Rocking London the Munkin way...

Wearing nail polish, interviewing world famous drummers, playing at London’s largest indoor festival and why music rocks his world – Travis Marc du Plooy chats to ZAmmm! about this and more!

A brother duo of South African blood, combined with British guitarist James Mattocks, makes up the London-based indie rock, skater punk 'munkin rock' outfit known as Munkinpure! And performing in London this weekend at Live Fest they will be!

Says Travis ahead of this big gig, “My brother Darryl and I are the Saffers in the band and our British guitarist James has been a dear friend for years, and one of the best guitarists on the scene at the moment!”

After battling it out in live heats across the UK and beating 10,000 acts, Munkinpure are to play Live and Unsigned National Final at The O2 on Saturday 23 July at Indigo2, one of the main stages of Live Fest Festival. 

Q1. I’ve seen you wearing nail polish, what else makes your style unique and quirky?

Yeah sometimes I wear nail polish, I also wear some strange pants which most people wouldn't be caught dead wearing, haha. However, the part that makes Munkinpure unique or quirky is that I am the drummer and lead vocalist, which is something you don't really see that often anymore. We combine indie and rock and make a pretty cool mixture of music!

Q2. As a drummer yourself, how has it been to interview other drummers?

I've interviewed quite a few famous, and not so famous drummers for a website called UKDrummer.com and a magazine in South Africa called 'SA Drums and Percussion'. I love the drums and feel very fortunate about that I've been able to meet and talk with some of my drumming heroes. To date I've interviewed Jonathan Moffet (Micheal Jackson), Karl Brazil (Robbie Williams), Johnny Rabb (Bio Diesel) and even Ian Paice (Deep Purple) to name just a few. I find it really inspiring and love how drummers in particular always seem so willing to share their knowledge and ideas.

Q3. Why do you love what you do?

I love music because it makes me feel everything that I think one should feel in order to feel alive - love, hate, anger, happiness, compassion, jealousy - everything. I think music is the greatest gift you can give someone. It's like a religion to me and I couldn't live without it.

Q4. Where did your love of drumming begin?

I started drumming when I was in my teens, I was a huge Dave Grohl fan (still am) and loved the programmed beats on most of Michael Jackson’s records so basically started trying to imitate those grooves while using as much energy as I could to emulate Dave's drumming, before realising that other drummers actually existed. Now I'm really into Keith Moon, Tommy Lee, Barker and Danny Seraphine. According to my parents (who are super supportive) I would apparently hit anything and everything while growing up. Eventually I won some money off of a radio station, bought some drums and the rest is history.

Q5. How did you end up in London?

We felt that we had explored a lot of the possible avenues that our genre could explore back in SA and decided that we should try and expand our horizons. We love SA and we feel that it will always be home, we want to try and take our music internationally and are happy knowing that our fellow Saffers are proud of what we seem to be achieving thus far, we'll never forget our roots! 

We wish Munkinpure all the best tomorrow night - as well as another South African singer songwriter known as Malory Torr - the cousin of SA-based singer songwriter Josie Field. To book a ticket for Live Fest at The O2 visit www.livefest.co.uk

Rock on Munkinpure and Malory Torr,

x

Spread the Madiba magic...

On this day, Mandela Day, as Madiba celebrates his 93rd birthday, one of his last few on this earth, we have to start thinking of his legacy while he's alive!

And thinking too, about how each of us can embody the gracious empathy and gentle encouragement for others which he has lived over the years!

A wonderful example, from Nelson Mandela Bay itself (aka Port Elizabeth), is a little video we came across recently! This is a classic example of how doing some amazing for others (and combined with music of course), can make such a difference to those around us!

From the very African opening of Shosoloza which is sure to inspire a bit of nostalgia and homesickness, it rolls into so many more little pop-up acts unfolding around the shopping centre, distinctly South African with the Steers and Wimpy logos blazing in the background! The little medley includes a cool re-creation of Katy Perry's Firework set against a Glee-esque beat, as well as a funky version of  Grease's 'You're the one I want'!

At first I wasn't sure who's behind this little impromptu burst of shopping centre inspiration, perhaps a drama school, a local church group or maybe just a bunch of friends? But then all is revealed at the end - and what a clever approach to attract attention for their cause and service! But what I do know is that the reactions on the unsuspecting faces as this little acapella performance unfolds is worth the watch more than finding out who put the video together!

How can you spread the Madiba magic, today and everyday!?

Do something for someone, hell - do something without anyone knowing - something that will make someone smile! Cos afterall, what's life about if not to share the magic!

Rock on Madiba magic,

x

Abra-ca-da-bra-ZAmmm!...

There is great power in writing things down. We all know it, have been told it a trillion times, and yet, how often do we actually write down what we want, or write about - and talk about - what we truly believe in! 

I've been writing a lot more things down recently. Lists, blog posts, letters. And even The List. Cos writing matters, and makes a difference! Both for ourselves, and to those we share our writings with. And with the online reach to all corners of the world, never has it been more powerful to write about things that matter right here on ZAmmm!

And that's why I keep on writing about SA music. Because it really matters, and bit by bit, it reaches new ears as musicians continue creating and sharing their magic, and we all do what we can to spread the word, and amazing sounds, that come out of South Africa! So South Africa proud am I!

So yes, there is great power in writing things down. There is great power in dreaming, and believing too! Magic happens when you believe it can!

I've also recently been a runner up in the Amarula cocktail competition, with my cocktail - as described here on ZAmmm! - being photographed today and soon to be published on Amarula's website! Other exciting news received a few weeks ago - also written about here on ZAmmm! - is that Cape Town has been shortlisted, from 56 cities, to be in the top three for the World Design Capital 2014. And I believe that it is ours!

I am very Cape Town proud too, as you can tell from reading ZAmmm! From the Mr Testicles trip to the Mother City in May and our incredible stay at The Grand Daddy Hotel on Long Street (complete with photo essay of his visit with a Page 3 girl), to the buzz that is everywhere in the city, from music to design!

So, as a shortlisted city for World Design Capital 2014 alongside Dublin and Bilbao, it is now down to us to spread the word even more! No matter how many friends I tell, it is delightful news to them all! So please do share the exciting news! And with this as one reason alone, I am so excited to be back living in the Mother City, albeit that I am currently enjoying the London summer for a few weeks!

But back to all things creative in Cape Town - two months from now, Creative Week Cape Town 2011, kicks off! Do you have anything to add? I have been plotting some ideas for my return to the Mother City...

There sure is great power in writing things down. Amazing things come our way when we know what we want, combined with a little bit of faith and a whole lotta love!

Rock on writing things down,

x

Celebrating Mama Africa...

In following the graceful style of Mama Africa, four South African musicians play tribute, in London, to the soulful jazz legend who introduced African music to America and the world!

Its been two years and eight months since the death of Miriam Makeba... but her music lives on!

As part of the Barbican's Blaze festival, two special shows take place on 10 and 11 July at Hackney Empire in London! The legendary SA trumpeter - and former husband to Makeba - Hugh Masekela heads up the group consisting of Vusi Mahlasela, Thandiswe and Lira.

Masekela was always younger than Makeba, at 71 now, compared to Miriam's 76 years when she passed away in 2008. Both Masekela and Makeba were outspoken activists for civil rights in South Africa.

While Masekela has just shy of 14,000 Facebook fans, Makeba - known for her famous song 'Pata Pata' - has close on 12,000. Thandiswa, previously of Bongo Maffin, has about half of each of them, with 7,600 fans, whereas in stark comparison, the young soulful songbird Lira has 315,000 Facebook fans!

A fabulous line up indeed and well worth the trip to honour Mama Africa! Tickets from £15!

Rock on remembering legacies and legends,
x