The Almost Perfect Podcast

Leah Jazz is a comedian, writer, and radio presenter on 5FM. Leah has tried her hand at a few different careers in her 24 years on this planet but seems to have finally found her purpose with comedy and radio. Her path is an unconventional one but looking back, it all makes sense that it would lead her to where she is today.

Leah and I have known each other for years and are incredibly close. She was my sub-editor at Durban is Yours for about a year, we had a social media company together for a very short while, and we worked together on different shows at DYR1051. But before all that, we were friends. It's been a real pleasure to watch Leah grow over the years and I have no doubt that she still has an exciting life ahead of her. We get into small-town life vs big city dreams, travelling vs community, and not knowing what you want to do with your life. We also find out how Leah got her position at 5FM, and how she's learning to deliver her messages in effective ways. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-33-leah-jazz/

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Luke Molver is an illustrator, writer, and comic book creator. He's independently created his own universes and pushed his own titles for years, but recently he's been hired to work on a series of books about Shaka Zulu, the first of which has already received praise and awards both locally and internationally. Luke is deeply passionate about comics and creative storytelling and has MANY opinions on both, which makes for an entertaining interview. 

Luke and I get into what it's like to exhibit at conventions across from your idols, why he hates superheroes, and why he can't stick to one genre. We also dig into his misspent youth as a rapper, the struggles of publishing comics independently, and what it's finally like to see one of his books in colour. Luke is a prime example of following your passion and finding ways to create what you want with the resources you have until others take notice. He went from drawing in his bedroom to being invited to cons around the world. Learn how he did it and take a deep pop culture dive with us.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-32-luke-molver/

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Jon Shaban is a musician who plays both as a solo act and in the band The Shabs. He also has an events company called Sit the Folk Down that specialises in putting together gigs for singer/songwriter types in and around Cape Town. Jon is a phenomenal artist who creates deep, heartfelt, catchy folk-punk songs. Whether on his own or with the band, Jon knows how to command a crowd with his powerful voice, natural charisma, and emotional tales. Jon's got that gift of being an emotive and epic storyteller through music. 

We chat about  The Shabs' latest album, 'Can You Hear us at the Back?',  and we learn about how they've built a following in European countries, one tour at a time. Jon has been in the game for nearly 2 decades and has managed to make a living gigging as an independent artist, which is no mean feat. Now his band is signed to a label and he's getting to travel the world with his friends. It's a good life, but it hasn't been easy achieving the level of success they have so far. Learn what it takes to keep the dream alive and how to adapt to an ever-changing environment from a man who has earned his success the hard way. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-31-jon-shaban/

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Samkelo Gambushe aka The Sports Mjita is a sports presenter on Gagasi FM. Samkelo has a passion for radio is one of the most driven and hard-working people I've had the pleasure of working with, and it's paying off for him. Samkelo and I worked together at DYR1051 on The Real Drive and I always admired his work ethic and self-belief, even when the chips were down. 

As you'll hear on the podcast, Samkelo has overcome some of the biggest obstacles someone can go through. He's turned tragedy into triumph, and through talent, hard work, and dedication, he's earned his place at one of KZN's biggest radio stations. He's paying his dues but he's hungry and looking to make the most of his latest opportunity. If you're looking for some inspiration or want to know just how hard it is to make it in South African radio, then put this in your ears. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-30-samkelo-gambushe/

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Jess Sole is an actor and musician who is annoyingly talented, but thankfully she's self-deprecating and self-aware enough to make sure you don't feel too annoyed by your own lack of talent. If you've been in the Durban music scene for a while, you might have enjoyed Jess's vocal performances in acapella trio Dr Fly and the Nurses, or you might know her from Veranda Panda's Pineapple Sunday, but these days you can find Jess on theatre stages across the country as she morphs herself into different characters for some of South Africa's biggest (and occasionally smaller) productions - or taking the piss out of acting life and Instagram culture in her Instagram stories. 

Jess is hilarious, smart, and so full of insight, as well as many opinions. Thankfully for both of our careers, we didn't dive into too many sticky topics, but we do get an honest look at the life of an actor in South Africa - specifically in theatre. While Jess is a top-class actor getting to play incredible roles, there are still many struggles to deal with. Of course, it's also an incredibly fun and exciting job, so we also dig into what makes it rewarding, and learn why Jess chose this path over other lanes open to her. If you're interested in becoming an actor, or just want to know the reality of what it's like, this podcast is for you. Enjoy. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-28-anna-travers/

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Anna Travers aka Tigertitz is a tattoo artist who is currently plying her trade at Trade Mark Tattoo. Anna started her journey as a tattoo artist as an apprentice when she was just 18 but took a detour to study for a few years before diving back into her true passion. With dedication and hard work, Anna has developed her own style and amassed a client base that features everyone from cute grannies to bikers. Anna's work is inspired by the Kamasutra and traditional American tattoos, with a particular love for the colour black. 

Anna and I go way back so we dig into being a part of the music scene during the days of Unit 11, we explore her tattoo journey, and we learn about her recent wedding. We also find out whether or not you should get a tattoo at a music festival, how to get into tattooing, and how many dicks Anna has engraved into people's skin. It's a fun and informative one, enjoy. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-28-anna-travers/

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Matt Olivier, along with his brother Luke, owns The Winston Pub, a legendary Durban music venue that has stood the test of time. Matt and his brother took over "The Pub", as it's affectionately called, 6-and-a-half years ago and it's been a roller coaster ride for them ever since. If you've ever wanted to know what it's like to run The Winston, well, you're about to find out as Matt and I dive into the trials and tribulations of living the dream of owning a music venue. Not only that, but we find how everything in Matt's life lead him down this path. From being in bands from a young age and studying sound engineering to starting an events company and buying a sound and lighting rig, it's all culminated in one day owning The Winston Pub. 

We take a trip down memory lane and get nostalgic about Durban's musical past whilst also looking to the future of The Winston Pub. Enjoy.

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-27-matt-olivier/

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Binwe Adebayo is a writer, strategist, and academic who is currently using cyber-ethnography to do her masters degree on Black Twitter. Yeah, I had no idea what cyber-ethnography was either, but you'll find out just like I did on the podcast. Binwe is goal orientated and because of that has achieved quite a lot in her 25 years on this earth. She's already racked up valuable experience across multiple disciplines, from being a journalist for City Press to finding a passion for being a strategist at Retroviral. She now holds the title of Senior Associate and Strategist at Nicola Cooper and Associates whilst also working on her masters. 

We get into giving up drinking to focus on her studies, the complexities of Black Twitter, the effects of social media and advertising on our lives, and we look at the positives and negatives of influencer culture. It's an eye-opening chat about things that affect us all daily, enjoy.  

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-26-binwe-adebayo/

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Cam Lofstrand is a musician and illustrator/graphic designer who you’ve probably seen on a stage near you in one of his many, many bands over the years. Cam’s played as either the guitarist or drummer for Black Math, Fruits & Veggies, The Sisters, Ex-Con, Feast of Famine, Hadeda, Taekwando Sleepover, and probably a few other bands that I’ve forgotten. Not only that, but he regularly designs some of the sickest posters, and records a number of underground bands in his home studio, whilst holding down a 9-5 at Disturbance.

Cam’s importance to the Durban and South African music scene is unparalleled, and yet he’s incredibly bashful whenever you throw him a compliment. We get into Star Wars, how important it is to have support as a creative youngster, growing up in a religious household and becoming atheist, what drives him to create SO MUCH, and we dive into the recent history of the Durban music scene through his many bands. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-25-cam-lofstrand/

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Troy Tesla is a stand-up comedian with an incredible amount of hustle. In the few years that he's been in the comedy game, he's carved out his own path by repeatedly knocking on doors until someone lets him in. I admire his tenacity and the success it's brought him, and I think there's plenty to learn from how Troy operates. 

Troy is a Zimbabwean who has called Durban home for many years, although recently he's made the move up to Joburg like many artists before him. We get into the politics of telling jokes about Zimbabwe, we lament the difficulties of making a career work in Durban, and we look forward to the future of a bright, young, ambitious, comedian. 

https://almostperfect.co.za/ep-24-troy-tesla/

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