Turning Around to Kyriah Dee

There's a new diva in town, and if you're a fellow Zimbo/Twimbo you know exactly who I'm talking about. It can be none other than the fabulous Miss Kyriah Dee hailing all the way from Ireland. This Zimbabwean born songstress is turning heads wherever she decides to go. She started her musical journey at the age of 16, singing in her local church. From winning various competitions, awards and performing at the Kirk Franklin Live in Concert, she has been moving from strength to strength ever since.

Her latest accomplishment is the hot new single, Turn Around. With Chris Kabs on production, this tune is one of those feel good songs that makes you want to get up, dance and sing along. Even if you're sitting in a train station filled with unimpressed, suited commuters. In fact especially so. The uplifting lyrics and heartfelt message is something that everyone can relate to and in my opinion, if you can manage to get my four year old cousin to memorise every word of a song, it's a guaranteed hit.

Turn Around comes out on the first of the first of 2011 (1/11/2011) on iTunes and I've also heard little whisperings of a possible tour, but you didn't hear that from me. Check her out on her Website and hit her up on Twitter. This is definitely one to watch.

Underage Festival

I know it's a little late but that doesn't matter because it was the coolest event of the summer, and if you weren't there you missed out. If you couldn't be there then ha! in your face! Besides I'm feeling quite nostalgic for the summer. I know, already! ;-S

Dylan from Rivieras' Blog

http://skrillexx.tumblr.com/

Five words: Check-it-out. Follow-it.

The Rivieras

Time for some Kicks!

I first met Rizzle Kicks on the BBC Blast website while entering the BBC Blast Portraiture Competition. I was minding my own business trying to learn how to design an album cover really until Charming Man and 17 exploded into my life. I didn't win the competition, but who cares? I found the future of British music in the youngest, hottest MCs on the scene.

And of course, as I do, I made it my mission to someday interview these guys and find out what it is that makes them so brilliant. Guess what? That day has come... and gone. I did indeed get to e-nterview (email interview) them and we e-spoke about  music, obviously, school and stereotypes:

C: You are still in college right? What subjects are you studying? 

RK: We’ve both actually just finished our second year of college, meaning we are now “adults” (so say our parents) so we are free to do whatever we pretty much want. But I (Sylvester) have always had a passion for acting and did a two year course of straight theatre. Rizzle studied Media, where he has developed a passion for writing, presenting and directing, all of which are strong hobbies behind music. We studied these at the BRIT school.

C: Oh, so how did you juggle school and music? 

RK: There’s always time for music… ALWAYS! Whether it’s sitting at home and working out a nice little riff on guitar or on the train to college and thinking of punch line after punch line and scribbling them down on any piece of paper you could find. I don’t think we see juggling the two an issue.

C: Do you have any other influences outside of music? If so, what are they? 

RK: Well as I said earlier I (Sylvester) have always had a passion for acting which, believe it or not, strongly contributes to music; giving me more confidence and also being able to put on a show on stage. Rizzle’s other influences mainly stem from a growing passion within the media industry. He can find his influences from a day to day occurrence, which he has cleverly based a short film on, or his general cheeky personality giving him a lot of stage presence and also a love for being on camera. 

C: What is it that you want your fans to get from your music? 

RK: We don’t just want our fans to just “hear” our music we want them to truly listen. A lot of the songs we write are simply based on our teenage life style, something I believe many artists don’t think about when writing lyrics. I think the reason why we have the fans we do is because a lot of the lyrics can easily relate to their lives but also has a banging beat behind it so they can jive along at the same time.

C: Your music seems to focus very much on youth culture. What are your views on some of the stereotypes perpetuated by the media about young people?

RK: I believe the image that the media has given young people is, in such a small sense true but also SO unfair. For example, we find it hilarious when we meet somebody and they’re shocked that two young mixed race boys, who are making hip hop, talk with proper English language and don’t want to rob them, ha. Something else that really gets to me, is the way in a newspaper article or a news broadcast, if it was a young black or Asian male who committed a crime, it would be made so clear to the public, whereas If it was a young white male it would only state them as being male. That’s something that has always got to us, definitely something to write a formal complaint about I think!

C: Do you feel that you break away from those stereotypes in your music? If so, how?   

RK: Well in a some of our songs we do talk a lot about going out and drinking and what not but who doesn’t go out and drink ? The only thing that’s different is that we talk about it in our songs. We wouldn’t EVER write a song about guns or knives or crime etc because it’s just not us.

C: What are your plans for the future?

RK: We just want to carry on making music as we are really, but now we’re free from college we can just fully focus on it. We would like to be successful not famous. And for our music to be respected and thought as “good” music, not just any other throw away band you hear on the radio.


Make sure you look out for RK's profile coming out in Live Magazine's Indie Special in August and get Your Daily Kicks on their BANGING website.


Add them on Myspace
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http://rnd0mz.blogspot.com/

Woza World Cup!

Before I came to England I hated soccer. In the words of my much beloved Auntie, "What is the purpose of grown men chasing a rubber ball up and down a field?" I couldn't see one. Till now.

On the 11 June 2010, at the Custard Factory in Birmingham, there will be a great gathering of football lovers,  "football girlfriends" and even those, like myself, who've learnt to love it. In fact I've even started to recognise players like Drogba and Anelka. Yes, I am indeed a Chelsea fan.

But I'm also a South African football fan, so I strongly advise you to head down to Birmingham on the 11th because even if you're not so crazy about football, with a braai and a line up of Southern African DJ's playing the best house music to be found in the northern hemisphere, you've got no reason not to go.   http://bit.ly/9yBZNM 

Introducing... Rivieras

After some extensive research, I have recently discovered that there exist quite a large number of styles of rock. And a colossal number of bands. Everyone's friend's friend is in one! Most are good, some are questionable, while yet others are unmentionable. It is very rare that you come across a band that posseses that most alluring quality. It.

It does happen though. I not only believe that Rivieras have "It". They are "It". Now that is a pretty strong conviction, I know. It will make more sense when I tell you the whole story:

Let's back track a little to September 2009. I'm sitting in the Sports Hall at Thomas Tallis School waiting for my registration number to be called. I notice a large group of boys sitting in front of me because I really can't help it. They throw some kind of paper device at me, okay fine, in my direction. A boy whose name I later learn is Robert apologises. I give him a fake but convincing grin.

They are the rowdiest bunch of boys I've seen and believe me, I've seen rowdy. Later on, I discovered some of those boys included Felix North, le lead singer and rhythm guitar, Matt Coomb, le bassist, and Sean Grey, le lead guitar. All I think is, Silly British children, no discipline! Shameful! Dylan, le drummer, wasn't there because he decided to go to Brit School, so he is spared my judgement.

Fast forward to February 2010. I am in registration and Sean saunters in. Mr O'Brien, our tutor, asks him why he wasn't at enrichment the day before. "I had band practise sir," Sean calmly replies. The class giggles and I stifle an amused smile in spite of myself. I have now come to quite like these British children who are not so much rowdy as expressive, free, true.

Mr O'brien gives him the grown up are-you-serious look and just as calmly states, "That's a pretty lame excuse, even for you Sean." The nonchalant response, "I know."

Fast forward again to a few weeks ago. "Our group" which I like to believe I am a part of, is sitting in the cafe in Dover. I've been hearing about this band that Sean, Felix, Matt and Dylan are apparently a part of. Haven't we all heard that one before? My interest is strangely piqued, regardless.

I love discovering fresh musical talent. The idea of it being right under my nose and missing the opportunity to have been there at the start is simply too much for me to bear. I impulsively blurt, "I could PR for you guys if you want," and I instantly regret it. What if they are not good? What if they aren't even questionable but surely unmentionable? I will have to tell them the truth and have to face them at school everyday for the next year and a half!

I should never have fretted.

Their first gig, Friday April 9, 2010. It's at Dirty South, also known as the-coolest-bar-in-the-whole-world, and Rivieras are doing their sound check. The god-like voice in the booth behind me says, "Give us a little tune." I'm sitting in a corner with Ellz, Vicky, Felix's girlfriend and Dylan's girlfriend. Rivieras begin to play. It's only sound check, but they get into it straight away. Felix's smooth vocals intertwine with the complex melodies he and Sean weave while Dylan keeps the tempo going on drums. Matt can't make it because he is away. The show must go on.

All I can think is wow. Wow. I go to school with these guys and see them goof off every day. This is what they can come up with in their free time to perform for a sound check. This was a classic aha! moment also known as an epiphany.

It is needless to say that they soon had the kids jumping around wildly, mosh pit style to their fast paced song, swaying rhythmically to their slow song and caught in between with their slow then fast song. Felix's parents and Sean's parents sit in the back and I can only imagine how proud the coolest parents in the world feel about their sons being in the coolest band I know. I try my best to capture the magic on Ellie's camera, even though I know it is an inadequate tool for such a purpose. The best camera is one's own eyes.

Poetic language is all well and good, Chenai, but what about the bottom line, huh? For my retort, I shall quote Felix, as best as my memory serves, "We're not doing this for the money. Not yet anyway, the money will come later. Right now, it's just about the music."

So it is now time for me to finally give my honest opinion and honestly, I was right. The Rivieras aren't good at all. Let me finish. They are not questionable, neither are they unmentionable. In fact, far from it. They are indescribable.

Esco in Moho COMPETITION!!!

Fancy yourself a night filled with the neo soul melodies of none other than Esco Williams plus hip hop, afro-hall (african dancehall) and R&B? Well look no further! No seriously, just look at the flyer below:

Brought to us by The House of Stone, this event will be featuring upcoming artists who tackle the injustices that occur in developing countries by raising awareness of the causes of Fair Trade and Worker's Rights. So basically, this event will not only feel good, it will do good too! It will take place on Sunday May 2 at Moho Live in Manchester and will also be hosting performances from Jusa Dementor , my girl, Cynthia Mare and many more.

And I know you are all thinking, "Ah but Chenai, it's the recession! I'm broke!" Well guess what? I got you! Starting from... now, the first ten people to email their full name and postcodes to chenaitaku93@googlemail.com  will stand the chance of winning a pair of tickets to this most fantasque-tical event, courtesy of Quartz Marketing . Hurry this offer will not last forever!!!

The Zimbabwe Pearl Ball

Hosted by lead singer of the chart topping Noisettes, Shingai Shoniwa and headlined by Zimbabwean musical icon Oliver Mtukudzi, I am so jealous of whoever is going to the Zim Pearl Ball tomorrow (for example Mike Tashaya). There will also be performances from African dance-hall king Jusa Dementor  and rising 'pop' star Tinashe .

This will not only be an evening filled with explosive performances though as the aim of the Ball is to raise funds to go towards the Ndoro Children's Charities' flagship project, the Zororo leadership Academy, an orphanage, school and clinic. To buy your tickets go to http://www.ndorocc.org.uk/shop.html?view=rokquickcart 

Jamie Oliver et Moi

Chenai: Hi, its really nice to meet you. Can I take a picture of you?

Jamie: That's fine love! Don't you want to take your lens cap off first though?

Chenai: Oh yeah! Right.

DIZEE RASCAL AND LILLY ALLEN CONCERT

As some of you may or may not know, I was one of the ambassadors of the Sex Worth Talking About campaign, so I got to go to the Dizzee Rascal and Lilly Allen Concert with the winners of the competition, after a day of discussions over manicures! Check out my filming "skills":






Look out for footage of the day hosted by MTV presenter, Zara Martin on http://www.bebo.com/bigthink 

What you know What you know about Tinashe?*

Tinashe is a Zimbabwean born artist, who moved to England at a young age, and now hails from Hackney. He has appeared on Uncle Melvin Odoom's Intros show on Channel 4 (yes "...delicious like a pot of jollof rice...") and was one of the artists featured at HMV's Next Big Thing concert. 

His music has been compared to that of British pop star, Frank Musik, but in my own words, I think it's more like a jam session between Daft Punk, James Morrison and Oliver Mtukudzi; explosive, intricate and with all the makings of becoming legendary… And also the new soundtrack to my life! I caught up with the T man and we talked about music, his trip to South Africa and Transport for London!

It was dejavu all over again as this was yet another phoner, like with JJC. I could let this one go, seeing as he was getting ready to go on tour with the Noisettes:

C: So how does it feel to be going on tour with the Noisettes?

T: It's really exciting! It one of the few good things that have happened in a while and I'm really happy to be doing it.

C: How old were you when you moved to England?

T: Twelve. It's great though to have experienced living in both countries. I can still speak Shona, but with a slight English accent now!

C: Was it a big change for you?

T: No, not really. My mom had been living here for about four or five years before I came so she was settled, she was working three jobs, and as you know, here you've got to really work hard to get where you want to get.

C: Your Myspace page says you were meant to become a doctor and "wire money back home" but you got sidetracked by Michael Jackson! What made you want to pursue music?

T: Well, music was a lot more accessible as a career this side and at school I had a really good music teacher, so that got me really passionate about it. Once I started playing the guitar, I was hooked!

C: How did your parents take it?

T: (laughs) Well as you know, they expected me to become something 'respectable'  like a doctor or a lawyer, so you can imagine how that turned out. My mother wasn't too happy about it to begin with because I was supposed to be sending money back home and she didn't think I would be able to do that if I pursued music. She is really proud of me now though.

C: Your sound has been compared to Frank Musik, but I think you sound more like a mix of Daft Punk and Oliver Mtukudzi. What do you think?

T: (laughs…a lot) Well Oliver is a real legend, and I get that comparison because we both play guitar, and mbira. I'd describe my music as more of pop, or indie pop.

C: Who are your musical icons?

T: Wow, there are so many…[long list of names]…Donny Hathaway, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson…There are just so many of them. 

C: You write your own music? What inspires you?

T: I listen to a wide range of music, pop, obviously, alternative, hip-hop, RnB, soul, and thats where I get a lot of inspiration from. I would love to start doing some collaborating and so forth but at the moment I'm trying to establish my own style and myself as an artist.

C: You were in South Africa recently, what was it like? Did you perform there?

T: Yeah it was really good, and we actually performed at the airport for first class tickets. It was kind of weird actually because we were asked to perform and we'd be given business class tickets in return, but we got them so that was cool. South Africa was really great though, it had been a long time since I was back in Africa so it was really inspiring to be there. I did want to go to Zimbabwe but there were restrictions on filming at the time so it was difficult to go. 

C: On your trip to S.A, did you find any artists that you think are really making moves there?

T: There were a few artists that I saw, I can't remember their names, but what I can say is that the music in South Africa is really upstage and there's a lot to look out for there.

C: Where do you think that African music is going, as a whole?

T: Its going! There are a lot of African artists that are making it big such as Tinchy Stryder, Dizzee Rascal, Akon though they are not necessarily making traditional African music, they are paving the way and I think soon there will be some real African artists that will begin to appear on the charts.

C: You've gone through a lot to get where you are today, what advice would you give to a young person who, like you, is aspiring to make music as a career?

T: I would, tell them to make music their number one goal, their number one dream and to work hard, because that's the only way to get anywhere. If you do that then eventually you will get noticed and you will get where you want to go. 

C: I did my research (like the good journalist I am) and found out that you used to work at Transport for London! 

T: (laughs very hard) Yeah I did, for a very long time actually! It was my period of hard work and sending money back home. My mother was like, "Is this what you do?" 

C: Did you ever get abused by a member of the public?

T: All the time! Usually it was some drunk person who'd just start yelling at me. It was a really stressful job.

Well I for one am glad that Tinashe has moved on from his TFL days, and that he is now making not only his Mom but all his fellow Zimbos (myself included) proud. One thing he said to me that I think is something that is really important for all Zimbabweans living here to think about is this, 


"There are a lot of bad things that Zimbabwe is known for, and people forget about all the things we can be proud of. That's why we need to keep working hard and be proud of where we come from so that in the future, we can make a real difference."

http://www.myspace.com/tinashemusic 

*Quite a bit now, thanks! ;-D

We'm Shy

http://www.myspace.com/wemshy 

I was in South bank last weekend after the BFI with Ellz and Vic when we bumped into the Japanese duo, Taro and Jiro, busking under the London Eye. These two English students began making music at a young age, and their passion for what they do is evident in their heartfelt performance. They are not only great musicians, but they are also two very charming young lads and it doesn't hurt that they've got some mad guitar skills as well! I can see these two taking over not only the Japanese, but also the British rock scene pretty soon.

-----WATCH-THIS-SPACE-----

P.S Taro and Jiro are looking for a drummer. Do you think you've got what it takes in talent and passion to be a part of their band? If so send them a message through Myspace and they'll be sure to get back to you.

African Music* with JJC

When you think of African music, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it resonating drumbeats, near-frenzied traditional dance and high pitched ululating? This is all well and good, but what if I was to tell you there is way more to African music than you seem to think?

Don't believe me? Well, lets take a look at some of my African music icons. First and foremost is the incredibly talented Oliver Mtukudzi. Born in Harare in 1952, Tuku's soulful sound is influenced by hypnotic mbira  melodies, the South African mbaqanga style and the rural trance rhythms of the Shona people. Oliver brought us hits such as Todii and the soundtrack for the Zimbabwean feature film Neria which won the M-net Best Soundtrack award in 1992 against the stiff competition of the highly acclaimed Sarafina. 

Another one of my legends is Miriam Makeba, also known as Mama Africa. Born in 1932 in South Africa, Miriam brought us classics such as the 'Click Song' and African music anthem, 'Pata Pata'. She was also a freedom fighter and testified before the United Nations about the injustices that occurred in her country under the rule of apartheid. As a result she spent many years in exile. 

The final member to be inducted into Chenai's Fabulous African Music Hall of Fame, which despite all appearances actually does exist, is the legendary Louis Mhlanga. I believe this man's music is the true definition of Afro jazz. According to his Myspace page, he not only started playing the guitar at the age of ten, but he is also completely self taught! If that isn't talent then my name is Edward Cullen and I play a vampire in Twilight. 

If the aforementioned legends are not enough to impress you, which I must say is highly unlikely, perhaps a list of all my favourite contemporary African artists will suffice? Well, there's Aya, Ayo, Nneka, Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni ba, DJ Cleo, DJ Clock, Mujava, Malaika, Freshly Ground, Mann Friday, HHP, Trenton and Free Radical, Chiwoniso, Jusa Dementor, Sahara C, DKR and Jozi. Just to name a few.

Not only are there so many rising and shining African music stars, but we find African influences in the music we listen to today. For example, if you were a martian and you visited the planet Earth, you might be misled into thinking that hip hop, among other things, belonged to America. I, being the helpful person that I am, would be quick to inform you that, according to Davey D's 'History of Hip Hop', rap actually finds its roots imbedded deep within ancient African culture and oral tradition.

If that did not convince you of the way African music influences music today, I might even get you to listen to Leonard Zhakata's 'Hupenyu Mutoro' then Shakira's 'Werewolf', and ask you to say, "Shakira doesn't have a sungura wanna be guitar in her song," with a straight face. Another song I might suggest you listen to to further prove my point would be M.I.A's explosive collaboration with European DJs and Malawian singer trio, The Very Best, 'Rain Dance'.

So we now know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that African music is not only iconic and legendary, but is also relevant to any who would, as I do, call themselves a music junky. The question is, where is African music going?

To help me answer this most befuddling question, I tracked down Nigerian producer and rapper, JJC aka Mr Skillz. I was very hurt that I could not interview him in person, but Mr Skillz is a very busy man, so a phoner would have to do:

C: A little birdie tells me you're going to Nigeria soon...

J: Yes, I'm going to promote my new single [We are African]. Its been a long time since I was back, I'm so excited.

C: So what inspired you to get into music?

J: Music was always around me when I was growing up, at parties and so on, so it kind of came naturally for me.

C: What do you enjoy more, rapping or producing?

J: I'd have to say producing. It just the the joy of making good music that it gives me.

C: Speaking of producing, you've produced for for Big Brovas, Lemar, Jamelia and many more. What was that like?

J: I guess I was just proud to be a part of making good music.

C: Which African artists did you grow up listening to?

J: Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, Sade... there are too many of them!

C: Who would you say is your icon?

J: Definitely Fela, his music is just incredible.

C: What's your favourite song by him?

J: I don't quite remember the name of the song, but it a really beautiful song about how we go to heaven after we die.

C: Which African artists are you listening to at the moment?

J: [laughs] I know this is going to sound arrogant but I have to say myself. I've got a new album coming out soon so I've just been going over each track to make sure it sounds good.

C: I don't blame you! I love your song [We are African]. So who do you feel are the movers and shakers of the African music industry?

J: I'd say Sway, 2 Face, and P-Square are really doing a lot in the industry at the moment.

C: Do you think African music is becoming more widely listened to?

J: Most definitely! If you go to a club in any of the big cities in England and you are bound to hear some African music played. I think this is because we Africans have managed to integrate ourselves into society by marrying across cultures and races. This means that people come to our weddings and family gatherings and get exposed to African music.

C: So where do you think African music is going?

J: African music is definitely going somewhere and I think one day, from this new generation of African musicians, we are going to see an African star rise, wit an African sound and an African voice.

C: Which African artists should we look out for?

J: Well, as I've said, its been a long time since I was back in Africa so I'm not really in touch with what's happening on the music scene. However I do know of one artists you should look out for...

C: Who?

J: ME! [laughs]

C: [laughs too] I couldn't agree more!

Check out JJC's video We Are African here.

 

 *underrated