Spoek Mathambo
His sound: Afro futurist, “township tech”
He first became known beyond South African shores as half of both Sweat.x (a sexed-up “ghettotech” Prince/computer hybrid with DJ Markus Wormstorm) and Playdoe (old school hip hop meets electro with DJ Sibot), but Spoek Mathambo’s recognition as a solo artist may surpass all that. Juxtaposing danceability and depression is ‘Control’, his eerie cover of Joy Division’s ‘She’s Lost Control’, and the fourth single from his 2010 debut album ‘Mshini Wam’, which may remain his most spellbinding track yet. This year saw him not only touring extensively, but also marked the release of the rapper/DJ’s second album, ‘Father Creeper’, as well as a compilation of his favourite collaborations and remixes, ‘Future Sound of Mzansi’.
Dirty Paraffin
Their sound (according to them): Kwaito Primus Stove
OKmalumkoolkat and Dokta SpiZee are Dirty Paraffin, an electro-rap duo originally hailing from Durban and now based in Johannesburg. Their mishmash of influences range from Zulu culture and South African kwaito music (think house music that incorporates more traditionally African sounds) to grittier electro variants and urban life, creating a sound that is both vibrant and undeniably hip – enough to see them recently featured by both Dazed and Confused and Spin magazines. Described as a ‘visual/performance art outfit’, their whole vibe is about more than sounds, but seems to embody the ultra sensory nature of urban South African life.
Shadowclub
Their sound (according to them): Blues Rock n Roll
Shadowclub is a three-piece rock (and I mean sexy, dirty, bluesy, damp-panties-and-hard-liquer rock) outfit hailing from Johannesburg. Their debut album ‘Guns and Money’, which they managed to record in just nine days, was met not only with critical acclaim, but it was enough to secure them a spot opening for Kings of Leon when they toured in South Africa in 2011. The end of 2011 also marked the beginning of their ‘Never ending tour’ in which the band played around 150 shows in under a year, all across South Africa. They’re currently working on their second album (and still gigging furiously).
The Brother Moves On
Their sound (according to them): A time and space exercise
One of the most critically acclaimed bands in South Africa at the moment, The Brother Moves On is something unique: not only is it a band that really can’t be categorised into any one genre, but it’s an entity that exists irrespective of the members, with TBMO continuing regardless of who stays and who ‘moves on’. They fall somewhere between music and performance art, deftly dodging labels yet also creating something that is undeniably South African. They’ve described their sound as ‘transitional music for a transitional generation’ with social commentary forming the cornerstone of an otherwise wholly eclectic experience (and it really is an experience).
Haezer
His sound (according to him): Electro/Punk
Haezer is undoubtedly one of the most successful electronic acts to have emerged from the growing South African electro scene so far. His most recent EP ‘The Wrong Kid Died’ was released on Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records after he wowed the producer at BeatPatrol last year. Haezer himself maintains that his biggest influences are music outside of the genre he produces, which may explain how he’s managed to distinguish himself and amass a pretty impressive following. He’s recently returned to his home city of Cape Town after a seven-week European tour, remixed Proxy and Counterstrike, and will be one of the DJs to open for Steve Aoki when he tours South Africa in December.
Wild Eastern Arches
Their sound (according to them): Psychedelic / Experimental / Rock n Roll
Part of the burgeoning Cape Town psychedelic rock scene, Wild Eastern Arches’ sound is a hypnotic layering of sounds strained through the heat haze of a mid-summer afternoon. They band cites The Doors, The Black Angels, Led Zeppelin and The Brian Jonestown Massacre as amongst their influences, and while their sound pays homage to their heroes on their first EP ‘Mountain’ which was released in September, they’ve managed to clear of becoming a carbon copy psych rock band. They’re already notching up the South African festival appearances and have also been instrumental in the creation of Cape Town’s Psych Night, a regular event ‘conceived by a group of friends all involved in the mind expanding side of the local music scene’.
P.H.Fat
Their sound (according to them): Magic raps
Made up of Smooth Mike and Disco on vocals and Narch at the decks, Cape Town electro rap/glitch hop trio P.H.Fat are as renowned for their dirty lyrics as they are for their even dirtier bass. Earlier this year they released their EP ‘You Are Going To Die’ for free through their website, encouraging fans to share/pirate their music, while they look to make money through touring instead. Their live shows are equal parts profanity and high energy insanity, coupled with clever rhymes and badass beats. When they’re not making songs unsuitable for radio, they’re concocting Jagermeister ice cream on YouTube.
Christian Tiger School
Their sound (according to them): Experimental/psychedelic/dream hip hop
Christian Tiger School is a dynamic DJ duo comprising of Luc Veermeer and Sebastian Zanasi who, after only a year, have already become kings of the mid-afternoon festival slot; their sound being at once playful, hypnotic and, really, just perfect for lazing about in the sun. They released their first album, ‘Third Floor’, earlier this year, and the track ‘Carlton Banks’ was recently included on the Cape Town Red Bull Studio Sessions 4 compilation album. Their smooth sounds were also enough to secure them a spot opening for Little Dragon at their Cape Town show in August. If your ears could have a screensaver, I reckon their translucent breed of trip hop would be it.
The Plastics
Their sound (according to them): Indie retro rock
Comprising of brothers Pascal and Sasha Righini (on lead vocals/guitar and drums respectively), Arjuna Kohlstock (lead guitar) and Karl Rohloff (bass), Cape Town based indie rockers The Plastics have really come into their own this year. First, they opened for Two Door Cinema Club when the Irish group played to 3 000 partygoers at a secret location in Cape Town. Most recently, the band – whose sound borrows elements from ska, surfer rock and psychedelic rock – completed a highly successful countrywide launch tour for their sophomore album ‘Pyramid’, as well as releasing a rad new music video for the single ‘Best Pretenders’, which is already climbing its way up SA charts.
Richard the Third
His sound (according to him): Somewhere between the warm waters of dub and downbeat and the rocky mountains of banging dance floor electronic
Richard the Third is a Cape Town based DJ and producer who’s become as well known for his own brand of humid-nights-and-killer-bass electro as for his producing skills (including Spoek Mathambo’s critically acclaimed cover of Joy Division’s ‘Control’) and his creative remixes. His music draws from an interesting mix of influences – he calls it ‘a rollercoaster ride of the best of modern bass music: Grinding 4/4's, Future Kwaito, Rinsing Bass and everything in between’. He’s also the manager of the Red Bull Studio Cape Town, a space dedicated to exploring South Africa’s musical potential, fostering talent and growing the local music scene. He recently released his 10-track album ‘Left of Center’ on African Dope Records.
Jack Parow
His sound (according to him): Blerrie Gevaarlike Afrikaans Rap (bloody dangerous Afrikaans rap)
Jack Parow is South Africa’s king of over-the-top – and people go ape for the guy. From his long peak cap and leopard print outfits to his profanity-riddled raps and catchier-than-crabs-in-a-trailer-park choruses, this man is a parody of the best (or worst) that Afrikaans culture has to offer. Like Die Antwoord, Parow is an ambassador of ‘Zef’ and raps about topics ranging from his white, middle-class upbringing to apparent Afrikaans traditions (like drinking heavily). He hasn’t been one to stop at music though: Parow has also released his own clothing range and barbecue sauce. Other hits include ‘Cooler as Ekke’ (Cooler Than Me), ‘Hard Partytjie Hou’ (Party Hard) and ‘Spring Moederfokker’ (Jump Motherfucker).
Petite Noir
His sound (according to him): Noir wave
Yannick Iluga is Petite Noir, a 22-year-old singer/producer/multi-instramentalist who like his countrymen and fellow pioneers of cool, Spoek Mathambo and OKmalumkoolkat, has been making waves internationally. He’s described his sound as ‘new wave with an African aesthetic’ and maybe this is as close to a genre as it gets: it’s darkwave indie on South African urban street corners; both gritty and beautiful. And then there’s that voice of his that somehow seems to speak of so much more than just 22 years could ever account for. On 21 November he signed to UK independent record label, Domino Records, and he is currently (Dec 2012) touring Europe with Foals.
Desmond and the Tutus
Their sound (according to them): Kwela-indie-pop-rock
Desmond and the Tutus don’t take themselves too seriously – and they don’t expect you to either. The Pretoria-based rockers are known across South Africa for their dance-floor conquering mix of traditional African rhythms and edgy indie vibes, not to mention their swanky hair. Their lyrics play jump rope with the line between inane fun and astute observations; their grooves are often simple, but always infectious. It’s been a big year for the band: they released a new album ‘Mnusic’ in July, while November saw them opening for US indie pop band The Drums at both their Johannesburg and Cape Town shows.
Zaki Ibrahim
Her sound (according to her): Every sound and its opposite
Canadian-born Zakhi Ibrahim, daughter to a South African community radio legend and a British poet, first made her voice heard in the country of her birth, before bringing her unique and powerful sound home to SA. While her latest album, ‘Every Opposite’, offers up a sonic spread that smacks of her diverse range of musical influences – from hip hop and pop, soul and R&B to electro – her voice is undoubtedly the cohesive element that draws the loose narrative of the album together even more than any fable could. More mainstream sounds from singer include collaborations with Spoek Mathambo, DJ Kent, Culoe de Song and Boddhi Satva.
Die Antwoord (special mention)
Their sound (according to them): Zef rap-rave
Ninja and Yo-Landi Vi$$er really need no introduction. After many years involved in as many other South African groups (including Max Normal and The Constructus Corporation), the self-styled ‘zef’ duo shot to Internet stardom with their video for ‘Enter The Ninja’, resulting in the re-release of their debut ‘$O$’ on Interscope Records, which also included the Diplo-produced ‘Evil Boy’. After a fall out with Interscope, Die Antwoord went on to start their own label Zef Recordz, through which they released their follow-up album, ‘Ten$ion’.
