Shotgun Story

MusicEx is an experiential event designed to engage, excite, and captivate music lovers by giving them the opportunity to browse products, attend educational sessions, enjoy live performances from major South African artists, and share their passion for music with others.

Leniese Van Der Merwe (Assistant Project Director - MusicEx / Marketing Manager - Gallagher Estate) popped into studio to share all about this exciting new Joburg music festival.

MusicEx festival tickets on special for up to 40% less for a limited time!

Outro music: "Makoti" (remix) by Yvonne Chaka Chaka. Music used with permission from rights holder. Visit the MusicEx website · Buy your tickets on Webtickets · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

From a family legacy to a Pulsations connection with the world.

Thandeka Mfinyongo is a musician. She's a preserver of African indigenous instruments, and she's interested in archiving traditional instruments. She has her masters in music and is currently doing her PhD through Rhodes University. She's also the African Music lecturer at Northwestern University.

In today's episode, we chat about how she came to make music, her family legacy of playing traditional instruments, and stories of the late legend Madosini. We also talk about her involvement in Make Music Day's Pulsations Event this Friday (21 June).

The Pulsations livestream will broadcast the livestream on makemusicday.org between 3:00pm - 7:00pm (Paris time), and continuing with Ibrahim Maalouf's performance until 8:00pm.

Outro music: "Ripples of Sound" by Thandeka Mfinyongo ft Kechou. Music used with permission of rights holder. Tune into the Pulsations Event on Friday 21 June 2024 3pm (Paris time) · Follow Thandeka on Instagram · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

Become a PRODUCER of culture, rather than simply a consumer of it...

Make Music Day (a community music initiative that was started in 1982 in France by the Ministry of Culture) is coming up on the 21st of June and it's a day filled with free (and accessible) musical events for EVERYBODY (musicians and non-musicians alike).

Have a listen to my conversation with Prof Janelize Morelli and find out how YOU can get involved.

Janelize is an Associate Professor of Community Music at Northwest University, where she teaches undergrad modules and supervises post-grad students who are interested in transformative music education and community music. Her research interests include sound studies in environmental humanities and an ethic of care.

Outro music - "iKhaya Lam" by Thandeka Mfinyongo.

Music used with permission from rights holder. Find out more via the Make Music Day website · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

A story about making your own dreams a reality.

Stanley Sibande is a Zambian-born, Cape Town-based, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter.

In this episode, we're chatting about making dreams a reality. Yourself. From booking a tour to Cape Town (from his home in Zambia, without ever having been to South Africa) to now doing the same (from his home in CPT) for his upcoming London tour.

Feel like a little dose of inspiration? Listen to this conversation.

Music outro: 'Clusters' by Stanley Sibande. Music used with permission from rights holder. Follow Stanley on Instagram · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

Ever wanted to work behind the scenes in the music industry?

Keen to hear all of the good (and gritty) music industry insider stuff from someone who's touched every side of it?

Vicky Jankiewicz has spent the last 15 years behind the scenes in the music industry. She's one half of the dance floor damaging damsel DJ duo, #SOZLOL, and we had a fabulous conversation on the floor of her apartment over lunch.

We talk about her long and varied career in the industry, brand merch, MFM, Oppikoppi, Good Luck Bar, Galpalooza, the late Henry Engelbrecht, the music scene in Joburg, and so so so much else!

Outro music: "Moonlight" by Hellcats. Music used with permission from rights holder. Find Vicky on Instagram · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

Meel Vignetting are a five-piece South African alternative indie rock band from Gauteng.

In today's episode, we talk about the music scene in Pretoria, tribute shows, and gender bias in the music industry.

One in a series of conversations with some of the ladies...

Outro music: 'Thermodynamics' by Meel Vignetting. Used with permission from rights holder. Follow Meel Vignetting on Instagram · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

Are you brave enough to busk?

Maddie Behrens is a folk/indie/rock/pop singer currently based in Johannesburg. Hailing from a small town in KZN, she learnt the performing ropes from busking in Washington Square Park in NYC.

In this episode, we chat all about that, as well as what it's like to be a woman in the music industry in South Africa, the folk music scene, and the late Syd Kitchen.

Outro music used with permission from rights holder. Follow Maddy on Instagram · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

Sometimes you've got to Do It Yourself.

Lindo M is a singer/songwriter from Johannesburg, South Africa. Unencumbered by the idea of genre, Lindo focuses on feeling and authenticity and is driven to create music that not only speaks for itself, but that can also speak for others...

Get excited about this artist. Not only incredibly talented, but he's also working behind the scenes to reignite the Joburg music scene. And I can tell you, we need more like him.

In today's episode, we talk about the lost art of protest music, why Joburg loves dance music, sustainable band merch and his new work.

Outro music: 'The Matador' by Lindo M. Music used with permission from the rights holder. Follow Lindo M on Instagram · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

"Because these days, there's not enough girls at music festivals!"

Galpalooza. Women's Day Music Festival at Tweefontein Melkery. Featuring an all-female line-up.

Listen to the interview with Jolene East (Jolling | The Honeymooners)

Outro track "I Know I Love You" by Jolling. Music used with permission from rights holder. Rockford Media on Facebook · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

"I can honestly say it (music) saved my life at one point."

Simone Govender is a pop singer-songwriter based in Johannesburg. She teaches music on the side. I heard her exquisite voice at a Saturday morning market, and I knew that I had to have a conversation...

The thing is, when you make music for a living, more often than not you're building sets of songs that you think people want to hear. Reading people's minds is an art, and one that is hard to get right. Simone seems to hit the nail on the head most of the time.

In this episode, we talk about building these sets, and with that said, also finding the courage to play your own songs! We chat about cyber-bullying, learning about the business side of music, faith, and the pinch-yourself moments that happen when you're following your dreams.

Outro music: "The Attention's Really Killing Me" by Simone Govender. Music used with permission from rights holder. Find Simone on Instagram · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist