Sunday, October 30, 2011
The Bluest Tape mixed by @dj_medicine
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
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.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
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
Saturday, June 11, 2011
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.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Black on Both Decks
Celebrating Rhythm, originality and creativity by black musicians and the influences they've had in global music. As a dj, another task is to be a curator of culture, tracing the history of music is really tracing the history of a people, each vinyl collected contains a history of its own. On the night in question we will travel from home into the diaspora, we will travel to Ethiopia, Mali, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, across the Mediterranean to Spain, Brazil, the Americas, the Caribbean, France, London, Berlin. and back home. all this in a melting pot that has become Braamfontein. Kitchener's, situated at the corner of Juta & De Beer.
This is the first annual event of its kind and the objective is to grow the brand every year as we discover more of our music spread across the unverse
BeJazzled
inspired some of my hip hop peers. Charles Mingus, Dizzy Gilepsie, the likes of Hebie hancock, Jack mcDuff and so forth. friday the 13th May was no different as we boogied down to Bebop, Hardbop, funkyjazz, even straight up avant garde with a twist of acid jazz in the mix.
Bejazzled is a mixtape i put together live @Bassline on a rainy afternoon after going through crates of my Jazz collection.
tracklisting:
1.Orlando Julius & His Afro Sounders-Mura Sise
2.Charlie parker- tico tico
3.The Bamboos- the bamboos theme
4.The Lafayette afro rock band- Oglenon
5.Bobby Hughes experience- Sahara72
6.Tom Middleton & & Spanky Wilson-the sunshine
7.Manu Dibangu- Big blow
8. Brother Jack Mcduff- Obligetto
9.Milt Jackson- a sound for sore ears
10. James Brown- Fat Bag.
http://soundcloud.com/deejaymedicine/bejazzled-mixed-by-djmedicine
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