Welcome to 2009

An official welcome to 2009 , hope you enjoying the year , and again bringin you more house updates .DJ TIRA - EZA SE AFRO The man behind afrotainment is at it again , impressive album in deed . The alum is just amazing and topping charts too , hayi i now agree its fact that DURBAN ROCKS full stop. his hit tracks has been makin waves in radio & has won the 5fm My House show down with Euphonic like 5 weeks in a row now . the album is out in stores , go buy not copy it DJ EUPHONIC - FOR THE LOVE OF HOUSE V2 (The politics of house)The man who rocked every dance floor in 2008 is back again with yet a trully amazing compilation , watch out for the album out in stores from the 2nd of March 2009 DJ CLOCK - 2nd Tick ayeye the clock is ticking for the second release of a banger album from the man himself. from hit tracks like "Mahamba yedwa" & Take it easy . his gonna deliver yet another one around mid march 2009 . Uzo hamba no bani in 2009 .ANDILE - I'm still not a dj hayi ke , The man who says he is not a dj still sticks to his statement - he is not a dj , don't be fooled by the album title though , the soundz that this guy cooks are unbelievable . Watch out for his second deliverance coming out soon DJ MUJAVA - SGUBHU SA PETORI 3 The man who was the talk of every music website n music bulletins in 2008 is back with the third installation of sgubhu sa petori , the album includes the hit track "TOWNSHIP FUNK" that was massive in the U.K , also included is a U.K cut mixed by the best in U.K DJ CHRISTOS - DJ'S CLUB CLASSIC SA legend that new no introduction has just put together an awesome compilation that takes you on a journey beyond , trully deep house soundz that makes even a the toughest relax. Out in Music stores nation wide.ROGER GOODE - SATURDAY SURGERY VOL 4 Roger is back with his saturday surgery that every one loves , a good album to listen to , if u've listend to his previous surgeries then u knw wat i'm goin on about , other wise u havn't as yet suffered any sickness coz u wud knw his saturday surgery by now DEEP HOUSE CHRONICLES VOL 2 - LULO CAFE The chronicles of deep house continues , deep sounds compiled into one album by the new talent of soul candi .Lulo cafe himself . on a continuation from where DJ Malankane left off on the 1st chronicles. n.

Brought to you by yours trully DJ TEE-Y

Money Maker take over

As 2009 kicks in, the urban house music scene continues to shine. What is so unique about this spotlight is that the genre is not only doing well locally, the consumers from other African countries, as well as overseas, have also begun to praise South African music.In the fast lane is the fresh hit jam, ‘Money Maker' from the independent label, Ziyawamo Productions, produced by DJ Bobo and DJ Menace featuring Smallz.After Ziyawamo House Selections Volume 1 got released late last year, it fast became one of the most popular local house projects. Soon after that, Ziwayamo started getting support for their project from supporters abroad. It's been only a few month since the project was released but the amount of feedback that the label has been getting is phenomenal. Only in December, Ziyawamo House Selections Volume 1 forefront, DJ Bobo, DJ Menace and Smallz toured Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana.Ziyawamo CEO, Mzura Kuse said ‘Money Maker' is one of the biggest tunes in Sub-Saharan Africa and it is now slowly becoming popular throughout the African continent. "When we did the song, we meant it for anyone who is working hard to earn a living and all we are saying is, after all the hard work, you need to celebrate your money."Asked how the hit song has been received abroad given that the lyrics are in vernacular, he said the lyrics are written and sung in Zulu, which most of the neighbouring countries understand. "When we toured all the neighbouring countries in festive, people easily relate to the lyrics and would sing along."After having extensively toured South Africa and other neighbouring countries, Ziyawamo Productions now goes after the European market. According to Kuse, the video for the hit song, ‘Money Maker' got picked up on youtube by a Europe promoter. The interested promoter then got in touch with the local independent label about the song. "They asked us to translate the lyrics for them so as to fully understand what the song is all about." Ziyawamo head said after that, the promoter then contacted them again informing the label that they had been testing ‘Money Maker' at various venues and it seemed to be working.It was early this year when Kuse received an invitation from the promoter for performances in Europe this April. For Kuse, getting bookings from foreign countries shows that local house is a revolutionary stage and the world is starting to fully accommodate local music. "We have gone beyond the boarders and it is very exciting that we are now competing on a global scale and the world is interested in our music," he concludes." Ngune party ,ngam nganami , kusazomnandi , se khala bantwana bathi baphethu u money maker "

Rhythmic Elements remains untouchable

When the duo from Pretoria surfaced, very few people had faith in what they were up to. But within a short period of time, Rhythmic Element were all over and irresistible.Those who love urban dance have been jiving to these boy's tunes for quite some time now. But how did the duo's musical journey erupt? The group is comprised of a DJ/producer and musician that go by the name of Master T and McKenzie.It was at the end of 2005 when McKenzie approached Master T for a demo recording. Master T then poured his heart out to McKenzie about his desire to put together a project for a group and asked the brother to join him on his mission. Being given such an opportunity, even though the future didn't promise anything, McKenzie jumped in.Come the beginning of 2006, the duo hit the studio and started putting down a Rhythmic Elements project - an album that only got released in 2008. "We take raw African indigenous sounds and fuse them with dance music - which ultimately gives us a platform to easily perform our music live."With one member coming from a DJing and music production background and the other from song writing and live instrumentation, it is interesting how the duo fuse their skills together. McKenzie said, "Master T is a DJ and producer, while I am a song writer and vocalist. So Master T channels me with what he needs to make something work and I bring my influence as a songwriter, being on point so that the song becomes successful."Getting into production, the guys say before they start touching the piano or writing lyrics, they first talk about the kind of a song they want to compose and the type of musical instruments they want to use.Coming to the duo's hit song, ‘2 By 2' from their first release, ‘The Offering', McKenzie said before they could write the song, they had to accept that what they were about to get down to was humorous. "When we started with the lyrics, every part of it had to be humorous, produce facts that people can easily relate to and overall had to make ‘2 By 2' a party song".Revealing how the song came about, McKenzie said Master T had for too long begged him to bring the song lyrics to the studio. He said that initially when he wrote the lyrics, he felt like they were not so in line with how they wanted to be perceived. But on the other hand, Master T believed that the song would work regardless. "When McKenzie sang the song to me, I immediately told him that we had to go on with it. I told him that besides being a DJ and producer, I am a business man and on the release, we needed something that would hook people to buy our album and discover what Rhythmic Elements has to offer" said Master T.Getting to the melody of the song, McKenzie said ‘2 By 2' is made out of intense research. According to him, the duo sat down and looked at songs that were hits in a period of five years. He then looked at the key elements, melodies and harmonies, as well as the overall vibe within the song that they reckoned would attract the right market. After pin pointing major elements that influenced the song, they then picked up those elements and used that as their guideline when coming up with ‘2 By 2'. "When you are working on a song, you need to realize that all the elements in a song need to be on par so that the song can rock the dance floor. And the biggest mistake we didn't want to make was to take all the beautiful elements we had and put them on bad instrumentals", said Master T

DJ TIRA - FOUNDER OF DURBAN SOUND

DJ TIRAMzansis Man of the MomentDJ Tira has worked very hard over the years into establishing himself as one of the countrys most successful independent label owners. When we meet at his Afrotainment studios in Durban, I find him busy working on his artist DJ Twittys new album. Tira describes himself as a go-getter, a guy who believes nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it.We start talking about his new album, Ezase Afro. Apart from the fact that he did it without his Durbans finest partner-in-crime Sox, the album is different in the sense that it is 100% local. People are reacting better to local music recently, he says to me as he tweaks the levels on his mixing desk. He acknowledges that he and Sox are not working together at the moment, but makes no further comment on the matter. He nods his head continuously as we listen to the new DJ Twitty song he is working on. Oskido helped me to set up the studio, he emphasizes, and he also encouraged me to do my set up in Durban. That actually seems to have paid off well because Tira is now man of the moment not only in Durban, but across the country. He is an award winner of the Best Club DJ title in the inaugural Mzansi Star Awards and is also one of the individuals who have been credited as having been the creators of the Durban sound which has shook the countrys dance floors by rapid storm.Durban house has, on its own become successful as a staple genre, and has made millionaires out of dozens of its artists. DJ Tiras own stable mates Big Nuz, Character and Cndo, to name a few, are already big nationwide and Afrotainment itself had a very successful year in 2008, having churned out hits such as Ubala by Big Nuz, Wont Let You Go by Tira, as well as Mzansis most in demand local house track of the moment Terminator by Cndo.Its amazing, he says to me. With the Durban sound we created something new and it changed the way S.A sounded. Im maintaining the standard man. DJ Twittys album is dropping this Easter then Big Nuz in winter and Cndo end of the year. Hit after hit, we dont stop!!!Of course they dont stop. Its a fact that Durban rocks after all, isnt it?

Baksteen" beats girlfriend

Actor Nkosana Masuku has been arrested after he allegedly assaulted the mother of his child after a booze-fuelled fury. Sowetan can reveal that the actor, who plays Baksteen in the SABC1 drama Tshisa, was arrested yesterday morning by Protea police at his Glen Ridge home on the West Rand.
According to police the star, of Yizo Yizo fame, and his live-in lover Amanda Ntombela started fighting during the early hours of yesterday. An eyewitness said the two lovebirds and three friends had downed two bottles of whisky and more than 24 beers before the fight. “After the fight Masuku locked Ntombela outside and went to bed. The sad part is that it was bitterly cold outside and Ntombela was butt naked.
“She had to grab one of the curtains through a half-opened window and wrap it around her body,” said another source.
A police source confirmed that when the arresting officers arrived at Masuku’s house they found Ntombela wearing nothing but “a light curtain”.
When Sowetan arrived at the police station, the bruised Ntombela was crying in the trauma counselling room. Meanwhile, Masuku, who is renowned for his television roles as a thug, was having his finger prints taken before being tossed into a holding cell.
It is also understood that Ntombela fought back and stabbed Masuku with a sharp object, but that Masuku chose not to lay charges against her.
SOURCE: Sowetan

SAMA nights

04 May : Glamorous awards show brings out SA stars
Not even the economic depression we’re suffering right now could dim the twinkle on the red carpet over the weekend at the 2009 South African Music Awards! The event, a social calendar must, was held at Sun City. Big winner for the night was Afro-pop diva Lira, who walked away with more glittering statuettes after winning two the night before. The lady took four of the six she was nominated for saying that her work is by far the best she’s completed to-date.Newcomers Zebra and Giraffe, fronted by Greg Carlin, won in the Best Rock category: "Feels like its come full circle. Last year I was here handing out my album to people and no one knew who I was, so it’s really good".The double Grammy Award winning Soweto Gospel Choir received Best Group while the Parlotones took Music Video of the Year.And if it wasn’t enough to be dazzled by local stars, the SAMA also welcomed politicians to the event. Amongst special guests sat Transport Minister Jeff Radebe and African National Congress Youth League President Julius Malema.EWN