Many artists today pay lip service to the ideal of collaboration, and the ethos of working with a network of creators. However, this sprit often fails to translate into their work. By contrast, Cape Town producers CodeKid and Sound of Xee has been grabbing all the opportunities for collaboration that are provided by the internet…
Over the last few years, DJ Fosta has been steadily winning international acclaim with his expressive house production. Hailing from the township of Langa in Cape Town, he has played at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK and has seen the likes of Skrillex and Richie Hawkins visit his studio. He describes his artistic mission…
Fuck your false sense of reverence as you snort and swallow for sensation, lapping up the glitter of smashed glass in sweaty rooms. Different artillery is required for these cities where hate can be placed on a heart through the harsh angles of the grind through grimey streets. In a summoning by the Open Time…
Raw X studios is where the magic happens, where pH has produced and recorded some seminal South African works. The esteemed producer dropped his solo effort, From Giyani with Love last year to astounding success. I sat down with him to review his recording career, and delve into the world of a brilliant beatmaker. My…
Paradoxically, keeping track of musical genres is both easier and harder than it’s ever been. The furthest, most extremes shores of recorded sound are available at the scroll of a mouse, but the proliferation of new music being released all the time can be disorientating. One way of keeping afloat is to identify key releases…
Motlatsi Khosi (MK): The South African music and art scene has seen a new growth in the quality and success of her local acts. Artists such as Nakhane Toure, Moonchild and Elo are setting the bar high for the next generation of music entrepreneurs. I sat down to talk with Kazim, a young man neck-high…
The dulcet tones that helped make ‘Boss Zonke’ a national phenomenon, that feature on Maraza’s Igesi belong to Lasta; A Zulu, neo-electronic, punk singer. In her EPK, Lasta reveals her artistic journey and she details how she’s sung on many hooks, for many artists. And while paying dues is a part of becoming established in…
The Johannesburg rapper is on the rise with the release of ‘Tried to tell em’, the debut from his Nobody Else mixtape. The rapper and his brother, Bambaatha Jones, form the Nobody Else creative agency and collective. The style and sound in the video reflect TSA’s urban influences peppered with the perenial concerns of millenials; sneakers and self…
SA Hip Hop is experiencing an unprecedented moment of success, the genre has reached a new level of popularity in the country especially amongst young South Africans. Junior Mabunda aka Uncle Party Time is doing his bit to drive the sound through his SA-Hip-Hop-banger-filled dj sets at parties like ONYX, Every Other Thursday and Bohemian…
The Cape Town based electronic artist Angel Ho made an international splash last year with his hard- hitting debut EP Ascension. That release consisted of five sinister experimental tracks and was mastered by Arca, whose previous collaborators have included Kayne West and Bjork. Angel Ho is also the co-founder of NON records, an internet based…
Local Producer Damascvs is promoting his new EP But I ain’t got no water for you with a science fiction infused music video. ‘Revogue’ is a looping, hypnotic track which lies somewhere between the ambience of Clams Casino and the frenetic space jazz of Flying Lotus. It’s ethereal, but with a strong current of unease….
Agord Lean spent Feburary recording his upcoming EP in the Bubblegum Club project space at Workshop Newtown. He describes the residency as, “strenuous but fruitful” and provides insight into the creative process, emphasising the importance of, “making work and cultivating your own voice”. And realising the incredible scope of creative expression while embracing the changes…
