Dance music Bible Launching in South Africa.
Recognising South Africa’s growing status in the world of dance music, 3i Publishing has secured the rights to publish a South African edition of industry-leading DJ Mag. South Africa has now been added to the ever-impressive list of countries around the globe that publish a local version of the world-famous title after the many successful launches in Europe, Korea and South America. Founded in 1991 in the UK, DJ Mag fast became the bible of dance music and DJ culture across the globe, giving DJs and artists the platform to be profiled and their music highlighted, while continually staying on top of trends and shifts in electronic music. That same ethos will hold true for the South African edition of DJ mag, with the aim of using the magazine to profile and showcase local talent of world-class standard, as well as breaking international and local dance music news with the highly-regarded DJ Mag stamp of approval. Heather Mennell, editor of DJ Mag South Africa, explains the concept of DJ Mag in South Africa and what will make it different from other editions around the world: “It’s a well-known fact that South Africa is the biggest consumer of house music on the planet and our flourishing electronic music industry is producing world-class music and events. Our unique, multicultural take on dance music culture has grabbed the world’s attention and by bringing a long-serving, respected international publication like DJ Mag to South Africa we hope to contribute to the growth of the industry by creating an exciting new platform to showcase the talent that is driving the scene.” With the first issue being released at a retail price of only R19,90, 3i Publishing is determined to make DJ Mag accessible to everyone who is interested in and a part of South Africa’s fastest growing music industry. The low cover price will make the magazine accessible to aspiring DJs and producers wanting to learn more about electronic music and how to break into the industry. A digital edition will also be available on all Android mobile devices as well as the local iStore and iTunes platforms making the information available at all times to all readers. The first issue sees DJ icon, Black Coffee, boldly filling the front cover of the monumental magazine that is set to create a huge stir in South Africa’s dance music industry. Features include an exclusive interview with the man himself, as well as a look at the godfather of South African house Oskido. Along side interviews with movers and shakers Goldfish and DJ Kent and innovators such as Haezer and Terrence Pearce, you can read about all the latest...
Everybody loves the soleil
Ok so I’ve been playing truant… again… and you’re cntrl-f5’ing, wondering whereTF I am right? Well thanks faithful representahs, this time round I have a valid alibi. Confession… it was the SUNLIGHT. You see sunshine in Europe is just not the same as sunshine in South Africa – here it’s a timid, elusive creature whose presence should always be celebrated and never taken for granted. And that’s exactly what I came to realise in 2008 when I spent my first full summer here in Belgium (ok bar the one in 93 but I was a youngun then and weather didn’t matter) Sunshine is a commodity, and one that I sadly traded when I got here. But in every trade there is an exchange and the upside of the trade off has been 1. the opportunity to learn what it is to have 4 clear-cut seasons (and rock the winter coats and boots for real) 2. the realisation that I took sunshine for granted So in summary, when the sun called, I answered. This stay in Europe is exactly that, a stay – it has been a mind-opening, earth-shifting experience that has enlightened moi in so many ways and definitely upped my French levels. I’ve been here for 2.5 years now and on Saturday night at a Brazilian friend’s crazy wild party, I got all blushed up and shy due to a bunch of Frenchies digging my francais… I smiled and nodded and had another drink, making sure to offer them one too… knowing it was the lubrication of the tongue that let the French words flow as they did, in both directions, vous voyez. But yeah, I do suddenly feel like the language and I are merging into one sweet mashup. I’ve always believed it takes at least two years to settle into a new city or country, to feel that the streets are yours, the beats are yours and the summer is yours for the taking. The point is, this summer has been sublime and even if my premonition two weeks ago that we were seeing the last of the very brief heatwave is turning out to be supa-accurate, a summer that lasts 6 weeks or not, I’m sucking up every drop of sunshine I can find. In Nice, France next week 😉 Sorry, had to drop that in. SO… for those of you in winter… here are three summer songs for you – the first one is 3 of my favourite bands remixed into one sweet track, the second one is ROCKING EUROPE this summer as the official summer anthem and the third… well who can’t love...
Serbia win Eurovision 2007!
Ever since I heard about (and once had the pain and pleasure of watching) Eurovision, a cheesy pan-European singing contest, I thought it would be amazing to have a Pan-African one. Eurovision epitomises dodgy music taste – imagine taking the worst of your girl or boy bands or finding the most excruciatingly cheesy SAfrican pop singer who dresses with delightfully deplorable bad taste – they’d be our winning entry… I can think of a few just off the cuff. Any others? 1. Patricia Lewis 2. Bianca Le Grange 3. Any old Popstars group 4. Amor 5. Dr Victor 6. Elle 7. Any wannabe Idols runner up Anyway, despite it’s questionable talent the live broadcast has a huge following, with the European nations all desperately competing for the winners position. Last night the 2007 final was held in Helsinski, featuring classic lyrics such as “Get a life, Get Alive” “They can’t stop the spring” and “Comme Ci Comme Ca”- one might have thought themselves listening to a live concert of a certain “Back Verandah” radio station. Anyway, congrats to Serbia for winning Eurovison 007 – make sure to click through and listen to some real Eurovision talent...
We will be back!
