Musicology Nites

Musicology_Nites is an infusion of musical genres melted in 1 pot to bring the much needed flavour missing in your ears.

The first instalment will feature a Live band and 4 of Jo'burg's eclectic dj's covering a spectrum of musical genres from across the globe, ranging from soul, funk, hip-hop, afro-beat, dub to bossa nova, mash-ups and more.

Live band: A neo-jazz band that forms its sound from the urban space it was conceived in. “Sophisticatedly Easy” in its look and sound, “The Fridge” has few counter parts and many have failed to imitate them. These musicians are young in age yet already experienced as musicians. Their unconventional approach to the iconic genre of jazz is both risky and refreshing. Pushing the envelope and fusing together jazz, African folk and soul sounds.

disc jockeys:

JUST THEMBA
One fifth of the JHB based dj collective, Music Atlast. As Part of the crew he has been privileged to open for acts like K’Naan, DJ Babu, Pras (The Fugees) & John Robinson. Any given DJ Set of his consists of a variety of music such as Soul, R&B, Acid Jazz, Funk, Electro, Dubstep but he still remains deeply rooted in hip-hop

MsButtons
more than a decade behind the decks, Ms Buttons' career began at bassline when it was still in Melville, since then she's played residency for a number of venues including, Berlin bar, House of ntsako, Mind your head to name but a few. name any genre and Ms Buttons is a scholar of note, her sets range from electro, disco, swing, hip hop, soul to anything considered "good music" by music connoisseurs

DjBlaqT
Blaqt is one of the few dj's still spinning  12 inch vynils, a collector of note, he's the man behind Voslorus's Evo-loxion and the much urban, Soul fanatics and the B-sides brands, respectively. With influences from Gilles Peterson, Questlove and Mr scruff , Blaqt finds no restriction when he's behind decks easily cutting from Fela kuti, to Foreign Exchange, to dropping a james Brown's classic in the midst with relative ease.

DjMedicine
A bender of everything groovy in the music world. Also known as the music stylist, djmedicine's sets revolve around the 8 habits of highly effective dj's which are: funk, hip hop, dub, jazz, neo-soul, afro-beat, breaks and r&b.

Doors open at 9pm
R100 at the door & R80(pre-sale: contact 083 262 7629)
twitter: @MusicologyNites

VIRGIN INK NIGHTS with DA L.E.S

What a night – all heels, suits, caps and of course, tattoos; mixed up with a laid back attitude and swagger.The first VIRGIN INK NIGHTS with Da L.E.S at Jaded Ink in Fourways was packed with Joburg's hottest celebs, funkiest hip hop artists and trendiest bloggers. Cocktails were flowing and the cameras were rolling, capturing content for the first episode of the much anticipated V.I.N Reality TV show to be aired early 2012.   Guests enjoyed the lavish hospitality and awesome entertainment that define the VIRGIN INK NIGHTS, as Da L.E.S explained it simply, "we are all VIPs tonight."Wednesday night all eyes were on Da L.E.S being inked for a first ever Afrozumi, an African influenced full upper body tattoo. This is reality TV at its best - unscripted interviews, a live audience, live music, tattoos, fashion and lifestyle – all also streamed live on the internet on http://www.virgininknights.co.za/. At the party Da L.E.S also performed the official VIRGIN INK NIGHTS track as well as his brand new solo single, Matte Black. Within the next few days exclusive content from the night will be available from select bloggers and on the VIRGIN INK NIGHTS Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Virgin-Ink-Nights/289258471113538  or follow us on Twitter for all the latest content and info on the next party  @virgininknights and to tweet #virgininknightsFollow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook and you could stand a chance to win tickets to the hottest and music exclusive party in town, the White Party on Dec 10th. There, a sneak preview of the first episode of VIN reality TV show will be premiered.Much love to sponsors and partners:　Jaded InkDC ShoesBullets4PeaceCreative Rides

MusicstylistDjMedicine: The Bluest Tape mixed by @dj_medicine

MusicstylistDjMedicine: The Bluest Tape mixed by @dj_medicine

The Bluest Tape mixed by @dj_medicine

This is a journey through Blue note records ,  a 38 minutes mix which takes us through a number of emotions,  ending on an up-tempo dub note remixed by the late dj Mhedi. follow @dj_medicine

Mixtape Wednesdays 050ctober2011

oin us on the first Wednesday of October at Braamfontein Kitchener's as we keep you cool with The Fridge.

A neo-jazz band that forms its sound from the urban space it was conceived in. “Sophisticatedly Easy” in its look and sound, “The Fridge” has few counter parts and many have failed to imitate them. These musicians are young in age yet already experienced as musicians. Their unconventional approach to the iconic genre of jazz is both risky and refreshing. Pushing the envelope and fusing together jazz, African folk and soul sounds.
Genre
Neo – Jazz with influences from soul, rock and African folk.
The Musicians:
Samkelo Ndolomba: The Unmistakably Silky Voice that was “Born to Sing”
Samthing Soweto (Samkelo) is the lead vocalist of the Fridge and hails from Soweto. “When I wake up, I sing and I think about the things I want to sing about.” he says.
 The name Samthing Soweto is inherently derived from his name Samkelo and “thing” happens to be the “thing” he does well, which is music. “Just as the birds chirp, I sing. Its second nature to me”
Adebayo: Drums and Percussion
Adebayo “Ade” Omatade, the drummer of the Fridge, started playing the drums fourteen years ago and has never looked back ever since. Born and bread in Nigeria, Ade’s interests lie further than just composing music and playing the drums. He also enjoys fashion and graphic designing, events management, practicing his culinary skills and photography.
Mothusi Thusi: Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar and Flute
“I learn fast and hear things that other people do not hear” says Mothusi Thusi, the distinct bass guitarist of the Fridge who describes his sound as “gargantuan, epic and colossal”. Mothusi gets his musical roots from both his parents who are artists in their own rights. Son of trombonist Mfaniseni Mthusi and Faith Kekane, music runs in his genes. He says that musical genes are not the only thing that requires one to become an excellent musician, “you gotta be good at it and also love it’ he articulates. Growing up, he listened to a lot of heavy metal bands and was rebellious but now his favourite bands include the likes of Bjork, Radio Heads and 340ml.

Mixtape Wednesdays

With much a legend told about the ‘breeding fort for rhyme’ that was Le Club, another fold to its historical denseness and fame is unraveled in story and shape of its sons, that being the verb stacker known as Vikinduku. His Genesis chartered way forward as part of Asylum Tribe, an outfit whose acclaim in Soweto and J-sec was largely owed to their steely and middle finger wagging tendencies in both bravado and rhyme.

Vikinduku’s endevours post his tenure in ‘the asylum’wake to take a much more organizational turn, in that he went as far as rallying alongside Urban Clutches whose onus was to promote gigs and run workshops in cohesion with MIDI. Viki’s rise to the echelons of community organization with hip hop as a noteworthy tool came into its own during 2003 when Black Sundays emerged. He describes the time frame as having been “during the decline of Le Club and much was needed”.

Black Sundays having been a turf where the likes of Sudan, Ngwenya and Prokid amongst many displayed skill that was to be remnant for many more years to come was according to Vikinduku “the kingmaker of many rhyme stalwarts”. Conventional wisdom doing the rounds then was firmly rooted in the thinking that the culture needed a well needed resurgence after Le Club.

Soul Warrior being the album Vikinduku released in 2006 had a heavy Jazz influence with Kenzhero’s involvement for added measure. Beyond the offering Viki’s influence at Black Sundays was forged forth in him assuming the role of a commentator cum radio host for in-house displays and interventions.

His current mixtape labled Eyez on the pryz comes under the housing of The Akademy, a relationship which he dates back to ties he’s had with dj Medicine from the days of Black Sunday. He regards the partnership with The Akademy one “fused with plenty opportunity” and that a local tour is in the works where a thorough marketing plight will be in conjunction with the release of his current offering. It all comes with ample dosages of a thorough thrash from the man…he’s been keeping them coming for a while worth legendary beatings.

Vikinduku is currently working on Eyes on the pryz vol 2 and Zone Two (The Head hunters) a collaboration with with Mc Scent

FELA this bitch of a life

Nigerians in the new world order i.e globalisation have become 'popular' for various reasons;Everyone knows a Nigerian and I met one;in the flesh,sound,ideology,David character and  unique image of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.I found it hard to not engage with the read,my imaginations were set forth through humour and vulgar depicted by Fela.However,Moore's attentiveness was explicit,a job well done!None detail was left out.Now I can say I know Fela Kuti.

He was a soul who stood his fort & simply emphasized social reformation and fairness.Although he wasn't sure in the early days of his life,note that Fela always knew he was differnt to everyone in his household thus the reason he fell easily into depression later in his life.His love for woman wasnt a secret,his music was sound designed from reality-the song 'Lady' was the soundtrack to every chapter of Fela's life.

Ironically,the lady(women)he adored so much became entwined with all his miseries and his manhood;I possed a question to why did he marry all 27 of them.Going back to globalisation,as a social scientist,I believe Fela was overwhelmed by it.His loyalty to bein an 'African' wasnt clearly justified by his surroundings,the Nigerian system didnt accomodate any Robin Hoods & Steve Biko's,thus they were shut away or killd 4eva.Fela disregarded all of this and his mother's death created more vulnerablity and loss-this further triggered his ignorance of his illness and the fact that he was distant from what was happening around him.Fela was a great image,I shed a tear in closure of Moore's work but I fear that his life continues unconsciouly in the lives of many of us,true Africans:we are 'shuffering and shmiling.

Review by Rothe Singo (Social Anthropology, MA, University of Western Cape.