Gang of Instrumentals Launch
Last week Thursday saw the CD launch of SA’s latest hot trio “The Gang of Instrumentals” (GI). If you don’t know them yet, you will soon, in fact two of the members acated on and produced the SABC 1 comedy series City Ses’la. The groups members come from as far a field as Pimville, (Mandla N) and Kwathema (Bongo Riot) and Diepkloof (Tumi Masemola aka Lady Naturelle). Jo Burger and his photographer friend Zama were there… The Bassline was packed and everyone looked the part. The ladies represented with the latest fashion trends from the tight leggings and mini skirt combo ala Betty Boo with the Vanilla Ice fringe. The guys also took themselves seriously and were stylin’ the latest pink golf shirts with cargos and a trucker caps. But can someone please explain the tight jeans, blazer and the white shoe finish? Point is, the GI crowd was well integrated from fashion victims to b-boys to kugels, Rasta sistren, black & white. GI’s music is reflective of influences that range from soul, kwaito, hip-hop to roots rock reggae. The group had a five piece band accompanying them to couple their range and versatility. They know how to work a crowd, and take them on a journey. It was surprising to see the group change outfits not once or twice but three times. They really take their presentation seriously and therefore their audience. They performed songs from their new album that people already knew like “My Number One” which is really tight and has been topping the charts. The show was to point, concise and precise. They started and ended on time leaving DJ Fresh the rest of the crowd to play with, which he did. Fresh blazed it up so much that a certain mrapper, Amu was getting down to house with the ingwaza and all! Click here to see more pictures of the...
Grammy Award Winners
If you weren’t able to stay up till 3am on Monday night, then you surely caught the Grammy’s on Mnet last night; and if you don’t have any DSTV then Represent is giving you the low down on who won what… check out some of the winners – congrats to Soweto Gospel Choir for flying that flag up high:Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals: ‘For Once In My Life’ – Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder Best R&B Album: The Breakthrough – Mary J. Blige Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: “Be Without You” – Mary J. Blige Best Alternative Music Album: St. Elsewhere – Gnarls Barkley Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: “Heaven” – John Legend Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group with Vocals: “Family Affair” – Sly & the Family Stone, John Legend, Joss Stone with Van Hunt Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: ‘God Bless The Child’ – George Benson & Al Jarreau featuring Jill Scott Best Traditional World Music: Lady-Smith Black Mambazo – Blessed Best Urban/Alternative Performance: ‘Crazy’ – Gnarls Barkley Best R&B Song: ‘Be Without You’ – Johnta Austin, Mary J. Blige, Bryan-Michael Cox, Jason Perry (songwriters) Best Contemporary R&B Album: B’Day – Beyonce Best Rap Solo Performance: ‘What You Know’ – T.I. Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: “Ridin” – Chamillionaire feat. Krayzie Bone Best Rap Album: Release Therapy – Ludacris Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: “My Love” – Justin Timberlake feat. T.I. Best Rap Song: “Money Maker” – Ludacris feat. Pharrell Best Gospel Performance: ‘Victory’ – Yolanda Adams Best Gospel Song: ‘Imagine Me’ – Kirk Franklin Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: Hero – Kirk Franklin Best Traditional Blues Album: Risin’ With The Blues – Ike Turner Best Reggae Album: Love Is My Religion – Ziggy...
DUB be good to RUI 2
We never got to hear the first one, but clearly Rui ain’t messing about – he’s just launched the second DUB compilation – he’s been promoting it all over the country and it’s now Jozi’s turn – catch him at 88 in Norwood tomorrow night. We’ll go and check it out and let you know – it sounds delicious – for now, check out Rui’s MySpace (nice one!) site here…. “dub vaults: The South African Connection. Part II”, is out in stores now. Compiled by Rui Soeiro (co-founding member of 340ml), this project was produced under the auspices of the 340ml Music Label and is being distributed by Independent Music Distributors under the Ghetto Ruff Label. It promises to be a good introduction to the dub culture and a listening pleasure experience. This showcase of local talent, boasts ten unreleased tracks from artists like DJ Dope, Morafe, Richard Tha IIIrd and more. The compilation is in part a collection of demos and tapes that have been accumulated over the years. The final mix and master was put together with the help of producer and sound engineer, Gavan Eckhart The album consists of 14 amazing tracks featuring groups like Veli Shabangu, Zaki Ibrahim, 340ml, Unknown Colour Space, Sub-Saharan Dub Committee, Dubmasta China, Ben Amato, Levi Pon The Mic, Mr Mo, Jerome Arthur and more. Official launch date for South Africa: 06 December 2006. The 88 Lounge 114 William Road, Norwood, corner Grant Ave. (Opposite the Spar parking lot, next to Woolworths.) Doors: 20:00 R30 For more information on other “dub vaults” sessions visit www.myspace.com/dubvaults =================================== I remember interviewing 340ml at the Flux New Year festival a year ago. The guys were all very comfortable to chat about the band and tell us their plans…the only quiet one really was RUI, the bassist – or maybe it’s not that he’s quiet, he’s just really chilled out and relaxed. Anyway, one thing he did did speak energetically about was his plan to put together a DUB compilation and how excited he was about the project. I guess the man put his money where his mouth is and a year later…. tra laaaaaaaaaaa – see the press release below for RUI’s Dub album and make sure to get to the launches!NOTE TO MUSO’s: Hard work and patience never hurt anyone. Hang in there! Dub Vaults: The South African Connection. Part 1, the brainchild of Mozambican-born band member of 340ml, Rui Soeiro, is out in stores. The album, which is a compilation of various South African artists promises to be as laid back as the producer himself. The compilation which was produced under the...
Who needs an Ipod when you have PANDORA?
It’s amazing, it’s fabulous and it’s yours for the taking. Well, if you have broadband of course. Check out the latest revolutionary music website on the net, Pandora.com, your own personal radio station! It’s a “music genome project”, which basically means that these dudes have spent the last few years cataloguing music and it’s makeup into a pretty accu… rate database featuring millions of songs. How it works is you simply type in your favourite artist and it puts together a ‘radio station’ that plays music from artists with “similar qualities”. So what that means is you get to discover a whole bunch of artists you have never heard of that perform just the kind of music you love. Unfortunately they haven’t got many of our artists on there, if any at all, but go and check it out for yourselves, it doesn’t need much more explaining. Your first play is free and then you have to register and it’s free again! Enjoy. PS: We still need Ipods for exercise and roadtrips, so they can stay....
Vote for Bevan’s ROBBIE WILLIAMS video
Many of you will remember him from the Toastie breakfast show on tv, others of you may recognise him from his hairstyle… But he’s our Bevan i’nit and he’s entered Robbie Williams music video competition! We need you to vote for his video (if you like it of course) so he can win some pounds and ‘ave it large. Click here for the site. … Here’s the deal: Robbie Williams is collaborating with seven different filmmakers to create seven original short films using the tracks from his new album Rudebox. Now he is inviting all the independent filmmakers out there to provide the eighth for his track The 80’s. The winner, chosen by Robbie Williams, Lord Puttnam, Jonathan Ross, Jules Oldroyd (Head of T4) and a prominent film commissioner, will win a ý7,500 prize. There is a further prize of ý7,500 for the winning film as voted by the public. And here’s how to do it easily from Bevs people at Comedy Underground: Co-founder of the Underground, ace director & generally cool oke, Bevan Cullinan, has, with his producer Gary, shot and entered a Robbie Williams music video competition and needs your help to vote them to the top so that they can become mildly famous overseas and win the prize money to pay for the film! The music video is very funny and features Bevan, James Cairns and Chris Forrest in a film called “LIKE A HOOLIGAN”. You’ll recognise them in the thumbnail JPEG (standing in 80’s Leotards, looking like they were dressed by the Salvation Army dance gear surplus store). What we need you to do is to go to www.robbiewilliams.com/rudeboxshorts and register on the site. DON’T BE SCARED. These are nice people who don’t spam. If you are uncomfortable with providing your telephone number, put a fake one in (they’re just needing it in case you win so that they can call you, but you’re not entering a film, so it doesn’t matter). They just need you to register so that they can keep a check on allowing only one vote per register. What is very important is to keep checking for a return mail with a link that you will need to click on to verify your vote, it is to stop scam voting on dormant accounts (hope this makes sense). The votes count as ratings. Vote 1 for crap and 5 for eternal kifness (the judging is not based on the amount of votes). We’re hoping to get votes between 3 and 5, but if you feel it’s worth 5, we’d love you long time (insert nervous laugh here)! Unfortunately, if you are on...
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