Look who made the list...

I always find this a fun litmus test for how much of the industry I actually know! From my love of rock and singer songwriters in South Africa - the SAMA nominations always remind me just how much more there is out there in our rainbow nation! From Maskandi to Venda, Afrikaans to jazz, gospel and Kwaito - oh, and not forgetting the overwhelming following of dance music in SA!

Here are a selection of SAMA categories and nominations that got me excited and crossing digits and congratulating artists (with little stars to show extra love):

Album of the year

Flash Republic – Killer Moves *

Liquideep – Fabrics Of The Heart *

Prime Circle – Jekyll & Hyde *

Professor – University Of Kalawa Jazmee

Zakes Bantwini – Love, Light & Music

Duo/Group of the year

Flash Republic – Killer Moves *

Kwela Tebza – Gauteng Made In South Africa/Mzansi

Liquideep – Fabrics Of The Heart *

Prime Circle – Jekyll & Hyde *

Tumi & The Volume – Pick a Dream *

Best Music Video of the year
Freshlyground – Chicken To Change *

Nomfusi – Nontsokolo

Teargas – Goodfellaz

The Parlotones – The Stars Fall Down *

The Parlotones – Life Design

Best Rock Album: English
John Ellis – My Own Way Home

Prime Circle – Jekyll & Hyde

The Narrow – You Don’t Get To Quit *

The Parlotones – Live Design

Zebra & Giraffe – The Inside *

Best Pop Album: English
Danny K – Across The Line

Jax Panik – I Am Jax Panik *

Locnville – Sun In My Pocket

Louise Day – Swallowed By The City 

The Arrows – Make Believe *

Record of the year (the only category voted for by the public - my thoughts below!)

Alone – Liquideep

Breathing – Prime Circle Good song, but not a winner in this category.

Bum Bum – Zakes Bantwini

Dreamer – Arno Carstens * 

Fire Is Low – Freshlyground

Get Busy Living – Goldfish

Hobie Beach – Kinky Robot

Imoto – Professor

It's A Party – Jozi

Lovesick – The Arrows * It's stuck in my head and I don't mind

Love You Better (w/ Rue-Groove) – Crazy White Boy * Addictive. Like.

Mama (w/ Ringo) – Black Coffee

Ngisemthanda (w/ Joocy, DJ Tira & Dr Duda) – DJ CNDO

Potoko (w/ Juice Matute) – DJ Mahoota

Show Dem (w/ HHP) – JR I'm sure this was on the same list last year!?

Turn Up The Volume – Auriol Hays

Twisted – Crash Car Burn * Impressed every time I hear it on radio!

Warrior – Louise Carver Great track, great collaboration!

Woza – Jaziel Brothers

Wrong For You – Loyiso


Click here for the full list of 2011 SAMA nominations.

Almost as good as live music for me, is the chance to buy a really good SA music DVD - something which not many artists in this country have done well yet - so some other nominations I'm excited for include Nibs van der Spuy's amazing 'Live at the Vagabond Cafe' DVD  for 'Best Jazz/ Instrumental/ Popular Classical DVD' and both Locnville and The Parlotones in 'Best Global Chart DVD'!

Coming up tops as SA artists who have been abroad a fair bit with most nominations from a quick glance, we have Prime Circle leading with 6 (ahead of Parlotones with 4), Liquideep with 5 and then a few more with 4, namely Flash Republic, Freshlyground, Zakes Bantwini (must google), Professor (need to find out more about this Durban Kwaito artist), Louise Carver and Goldfish, followed by Locnville with 3 - and a couple of nods for Karen Zoid, Nianell, the Arrows, Jax Panik and Loyiso Bala too!

Rock on to all those celebrating the night away at the SAMA nomination party,

x

Yes, I'm guilty...

As a true original, rock-loving, leaning-towards-acoustic singer songwriter lyrical loving music type girl, I feel I've commited some sort of music sin...

I've got Musica partly to blame for making such music so accessible and reasonably priced at R99.95. And for a double CD - score! Now, it is time to admit my little secret and tell you just what it is that I bought... Any guesses thus far? Any particular CDs you would consider as a shocking purchase?

Well, the moment of truth is that the album I bought isn't even an original album. Its a compilation. Ok, so that's the second hint. Double CD compilation. Ok... so, I have just become the owner (by choice of course) - of Now 56! Does that make me a bad music person?

I have this thing about not supporting big international commercial artists unless they are true musicians and passionately into their art. Especially since this is where most record labels tend to spend their marketing budgets, because they know that these are easy artists to sell. So instead of investing in local talent, they'd rather spread the next J'Lo or Justin Bieber - of which neither probably writes their own songs, music or gets involved with much more than photo shoots, press events and live performances.

But what did ease my conscience was just how many SA artists are actually on the album. And also, the reason I bought it - as is often the case with music - is for purposes of nostalgia...

You see, this trip to SA has been just shy of four fabulous months - and I've been loving my driving time, while listening back and forth between 5FM and KFM. And with many awesome SA tracks on the radio a lot more than I've recalled in the past, its been delightful to hear some great SA songs on radio.

While the SA artists on Now 56 are the more well known SA ones, at least they are on there. And at 9 tracks out of a total 41 on the two CDs, that is nearly 25% which is akin to the local radio station local radio play. I hope that by Now 58 we are at 50% of local stuff versus international commercial overkill.

SA artists on Now 56:
- The Arrows: Lovestruck
- Goldfish: Get busy living
- The Parlotones: The stars fall down
- Locnville: Love rush
- Prime Circle: Breathing
- Civil Twilight: Next to me
- Arno Carstens: Heartbreak Monday
- Freshlyground: Fire is low
- Jax Panik: Get up (if you're hot)




Other SA songs on local radio that I'm totally digging right now:
- Evolver One: Move along (wow, incredible when really loud and in a private driving space)
- What now: Toy soldiers
- Mccree: What is it
- Jax Panik: Rockstar (how can you not be in a good driving mood when this comes on! And the crazy cool video for this fabulous track is being released today - keep an eye out)
- Dirty Skirts:  Strike the match
- Civil Twilight: Love letters to the sky
- Good Luck: Taking it easy

Rock on local music getting out there,
x

SA music on a world stage!

I look at the last post in horror. How did two months pass without a post? I only have my state of mind to blame. I returned from SA a month ago... and have spent most of that time longing to be back. But Ive still been following as much SA music if not more...

To put this to rights, just a few things to mention this Friday:

1) It is the official World Cup Draw today - the day they announce which of the 32 world teams will play who and when. And its taking place in Cape Town right now! All sorts of fancy people are there, including David Beckham and Charlize Theron. Plus the afro fusion bunch of Freshlyground will be playing. Now this surely is quite a nice little gig to land! World TV domination in one show!! I also remember reading somewhere that Johnny Clegg could be playing, and it would make sense for him to add to this event... but I cant confirm that right now... so, anyone who is there - do share!

2) After no doubt killing Cape Town last night, The Killers move onto Joburg tonight with their epic catalogue of sing-a-long favourites. I saw them five years ago when they were promoting the Sam's Town single 'When we were young' and wow, what a stage act! Between the facial hair, good looks of Brandon Flowers and awesome collection of jackets, these boys put on an excellent show! But most of all, Im thrilled for Zebra & Giraffe who are supporting them! I've still yet to see this SA act who has undoubtedly been one of the biggest in 2009! But either they need to make it to London before I leave, or perhaps I shall just see them at home soon! Resolution for 2010: See Z&G LIVE!

3) Lastly, just outside London tonight - in Tunbridge Wells to be exact - SA heavy rockers Starseed will be playing yet another gig. I dont know quite when these guys are getting time to wash their clothes, kiss their girlfriends (well, wives) or any such things. They've been all around from north to south of late. Scotland two weekends ago, Wales this weekend past and now at least a bit closer to home so they can probably sleep in their own beds! But wow, it sure has been the year of the Seed!

And that's it for now folks. Happy Friday!

Rock on SA music smashing it on a world stage!
x

And the winners are...

Last week saw the MTV Europe Music Awards unfold right here in the UK, Liverpool to be exact. 

With Paul McCartney honoured for a lifetime achievement, it was all quite fitting as the home of where music as many know it, began! We’re talking The Beatles of course! But the British music wasn’t as evident as I expected, or the European music more to the point... Besides one category of best European artist, all the categories leaned heavily towards the American style. Even the production itself was largely dominated by Americans! I guess for an American brand, MTV is merely targeting its main audience!

The host of the evening, one ‘I kissed a girl’ all-American Katy Perry, was like a little kids kit of fun on the stage. Between her incredulous costume changes and funky set props, she was uber seductive and coy in a lollipop and short skirt kitch kinda way.

Yet, instead of annoying me with her cheezie squeezie lines, I found myself to be looking fwd to the next little in-between act – her very own cute and cuddly Katy show!

Then there was another all-American boy - Jared Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars - up on the red couch, interviewing all the winning artists, and while I adore the music of the band (and those epic eye candy videos for which they were recognised with Best video for Beautiful Lie) – I somehow found Jared to be weak and wimpy, and in parts annoying.

Hmmm. Well, awards galore was the theme of the evening – along with many of the 2008 hot tracks and acts being performed live on stage in Liverpool, we were treated to The Killers new track ‘Human’, Pink's ‘So What’ (awarded for most addictive track of the year) – including a pillow fight, finishing with a stage full of white feathers… and even Take That, who bless them, had performed at the first ever MTV Europe Music Awards 15 years ago!

And talking of first ones – while the Europe one was not very pan-European in reflection, one wonders if the first MTV Africa Music Awards in a couple of weeks – or the MAMAs – will hold out on true African influence – or end up satisfying a more American market?

I guess I could start to answer my own question on that one… as it is not then too surprising that Seether, one of SA’s best rock exports based now in LA, are up for a few nominations. Indeed these boys are no less patriotic or proud of their home land – and like most of us South Africans in the UK – Seether merely took the opportunity to move abroad to enhance their opportunities in a global market! And deserving of being recognised they indeed are! (Watch this space too as Seether will be in the UK early next year!)

Also up from SA are our amazing Goldfish boys, the ever-fabulous Parlotones, Freshlyground (who seem to never miss a single award nomination) and the ‘we-like-them-a-lot’ Cassette crew! On top of all the SA nominations, there are mostly Nigerian nominations – and in a wider context, many hip hop artists up for the awards on 22 Noember!

The hip hop link makes me think America immediately… and from SA there are a few key SA artists I need to explore, mostly of the hip hop Kwaito style I believe. So expect to hear more about HHP, DJ Cleo and Jozi soon!

And on closing, it was with much interest that the ‘Artist choice of the year award’ at the MTV Europe awards – went to one Lil Wayne… a US rapper, most famous in my mind (since I don’t listen much to the hip hop scene)… for the fact that he decided to sample a little piece of a track from South Africa’s beloved Karma Swanepoel (ex-Henry Ate), now well established in the States, living in LA and an up-and-coming force to reckon with on the singer songwriter scene.

Somehow I don’t think Lil Wayne knew quite what he was messing with when he nicked her chorus and twisted it into a sample! I assume the lawsuit still continues. But for Lil Wayne winning the artists choice award, and seeing him speaking as he thanked everyone and received his award, well – he looked like just a darn lovely little lad!

And so – my thinking is that Lil Wayne should get Karma involved in his fast-track to fame and share the love as freely as he felt to share the sampling!

Rock on for receiving recognition, yeah!
X

PS. And a quick mention to Miriam Makeba who is all over the news as Mama Africa, the voice of Africa who inspired many, a woman who died on Sunday at the age of 76 whilst performing in Italy!

Seems the most fitting opportunity then to acknowledge her lifetime contribution of music of the continent, at the upcoming MAMAs. Its headline stuff already! "Mama Africa celebrated with a lifetime achievement award at the MAMAs!" Rest in peace Mama Africa!

Rock-star (seed)

The name game of self proclaim :)

Rockstars indeed,
Starseed are London-based rockers, originally from Joburg,
over the years adding a few local Londoners and international crew.
And with this so their sound grew!

About to launch a new single called Love's War,
Its a lyrical look at what in life is worth fighting for!
A band of passion,
a band of might
Be there to witness it on the launch night!

A week away,
so diarise today.
Thurs the 2nd of Rocktober
at the Purple Turtle they shall play!

Catch more about these boys and what their new single is all about in an interview in next week's South African newspaper!

And in the name of SA music - we are counting down the days til the first ever SA Toast day goes down indoors at Olympia! Catch Freshlyground, Just Jinjer, Arno Carstens, Jacsharp and maybe a boerie roll or two!

See you around for some good SA music in the lead up to Rocktober!

Rock on!
x

Looking back on a fab trip home...

Sitting on the other side of the world, thinking back on the trip to South Africa and wishing it hadnt gone by so fast...

But we did so much - from wine and cheese tasting in Franschoek to sundowners and seafood by the sea, as well as catching the perfect Henry Ate reunion gig at the Brass Bell (extending my stay in Cape Town by a day and paying an extra £1,000 on my ticket to Joburg cos Nationwide decided to go bust that weekend!) But it was all worth it!

Pretoria was also wonderful - as well as going up north to Pilanesberg and Sun City for some game viewing and intense sunshine while running round the Valley of the Waves and going down super tubes in the African bush. We even jet skied and para-sailed. What a lot we did!

Then I went to Look and Listen in Pretoria - and after being bitterly dissappointed by the SA rock selection in Musica - I was wonderfully surprised to not only find en-mass variety of up and coming stuff, but also a uber helpful sales assistant who knew his SA stuff and pulled a few off the shelf for me.

So with a suitcase very full of exciting new South African music, I am now returned to the UK and ready to fully embrace the summer season of music ahead!

Some exciting names were recommended - aKING in particular. Plus The Sick Leaves and a female singer songwriter called Andra. Plus I got all the other recent albums that were missing from my collection due to bands not heading this way yet... I buy the albums in anticipation of their arrivals...

South African artists are once again out of hibernation and heading across this way as teh weather cools down south! Like migratory birds with a song to sing, they are flocking to us!

But more on that in due course. Finishing up on my SA reflections - I was ve chuffed to see Josie Field will be opening for James Blunt on his SA tour... and Flat Stanley , who was nominated for a SAMA, has the honour of opening for Counting Crows!


And today, the 14 May - it is only a month away til Seether will be playing at Download - and with much credibility they shall come as they have just snapped up the SAMA award for Best English Rock Album for 'Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces' - an album written following the death of lead singer Shaun Morgan's brother!

Other SAMA highlights around the rock arena include:
- Best female solo artist: Karen Zoid
- Best Duo / Group: Freshlyground
- Album of the year: Freshlyground - Ma'cheri
- Best Adult Contempary Album: Freshlyground
- Best Engineer: Freshlyground
(Yip, that's 4 awards out of 7 nominations for Freshlyground!)

- Best newcomer: Tasha Baxter
- Best global chart DVD: Harris Tweed
- Best instrumental album: Tony Cox
- Best Afrikaans rock album: Kobus! - Swaarmetaal
- Best pop album: Tasha Baxter - Colour of Me

And my favourite category: Best Sokkie album (only in SA!!!) - Kurt Darren... tho ihn fairness, I have never actually listened to Kurt Darren! Bless!

The SAMAs were held at Sun City on Sat 3 May - a few days before we went there. And to our horror - the petrol station and parking lot outside was covered in broken glass where party goers had 'celebrated' on the night!

Well, another year for artists to ride the (valley of the...) wave with their SAMA scoopings! And another year for more artists to work towards earning their spot...

Rock on South Africa,
x

Always a reason to celebrate!

Today feels rather quiet for a supposed day full of craic... St Paddy's day on a Monday just doesnt seem quite the way to do it! 

Yet Google never disappoints with their little logo all four-leaf clovered up! And as the top brand in the UK (voted recently in Superbrands 2008 survey), it makes me think how not many brands can play with their identity so much and yet still retain such recognition. This is surely the essence of a brand that all companies are after!

For bands and their brands, their name is usually what they go by - but for some artists, its the whole package of image and design and ambience all together. But of course never forgetting the talent involved to maketh the music. Who do you think are the best South African bands providing the image, the music and the design and ambience behind the brand...?

But back to celebrating musical talent - the South African Music Award nominations have recently been announced - with the award ceremony taking place on Friday 2 May at Sun City! There are some great nominations in there...

Freshlyground have picked up three nominations, Flat Stanley come in for the first time which is fabulous, Karen Zoid's Postmodern World is up for it (and what an amazing album!), Parlotones have made it in there and even LA-based SA band Seether!

And there are loads on there that I dont know, so some research is on the list! Here are a few of the more popular ones, more rock related than everything else:

Album of the year
- DJ Cleo
- Freshlyground
- Hip Hop Pantsula
- Jimmy Dludlu
- Zonke

Duo/Group
- Freshlyground
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Malaika (album: Sekunjalo)
- Seether
- Soul Brothers

Female solo artist
- Karen Zoid
- KB
- Lousie Carver
- Tasha Baxter (album: Colour of Me)
- Zonke

Male solo artist
- Black Coffee
- Chris Chameleon
- Hop Hop Pantsula
- Jimmy Dludlu
- McCoy Mrubata

Newcomer
- Tasha Baxter
- Camagwini
- Molweni
- Mpumi Dhlamini
- Tumi

Rock album: English
- Niemand
- Seether
- Springbok Nude Girls
- Taxi Violence
- The Parlotones

Rock album: Afrikaans
- Andries Botha
- Foto na Dans
- Kobus!
- Mel Botes
- Van Coke Kartel

Adult Contempary: English
- Flat Stanley
- Freshlyground
- Karen Zoid
- Louise Carver
- Melanie Lowe

Rock on South African music!
x

New beginnings...

A busy patch last week with Just Jinjer, Freshlyground and Samantha Horwill amongst Act4SA walk and Women's Day (and a public holiday) back at home.

Not to mention that OppiKoppi has now happened as well as Cape Town festival Ampli5 where international acts Violent Femmes and Jimmy Eat World entertained CT audiences as well as OppiKoppi'ers up north in Northam!

Back on the London front, Mann Friday have been busy offline as promised (making the most of this rainy indoor patch), and have put together this cool MF photo montage!

This week sees the arrival of Rory Eliot & The Reason who land on Friday and will be playing an impressive London circuit of cool cosy venues, from north to south, east to west - ending at the Halfmoon in Putney on 28 Aug! See this week's South African paper for the full (and sad) story of The Evolution of Plush tour for Rory Eliot & The Reason, a band born from tragedy and inspired by the dream to go on!

Talking of new beginnings, another SA band has just made the jump stateside to LA. Wickhead announced their move on the 4 July, and are already in sunny state of California. I am currently reviewing their EP Sexy Chiquita for next week's paper, so look out for that and news of what the Wickhead boys will do next. They are uber sexy, and uber hot right now! Just in time for summer!

And on the hope of summer, it is with irony that we all wait with baited breath for a bit of sunshine, and who better to isolate that irony and magnify the situation of South Africans living in the UK, than ultimate SA funny man, Barry Hilton! I know this gig blog is about SA Music in London, but who can resist a little bit of Barry! The Cousin will be creating ripples of laughter across London next week - Walkabout Wimbledon and Zulus Fulham!

That's it for now. Check out the gig blog, book a few tickets and get out there and see some of SA's fine talent!

Rock On SA Music,
x

Freshly off the plane...

Having just returned from recording in the world-reknowned Nashville, Tenessee.. freshly squeezed tracks on the table, and a fresh serving of South African vibes to be served up in London's freshly arrived summer sunshine! All round fresh goodness!


Catch Freshlyground tomorrow for this stopover show en route home! Most people know who Freshlyground is, but for those still wondering whether this is something related to food, then read on:

- SA's hottest afro-fusion band, hailing from Cape Town
- Bringing together 7 musicians from 3 southern African countries
- Combining the sweet sounds of flute, sax, guitar, keys and more
- Doing South Africa super proud
- Pulling in the MTV Europe Best African Act award in Nov 2006...

Need I say more!

Freshlyground, Sat 11 Aug at Shepherds Bush Empire for only £15 or £17 at the door. Frankly, cheaper than flying home to see them! Plus a special performance by ex-Fetish's fabulously pregnant Michelle Breeze. It is sure to be a super night if you're not already committed to the Act4SA walk and showdown gig, dancing your night away on a party boat on the Thames or catching the up and coming singer songwriter talents of Samantha Horwill! Phew, lots on this weekend and best of all, the SUN is shining!

Rock on Freshlyground!
x

Just who...?

It's early August, and in South Africa that can mean only one thing... time to haul out the tent, pack some warm clothes and a hat and head up north to the little town of Northam, not related to me by namesake, but I do hope to be the roving reporter 'Northam in Northam' one year soon! 

The event is OppiKoppi, South Africa's flagship music festival for all things rock 'n cool!

For those of us in England however, we are instead warmed by the promise of summer as the sun finally makes an appearance, and also in the week ahead we are to be delightfully entertained by not one, but TWO of South Africa's great exports.

1) Freshlyground - an afro-fusion band who have hit Europe by storm, winning the Best African Act at the MTV Europe Awards last year...

2) Just Jinjer - the long standing SA band who made the big jump stateside to kick up a storm in sunny California where they have been woeing the likes of Sheryl Crow, industry big guys and playing infamous incredible venues such as the Viper Room on Sunset Strip!

TWO amazing SA bands in ONE week? Wow, who needs OppiKoppi when the music comes to us!

Both bands will be in town for only one night each.

Just Jinjer spoiling us with a much-needed mid-week party, any excuse to break the dregs of routine and head on down to the Walkabout for an ice cold Savanna or Castle! Its the most South African I will get on my bday, Savanna in hand, friends around and JJ on stage. Schweet!

Here is the story as it ran is last week's South African paper. So go find a copy (or get out your magnifying glass!) if you wanna hear what the boys have been up to, how they are finding life in LA and what we can expect from them musically!

Having recently released a 6th album in South Africa, Im sure we can expect a taster of these songs at the Wed gig (also on their MySpace to get you in the mood!) along with a myriad of memory songs, too many good ones to mention!

Everyone has a favourite JJ song, How can you not! Bringing a little bit of sunshine-soaked home to London for this one time only, dont miss out!

Rock on two SA bands in London in one week,
x