Interpret Kwaicore

I recently got back from Cape Town and it got me thinking, 'how would different cities interpret kwaicore?'

In the South African music scene there is a noticeable difference between the music coming out of different locations at the moment. Cape Town is leagues ahead, Jo' Burg is melting many flavours together and Durban, well, we don't like to talk about Durban. So let's fast forward to a time where kwaicore is as exposed as one feels when purchasing condoms and phallic fruits (coincidence, I swear).

JOHANNESBURG

When kwaicore started coming out in Johannesburg the people were left going 'What the heck? We've been mixing shit up for years.' Despite that they realised that no previous GP genres bought the heaviness and the funk quite like kwaicore did. Living in the city of gold, opportunity was coming at musicians like TB at home affairs. There are quite a few internationally recognised kwaicore acts that have come out of Egoli. One band has also managed to make a career out of music, heaven forbid! It required them to create a kwaicore wine, a kwaicore meal for KFC and a kwaicore computer but hey, that's innovation right?

DURBAN

Durban, oh Durby Durbs. What happened with you and kwaicore? At first people were trying to put kwaicore through the punk meat grinder but the mince on the other side was full of E Coli and sad. Regardless of these wobbly beginnings, it was popular for three months in Durban until all of the musicians pushing kwaicore decided that Cape Town was a better city to be in if you wanted to get anywhere. They left and with them went the kwaicore scene. A few people attempted to refly the flag but there were no venues to play at as the Winston had become a bingo hall for old timers with a penchant for punk. These days Durbanites sit at home and reminisce about the kwaicore days whilst sipping on Black Labels.  

CAPE TOWN

The truth is that Cape Town knew about kwaicore before it even existed. There are few bands still playing it actually. It's so Y2K. They have a whole new genre there called pubstep, dance music made for sipping a few beers after work. One of the greatest kwaicore acts in Cape Town is actually from Belville, of course. The Cape version of kwaicore is very user friendly. Very Nokia 3310. You can flail to it, you can frolic to it, you can chill to it and you can read J.K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy to it. It's versatile. Apparently kwaicore worked so well to help integrate different cultures in Cape Town that there are in fact no black or white people left in Cape Town. They are all coloured now.

And there you have it! The future!

hXc

The more you are surrounded by something, the more you tend to forget about what sets it apart. Example. I have been listening to hardcore and going to shows for a few years now so everything that happens within that realm is familiar. I have forgotten what it was like to hear it for the first time and how I felt about it. When I hear silly things like 'it's scary,' 'they seem so angry' or my personal favourite 'can you even hear what they are saying?' I get miffed off without realising that people tend to discard what they don't understand. Fear not! Clarity is but a few sentences away!

1. 'It's all just shouting.'

The truth is that deciphering the lyrics isn't like finding a clean portaloo at a festival, it's actually pretty easy. You just need to pay attention and if you're really battling, there are always lyric sheets online. Hardcore bands often put a lot of thought into their lyrics so they will find a way to get the lyrics to you. The sound on live videos of bands is usually quite bad, don't judge a band's sound by a fan's phone video work. The general rule here is this, the more you listen, the better you hear.

2. 'They look like scary, tough guys.'

It's 2013. Tattoos and piercings aren't taboo anymore. If they are, you need to leave wherever it is that you are staying because they must be oppressing a lot more than your bodily rights. The funny thing about hardcore is that it spawned straight edge. A subculture that does not believe in drinking alcohol, casual sex or taking drugs. Even more extreme is the hardline subculture. They reject alcohol, casual sex, drugs, tobacco, coffee and they are vegan.

With that said, just because you don't drink or take drugs doesn't mean you're a nice person. The thing with hardcore is that it's a brotherhood, and a sisterhood. Everyone knows each other and everyone looks out for one another. It's more than just listening to a few tracks on your computer. It's about being part of a greater community that cares for one another. Most of the hardcore kids from all the different provinces in South Africa know each other, it's just the way it is.

3. 'Are you just trying to hurt each other?'

Hardcore shows are all about high energy performances and sometimes it would seem that the audience is trying to outdo the band. There are many different ways for the crowd to get involved. Slam dancing, mosh pits, pogoing and the infamous wall of death are all on offer at hardcore shows. Just like that person who decides to make 5 deposits at the ATM, there is always someone at a hardcore show making the scene look bad. Often they don't even know their Gallows from their Facing the Gallows and they thought xxx* was Vin Diesel's greatest movie. They enter the pit in order to throw some cheap shots in someone's face and they are not welcome. Bands have been known to call out individuals who are ruining everyone else's fun. Throwing down in the pit is not about seeing how many people you can hurt. If someone falls down, you help them up.

4. 'I still don't understand.'

As I said before, hardcore is all about camaraderie. It's about being a part of something and it's about growing the scene. It's about going out and having a good time. It's about being yourself and accepting others. I can honestly say that most of my teenage education came from going to shows and learning from the people that surrounded me. Don't let it intimidate you. Listen to the music, go to the shows and get yourself a PhXC!

*seeing as though this post is for educational purposes, xxx is a symbol of straight edge

I'm Bad Milk, Drink It

Ever since music has existed, it's been evolving. Blues, jazz, punk, metal, rock, indie. All of these genres are connected in some way, melding together and branching off from one another. Inspiring countless musicians to create and innovate. To perform and go against the norm.

That's where Tyler, The Creator comes in. Since he released his first album in 2009 he's been the wolf in the sheep pen, fitting considering his latest album is titled 'Wolf.'



I used to loathe anything hip hop/rap related until I got educated. All you need is someone to lift the veil of commercial music and a whole world opens up to you. Nelly and Puff Daddy got replaced by Tyler, Non Phixion and Jedi Mind Tricks made you forget that Lil Wayne existed in the first place.

Back to Tyler. He was one of those artists that made me take a step back and realise that my musical narrow-mindedness had been causing me to miss out. It was like nothing I had heard before. Rap but dark and moody. Rap but with better, more old school beats. Rap but better than rap. Rap that couldn't have a 'c' added to the front of it.

It's a shame that punk always gets associated with the 'not giving a fuck' attitude because there are other musicians doing exactly that. He spoke about touchy subject matter. Rape, self-mutilation, murder. It makes you uncomfortable, it makes you question, it's music that makes you think.

Like all good musicians, he's progressed from his earlier albums. As he told SPIN magazine,

"Talking about rape and cutting bodies up, it just doesn't interest me anymore. What interests me is making weird hippie music for people to get high to. With Wolf, I'll brag a little bit more, talk about money and buying shit. But not like any other rapper, I'll be a smart-ass about it. Now it's just girls throwing themselves at me and shit, but I got a girl back home. People who want the first album again, I can't do that. I was 18, broke as fuck. On my third album, I have money and I'm hanging out with my idols. I can't rap about the same shit."

In all of this there is a weird disconnect between Tyler as a musician and Tyler as a person. His lyrical content is genius yet reading his Twitter feed feels like you're dealing with an entirely different person. It makes you wonder how much of him is persona and where does the real Tyler start and finish.
Either way, he has spun rap in a whole new direction and who knows where he's going to stop turning.

TGIF

It's Friday, it's the weekend, it's party time, it's time to get LOOSE! There is just something about waking up on a Friday. All the worries of the week disappear and your sights get locked onto those two glorious days ahead.

Whilst looking for a bit more information on kwaito I came across a weekly feature that Dont Party does called Pantsula Fridays. Don't let the name of their blog mislead you, they want you to party, they really do and if anyone knows anything about partying, it's them.

Pantsula and kwaito go together like moms and afternoon sandwiches. It's all about getting out your best moves and grinding your feet on that floor until the sole of your shoe is so flat you can't even walk into a Checkers without slipping and sliding down the aisles.

The music on offer has come a long way since the original kwaito but man is it good. Instead of evolving into something completely removed from its roots, it's been renovated. The initial product is still there, just better. If you're not breaking it down in your office chair in anticipation for the weekend, you're doing it wrong. There is something for everyone so you have no excuse.

Go give it a listen, now!

If links aren't your thing, here we go, you're welcome.

That Festival Feeling

Hey! Hello! I'm back!

Firstly, sorry it took so long to resume posting. When I go to festivals, I go to festivals. There is no in between and so I came back a broken human. But I have my energy back (kinda) and I'm ready to get this blog back on track!

It's hard to write about festivals. So much happens and you don't want to write a mini thesis on your experience. So instead of relaying my Splashy Fen stories (of which there are many) I decided to look at festivals in general.

I have attended quite a few festivals around South Africa which means I have a tendency to compare them. They all have their pros and cons and you really notice how they differ from province to province. KZN festivals are more relaxed and friendly, Gauteng festivals are more 'survival of the fittest' and Western Cape festivals are always so goddamn beautiful.

One of the greatest things about music festivals is discovering new music. Generally it's hard to get out of your comfort zone but at a festival you have nothing else to do but live in the moment, so why not go and watch a band/artist that you've never seen before?

It's good to venture out and not let your tastes stagnate. Even if you watch a band that you don't like, it will make you appreciate your favourites even more.

Out of diversity comes beautiful things, like Albany Best of Both bread, Snuggies and kwaicore of course. So get out there and watch some new music!

Special mention goes out to Shortstraw and Al Bairre for producing such rad sounds at Splashy. Here's to next year.

Be Right Back

Hello everyone, I'm heading to Splashy Fen today and will be back on Monday. Posts should resume by Tuesday. Keep it real!

Bridging the Divide

Kwaicore is quite funny when you think about it. Even though kwaito and hardcore punk have somewhat similar beginnings, they have morphed into two genres that are oceans apart from one another. Even with our complex human minds it is hard to imagine what kwaicore would even sound like. Kwaito with a more furious, punch to the face kind of sound? Or hardcore punk with a dancier, chilled out groove? Even though it is hard to envision the two coming together, there are a few bands out there who have successfully melded two different worlds into one crowd-pulling whole.

Without further ado I give you, Desmond & The Tutus. They have always had something special about them. For as long as I can remember, their internet description has been 'kwela-indie-pop-rock' and they really do have that township vibe about them. As a band, if you can create a popular genre of music whilst still giving it some local flair, you are doing it right! Even their website is based on traditional healer flyers that get handed out at the robots. People are so quick to eschew their heritage without realising that it can be a massive source of inspiration. The culture that you grew up in is a big help with the quest for the holy grail of creativity, originality.

excuse me, rainbow coming through

Despite being super talented, I think a lot of their success comes from the fact that they are so relatable. When you listen to them it gives you that South African nostalgia. Their lyrical content doesn't even touch on it but whenever I hear them I think of playing marco polo with my friends on a sweltering afternoon or taking out my lunch box at break to see what mom had packed for the day.

The point I'm trying to make is that good things can happen when two worlds collide. You are constantly getting a fresh perspective from each side and you will never find yourself stagnating or caught in a single-minded bubble. With that in mind, can a kwaicore collaboration please just happen already!?




Above is the promotional video they did for their album 'Mnusic.'

Kwaito is Dead

Please get out your good chair as this is going to be quite the post. Comfy? Great.

So I am a white South African female and I honestly know nothing about kwaito. It's sad really. 22 years in this beautiful country and I can't even tell you what kwaito is. The internet, being the often cruel and unforgiving place that it is made me want to write about kwaito from a new perspective. I don't want to pretend that I am some sort of kwaito historian. Instead I am going to embrace my ignorance and give you an account of what it's like to get into kwaito for the first time.

First, a story. In 2011 I stayed in Johannesburg and did freelance photography. One day I had to photograph an event in Alexandra township. I wasn't very good at navigating the city of gold at that stage so I packed my GPS and hoped for the best. I got to the supposed venue and there were many people but it did not resemble the event I was supposed to be shooting. Eventually I pulled my car over and asked some people for directions. They said that they couldn't help me but they knew someone who could. A phone call later and a jolly looking man came out of a house and greeted me. I have sadly forgotten his name but he proceeded to get into his car and help me try find the venue I was supposed to be at. We drove up and down the streets of Alex to no avail but I will never forget that day for as long as I live. All the people going about their daily business on the streets, everyone laughing and interacting and most importantly, the music. The streets were filled with it. All the little shop radios trying to outdo each other. It was beautiful and sad at the same time. Beautiful because I got to experience a whole other world and sad because the suburbs paled in comparison. Yes we have better and more efficient access to electricity and water and yes we are better looked after by the municipality but the suburbs can be so devoid of life and culture. I did not know my neighbours' names and I didn't care to ask. We were all just hiding behind high fences and self-importance.

So let's get back on track. That anecdote is what I immediately think of when I hear 'kwaito.' I think of people having good times in the streets and not sweating the small stuff. To me, kwaito is carefree but not in the whimsical sense and it's about having a good time. Scrap that, a great time!

Even though it is now a big cash-generating industry it is still a form of music that makes me think of the people. Even though it would never be my go-to genre of music, I have started gaining a thorough appreciation for it. Most of it comes across as so DIY and a bit cheesy. I even find it humorous but I'm unsure if that's an insult or not? I still have a lot to learn about kwaito but in these coming weeks I hope to be shown a thing or two.

I will leave you with this music video by Big Nuz, according to a source they are pretty big right now.

Review: Provider Lacrimosa EP

Before I get into the review, we need to go back to a time when dish towels were still absorbent and they didn't sell premixed alcohol. Around 2005 to 2009 the Durban hardcore scene was thriving. Not just the hardcore scene but the whole Durban music scene. There was Sibling Rivalry, Fruits and Veggies, The Rising End, Go! Go! Bronco, Colin Grove, City of Gates and many others. Kids were going to shows, bands were giving it their all and there was a general feeling of stoke in the air.

I remember getting home from shows, lying in bed and feeling as though I was a part of something. At some point all of that changed. Bands disbanded, crowds decrowded and people unpeopled. Durban has always had the mist of apathy floating around the humid streets but it felt like a whole lot of factors gathered together and bid the scene adieu.

Whenever new bands form in Durban we cling on to them as if they are a beacon of hope, a beacon of what once was. It was the same with Provider. Will they single-handedly reignite the scene? Will they make me feel the way I felt about music when I was 17?

They refer to themselves as a screamo influenced hardcore band and I can't put it any better myself. Listening to their album is arduous and I mean that in a positive sense. The theme of mortality features in all the songs and it really takes it out of you. The instrumental is beautiful and emotive, and Will Edgcumbe's vocals feel like they are coming from the very depth of his being. With that said, when I listen to it, I can't help but feel like it would be better to experience it live. The recording isn't bad but it lacks something. The sound doesn't feel as full as it should be.

Also I expected something a bit less generic. Yes they have procured a nice blend of hardcore and screamo but with the members of their band being as immersed in music as they are, I thought there would be more progression and musical-boundary-pushing.

The real stand out track for me was 'The Pearl.' I am a sucker for gang vocals but it feels so brutally honest and simple. With the lyrics "it's a terrible thing to die too old, it's a terrible thing to die too young" being shouted out over and over again you get lost in thoughts about life and death.

Overall it's a good effort but in the future I hope they take more risks. It feels as though they have so much potential yet something is holding them back and I hope they break down those boundaries and produce something that really blows you away and reignites the hope that one day our scene will be returned to the glory that it once revelled in.

You can check out Provider here and get your hands on their album here.

RAMfest 2013

So Durban has been getting quite a few international acts lately. RAMfest really did us a solid and bought Pendulum, Rise Against and Bring Me the Horizon to our shores. Durban has been known to get the raw end of the deal. Even when Sum 41 were supposed to play here the weather did its thing and that was that, no show. With all of this in my head I went to watch Rise Against and Bring Me the Horizon at the Wavehouse on Friday night.

My night was a bit of blur and the next day I heard a story about a guy having a big ol wank in public after the show. I guess some people express their enjoyment in different ways? Anyways, on with the review.

I have to say that I miss the excitement I used to feel when I was young and going to shows. I don't know what it is (cynicism?) but I don't feel the way I used to about live shows. Maybe my expectations are too high? Maybe I'm not watching the right bands? But I haven't left a show in a while feeling really blown away and impressed.

I have to say that Bring Me the Horizon and Rise Against did not disappoint. The sound was good and it felt like I was 17 again but therein lay the problem. It was almost too nostalgic. It's the same as always, bands usually come here when they are past their prime. By then you have usually moved onto other acts. Yes, you can still enjoy their performance but I can't help but think how great it would've been a few years ago.

waiting

Maybe that's just me though. The Facebook feedback was fully positive, the turn out was great and I found myself thinking 'where are all of these people when local bands are playing?'

With all of that said, you have to commend the people organising RAMfest. They are one of the few institutions helping to bring big acts over and you can't fault them on their work. It is handled very professionally and I'm excited to see who will be on the lineups in the future.

This Is Kwaicore

Isn't it strange how two siblings can be so different? Same parents, same upbringing, same environment, two polar opposite personalities. One wears jeans and the other prefers baggies. One eats peas, the other got scurvy last year due to a Vitamin C deficiency. One of them has the Lost box set and the other, well, they are into Californication.

This phenomenon is not specific to families. We see examples of it everywhere. Authors writing books on opposing sides of the literary spectrum, television channels playing soap operas during the day and documentaries at night. Something connects them yet something separates them too.

Where am I going with this? Kwaicore of course. A musical genre forged on the sun-scorched streets. A hybrid combining all the good facets of kwaito and hardcore punk, churning out a powerhouse of unashamed passion. Music for the people by the people.

Both hardcore punk and kwaito have beginnings in social change. As the strongholds of apartheid began to fall, kwaito found its voice and in a way, it provided the soundtrack for the transformation that lay ahead. Early punk musicians were unhappy about the way things were at the time, politically and socially, so they used music to amplify their opinions. Hardcore then took this ethos and turned the traditional song structure on its head.

The two genres had a certain shock factor at the time and as the years progressed and we as a society became increasingly desensitised, it took something radical to grab our attention. With this kwaito and punk started fading into obscurity. Two genres on two very different sides of the musical smorgasbord yet rooted in very similar ideals. Each fading away yet morphing into something new.

This is about their comeback.