Eish!!

Cape Town singer Black Porcelain supporting International dup poet Linton Kwesi Johnson

I enjoy keeping track of those artists featured on the Eish!! Friday SA Music Spotlight. So when I received the following press release from Balck Porcelain, who was featured on the 10th October last year, the decision to publish it was an easy one...

South African singer songwriter Black Porcelain has been chosen to support internationally renowned (reggage) dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson, who is touring with the fabulous Dennis Bovell Dub Band, on the Cape Town leg of his tour. This is a major feat for rising star Black Porcelain, who independently released her eclectic 5 track EP Green last year. Green was very well received across the country, receiving airplay on national, regional and campus radio stations alike.

Black Porcelain kicked off the year with an inspiring performance at the 2009 Women’s Show at the CTICC and is now currently working on her first full length album. Born and raised in Soweto, this tireless singer is very excited to be opening for such a respected artist “I was a little shocked initially, but now I’m so excited. I can’t wait to warm the stage for and share it with LKJ.”

The Linton Kwesi Johnson show in Cape Town takes place on the 1st of May in Wynberg at Maynardville. He will also be performing in Johannesburg, Durban and Grahamstown. Tickets are available from computicket.

For more information on the performance go to: www.whatsonsa.co.za

Labels: black porcelain, Dennis Bovell Dub Band, dub, jazz, Linton Kwesi Johnson, maynardville, reggae, whatsonsa

Posted by roygbiv at 7:54 AM | Permalink | Comments

Friday SA Music Spotlight - Mimi Ntenjwa

Deciding what or who to select for any week's week's Friday SA Music Spotlight is difficult as there is so many talented musicians in this country and so many different genre's in which individuals and collaborators excel. Having said that, this week I have decided to stick with the Afro-Jazz genre, because highlighting my chosen artist will hopefully assist her in gaining a few votes. More about that later.

Although Verity has long been the darling of the online world and was first featured in this feature six months ago, her story is currently been told all over South African mainstream media at the moment. A by-product of her success is the funding received by the Live Your Dreams Foundation from her Lucky Packet Project. 5.3% of every cd she sells goes to this project which in turn currently funds the foundation, providing financial assistance SA musicians realise their dreams. The first recipient of this assistance was Mimi Ntenjwa exactly a year ago.

Mimi's silky smooth voice (to use an old cliché) fits the jazz genre perfectly, taking you to a place where you are sitting in a cane chair with big comfortable cushions, cocktail in the hand and a white sandy beach just a few steps away.
Mimi is starting to become a star in her own right and I have noticed how many other musicians have mentioned playing with her on their online cv.s. Being recognised by your peers in this industry is something not many achieve in such a short period of time.

So how can you help her gain votes?

She has been nominated in no less than three categories in this years Metro FM music awards. These awards allow for public participation, so you can sms your vote to, hopefully, influence the outcome. Click the Myspace link below, and should the sound of 'Goodbye Loneliness' resonate with you follow these instructions (SA Only) before the 22nd October.

Categories : Best Female, Best Newcomer, Best Jazz
To Vote SMS: Category (eg Best Jazz), Mimi to 34764.

Links

Take a listen here (Myspace)

Labels: friday music spotlight, jazz, live your dreams foundation, metro fm music awards, Mimi Ntenjwa, sa music, verity

Posted by eishman at 8:14 AM | Permalink | Comments

Lira - Feel good

Lira, is all around. You hear her silky smooth tunes all over. I even heard her being played in design studio I visited last week. Tonight she was featured on Top Billing and I found the inspiration I needed for an end-of-the-week post.
Do yourself and visit her website www.misslira.co.za after watching the video below. It's top class and you can sample her current, very listenable album. (note to webmaster : How about a 'Currently playing :[name of song here]' in the player at the bottom of the page)