The good type of Delilah that will cleanse your spirit...Let her sing on

Parisian born Delilah has simply captivated me with her haunting voice leading to many sleepless nights and a final purchase of her album with funds for a desperately needed facial .This 22 year old who seems to be a collage of a multi-cultural (Her mother having Cuban and Nigerian heritage whilst her dad is of half Spanish and french descent) feast that can be accredited to her being also raised in London after her parents split.Looks wise think of a cleaned up Rita-Ora with none of the foolishness of being a failed clone of Rihanna's street self.Her voice has the a haunting emotional vulnerability that seems to linger with every note she hits, quite dark and melodic I could answer and say she would be the new answer to the late Amy Winehouse hinted with a bit of pop.I kid you not if there is a vocalist that has me hypnotized right now .It has to be her ...below is a song from her latest album "Roots Up" ....please click to have a listen

Tabitha,mummy and me - Delilah

Shades of Grey by Delilah taken from the "Roots Up" album...That's what's in my ear right now

I am all sorts of angry at myself for discovering this gem of music so late but alas I have and i seem to not have enough of her voice...No seriously she haunts me now,in a good way tho! Taken from her "Roots Up" album.Actually this ain't on me I blame all of you for not introducung me to her lol

Still Soo tight ....Had to celebrate the waves that my girl is making...#HeartMy Freinds

The past two weeks have been quite a bit in lines of emotions.Alot is happening in my life in terms of academia and personal growth in the spheres of growth both self and relationships...in that meaning freindships.See freindship are one of the most vital relations we have with the exterior world,they become your strength and most of all they become your biggest cheers of your success.As they will know the tribulations and hardships that has built you to where you are.It is with such joy that I am proud of the success that she is earning .But enough emotional soap ,after all this is no "Days Of Our Lives" post but rather one of pure pride and joy.

A week or two ago a close freind of mine ,actually going as far as saying one of my life sisters Toya DeLazy won three South African Music Awards and recently found out that she had been nominated for a B.E.T award putting her in the international export league of Lira ,TearGas etc.She flew down to Durban after the victory to celebrate with family and feinds .See this young womans work ethic and yearning to be the best performer can be vouched when in a moment of a freinds get together ,I could hear her engaging with fans in respect of them being her "DeLazy's" .Soooooooooooooooo proud of my girl ,.....I still say it she is the TRUTH of our talent.

And that is what the latest single "Loosing My Love"does to us lol

A visual feast that truly is Mnandi .......

It's been a while since i was this excited about a local South African artist...Nandi Mngoma.Watch and you will understand..Sheer beauty!

When talent can be over looked .....after hearing ask yourself why are you a Beibliver

For a reason beyond me I have been fond of YouTubing (if there is such a word) alot of unsigned artists and giving my ears a well deserved Commercial pop break ......This gem of a voice is Leroy Sanchez give him a chance and you might end up asking yourself . How the hell did Justin Beiber get signed when such vocal perfection exists ?.......

If you may Lend her an ear...You might "Come-Out" with you or some truth

I posted an introductory post yesterday as to why over the next couple of days I shall be uploading daily poems to bring about attention to all the social ills that haunt us .These "ISM" include sexism ,racism and homophobia that still lead to oppresion or worse blood shed that is unjust nor humane....These voices I shall post have inspired this quest to spark change in my own little way, I can only hope they do the same for you as change is started by silent individual battles that eventually collect to form an army to brave to ignore.......

Anderson Coopers acceptance speech at the GLAAD awards .....

It is of essential importance that all who dare to look at thiis bloog to take five minutes of their day to listen to this speech and it message ...Change starts with a spark of inspiring words ,these were mine!

The Truth unheard .....Introducing Thobe ......

 

So I have decided to do a series of interviews with some of Durbans coolest underground talent .I will be unveiling the talents that I have choosen to conduct the interviews with as the weeks progress.They will be aimed at understanding the vision and person behind the music that will be posted alongside these interviews.First up is one of those guys that once you meet you will never get over how genuine he is as rare as this maybe.This young brother seems to have found his truth and stride.His name is Thobe but after reading this you ought to know him a little better ...Introducing the man of Heart

 

 

 

 

 

Your first Mixtape was well received amongst the durban crowd ....will durban always be your home base ?

 

I love Durban as a whole. I grew up here vele, so the sentiment is understood. Problem with Durban is the mentality that people have with regard to art. Not just consumers but even the people who are "artists". Consumers are built on a culture of what's "in", in Durban more so because we are pushed by "igqomu". Don't get it twisted, I love me "igqomu" every once in a while but people end up thinking that's the end all be of "artistry" like there's nothing beyond "umlilo". Artists roll in "cliques", and there's no spirit of trying to explore music or art as a whole, people always just looking out for who is in their cliques and ish. Even when you approach people under the guise of just wanting to explore sounds with them they'll make themselves bigger than you. A rare few will believe in growing art, but there just needs to be a change in mentality, we need more Body Rocks where artistry is celebrated even though its a sliver of people.

 If an opportunity to broaden my music outside of Durban comes would I take it? Of course, but the road will always lead me back home, coz after my experiences I feel I owe it to other artists to give them the platform I never had/struggled for.

 

2)Since the release of Art OF Heart what have you been listening to that has been quiet influential in your new music ?

 I'm still a HUGE hip hop head, HUGE, but my listenership of the genre has gone down, I've found myself listening more intensely to beattapes, R&B (90's), soul from the 60's and jazz vocalists. Reason being I feel that there are certain features that all these genres channel that help in the making of good music. The beattapes help sharpen the songwriting skills if anything. Another common trait with the genres I mentioned is that they could be said to have come out in the "talent" era of music, where regardless of how you looked, or what ever else, if the music spoke, it spoke. So in a way I listen to them to catch that spirit and build foundation, some times amalgamate, with what I have to make dope music.

 

 

3) if there is a new project on the cards mind sharing what it entails and what has the journey been like with the new material?

Well, the Jazztape series vele is a cycle, 1st heartbreak (Jazztape Vol 1) then finding new love (Jazztape Vol 2) then maintaining new love (Jazztape Vol 3). Its a well known fact that heartbreak sometimes gets the best material out of you. So I gave myself enough time post the 1st Jazztape to get over whatever I was going through so as to write from a different perspective, perspective of trying to "jump back into love". But there's always going to be a a self made "block", talking about what if people don't like the new mentality but the idea is always to bring something people can relate to. So the Jazztape 2 just carries on the cycle that was ended on the 1st Jazztape. Its like life happening in "real time" so it was sort of natural. Even the beats are on some looking forward tip. Lol

4) I hear that but i do feel like south africa as a whole is slowly loosiing its ear to non-commercial artistic music ,You seem to be a part of a young crowd that seems to be bringing back the religion of listening to good music? why do you think is the reason behind this ?

 

Music should be a timeless thing, that's always been my view. I mean I still play Naughty By Natures "Feel Me Flow" and smile like crazy. Zhane, Chante Moore, Janet Jackson, the era of the 90's though it did make way for imagery to play a part, it was a lot of sincerity behind the stuff because the artist would have either produced or wrote the songs themselves so it wasn't just regurgitation. Nowadays artists are given "ready made" songs, written by 5 people sometimes and the authenticity in that is questioned. Yes the message can affect me but where is YOU in that? Apart from your voice? I'm just about exhuding what's authentic, and real, even if there is a slight glimpse of help it won't defer from what you hear and you knowing I went through it coz once grasped it'll be as natural as human nature, and make it timeless. I scheme.

 

5) In your music you come across as very sincere and honest....So much so I'd even say as honest as the likes of frank ocean,James Fauntleroy etc , how did you achieve this and will you always stick to it?

 

I don't got the best voice in this you know, lol, so I had to be realistic with myself in that sense. But what I lacked in octaves I could build up in emotion. Emotion is that slight crackle in the voice as if I've been crying and I had to sing it out the next moment, those things are audible in a song. Instead of halfheartedly placing yourself there you use your instrument as the expressor, even the beat of a song helps set the mood so that when you start stating your case its believable. I write about ish I done went through and sometimes channel fantasies of things I would want to experience and just work in unison with the beat and it comes out in its purest form.

Whether I will be able to maintain it remains to be seen. There's only so much that makes up a human and writers block also exists. Lol.

6) You seem to have found your stride,what plans do you have for the future creative and music wise ...is there a grand master plan ?

 

The grand master plan is helping people find what they love and actually work towards that "end" instead of chasing money,chase your own enlightenment. I'm trying to do my part by saying I want to help artistic individuals in my hometown, Durban, regardless of whether I make it or not, if I can give somebody the same happiness music has given me and help them find their purpose then I'll be fulfilled. Creatively there has been discussion with regard to the Jazztape Vol 3, whether it will be released or that there should just be an album. Time will tell for me. But theories.

done ..................

Thobekani M. Dhlamini

soundcloud.com/thobeofheart , reverbnation.com/thobe , twitmusic.co/thobe712 , yeahhh, think that's about it.

My perfect take on Feminism .....Its colured in P!NK

When the opening lyrics of a song go a little something like ...."I'm not a slut I just Love LOVE ...."  You start understanding that Pink means busines in this track.I bumed into this live Performance on one of my study all nighters ...Have found that music with alot more rock elements leads me to be at my most productive state intellectually.I know I'm a weird creature ...Enjoy the video

When She sang she bacame my joy.....

I have not heard anyone sing like this in a while ...thought i'd share this treasure that i have bumped into lately.Her name is Leela James ,was blessed enough to have received a CD set with all of her albums that she has released thus far.Being the music junkie i am i had to go and search for her live performances as i truly believe if one sings such a genre as soul .Their talent souly lies in the ability to touch their audiences souls .She touched mine ,i hope she does yours too as this song has been on auto repeat on my playlist .If you know me well i guess you will figure out where i'm at love life wise using the lyrical content.

She Turned my Stone into Heart.....can I love her anymore!

Adele- I Can't Make You Love Me (bonnie riatt cover)

I have not uploaded music in a while and you would ask why? Well I guess the answer to that is simple as what I listen to is usually where my heartspace and life is.So I guess now u know where I'm at.....

A struggle of " Da Nice One"...I simply hope "Heaven is place on Earth with You...."

I feel like I'm somewhat becoming a lazy blogger , you know those that seem to garner excuses when ever  life seems to be getting quite hectic.Well I guess one could argue that is true just based on the number of apologies I have been posting up as opposed to blogposts.It's simply named Exam time which usually is the worst time of the semester for me.But 2012 is proving me rather calm ,in some weird way I feel like I have worked consistently and finally finding my academic feet as well as flow.See this journey titled "Varsity" has not been one that is easy for me having lost and discovered myself in this place, they were times when I felt that it was gonna be the death of me.A couple of weeks ago I met someone well whom I hoped would be special but the surrounds of how we  met proved to be of a hinderence. I guess first impressions do matter so I have learn't .Well since then me and him have not been going as planned I tell you...I guess in a way we still are finding our stride , just as how it took me a good four years to discover my varsity strut...this too is proving to be as slow as skin-free on acne....But I really  hope it gets there.... Simply put he is nice!

But back to the post,amongst our hang-out sessions with " Da Nice One" he introduced me to the most beautifully haunting voice I have heard in a while and I being a deep lover of Indie music I simply found love.Safe to say her voice has been getting me through exam pressure and all that is in between .Put it like this one can find themselves simply escaping with it ...as to where I don't know but I know one thing,if things don't work out as planned with " Da Nice One" it will be fine as I met her...LANA DEL REY 

I'll Be Loving You Until.....a secret song I sing to myself everyday ...

Self love has to be one of my new mantra's this year .I'm spending as much energy devoting enough self praise , self acceptance but most of all unmatched love to myself.See I'm growing a deep whirlwind love affair with myself and it's amazing I tell you...Yesterday found myself checking myself out in the mirror and have to say I'm slowly finding my rhythm and skip again...I guess the moral of this post is the words typed the most being ....SELFLOVE , MYSELF and most of all LOVE.

As a gift to yourself this morning , why not sing the lyrics of Steve Wonder's "AS"to yourself ...taking in each verse and chorus of love to yourself .I dare you to be that selfish today ! My gift to you

"[GM]
As around the sun the earth knows she's revolving
And the rosebuds know to bloom in early May
Just as hate knows love's a cure
You can rest your mind assured
That I'll be lovin' you always

As now can't reveal the mystery of tomorrow
But in passing will grow older every day
Just as all is born is new
You know what I say is true
That I'll be lovin' you always

[All]
Until the rainbow burns the stars out of the sky
Until the ocean covers every mountain high
Until the day that eight times eight times eight is four
Until the day that it's the day that I'm no more

[MJB]
Did you know that true love asks for nothing
Her acceptance is the way we pay
Did you know that life has given love a guarentee
That last through forever
Another day

[GM] As today I know I'm living for tomorrow
Couldn't make me be the past but that I mustn't fear
[MJB] Now I know deep in my mind
The love of me I left behind
[GM] And I'll be loving you always

[1 - All]
Until the rainbow burns the stars out of the sky
Until the ocean covers every mountain high
Until the dolphins fly and parrots live at sea
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream

Until the day is night and night becomes the day
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away
Until the day that eight times eight times eight is four
Until the day that it's the day that I'm no more

[GM] Did you know that true love asks for nothing
[MJB] (True love don't wanna pay)
[GM] Her acceptance is the way we pay
Did you know that life has given love a guarentee
To last through forever
[MJB] Another day

[GM] As around the sun the earth knows she's revolving
And the rosebuds know to bloom in early May
[MJB] Now I know deep in my mind
The love of me I left behind
[GM] That I'll be lovin' you always

[Repeat 1]

Always
Always

[Repeat 1] "

Stimela Ft Thandiswa- Turn on The Sun

"Thula mnta'nami , Khula Mnta'nami ...uThande bonke abantu...uhlabelele ingoma emnandi , Bazojabula bonke abantu...." ooh wow its not everyday that I'm this crazy about a house jam ....But on this one i truly feel tha Stimela which is a legendary music pioneering group of our shores have truly encapisulated our nations heritage , tradition and most of all sound with this track.I f music like this aint Art then I do nont know what is...Let us celebrate it .As for Thandiswa's vocals , I say it again , No European counter part can resonate the feeling that this woman chuns out , felt the African lineage and ancestral blood that pumps through my body as if truly they "Turned On The Sun" and those before me were in the light finally.

Sparkling on the other side.....Whitney Houstons last Movie

Judging from the trailer it seems like Miss Houston left with a "Sparkle" ....seeing her performance from the trailer brought out bitter sweet memories of how much of my childhood was spent belting out Whitney Houston tunes with that signature lower lip quivver .....It's sad that Jordin Sparks first movie performance will be overshadowed by the icons passing and no doubt the audience will be in tears at the loss of this legend.

Super Excited About her ....Greatness is what she is on the brink of!

He Will Colour you Awesome....A taste of the what we shall hype about,his name is just " MZAMIE"

He says I can sing and I argue that so can all other gay guys in the world ,until an Idols judge sits your ass down I say in my best Nonhle Thema voice .He warms me up a bench by belting out the most beautiful accoustic version of Lady Gaga's Bad Romance.....thats when the romance I now have with his voice starts.Do keep in mind I have known him for over two years by this time ,Its harnessed but yet raw with pure un-urged talent ....Funny as " The Voice"  I'm talking about happens to be my best freind.See when he is on stage or singing he is not my freind but rather catipulates himself to a realm that could only be explained as supernatural, it is him and only the audience. The Love and Respect that he has for the craft is slowly dying out in this industry....Rewind a year back its reaching ungodly hours and we both at res the only reminder of the time is our empty coffee stained muggs.Yes we both had our own rooms but we choose to "Vat n Sit" in one room for such conversations in which the lack of South African artists and entertainers failing to treat the as a business yet alone to love it enough to study "fame" as a tool that can be quiet rewarding if done right .Our conversations reaches such depths of us analysing the monster that has suddenly taken over the global scene named " Lady Gaga" by mere shock value.We end up reaching a conclusion of how we are going to do it differently......Fast forward a year later and  " MZAMIE" is born he is bright and with a voice that assures you of the greatness coming this young lads way.Shall he be made emortal because of his artistry? ...Yes.But for now I can only give you a hint of what he is about!!!

The link below will take you to this greatness

http://tweetmysong.com/z647qls

I'm Crazy about him .......his got me hanging onto his last every word

I have not been this excited about a human being in a while , strange since im such an eager being in all lights .My affair with him is reaching desperate fever peaks that i did not even know one could possibly reach, hold on I don't even know this person but all I know is the genuis that I have been lucky enough to purchase .His been whispering nothing but sweet bitter tales of heartbreak and shattered heart pieces in my ear, gentle enough that his harnessed voice does nothing but leave soft careless scars in my heart! His name is Wouter "Wally" De Backer (born 21 May 1980) a Belgian-Australian multi-instrumental musician and singer-songwriter. But to me his name is simply "GOTYE" and boy is he "somebody I wish I knew" ..... If like me you live on a student sometimes rocky budget , take the time off to go to YouTube and check out some of his track they sure are to convince you to starve a couple of weeks, so you to can get wrapped up in his pain tantalised voice. That speaks nothing but honesty in the plight of love and all that is shattered in its trail ,my favourite cut is " Hearts a Mess " from his master piece, that is soaking my keyboard in salty streams of tears from places in my heart that I had thought healed ancient years ago, wound up in raw open battle feilds of pain.

Stand up if you have not ..... he has me off my " Musical" feet .....quiet epic! and his only beginning

I have vowed of doing musical reviews especially of my close circles of freinds as I hardly am objective but under due circumstances of extreme talent ,I refuse to be left behind of this true revitalisation of the South African Jazz fraternity .....Introduce to you guys  Thobekani Dlhamini  a  truly gifted brother who in my opinion could fall into the neo-soul category (one would have to excuse me for my love of boxing things into societal agreements) .What strike me about him is the extaodinary gift of taking the simplest of messages and chunning them into heartfelt journeys that a listener embarks with him.What sucks about the fickle industry,is that would rather us sell our souls to being to brought such lows that people like the 'Arthur Mofakates ' have become quiet honourable to one.He brings back a new sound that has been appetising our ears for centuries but seems to be slowly fading out and who better else than this young blood to capitalise in all the talent depreciation that we face!Comparible to such musical greats such as the "Kabomo's" of the world he offers what the young demographic has been yearning for! His Mixtape aptly named "JazzTape Volume One"...He truly has mastered the Art of Heart in his music, toppled with an electic sense of style .He a winner!

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fhulkshare.com%2F3a25f2bxzxot%23.TzVZ4IERbpU.blogger&h=qAQHDqRhY

Ima keep you guys posted on the progress of this vocalist , he sure is bound to be making waves.