Matters

Meet Meng Ru Kuok - I had the privilege of spending 40 minutes with the digital disruptor as part of Music Exchange 2023 (#MEX23) in Cape Town this week. There is a lot to take in here, so you may want to listen to this talk at least twice ;-)

Meng Ru Kuok is a Singaporean entrepreneur and the Group CEO & Founder of Caldecott Music Group (CMG), a global music industry investor and innovator that spans multiple sectors, including digital (BandLab Technologies), media (NME Networks), and manufacturing and retail (Vista Musical Instruments). 
He sets the overall direction and leads the product strategy for the group. Meng's first major venture was the acquisition of Swee Lee in 2012, which he transformed into South East Asia's largest retailer of musical instruments and the region’s most trusted house of music expression. 

He then co-founded BandLab in 2015, a next-generation social music creation platform that now boasts over 60 million users. BandLab’s vision is simple: A future where there are no boundaries to making and sharing music. BandLab is the next-generation social music creation platform on a mission to break down the technical, geographic, and creative barriers for musicians and fans. 

Free-to-use, the mobile-first cross-platform DAW and social network unites the entire creator journey into one place, boasting a suite of features and tools for creators to make music, share their music with fans, earn a living, and even top the charts.

 
Today, Meng continues to build brands for musicians and fans through CMG's portfolio of brands, which includes BandLab, Airbit, Cakewalk, ReverbNation, MONO, Harmony, Heritage Guitars, Teisco, Swee Lee, NME, Guitar.com, and MusicTech. By integrating the physical, digital, and social supply chain around music, CMG brings together brands and people who are passionate about music, allowing them to deliver authentic content, products, and experiences for all music lovers. 
#music #musicindustry #entrepreneur #manufacturing #network #supplychain #strategy #content #people #ceo #media#creative #retail #share #musicians #future #digital

I captured this interview with Afro Celt Sound System’s Simon Emmerson on the eve of Volume 2 ‘s release in April 1999.

Sadly, Simon passed away in March of this year, one day after his 67th birthday, but this interview keeps his memory alive and the music he made thankfully lives on in his absence.

Afro Celt Sound System, Afro Cult Sound System, Simon Emmerson, Simon Booth, Real World, Real World Studios, Peter Gabriel, Real World Festival, Glastonbury 1997

Meet Charl Kruger, the design mastermind behind some of the last 30-odd years of creative genius to come out of ZA.

This interview, captured nine months before the group landed in ZA (circa 2004), saw me chatting with the founder member of Basement Jaxx, Felix Buxton. 

Kish Kash was the group’s third delivery, a significant album for them, as much as it was for their fans. Listen and enjoy how this album came together.

Basement Jaxx, Basement Jacks, Felix Buxton, Independiente, Simon Ratcliffe, Goldie, LTK Bukem, XL, Interscope, PIAS, Daft Punk, OMG, Kish Kash, Oh My Gosh, Crazy Itch Radio, Scars, Glastonbury, Glastonbury Festival Basement Jaxx, Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury Festival Kylie Minogue, Yoko Ono, Santigold, Hush Boy, JC Chasez, Lisa Kekaula, Me’shell Ndegeocello, Dizzee Rascal

This interview with the one-time member of Savage Garden and celebrated solo artist in his own right, Darren Hayes, was captured in December 2001 and focused on the release of his debut solo album, Spin.

Fast forward some 22-odd years later, and he’s back with a new album, his fifth, titled Homosexual, validated by longstanding fans, the LGBTQIA+ community and everyone in between.

Give this interview the time, if only to get a sense of this man’s complete professionalism and absolute commitment to his craft, and perhaps you’ll understand his 2023 intent even better. 

Darren Hayes, Savage Garden, Homosexual, Darren Hayes Homosexual, Insatiable, Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, Roadshow Music Pty Ltd, To the Moon and Back, I Want You, Truly Madly Deeply, Affirmation, The Animal Song

Formed in 1990 by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jason Pierce, the British band Spiritualized quickly gained a reputation for their unique sound, blending gospel, blues, and psychedelic rock elements. 

By 2001, when I was fortunate enough to meet up with my namesake in Cape Town, the band had already released four critically acclaimed albums, including their breakthrough album Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space.  

In our time together, Jason spoke about the journey up to the point of Let It Come Down and being suspended from a helicopter while flying over the West Coast dressed up in a space suit 😉

With a dedicated following and a reputation as one of their generation's most innovative and daring bands, Spiritualized continues to push musical boundaries and captivate audiences with their electrifying live performances.

Enjoy!

Spritualised, Spiritualized, Jason Pierce, We Are Floating in Space, Let It Come Down, Arista, BMG, SONYBMG

In a near attempt at getting William Orbit to Cape Town, South Africa, just before the pandemic hit, this is our conversation around a road well-travelled and adventures ahead, some of which are still to be realised.

But just who is William?

William Orbit is an English musician, composer, and record producer who has been active in the music industry since the 1980s. He has had a successful career, working with a range of high-profile artists, and producing innovative and influential music in electronic, dance, and pop music.

In 2023, William Orbit continues to be a respected and influential figure in the music industry. He is known for his unique and experimental approach to music production, influencing many other artists in the electronic and dance genres.

Over the years, Orbit has collaborated with various musicians, including Madonna, All Saints, Britney Spears, and Blur. He is particularly well-known for his work with Madonna, producing some of her most iconic albums, including Ray of Light and Music.

In recent years, Orbit has continued to produce music, collaborate with other artists, and release his solo work. He has also embraced new technologies and trends in the music industry, experimenting with virtual reality and incorporating new digital tools into his production process.

Overall, William Orbit remains a significant and influential figure in the music industry, whose legacy and contributions to electronic and dance music inspire new generations of musicians and producers.

William Orbit, Ray of Light, Blur, electronica, dance, pop, Britney Spears, All Saints, Blur, Ray of Light, The Painter, Music

With 2023 now in full flight, multi-award-winning pop singer-songwriter, actor and philanthropist Jann Klose releases his seventh studio album, a 12-track collection of arguably his most considered and commanding work yet.

Filled with no less than ten original tracks, along with an arresting acoustic version of "Love You the Most" featuring Alicia Madison and an equally intoxicating, passion-filled Spanish rendition ("Te Amaré Más"), Surrender is steeped in pop brilliance.

Stream/listen to ‘Surrender’ Album HERE

Musically, Surrender is filled with everything from infectious topical Top 40 familiarity, all while teasing the fringes of Americana, flirting with rock, and getting up close and personal with heartfelt ballads. In essence, there's something on Surrender we all will want to submit to, repeatedly.

As the next exciting chapter, post-2018's In Tandem stellar success, the bridge to Surrender was littered with cataclysmic encounters. Death, rebirth, collaboration, positivity, and partnerships that, out of the ashes of global adversity, was born and not a moment too soon if only to heal and inject positivity the world so critically needs.

With five singles already successfully landed, including “Flesh and Blood”, Surrender has five more ripe and ready tracks to be plucked and played on high rotation well into 2024.

"Each song, each album is, if nothing else, an offering," Jann concludes. "That's how I feel about it. This is what I do, this is what I love, and I am offering it. The rest is out of my control."

Fin de Siècle is the sixth studio album by the Northern Irish band, The Divine Comedy, released in 1998. Before its release, someone thought it a good idea that frontman Neil Hannon got to tell me all about it, and this is that analogue, 1998, recording, warts, and all (apologies), but do enjoy it.

The album received critical acclaim and was a commercial success, reaching the Top Ten in the UK album charts.

The album features lush orchestral arrangements and witty lyrics, typical of The Divine Comedy's style. It includes the hit single "National Express," a humorous song about a coach trip around the UK. Other standout tracks include "Generation Sex," which satirizes modern society's obsession with sex and youth, and "The Certainty of Chance," a melancholy ballad about the fleeting nature of life.

Fin de Siècle showcases Neil Hannon's songwriting skills and unique vocal style, often compared to that of Scott Walker and Jacques Brel. The orchestral arrangements by Joby Talbot complement the songs perfectly, adding to the album's lush, cinematic sound.

This remains a highly regarded album by The Divine Comedy, showcasing the band's signature sound and Hannon's songwriting talent.

In early August 2004, a wonderful time in my life and music in general, I got to chat with Badly Drawn Boy for a second time. This interview caught him on the release of his fourth, highly anticipated release, One Plus One Is One.

Badly Drawn Boy, whose real name is Damon Michael Gough, is a British singer-songwriter and musician who gained popularity in the early 2000s for his unique blend of indie rock, folk, and electronic music.

For context

In August 2004, Badly Drawn Boy had just released his fourth studio album, One Plus One Is One, which received generally positive reviews from critics. The album departed from his previous works with a more polished and cohesive sound and featured tracks such as "Year of the Rat" and "Nothing's Going to Change Your Mind".

Around this time, Badly Drawn Boy was known for his quirky personality and eccentric fashion sense, often sporting a distinctive beanie hat and unkempt hair. He had recently completed a successful tour of the United Kingdom and was gearing up for a tour of the United States in the autumn of 2004.

Overall, August 2004 was a busy and exciting time for Badly Drawn Boy as he continued to make a name for himself in the music industry with his unique style and sound.