Shotgun Story Solid Gold Clients

From a family legacy to a Pulsations connection with the world.

Thandeka Mfinyongo is a musician. She's a preserver of African indigenous instruments, and she's interested in archiving traditional instruments. She has her masters in music and is currently doing her PhD through Rhodes University. She's also the African Music lecturer at Northwestern University.

In today's episode, we chat about how she came to make music, her family legacy of playing traditional instruments, and stories of the late legend Madosini. We also talk about her involvement in Make Music Day's Pulsations Event this Friday (21 June).

The Pulsations livestream will broadcast the livestream on makemusicday.org between 3:00pm - 7:00pm (Paris time), and continuing with Ibrahim Maalouf's performance until 8:00pm.

Outro music: "Ripples of Sound" by Thandeka Mfinyongo ft Kechou. Music used with permission of rights holder.

Become a PRODUCER of culture, rather than simply a consumer of it...

Make Music Day (a community music initiative that was started in 1982 in France by the Ministry of Culture) is coming up on the 21st of June and it's a day filled with free (and accessible) musical events for EVERYBODY (musicians and non-musicians alike).

Have a listen to my conversation with Prof Janelize Morelli and find out how YOU can get involved.

Janelize is an Associate Professor of Community Music at Northwest University, where she teaches undergrad modules and supervises post-grad students who are interested in transformative music education and community music. Her research interests include sound studies in environmental humanities and an ethic of care.

Outro music - "iKhaya Lam" by Thandeka Mfinyongo.
Music used with permission from rights holder.

A story about making your own dreams a reality.

Stanley Sibande is a Zambian-born, Cape Town-based, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter.

In this episode, we're chatting about making dreams a reality. Yourself. From booking a tour to Cape Town (from his home in Zambia, without ever having been to South Africa) to now doing the same (from his home in CPT) for his upcoming London tour.

Feel like a little dose of inspiration? Listen to this conversation.

Music outro: 'Clusters' by Stanley Sibande. Music used with permission from rights holder.

Ever wanted to work behind the scenes in the music industry?

Keen to hear all of the good (and gritty) music industry insider stuff from someone who's touched every side of it?

Vicky Jankiewicz has spent the last 15 years behind the scenes in the music industry. She's one half of the dance floor damaging damsel DJ duo, #SOZLOL, and we had a fabulous conversation on the floor of her apartment over lunch.

We talk about her long and varied career in the industry, brand merch, MFM, Oppikoppi, Good Luck Bar, Galpalooza, the late Henry Engelbrecht, the music scene in Joburg, and so so so much else!

Outro music: "Moonlight" by Hellcats. Music used with permission from rights holder.

Meel Vignetting are a five-piece South African alternative indie rock band from Gauteng.

In today's episode, we talk about the music scene in Pretoria, tribute shows, and gender bias in the music industry.

One in a series of conversations with some of the ladies...

Outro music: 'Thermodynamics' by Meel Vignetting. Used with permission from rights holder.

Are you brave enough to busk?

Maddie Behrens is a folk/indie/rock/pop singer currently based in Johannesburg. Hailing from a small town in KZN, she learnt the performing ropes from busking in Washington Square Park in NYC.

In this episode, we chat all about that, as well as what it's like to be a woman in the music industry in South Africa, the folk music scene, and the late Syd Kitchen.

Outro music used with permission from rights holder.