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

Nothing beats live music to start a new year... (part 1)

I couldn't think of a better way to see in a new year than surrounded by live music! As always, there was too much choice... but as always, plans came together perfectly at the last minute!

Plan A was to head to the Falls Fest at Vic Falls in Zimbabwe, where Mann Friday were playing with the Parlotones. Cost cut that option short alas. Plan B emerged soon after when I spotted the Rock the River festival. Alas, there was a contesting evening of rock at the V&A Waterfront. So, as always, I aimed to do a bit of everything...

The evening started with sushi and champagne, followed by seeing 2011 in with Zebra & Giraffe (and some Jaegie and Millers!) I even scored a delightful blue head scarf from the lovely Josie, and thus was able to avoid the wind having its way with my hair!

We caught the end of CrashCarBurn when we arrived - long on my list to see - and I was thrilled they saved top tune Twisted to last! Zebra & Giraffe after them were indeed great, and after them - a fabulous surprise, unannounced on the bill - Good Luck!

Self-described while chatting to Ben Peters before he went on stage (Ben is brother of Dom of Goldfish duo and part of the Good Luck trio), he said, "We are kind of a Goldfish rip-off!"

I guess no one could say it quite as frankly as a blood brother, but I'd challenge Ben by saying we could do with more Goldfish-esque acts in our arsenal of SA music reaching the world! A delightful blend of electronic music with live on stage instruments and vocals - it is a fabulous recipe to close a stage, lift a crowd or just create a vibe! It was no wonder that this was Good Luck's third gig of the night! Good Luck performed a few current commercial winners, including 'Americano' - and they sure added fuel to the blaze of an already vibing new year's energy!

Rock on rocking new years (part 2 to follow!),
x

Six degrees of SAMA separation

Saturday 17 April was the official night of glitz and glamour at the 16th South African Music Awards held at Sun City. Its an important year for our country and quite an achievement that our music has been officially rewarded for 16 consecutive years.

I've highlighted a few of my fave categories and some artists who have made and will continue to make a splash on the international scene - and with six degrees of separation we can see how it all links together!

1. Blk Jks (pronounced Black Jacks), won Best Alternative Music Album: English for their album After Robots. They have been making waves from the US to SA so def worth keeping an eye on if you haven't already come across them!

2. Black Coffee - a SA DJ who has earned his stripes many times over. He walked away with Best Male Artist and Best Urban Dance Album for his third album entitled Home Brewed.

3. Home is one of Louise Carver's songs which she sang live at the SAMAs while she played a gorgeous grand piano. Kahn from The Parlotones accompanied her by harmonising to her track. Louise has recently released a new album and her first single Warrior is a collaboration with Zuluboy.

4. Zuluboy presented the award for Best Rock Album: English which went to The Parlotones for their third album Stardust Galaxies.

5. The Parlotones also walked away with Best Music Video for their second single off Stardust Galaxies for Push Me To The Floor.

6. Push Me To The Floor was also performed live at the SAMAs and Louise Carver joined in for this one. Ironically, her song Warrior also includes the exact same line 'push me to the floor'.

Rock on recognition of SA music and SAMAs.
x

So parlo right now...

Back in March I wrote about the Parlos and invented the word 'parlo' - a new addition for the Oxford / Collins or who ever would take it... Im wondering now if I should in fact contact the dictionary dudes and get that word in soon...

These boys are definitely doing it PARLO style! My implied meaning was that parlo meant 'huge' - a way of expressing when something is massive and totally awesome, almost surfer like -'whoa, that was totally parlo man!'

So, why are the Parlotones so parlo right now?

Firstly, they are currently on a(nother) world tour. These guys just havent stopped since being internationally recognised about three years ago from that one song in an ad in Ireland.

That one song in an ad in Ireland was Beautiful - and the same song is also now used on SA telly in the Bokomo ad. There is also another Parlos song on rotation in a Pick 'n Pay ad - what is going on? Seems the trend is to be associated with SA's national treasure in any way or form.

Now, when I say national treasure - they are more like SA's golden ambassadors - the ones who are out there and showing the world what SA music has to offer (although not always so proudly promoting themselves as SA, but these debates come down to management more than the boys themselves we hope)! 

In the past, in many a press release issued by another SA rock band - the opening line always stakes the claim as 'SA's biggest rock band...' or biggest selling rock band or something else shadowed by the likes of the Parlos. Hmmm. Well, step back - this goes farther than you realised, and the depths of those shallow waters are nothing in comparison to the waters the Parlotones are now treading!

With a third album coming out soon - the Parlos are storming ahead. The second album went down an absolute treat - albeit the album that makes or breaks - these guys are golden in their wake. And even more bizarre, as I was recently told, is that they now also have their own wine - also named after a track, not Beautiful, but Giant Mistake!

This October, they've already played in London and around the UK - and are off to Amsterdam soon, followed by playing a music festival in Perth Australia. Parlo carbon footprint, parlo experience, parlo on all levels!

Rock on parlo bands,
x

Parlos - Our Country

Last night was an interesting one indeed – an entirely free event, put on by 02, for 02 customers. Hosted of course, at the 02.

The brand is blue. Blue is the brand. Now, we all know the brand by its strange adverts involving bubbles, and sometimes characters swimming under the sea. It’s your 02 afterall!

Arriving at North Greenwich, heading outside to ‘discover’ the infamous ‘dome’ for the first time – I was surprised by how big it was and by how conveniently close to the tube exit too. Good planning indeed. Travelling there was a little bit far – Jubilee line from Waterloo took about 20mins – so just under an hour to get back to West London late at night! But worth it!

Blue on the inside – the Indigo 02 is the smaller music venue – a flexi-venue as it’s been called. Its not quite the stadium where Snow Patrol played last week, but then it was still a decent size and prob had a capacity of about 2,000 and a crowd last night of 1,000 plus.

The occasion it seems, was the launch of a new ’02 call your home country’ SIM card! It was lost on me until I got the press pack with a press release explaining the concept. I was there cos I wanted to see the Parlotones – South Africa’s very own international talent with a huge career unfolding before them!

So the Parlos opened and played about nine kick ass songs. Following them was a ve strange Kiwi duo called The Ruby Suns, who halfway through became a trio as someone else wandered on stage and played percussion (ve badly), alas – their electronic weirdness didn’t hold anyone’s attention.

And the main act of the night was Aussie Ben Lee – who had been described to me by someone in the crowd as a boring version of Jack Johnson. Well, Im a Jack Johnson fan, so I stuck around to check it out – and pleased to report I enjoyed it!

But by then we were talking to the Parlotones guys – who, surprisingly, were not falling asleep on their feet, the poor Parlo guys had only flown in from Texas that day, fresh off the many stages of SXSW – in London to play this one night only ‘O2 Your Country’ before flying to Glasgow to kick off their support slot on the Starsailor national tour. Check out next month’s issue of SA PROMO for an article on all that they guys have crammed into and achieved in their lives of late!

But back to the concept – a clever series of concerts – focusing on different areas in the world were used to promote this new calling card. So last night was South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Tonight is focusing on Eastern Europe countries and tomorrow on Middle Eastern artist! Clever indeed

Rock on clever campaigns and big marketing budgets,
X

PS. In the press pack was a yellow rubber duck – the classic type from bath time memories of one’s youth – but why is 02 associating with yellow ducks...?

Then, this morning in the free weekly edition of ShortList – I was surprised to see not one, but two companies using lots of little yellow rubber ducks. The first one was GoodYear tyres with ducks falling out the back of a truck onto a road – and the second one was 02, the slogan was ‘Surprises of all sizes every time you top up’… with lots of ducks floating down a river with hooks coming out their heads as if at a country fair where you’d catch your duck, and win a prize! 1 x yellow duck mystery sorted.

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!

Karma ticks all the right boxes...

She's landed in London - and looks like she has brought the Florida weather with her! Its Karma of course - and with her she has brought her new album for launch next week...

Here is the interview with Karma in this week's South African about what she's been up to, what she is gonna get up to while she's here and much more...

Talking of newspapers - I was pleasantly surprised last week, while flipping through my Metro on the way to work... to see a little 5x5cm red Parlotones advert announcing dates of their upcoming tour across the UK! WOW - is this the first time a SA artist is in the Metro I wondered?


Their tour kicks off next week in London!





Rock on sunshine and SA music!
x

28th January 2008

Yes, its a Monday and its misty and a bit miserable outside, but we all have reason to feel the magic today!

Why? Because its one of those special dates... 28 / 01 / 2008... pretty cool huh! And more so, as all the media love to tell us, we are now nearing the end of the most miserable month in the UK.

Indeed, two good reasons to be happy this Monday morning! But wait, there's more... to ease us into the short month of February (though this year ever so slightly longer by a day), we have some great SA bands to blow away the cobwebs of winter and inject some rock-ittude back into our routines!

First up are the Parlotones, one of SA's established exports who are not strangers on the London scene, but always a treat to see them none the less! Catch them tonight at Water Rats in Kings Cross!

Alas, I wont make that event as I will be checking out the dark and deeply mstic interior of the Troubadour (near Earls Court) and right by the beautiful Brompton Cemetry! Easing myself into the week, Im gonna inspire myself with the acoustic sounds of Mancunian Stephen Fretwell!

But for those needing a kick start... head to Kings Cross for the Parlos, performing LIVE! And if Monday is too early for you to be out and about... then on Wednesday, also at Water Rats... Livingston will be rocking out a midweek Wed gig!

More about Feb music coming soon!

Rock on spring!
x

Gig Giveback: OppiAarde 2007

Potch, soon to be known as Tlokwe, is where Aardklop went down for its 10th year last week!

It was a whole week of art, boerekos and shows across the town from cabarets to dramas and comedies! OppiAarde is an OppiKoppi music production and ended the week of festivities!

Salome Kern was there to witness the madness, giving SA Music in London her take on it:

OppiAarde rocked to the sounds of Love Jones and Southern Gypsy Girls in the afternoon hours. The crowd nervously looked at the threatening clouds and the Brutal Fruit ran out by the early evening, but the event proceeded on a rock-ably roomy stage with great sound and lighting. By the time Bed on Bricks appeared the crowd was warmed up, ready for the raise in vibe and energy.

Although Aardklop was saturated by oldies, schoolies and rain, the only mud at OppiAarde was on Maxnormal.tv's faces. Waterbottles and plastic pint glasses started flying as this very obviously not their target audience, the mildly-sado-erotic-homosexual images, made a few boere turn away in disgust.

Karen Zoid rocked as usual, bringing a bunch of generations together. If you're a Parlotones fan, I don't have to tell you that they sound great live, just as they are recorded! The Nude Girls were huge as expected and put on what was probably the show of the night.

True to the alternative Afrikaner roots of the festival, the Parlotones pulled in Valient Swart to perform a Koos Kombuis classic. But unfortunately the crowd got impatient, as shouting 'fokof' between songs became the mantra. Finally getting their wish, Fokofpolisiekar appeared out of the smoke and killed the show! The was ground literally shaking as the crowd chanted every word religiously along with lead singer Francois van Coke! The grand finale - an Arno Carstens home grown concoction performed by Karen and Valient - left everyone ready for more fun, 'die Bult', watch out here we come!

Apparently 'die Bult' is the main going out area of Potchestroom… and so we learn something new about our own country everday!

Rock On Potch,
x

Wicked long weekend ahead!

Its August in England when you get a nice long bank weekend seemingly for no other reason than to make the most of the summer! And with the promise of good weather, let it begin! 

What with all the annual London events going down on the Aug bank holiday weekend... SW4 on Saturday for the cream of the world's top DJs right on Clapham Common and the Notting Hill Carnival on Monday, Europe's biggest street festival, for all the Caribbean flair and fun you could ever want!

So if your bank hol weekend days are full with experiencing such London life, then pack your weekend even tighter with some great SA music going down around the capital in the nights! Tonight, probably as I type... (yes, guilty as charged of being home on a Friday night) are Joburg rockers Starseed, always a good night out and what great guys, and also in London from tonight until next week are the Parlos, making a small residency at the Water Rats in Kings Cross. The Parlotones, with their minimal tear-effect make-up and maximum stage personas are great to get up close and personal with, one of those bands worth physically watching in the flesh and not just listening to from the back of a sweaty crowd! And also up tonight are London-based SA band The Colonies. I must admit I dont know their stuff besides a brief listen on their MySpace, but it is on the to do list to get down to one of their gigs!

And while that's about all I have to say for now, except to add that I have had the pleasure of joining thee funniest group on Facebook so far! *Finally* someone is using Facebook creatively and not just creating endless mind-numbing groups with no relevant updates or reason, other than to ascertain how many friends they can attain and people they can annoy!

And the worthy group's name is... ta da, dadadaaaa..

Ryan Koriya Musician on a Mission: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4576119036

Go check out what he has to say, have a listen to what he's working on musically and see what talents this boy has been hiding up his sleeve as he creates his take of Borat on bloggings and facebook groupings! Ingenius stuff! This is a space to watch indeed. Book mark his MySpace, join his facebook group and go meet him at a gig! Ryan Koriya or 'Ryax' is as real as it gets, and super talented too!

Rock on Ryax's rendition of Borat!
x