Having got his start releasing music at 15 as Parenthemis, a made-up name, 2015 would see the birth of Laudable and the release of his first mixtape, ‘Survivor’s Guilt’, under that moniker. ‘I played [Parenthemis] for this girl and she was a really good writer, teaching me about reading things because it helps you express….
On Wednesday, 28 July, DJ Maphorisa shared the introductory visuals to his latest music video on Instagram with only the caption “Izolo Motion Picture Dropping Friday”. Armed with only the sounds of a money counting machine, tires racing down the street, one arm out of the window and background noise that could only elicit the…
Tim Lyre is a musician with many talents. His music is a genre-bending afro-futurist study of the human experience which has been credited as influenced equally by juju master Ebenezer Obey and R&B genius John Legend. From being a dynamic vocalist to being a multi-instrumentalist and producer Lyre’s talent exudes in every beat, chorus and…
If I were blissfully unaware of its relationships of co-opted association to whiteness and “maleness”, genius is one of the words I would use to describe Georgia Anne Muldrow and her sonic oeuvre spanning nearly two decades. Imagining, creating and composing sonic topographies that traverse genre and containment, from soul to R&B, hip hop to…
Ipeleng is one of South Africa’s rising stars in the South African R&B landscape. She has cemented her place in the scene with one of the best R&B releases from South Africa this year with her new release, pHantom. The six-track offering looks at the highs and lows of being in love. The name of…
Travel Light was the soul-soothing breakout album for Manchester-based R&B/Rap group, Children of Zeus. It brilliantly captured the angst that many aspiring musicians have when trying to break into the music industry and overnight, they went from being local artists to an international touring act. That was until the pandemic put a stop to everything….
In the last couple of years, it has become increasingly apparent that within the constant flux we observe — often unconsciously — within the music sphere that the landscape of Rap music has shifted, if only slightly. The Trap era may still be cruising along, however, it would be shortsighted not to mention the astronomical…
The famous theatre phrase “The show must go on” has transcended into our everyday lives. With 2020 striking us with the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing that has managed to continue is the gift of art. With more time spent at home, we have been encouraged to have new approaches to the creation and consumption of…
What is the significance of naming an album after your name as an artist? From massive and impactful debuts such as Whitney Houston (1985), Mariah Carey (1990) and Run the Jewels (2013), Vince Staples joins a long list of artists who have, by definition, eponymously named their studio albums. However, unlike the previously named artists,…
Bugzy Malone (real name Aaron Davis) is one of Manchester’s shining stars of grime. But he is not only known for his crafty words and immaculate flow but for his daredevil demeanour that makes him a fascinating and intriguing figure. However, his adventurous side almost put his life to an end. Last year, Malone was…
It’s odd to consider the purpose of dance music during lockdown. The thought of music made to get everybody on the floor when those floors are currently banned stirs feelings of uncertainty and worry than they would have two years ago. Or what we say is two years but really feels like a different lifetime….
Every once in a while, music has the powerful ability to ground you in the present and take you years into the future simultaneously. In one listening experience, you are cognisant of both the pleasure you’re able to derive from the musical arrangement presently, while also able to imagine yourself 5, 10 or even 15…
