Neill Solomon explores his world of music, art, film and theatre.

Neill Solomon journeys through fifty years of making original folk, rock, pop and world beat with side trips into performance theatre, painting, film soundtracks, the creative process and composition. His endless quest to use music as a tool of social awareness and change is inspiring and Neill also touched on poaching, freedom songs and refugees and how these causes have colored both his thinking and his art.. NeillSolomon.co.za · Vinyl Junkie Website · Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard · Connect with Benjy on LinkedIn · Music Rights Clearances

A hilarious Danny de Wet lets rip about the madness in the music.

Danny de Wet is one funny guy...a natural storyteller of note, he has been, as he calls it, the `lead drummer` for some of the biggest South African bands in rock: eVoid , Petit Cheval., Electric Petals and Wonderboom plus a myriad of other outfits. He has also been a record company executive, tour manager, analytical chemist, club owner and author among other things. In this hilarious by-the-seat-of-your-pants episode, Danny brings the house down with his tales of life on the road, band politics rock excess and everything else in-between. A true one-of-a-kind legend, his stories will have you shaking with laughter and disbelief ! Vinyl Junkie Website · Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard · Connect with Benjy on LinkedIn · Music Rights Clearances

PJ Powers opens up about Hotline hits, fame, Mandela & The Queen, and more.

My guest in this episode of From the Hip with Benjy Mudie hardly needs an introduction; she is one of South Africa's most successful musicians with over 40 years of hit-making under her belt and is responsible for some of the most iconic songs in our musical history including Jabulani, Feel So Strong, You're So Good to Me, World in Union, and many more. Singer, philanthropist, author, and human rights activist she is included in the prestigious list of the Top 100 Great South Africans and one of this country’s most recognizable and enduring performers. It is indeed a great pleasure to sit in conversation with PJ Powers. Vinyl Junkie Website · Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard · Connect with Benjy on LinkedIn · Music Rights Clearances

éVoid come clean about Shadows and life on the fame rollercoaster in the 80s.

This was an in-depth conversation with Lucien Windrich (éVoid guitarist and vocalist) and Erik Windrich (éVoid keyboardist and lead vocalist), the founding members of the iconic 1980s South African band éVoid.

They pioneered an innovative fashion style adopted by legions of fans called 'fadgets' and embraced African and ethnographic musical influences, creating a unique 'ethnopop' fusion style. éVoid exploded in popularity in the early 1980s with hits like 'Shadows' and 'Taximan'.

They also give some personal insights into the heady whirlwind period of éVoid mania', playing massive concerts like Ellis Park Stadium in 1984 and their move to the UK. Facebook Fadgets Fan Page · Vinyl Junkie Website · Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard · Connect with Benjy on LinkedIn · Music Rights Clearances

Cindy Alter unpacks her career from Clout to Nashville and back.

Singer-songwriter Cindy Alter is no shrinking violet! With dollops of humour and candour, she reminisces about her time in South Africa's most successful pop export, Clout, scaling the heights of the global music business, travelling the world, and selling millions of records. Her band, Zia, were at the forefront of the Afro-pop movement of the 80's and enjoyed huge international success.

Cindy comes out guns blazing about the insincerity and backstabbing of the music industry, her battle with the twin enemies of dread disease and indifference, and her move to Nashville to pursue her songwriting. This riveting tale of a rock and roll warrior survivor who has remained true to her heart and art is essential listening. Vinyl Junkie Website · Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard · Connect with Benjy on LinkedIn · Music Rights Clearances

Trevor takes you on his journey to pop, rock, and film superstardom.

Trevor Rabin has scaled the heights of pop superstardom with Rabbitt, global recognition and chart success with prog rock demi-gods YES, and conquered the highest echelons of the competitive Hollywood motion picture soundtrack world with nearly 50 blockbusters to his credit. This is the story of a Joburg boy's dream to achieve global recognition as a musician.

Benjy and Trevor reconnect for the first time in 40 years, and they have a blast reliving his journey and also discussing his new album "Rio". You will hear hit songs from every part of his career, courtesy of Trevor. Trevor Rabin Music · Watch the Big Mistakes video · Watch the Push video · Vinyl Junkie Website · Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard · Connect with Benjy on LinkedIn · Music Rights Clearances

South African music is blessed with a diversity of unique music styles and none more irresistible than the afro-funk sound of the '70s and '80s. In this episode, Benjy Mudie and the legendary music icon Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse talk about Sipho's early seminal bands, The Beaters and Harari, social consciousness, cultural liberation, and Paul Simon's Graceland album. They also explore the phenomenal success of Sipho's signature tune "Burnout" as well as the background to hit songs like "Shikisha", "Jive Soweto" and "Chant of the Marching". Vinyl Junkie Website · Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard · Connect with Benjy on LinkedIn · Music Rights Clearances

In this episode, uber-producer Tully McCully waxes lyrical with Benjy Mudie about producing hard-to-categorize South African artists. He delves into the recording history of multiple award-winning songstress Lesley Rae Dowling, deep dives into the arcane and often psychotic world of rock outfit, Falling Mirror, the bizarre off-the-wall humour of writer, poet, and singer, Niki Daly, the McCully Workshop hit machine and the European success of Crocodile Harris. What these artists have in common is that their work has been touched by the alchemy of one of South Africa`s most creative producers and musicians.

Tully has kindly authorized excerpts of key songs from the artist's career including a never-before-heard Falling Mirror song which was destined for a new album, the release cut short by guitarist Allan Faull's untimely passing. Tul Microphones · Vinyl Junkie Website · Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard · Connect with Benjy on LinkedIn · Music Rights Clearances

The rise of Goth and Alternative music in '80s South Africa.

In this episode, Rob McLennan, founder and frontman of South Africa's most successful Goth band, No Friends of Harry and legendary punk/alternative radio DJ, Barney Simon swap musical war stories with host Benjy Mudie about the rise of alternative music and culture in heady days of '80s South Africa. Vinyl Junkie Website · Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard · Connect with Benjy on LinkedIn · Music Rights Clearances

The stories behind this iconic South African pop outfit's success.

In this episode, Benjy Mudie shoots the breeze with John Leyden and Claire Johnston of Mango Groove about the band's phenomenal success in the early nineties. They explore the early days of the band, the recording of that iconic multi-platinum-selling first album, the high-profile international tours, the memorable videos, those quintessential pop singles, and the pressure of being arguably the most successful South African pop band of all time.

Laced with loads of humour and incisive comments about culture, politics, fashion and music, Mango Groove's infectious and irresistible songs are ingrained in our national DNA. Still headlining concerts across the country to this day, Mango Groove remains a South African institution. Mango Groove on Soundcloud · Thank you to Gallo Music · Vinyl Junkie Website · Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard · Connect with Benjy on LinkedIn · Music Rights Clearances