Hi I am Mijaelle and in this Heart -Beats video series we chat to Mike Meiring the founder, lead guitarist and singer for Highway Jam, a blues rock / jazz fusion band.

He had reasonable success in Durban and Johannesburg in the 1980s as lead guitarist with popular Durban band The Street Rockers, with their song “Don’t cry without emotion” topping the Radio 5 charts in the late 1980’s. Mike performed in a show called “Déjà Vu”, a tribute to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, after which Highway Jam was born.

Highway Jam initially comprised drummer Steve De Kock and bassist Donovan Thatcher. The early ’90s saw the release of the band’s first album, “2 B Played Loud”.

Apart from the club gigs, Highway Jam played at various festivals, including Rustlers, Splashy Fen and Oppie Koppie - until 1997, when the band broke up. Mike carried on under the Highway Jam banner with Kai Horsthemke and Reuben Samuels. This ushered in a creative, synergistic period, with funk, jazz and world music influences. In 1998, Highway Jam's “Grasslands” project was recorded and released followed by “Always Being” in 1999. By 2000, a stable line-up of Mike, Ekkie, Kai and drummer Brett Collings saw the band revisiting their eclectic mix of jazz and world music influences, leaning towards hip-hop grooves. Highway Jam was voted best jazz band, regionally and nationally, in the prestigious “Old Mutual Jazz Encounters”. In 2003, the band recorded another album, “Highway Jam Goes Wild”. Highway Jam collaborated with Kathy Raven, one of the band’s all-time favourite singers. Kai, Reuben and Mike released the album “The Road Less Travelled” in 2017.

Topics discussed in part 1 are:

1 - The Highway Jam Lineup

2 - A tour of the Studios - where we filmed and recorded the audio from

3 - Pioneers of music styles like Django Reinhardt, Charley Patton and Jimi Hendrix and Mike's creative influences

4 - Mike's love for Fender guitars and appreciation for Gibson

5 - Fire and Rain performance - an original song by Mike Meiring

6 - Has nature always been apart of Mike's creative process?

7 - Why is music so important in Mike's life?

8 - Playing with Kathy Raven (vocalist)

9 - Advice for fellow music adventurers

www.highwayjam.co.za

www.facebook.com/HeartBeatsSA

www.facebook.com/MusicalMuseDevelopment

soundcloud.com/heartbeatssa

iTunes - Heart-Beats SA Music Industry podcast

Visit www.musicalmuse.co.za

www.instagram.com/mijaelle

twitter - @Mijaelle

(Topics below) Hi guys, I'm Mijaelle and in this Heart-Beats video series I chat to the multi-talented Gavan Eckhart who owns and runs a recording studio (Soul Fire Studios) in Norwood JHB were he is currently mixing songs and albums from a wide variety of artists, producers and composers. He also writes and records jingles music for adverts and TV shows. Gavan manages the technical requirements in large venues, theatres, museums and galleries and regularly travels internationally for this purpose. The Orbit jazz club, Wits arts museum, Everard Reid Gallery and the Goethe Institute are some of the most recent venues to choose his expertise for technical equipment installation.

Some of the artist's that he has worked with include Freshly Ground * Language 12 Feat Marcus Wyatt, Stimela feat Ray Phiri * William Kentridge - Refuse the hour * Philip Miller * Nathi * Lady Smith Black Mambazo

Topics discussed in this video:

1. Working in studio compared to mixing in theaters

2. Refuse the Hour production with William Kentridge

3. Different theatre acoustics - Berliner Festspiele , Onassis Cultural Centre , Salle Richelieu , Le Palais des Papes , Teatro Argentina in Rome

4. How Gavan got the name for Soul Fire Studios

5. Advice for people wanting to start their own studio - top 5 must haves

6. Working with various artists like Freshly Ground, Nathi, Msaki, 340ml, Netsayi, Nancy G and jazz ensembles

7. Artists from multiple music genres, languages and cultural backgrounds

8. Being a score engineer and the process of upmixing

9. Future projects which include audio installations at The Women's Museum in Pretoria

10. Characteristics that Gavan values and his Heart-Beats Message

www.soulfiresa.com

On Top Of The World - song by Nancy G

www.facebook.com/HeartBeatsSA

www.facebook.com/MusicalMuseDevelopment

soundcloud.com/heartbeatssa

iTunes - Heart-Beats SA Music Industry podcast

Visit www.musicalmuse.co.za

www.instagram.com/mijaelle

(Topics below) Hi guys, I'm Mijaelle and in this Heart-Beats video series I chat to the multi-talented Gavan Eckhart who owns and runs a recording studio (Soul Fire Studios) in Norwood JHB were he is currently mixing songs and albums from a wide variety of artists, producers and composers. He also writes and records jingles music for adverts and TV shows. Gavan manages the technical requirements in large venues, theatres, museums and galleries and regularly travels internationally for this purpose. The Orbit jazz club, Wits arts museum, Everard Reid Gallery and the Goethe Institute are some of the most recent venues to choose his expertise for technical equipment installation.

Some of the artist's that he has worked with include Freshly Ground * Language 12 Feat Marcus Wyatt, Stimela feat Ray Phiri * William Kentridge - Refuse the hour * Philip Miller * Nathi * Lady Smith Black Mambazo

Topics discussed in this video:

1. Having worked at The Bassline earlier in his career as a FOH sound engineer

2. DJ parties in the 90's - the emergence of programmed music

3. Working with Ian Osrin at Digital Cupboard Studio (one of the first fully digital studios in South Africa)

4. Working on Miriam Makeba's album - Reflections with Lumumba Lee and Ringo Madlingozi, as a pre-programming engineer

5. Working with Philip Miller (S.A. composer) and William Kentridge (S.A. artist and Director) on various projects

6. Thinking outside the box and working with orchestras

7. Gavan's passion for reggae music

www.soulfiresa.com

www.facebook.com/HeartBeatsSA

www.facebook.com/MusicalMuseDevelopment

soundcloud.com/heartbeatssa

iTunes - Heart-Beats SA Music Industry podcast

Visit www.musicalmuse.co.za

www.instagram.com/mijaelle

(Topics below) Hi guys, I'm Mijaelle and in this Heart-Beats video series we chat to the knowledgeable and laid back Peter Sklair. Peter is a freelance bassist, composer and educator based in Johannesburg, South Africa. His eclectic approach has led to performances and/or recordings with artists such as Estudio, Manfred Mann, Katherine Jenkins, Gilberto Gil, Hugh Masakela, Andy Narrell, McCoy Mrubata, Vusi Mahlasela, Yonatan Razel and many others.

As a session musician he has played on jingles for clients such as Coca Cola, Kellogs, Peugeot and Hansa Pilsner. His television work includes Afro Cafe and South African Idols. Peter is a founding member of the group Unofficial Language (along with Paul Hanmer and Ian Herman) who performed at the 2006 Cape Town international jazz festival and released two albums- ‘Primal Steps’ and ‘Move moves’. Peter performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival Switzerland 2012 with the Lausanne Sinfonietta, Paul Hanmer, Vusi Mahlasela and Gilberto Gil. Peter currently teaches electric bass and jazz at Tshwane University of Technology(TUT).

Topics discussed in this video:

1. Having played/worked with various South African artists - what do you enjoy about the unique African vibe?

2. Touring with Katherine Jenkins and being a part of an orchestra

3. Jazz music and the unpredictability and intuitive compared to the structure of classical music

4. How to work in a jazz ensemble and allowing innovation

5. Respecting everyone's intentions in a group and working in harmony and directing

6. Mistakes are not the enemy

7. What does the South African jazz scene need to take it to the next level?

8. Music education - the pro's and con's of formal training

9. Learning by ear or memorizing as apposed to using the internet

10. Peter's Heart-Beats message

www.facebook.com/HeartBeatsSA

www.facebook.com/MusicalMuseDevelopment

soundcloud.com/heartbeatssa

iTunes - Heart-Beats SA Music Industry podcast

Visit www.musicalmuse.co.za

www.instagram.com/mijaelle

(Topics below) Hi guys, I'm Mijaelle and in this Heart-Beats video series we chat to the knowledgeable and laid back Peter Sklair. Peter is a freelance bassist, composer and educator based in Johannesburg, South Africa. His eclectic approach has led to performances and/or recordings with artists such as Estudio, Manfred Mann, Katherine Jenkins, Gilberto Gil, Hugh Masakela, Andy Narrell, McCoy Mrubata, Vusi Mahlasela, Yonatan Razel and many others.

As a session musician he has played on jingles for clients such as Coca Cola, Kellogs, Peugeot and Hansa Pilsner. His television work includes Afro Cafe and South African Idols. Peter is a founding member of the group Unofficial Language (along with Paul Hanmer and Ian Herman) who performed at the 2006 Cape Town international jazz festival and released two albums- ‘Primal Steps’ and ‘Move moves’. Peter performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival Switzerland 2012 with the Lausanne Sinfonietta, Paul Hanmer, Vusi Mahlasela and Gilberto Gil. Peter currently teaches electric bass and jazz at Tshwane University of Technology(TUT).

Topics discussed in this video:

1. How did music play a role in your childhood?

2. What makes a great musician?

3. How to balance the technical with the intuitive when composing music?

4. How music heals or affects people's moods - what Peter has noticed about the way music moves people

5. How to read an audience

6. Unofficial Language - how they met, formed and make music together

7. One of Peter's favourite performances ( from Oppikoppi )

8. One of the greatest things that Peter has learnt from his journey

www.facebook.com/HeartBeatsSA

www.facebook.com/MusicalMuseDevelopment

soundcloud.com/heartbeatssa

iTunes - Heart-Beats SA Music Industry podcast

Visit www.musicalmuse.co.za

Hi, I am Mijaelle and in this Heart-Beats interview series we chat to Adrian ( Smokestack Lightning ) Ziller, who I had the joy of meeting at a medieval fayre of all places lol! He is a musician, operatically trained singer (having done opera for many years), producer, solo artist (was signed to Sony) as well as band member (After Elizabeth). He has a passion for folk, rock and blues as well as having released numerous world albums. Most of all he is charismatic and a great storyteller who has loads of advice and funny tales to share!

Topics discussed in Part 4:

1. Funny gigging story

2. Memorable musical moments

3. Acoustic Rhythm Machine - touring with a band and becoming like family

4. Focusing on writing your own material versus singing cover versions

5. Havig a steady gig - Adrian plays at TJ's regularly

6. Adrian's Heart-Beats Message

www.facebook.com/adriansmokestacklightningziller

Connect via

www.facebook.com/HeartBeatsSA

www.facebook.com/MusicalMuseDevelopment

Or via twitter - @HeartBeatsSA

soundcloud.com/heartbeatssa

iTunes - Heart-Beats SA Music Industry podcast

Visit www.musicalmuse.co.za

www.instagram.com/mijaelle

Hi, I am Mijaelle and in this Heart-Beats interview series www.youtube.com/HeartBeatsSA we chat to Adrian ( Smokestack Lightning ) Ziller, who I had the joy of meeting at a medieval fayre of all places lol! He is a musician, operatically trained singer (having done opera for many years), producer, solo artist (was signed to Sony) as well as band member (After Elizabeth). He has a passion for folk, rock and blues as well as having released numerous world albums. Most of all he is charismatic and a great storyteller who has loads of advice and funny tales to share!

Topics discussed in Part 3:

1. Performance of 'Just For a Week' and how Adrian Ziller wrote it

2. The process of songwriting

3. Writing his world album - The Skylarks Requiem and the song Everything That Can't Be Sold

4. Adrian's Book Book - in which he writes his music

5. Greatest advice he was given

6. What Adrian appreciates about his musical journey and the ability to say no

www.facebook.com/adriansmokestacklightningziller

Connect via

www.facebook.com/HeartBeatsSA

www.facebook.com/MusicalMuseDevelopment

Or via twitter - @HeartBeatsSA

soundcloud.com/heartbeatssa

iTunes - Heart-Beats SA Music Industry podcast

Visit www.musicalmuse.co.za

www.instagram.com/mijaelle

Hi, I am Mijaelle and in this Heart-Beats interview series we chat to Adrian ( Smokestack Lightning ) Ziller, who I had the joy of meeting at a medieval fayre of all places lol! He is a musician, operatically trained singer (having done opera for many years), producer, solo artist (was signed to Sony) as well as band member (After Elizabeth). He has a passion for folk, rock and blues as well as having released numerous world albums. Most of all he is charismatic and a great storyteller who has loads of advice and funny tales to share!

Topics discussed in Part 2:

1. What Adrian would change about the music industry in order to improve it

2. The power an audience has in the music industry

3. Curation in the music business (where to see/hear great music)

4. Travelling to Cambodia and Bangkok to buy unusual and/or world instruments. Adding to your musical collection

5. Composing world music and commercial music - being inspired and challenged musically

6. A performance of a song he wrote when he was about to break up with someone

www.facebook.com/adriansmokestacklightningziller

Connect via

www.facebook.com/HeartBeatsSA

www.facebook.com/MusicalMuseDevelopment

Or via twitter - @HeartBeatsSA

soundcloud.com/heartbeatssa

iTunes - Heart-Beats SA Music Industry podcast

Visit www.musicalmuse.co.za

www.instagram.com/mijaelle

Hi, I am Mijaelle and in this Heart-Beats interview series we chat to Adrian ( Smokestack Lightning ) Ziller, who I had the joy of meeting at a medieval fayre of all places lol! He is a musician, operatically trained singer (having done opera for many years), producer, solo artist (was signed to Sony) as well as band member (After Elizabeth). He has a passion for folk, rock and blues as well as having released numerous world albums. Most of all he is charismatic and a great storyteller who has loads of advice and funny tales to share!

Topics discussed in Part 1:

1. When Adrian started having fun with music and bought his first instrument

2. His first band (youth to rock band)

3. His journey of learning to sing and appreciating his unique voice

4. Doing a tour like the Janis Joplin Festival Express - perhaps the Trans-karoo

5. Being signed to Sony Music - Highs and Lows of the music industry and lessons learnt

6. Writing a great song and being able to work consistently in the music industry

www.facebook.com/adriansmokestacklightningziller

Connect via

www.facebook.com/HeartBeatsSA

www.facebook.com/MusicalMuseDevelopment

Or via twitter - @HeartBeatsSA

soundcloud.com/heartbeatssa

iTunes - Heart-Beats SA Music Industry podcast

Visit www.musicalmuse.co.za

www.instagram.com/mijaelle