The Almost Perfect Podcast

Push Push aka Nicci St Bruce is a musician and one of my favourite human beings on planet earth. Although sometimes I wonder if she even is human and from this planet at all. Nicci is a phenom and someone who has lived a rather eventful life already, so she has a lot to share whilst things aren't all that eventful for most of us. 

I initially thought we were going to have a fun chat about wrestling and rap music but due to current circumstances, instead, we discuss the current stresses of Corona both in the USA and SA. From how the fuck we're meant to pay rent to the effects on mental health, things get rather political and somewhat philosophical before we get nostalgic for days gone past and regretful of the people we used to be. Oh, and Animal Crossing. We briefly chat about Animal Crossing- the prime source of joy for many atm.

This is one of the more candid and open episodes of TAPP and it truly goes all over the place but there are plenty of nuggets of wisdom amongst the chaos. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-61-push-push/

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Jumping Back Slash is a rather prolific producer and sound engineer who calls Knysna, South Africa home after originally being from a small town in Wales and spending his youth in the London music scene. JBS has had a long career in the entertainment industry but he's currently loving living out his "late-era Kate Bush" life, creating music in his studio far from the reaches of city life and music scenes. 

This conversation truly goes all over the place as JBS and I work through the last decade (and more) of his career here in South Africa whilst also sharing many, many opinions on "The Industry" and what it means to make and consume original music in these oversaturated and overstimulated times. We talk about our mutual love of Spoek Mathambo and how instrumental he was in JBS's career, and we also get into how important it is to connect and work with people who are on a similar wavelength. I know I always say this, but, there's A LOT to be learned from this one. Enjoy. 

Follow Jumping Back Slash on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisisjbs

Listen to Obscure Artist Diets here: https://swakcatalog1.bandcamp.com/album/obscure-artist-diets

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To provide the masses with local entertainment during these trying times, we teamed up with Roots Up to bring you this live-streamed interview with Bylwansta ahead of the video drop for his bedroom performance of Nightcrawlerz. It's a short, unedited chat about where we're both at atm and we take a look at what inspired Bylwansta to write a song about getting mugged when his peers are rapping about catching bodies. 

Follow Bylwansta on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ByLwansta

Check out Roots Up TV: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_4yr9Clr7L07G2NTwykkzw

Listen to the podcast: bit.ly/almostpod

Support the cast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/almostperfect
Sign up to the newsletter: mailchi.mp/17b96443cdfe/almostperfectnewsletter
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: web.facebook.com/almostperfectpod/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/almostperfectpodcast/
Twitter: twitter.com/almost_podcast

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Feel it, it is here. 

South Africa is officially in lockdown and things feel weird as fuck. This isn't an episode of The Almost Perfect Podcast so much as a diary entry about how I'm feeling and what I'm thinking on this historic day where essentially "nothing" is happening. I don't know if it'll be useful to you but maybe you'll find comfort in connecting with someone else sharing this surreal experience. Please stay safe and remain indoors as much as you possibly can. This podcast already only has a handful of dedicated listeners, I'd hate to see that number go down because you decided you really needed to set an arm-wrestling and french-kissing Guinness Record during this time. 

Listen to the podcast: bit.ly/almostpod

Support the cast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/almostperfect
Sign up to the newsletter: mailchi.mp/17b96443cdfe/almostperfectnewsletter
Follow us on social media:
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Judd Campbell is a restaurateur who has been feeding Durbanites for the better part of a decade. While many of you will know Judd from his plethora of coffee shops and restaurants, I doubt you know the story of how Judd got started in the world of hospitality. I'll let Judd tell you how he became a waiter on the cast, and from there you can learn how he's translated his passion for food and customer service into multiple successful businesses starting with the legendary Corner Cafe. 

Judd has recently opened up a restaurant called A Pizza my Heart so a fair bit of our discussion goes towards pizza and what makes their's unique. We also hear stories of "back in the day" and reminisce over old haunts like Home, and hear tales of Judd's adventures in hospitality around the world. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-59-judd-campbell/

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Robin Thirdfloor and Rhea Blek are two of Durban's most original musicians. Back in the day, that would have been a problem but these days Durbanites are supporting unique and original sounds more and more so things are looking good for Durban's musical power couple. We sat down together the morning after a particularly raucous First Thursdays event put together by Roots Up and had a chat about making music work for you in the 031 and beyond. 

We get into being outsiders and how that can drive you creatively, The Law of Attraction (which I very incorrectly call "Manifesting Destiny", turns out that does not mean what I thought it did), and their dreams and fears for the future. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-58-robin-thirdfloor-rhea-blek/

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It's a two for one special on this episode of The Almost Perfect Podcast. 

Kate Pinchuck is a comedian, actor, writer, and teacher, and Ryan Harduth calls himself a "comedy uncle" but really he's one of the people behind the scenes getting a lot of comedians on TV and stages around the country. I was meant to chat to them separately but things didn't work out that way so instead, the three of us waffled on about comedy and life over some waffles. 

In this conversation, we dig into the differences between acting and comedy, we look at the highs and lows of being a comedian in SA today (as well as get a little history lesson), we discuss getting broken up with via text, and we touch on ADD and mental health. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-57-kate-pinchuck-ryan-harduth/

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"And he looks at her and he says 'We're going to a party
It's a birthday party, it's your birthday party
Happy birthday, darling
We love you very, very, very, very, very, very, very much'"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GHyLhbdzN0

It's my birthday this Friday so I thought I'd get a bit reflective by fielding some listener questions for this episode. Find out what Pokemon I'd be if I was a Pokemon, what my favourite South African venues are, which wrestler I'd like to play MTG against, and a whole bunch of other weird shit you probably didn't know you wanted to know about me. A big thanks to everyone who submitted questions and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at Across Dress the Universe 2: Intergalactic Boogaloo at The Winston Pub this Friday 21 February. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-56-birthday-qa/

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P-Kuttah aka Verdine Peterson is a DJ, producer, and events coordinator based in Jozi but who got his start in music in Durban.  This turntablist extraordinaire is a former SA DJ Champion and SAHHA winner who has been a part of influential bands like T.H.O.T.S (Tree Houses on the Sea) and has been instrumental in helping build the Jozi hip-hop scene as part of Kool Out Concepts. 

In this conversation, we learn how Verdine earned his place in the industry and we take a walk down memory lane as we get into his early days in the Durban scene. We get into what makes hip-hop so hard to DJ well and what makes playing vinyl records so satisfying. We also chat about whether P-Kuttah will get back into the battle scene, the excitement and fears behind his upcoming EP, and so much more. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-55-p-kuttah/

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Cath Jenkin is a freelance writer (and chameleon of sorts) who I used to troll on forums back in the day. I know, shocking. Who would have ever thought I was on forums? Despite our early online interactions, Cath has become someone I respect and admire greatly. While she started out in IT, she's continually adapted as the years have gone on and has been supporting herself and her daughter by churning out regular articles across various niche topics for clients across the world. I find support myself as a freelancer is tough enough, which makes Cath's success even more impressive.

We get into the highs and lows of freelance life, the pressures and sacrifices that come with getting your kid into a good school, and we reminisce about the old online escapades of Durban's alternative scene. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-54-cath-jenkin/

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