Freshlyground to slay at 2015 MTN Bushfire
SoulProviders East will be REPRESENTing at this year’s annual MTN Bushfire Music Festival and we chatted to Freshlyground to find out what we can expect from them this year: You’ve performed at House on Fire in Swaziland, how was the reception and the crowd? It is not an exaggeration when I say that House in Fire is one of our favorite venues to play in the world. There is something particularly special about that space and the Swazi audiences are amazing! You’re one of the artists performing at MTN Bushfire this year, what are your expectations from the Swaziland fans? Their usual incredible fashion taste, beautiful faces, beautiful girls and boys and amazing energy – Swazi audiences always show us so much love What can the fans expect from Freshlyground? It has been a while since we have been at Bush Fire so we will definitely be bringing the Fire. We have also been working on some new material and we will be performing that for sure. Will you be playing some new songs at Bushfire? Yes! You’ve been touring internationally for a long time now, how has that journey been and how did you grow as a band? It has been an incredible journey. We do not take for granted the great gift that is being able to travel the world and make a living through music, through doing what we love! We have seen so many countries and met so many wonderful people all over the world! How’s the music scene in S.A different from the international ones? I don’t know that I can really expertly speak on this. I think there is some great experimentation happening in the SA music scene but I think that is happening all over. I think the global music scene has become a hard place to navigate, and as more and more people are using the internet as the source from which they get their music, whether its downloads or streaming – musicians are having to be more inventive about how they get their music to their fans, and it is more and more about playing live. I think this is the situation everywhere – in some ways we are still lucky in SA as people do still buy music because our connectivity is not that great or widespread- so we still have ways of selling music, but that is definitely going to change in the next few years and as musicians we are really having to jump through hoops and get really clever about marketing and distribution of our product – and we have to continue to make our live...
Explore the stories behind the art with Google Art Project
Google is well known for always being innovative and with this art project, they prove to be always ahead of trends. The project launched in June 2014 and it features around 260 virtual exhibits from 34 countries including South Africa. At the moment there’s 51 items on the Google art website for South African art and the best part is that anyone can capture cool art and submit to the team. It also allows you to check out some of the coolest street art around the world. Here are a few cool things that Google Street art offers: explore cultural treasures in extraordinary detail and easily share with your friends discover millions of artworks, places and stories Discover hidden details with images in ultra high-resolution. See artworks and artifacts in extraordinary detail and experience the artwork far beyond what is visible to the naked eye. Click here for more information...
Socially Conscious Design – The New Narrative
Taking up design as a career choice is a daunting task. Regardless of how creative you may consider yourself to be, the reality is that the industry is filled with so much talent that isn’t necessarily absorbed by your traditional agencies. The socio-economic realities of our times drive most young designers to seek work rather than create it for themselves. But there’s a new generation of creatives, an army of visual storytellers that use their immediate surroundings and life experiences to market their skills, primarily using exhibition spaces and online spaces like Instagram, Behance and Facebook. If you ask me about current trends, I’d have to put myself in the shoes of so many of my peers, but here are few. Ruramai Mesikiwa – Her Sibahle campaign is a celebration of our individuality and African beauty through a poster series and the overarching message is one of self-love. This project is an extension of her perspective, a view from a (relatively) young African woman’s vantage point. Rendani Nemakhavani – 30 Days and a City is a collaborative multi-medium urban art project, curated by Rendani “Missblacdropp” Nemakhavhani in collaboration with Studio-X Johannesburg. This exhibition consists of a series of artists who were asked to document the city as they see it. Thus, it presents emerging representations of Johannesburg that challenge dystopian representations of everyday life in Johannesburg. Her work is a reflection of how she experiences Jozi and her illustrations reference things like hairstyles, phrases she’s heard, the mini-bus taxi lifestyle and street names. David Tshabalala – Run The World. During Womens Month, I illustrated 31 Women, 1 illustration per day, over the course of the entire month of August. These are a combination of women I’ve met and they’ve left me inspired after our conversations about projects that they are busy with. I follow them closely on digital platforms and I feed off their energy through their respective blogs and I enjoy the content they share and create. The project was birthed to exist exclusively on Instagram, honouring young women who carry a beacon of inspiration in their respective walks of life. Bringing the campaign to the public space by means of exhibition serves to physically share in the glory of the women profiled as well as paying homage to them. Modise Sepeng -Founded by graphic designer, art director and founder of Negritude Republic Modise BlackDice Sepeng and Creative director of Kala/Mine Productions, Banele P. Mtebele. “I Beg to differ” is a digital documentary that profiles extraordinary African creatives who are influential, inspirational, determined & persevere to live their dreams despite all the odds against them. Myself, Rendani Nemakhavani,...
Bongeziwe is bringing ‘Umlilo’ to BushFire
Represent chats to one of South Africa’s renowned artists Bongeziwe Mabandla, check out how our conversation went down below You’ve recently done a collab show with another SA’s finest, your good friend Nakhane Toure, how was the whole experience for you? Nakhane is a very talented musician so it was incredible to finally share the stage with him. We had been discussing the show for a while and the time became right. The show was great so it was just a great night. How did it feel to play your new songs to a crowd that likes your artistry and music? It’s hard because you worry if people get what you trying to bring. But I have been having a good time bringing new songs. It seemed like an impossible task in the beginning but I’m getting comfortable with the songs. I even have favorites now. I think I had to basically think very different for these songs they didn’t come easily but I enjoyed the process. Since your first album have you been collaborating with artist such as Joss Stone and Vieux Farka Toure on stages, any exciting in studio collaborations we may not know of or up-coming? I have some new collaboration but I rather you check on the album, collaborations can be difficult and you want to make sure everything is finalized before announcing but yes there are some collabations I’m writing and working on. Do you regard yourself as under rated as many would say when describing your artistry? I suppose but I guess I’m a little bit comfortable with that view. I don’t see my self as underrated I feel blessed and fortunate to be living my dream. From a theme and lyrics point of view, how’s the second album different from the first one? This album is definitely a more mature look at life, I went through so many things after the release of my new album. It’s about hope, rebuilding but more spiritual and more honest. You were announced as one of the South African artist to perform at the much anticipated BushFire festival, what was going through your mind when you received the news? I thought at long last because I had been applying every year to Bushfire. It’s always been a dream to me, so it’s just such a wonderful time to see it happen. I’m very very excited. You have played at festivals around the country and world wild with an upcoming Us and Canada tour in the ranks, do you anticipate this festival (Bush fire) which is closer to home to be different from the others? I...
Project Maboneng: Street Festival to celebrate the expansion of the precinct
With what seems to be one of the most exciting developments in downtown Johannesburg over the past few years, the Maboneng Precinct has clearly made an impression in the hearts of young people, attracting all ages, races and ethnic groups to its streets. From trendy themed restaurants and office space to lodging, fashion stores and even a new age cinema, the precinct is one of the coolest hubs in the inner city. And in celebration of the recent expansion of the Maboneng Precinct in downtown Johannesburg, the managing and social committee has decided to launch the exciting project with a massive hip-hop street festival. Aptly named ‘PROJECT MABONENG’ the fest will feature local and international talent and will take place later this month. With a huge local line-line-up of the best of SA hip-hop, PROJECT MABONENG will also feature a powerhouse international headliner to be announced next week. The street themed festival hopes to attract a mixed crowd further encouraging and supporting the development and infrastructure of the Maboneng precinct and the inner-city as a whole. PROJECT MABONENG LINE UP: Cassper Nyovest Ifani Okmalukoolkat Riky Rick Kid X Kwesta Milkshake, Dimplez and Vigi Twins on Decks Speedsta Sphe and Naves Hiphop artist, entrepreneur and concert organizer George Avakian stated that PROJECT MABONENG will feature some of SA’s hip hop royalty, in addition to an infamous international outfit which aims to attracts over 5 000 people. ‘We are so excited to launch the new inner-city development with a mass celebration of this kind. We hope to attract even more people to come experience the vibrancy of the precinct for themselves, and what better way to do it than with a street festival.’ Doors open at midday while the 12-hour street festival experience will cost R325 per person. A convenient ‘Park & Ride service will be available to and from the Joburg stadium and is included in the ticket price. Limited tickets go on sale this week at TicketPro (www.Ticketpro.co.za)....
Sub-Saharan Africa Broadcast Presents African Music Film Month in conjunction with BUSARA 2015
Celebrate the diverse music and culture of Africa and the diaspora with a month-long film-festival on your screen presented by AfriDocs. During the month of February, AfriDocs’ 2 weekly documentary slots – now on Tuesday AND Thursday evenings, at 8pm Central African time (GMT + 2), and weekend schedules will feature some of Africa’s most loved musical talents – both historical and contemporary. Never before has such a collection of documentary films about African music been available to audiences across the continent. From Morocco to South Africa, Cape Verde to Madagascar, documentaries featuring, SALIF KEITA, CESARIA EVORA, BI KIDUDE, ABDULLAH IBRAHIM, OLIVER MTUKUDZI, BOB MARLEY, OMAR SOSA, SISTER FA, SPOEK MATHAMBO as well as stories from the Malian Festival Au Desert, and Paul Simon’s Graceland, to the history of punk in Africa – the AfriDocs African Music Film Month is unmissable television. Presented in conjunction with Zanzibar’s annual Sauti za Busara Music Festival, taking place from Feb 12th – 15th, this month long musical extravaganza celebrates the music of Africa and its diaspora – discover the music and culture of Kenya, Zanzibar, Nigeria, South Africa, Mali, Senegal, Cape Verde, Morocco, Ghana, Angola and beyond only on DStv 190 ED channel and GO TV. Visit www.afridocs.net or www.facebook.com/AfriDocs to stay up to date with screening schedules, media interviews, twitter chats and more!...
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