Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Simphiwe Dana from around the world
A few years back, Robert from M.E.L.T. introduced Len and I to music journalist, Wolfgang Koenig, from Berlin Germany, when he needed a place to stay while coming to the then, Cape Town North Sea Jazz Festival.Wolfgang, who has degrees in Foreign Trade, African Economics and Communication Sciences, has since been to Cape Town a number of times more; sleeping on our couch, Jasper’s bed, the floor in the lounge – where-ever we could put him! And in return he hosted us in 2004 when we took a catalogue of artists to the POPKOMM festival in Berlin, and later we shared the same B&B during the 2004 WOMEX in Essen.
When I grow up one day I want to have as many CD’s as Wolfgang has! As he explains,” I rather collect CDs than banknotes.”
Living in a stunning 1930’s apartment block with high ceilings, big rooms and long passages, I couldn’t believe the amount of CD’s, DVD’s and LP’s he has collected over the years. Almost every wall is covered with racks, from floor to ceiling, and the amazing thing is that he knows where everything is. When talking about an artist he would dash off and pluck the CD he wanted without having to look around – he just knows.Wolfgang used to live Eastern side of the Berlin wall during the Cold War, but as a music journalist, he was permitted from time to time travel across to the decadent Capitalist and of course 'friendly' countries like Cuba. In 1989 when the wall came down, he was in the U.K., suddenly finding himself free, and not having to adhere to the strict controls that he had had to put up with at home.
But being on the Eastern side of the wall, Wolfgang came into contact with quite a number of South African musicians who were studying at East Germany during Apartheid, with whom he used to play music. So from those early days, his love of South African music has continued, and I have some awesome recordings of concerts and interviews he's had with artists like Pops Mohamed, Dorethy Masuka and Hugh Masekela.
At the beginning of last year, just after the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, we started getting loads of enquiries for the very exciting Simphiwe Dana, after she had blown audiences away. We made contact with her, and her partner who manages her, and although they were very pleased to work with us, we didn't have any of marketing material – which isn’t great when trying to impress clients.So we only had one thing to do – contact Wolfgang! And within 15 minutes we had a write-up, and a track from her debut album, Zandisile.
Simphiwe, who hails from the Transkei, has gone on to become one of the top artists available in South Africa, and with her strong sense of community spirit, has co-written tracks with strong social messages – Sibuthwele Ubunzima explores the problem of hunger in SA, Zandisile is a song from mother to daughter, and Ingoma is about the joy that can be found in music, regardless of other problems in your life. Her music touches the soul.
To celebrate a new album by this South African star, The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street that will be hitting the shelves soon, I have been able to find a small snippet of her Zandisile video – once again having to get it from a Spanish fan who has posted the vid. It matters not, as long as we get to enjoy it!
Labels: hugh masekela, MELT, North Sea Jazz Festival, Pops Mohamed, Simphiwe Dana, WOMEX
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Thandiswa 'just sings'!
I first came across Thandiswa Mazwai as vocalist 'Red' from the South African super-kwaito-stars Bongo Maffin.This outfit was one of the first real cross-over groups to make Kwaito more accessible to the white audiences, with catchy beats and really some cool chorus lines, getting them loads of air time on major radio stations, and with their international exposure through tours.
We had chance to see her in action as part of the first 46664 concert in Cape Town, while there with the Pondo's, Women Unite and Red Zebra drummers; we booked her for the Woolworths 'Be More You' campaign; Lenny was at her presentation to the WOMEX delegates in Newcastle U.K. last year after she had been nominated for a BBC World Music Award; and at this years Cape Town International Jazz Festival.
But, we were to work closely with her in 2004, in collaboration with Zoom South Africa, when she was used to record the new PEP jingle.
It was a morning in the studio, along with our close friend, and amazing vocalist Sindi Harrison, she showed true class and professionalism. It was amazing to watch how easily she was able to translate the ideas that seemed cool on paper, but just became amazing when she sang them!But that can be heard on her debut album Zabalaza (GWVCD54). Returning to her roots - including a trip to the Transkei to meet with Madosini - she lets us know how it feels to be a young South African growing up in a new state of freedom.
'The world changes, revolutionaries die, and the children forget' (Nizalwa Ngobani?) She hasn't forgotten her roots. She's embraced them and made them hers. She's become a star to be listened to!
This is a small video that was used to introduce the new jingle at a PEP conference in 2004!
Friday, June 30, 2006
Goldfish rocked Cannes
Goldfish came to my attention when I saw them live in Cape Town early in 2005, and it was an awesome show. I knew that they were going to go places. But it was only after Lenny came back from WOMEX Newcastle 2005 with their debut CD Caught in the loop, that I knew they were going to take the market by storm!They recently returned from a quick tour to France and the UK to launch their Caught in the loop, started it all off with a performance at the Lions Festival in Cannes -
GOLDFISH: We were invited to perform in
GOLDFISH: What a set-up we had.
A FAT Sound rig on the main beach in Cannes, a nice stage, great lighting, a big screen… and 2000 people who had never heard of us before.
Dance floor was packed, jamming to the sounds of Goldfish for our two hour set, with lots of ‘merci beaucoup’ and ‘voulez vouz couchez avec moir….’ floating up from the sand below. Don’t know what they were on about. Our French ain’t so good!
After that it was off to England where Caught in the loop was launched the the UK public.
GOLDFISH: Arrive in
We are playing at a Club called Zulus in Fulham, and its like a reunion for long lost Goldfish fans…so many familiar faces from around the world. One guy deserves special mention(Alex McGee) had been at our gig at Baraza, followed us to our gig @88 in Jozi, and was at our gig in Fulham - all in the space of 10 days! That’s dedication.
The place was absolutely packed and they wouldn’t let us go- but after 2 encores we called it a night and cracked open a couple of cold ones jumped in the crowd and had a big group hug. We are coming back.
It was only a 10-day tour - we're demanding people, us South Africans, and David and Dominic had to rush back home to get on with performances all over the country - including at this years Durban July!Talk about a high-flying life style! Awesome stuff!
