede
Monday, October 23, 2006
Lebo Mathosa is gone!
It was with great sadness that we heard the reports this morning about the tragic passing of Lebo Mathosa.It has been reported that she was the passenger in a vehicle that lost control, rolled and skided off the road, leaving the driver with minor injuries. Lebo sustained fatal injuries.
Lebo is an icon in SA Music, from her early days as part of Boom Shaka, to her success as a solo artist, and just a few months ago she was nominated for a MOBO award for Best African Act, having previously won Best Dance Album for Dream, Best Dance Single for intro and Best Female Vocalist at the South AFrican Music Awards.
"You can't deny death, you can't fear it. I'm sure God has a better place for us, if you're a believer." Lebo said in November 2004, just after learning of Brenda Fassie's passing.
Lebo Mathosa's talent will be missed by the whole industry.
Labels: Brenda Fassie, Lebo Mathosa, SAMA
Friday, October 06, 2006
Verity & the Lucky Packet Project
I was visited last week by Kirsten, who represents Verity, a very innovative artist from Cape Town. Verity has become something of an icon in the way she has created a campaign around selling, what could almost be called shares or ‘future-ownership, in an album she hasn’t yet recorded, and we’re excited to be featuring her on our database!Her campaign, called the Lucky Packet Project, was launched at the end of last year, and Verity has had varied success in that she has sold ’future copies’ to people from 20 different countries, so she is reaching audiences far and wide. I suppose that I am just a little disappointed that she hasn’t had more success and already recorded the album, but this is still a very cool idea. Selling 5000 copies, while also raising R80 000 for two charities - POWA and a new project Verity has set up, the Live your Dream Foundation to empower other South African artists.
She has been written about in most of the major blogs in SA and even some abroad, and she’s had newspaper articles, television pieces, and I just heard today, that her form of marketing her product has even been as discussion topic at a conference to alternative marketing in Sweden. So why has she only sold 710 copies?At least she is building an impressive appearance list, having performed with her band at evens such as the Kirstenbosch Winter Concert series, at the Up the Creek Music Festival, the Media 24 Annual Awards and the Levi’s Origional Blues Festival.
And she has a very cool band backing her up. Her band consists of; Nelson Malela on keyboards, from Congo and who came to South Africa to play keyboards for Brenda Fassie just before she passed away & since then has become a well respected pianist on the local scene; Helder Gonzaga hails from Mozambique and is a final year Jazz student at UCT while also working as a full time session musician in and around Southern Africa; Tony Paco hails from Mozambique and is a sought after drummer and percussionist for some of SA's top bands and has recently returned from touring the East.
Verity has been working with Helder and Tony for the last two years and they bring their Mozambiquan magic to the rhythm section of the band. Their incredible combined musical experience adds a distinctly African flavour to Verity's melodic folk/rock songs. Nelson is a relatively new addition to the band and brings his beautiful playing style and charming stage presence to Verity's shows.Here is a small video snippet of some of her live shows. So come on South Africa – let me know if you would like to help fulfil an innovative idea that’ll give you pleasure in the end too! Contact me so that we can get the orders streaming in, and better still, book her for your next event!
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Madosini - Queen of Langa
Madosini got back from Amsterdam a few days ago, after having performed at the Mouthbow Festival at the Musziekgebouw Aan 't Ij for a one off show, and then immediately set off for the Transkei to see her family - talk about jetset!
She's is such as amazing personality - as I keep mentioning - and her music is true "of the African earth". This lady who mesmerizes audiences the world over lives in a humble flat that she shares with a number of other people. And i know for a fact that all her earnings go towards the welfare of her grandchildren, while she chooses her simple exsistance is a very run down part of Langa township.
Now that Brenda Fassie, also one of Langa's many talented children, has passed on, I really do believe that Madosini deserves the title of Queen of Langa.
Here is another short video clip I was fortunate enough to be able to capture with famed British artist from the group Strangelove, Patrick Duff when he came to rehearse with Madosini and Vuyo Katsha of Amampondo. It's rough and ready, and the builders outside had probably heard it all before, but it shows how two worlds can meet and be creative in the shortest time - something we like to refer to as in the spirit of ubuntu...
Patrick Duff, Madosini Manqina & Vuyo Katsha, Gugluthu outside Cape Town, 15 July 2003.
She's is such as amazing personality - as I keep mentioning - and her music is true "of the African earth". This lady who mesmerizes audiences the world over lives in a humble flat that she shares with a number of other people. And i know for a fact that all her earnings go towards the welfare of her grandchildren, while she chooses her simple exsistance is a very run down part of Langa township.Now that Brenda Fassie, also one of Langa's many talented children, has passed on, I really do believe that Madosini deserves the title of Queen of Langa.
Here is another short video clip I was fortunate enough to be able to capture with famed British artist from the group Strangelove, Patrick Duff when he came to rehearse with Madosini and Vuyo Katsha of Amampondo. It's rough and ready, and the builders outside had probably heard it all before, but it shows how two worlds can meet and be creative in the shortest time - something we like to refer to as in the spirit of ubuntu...
Patrick Duff, Madosini Manqina & Vuyo Katsha, Gugluthu outside Cape Town, 15 July 2003.
Labels: Amampondo, Brenda Fassie, Langa, Madosini, Patrick Duff
