ISSUE 17
Farewell to Jo ‘s Corner
G N I R BarreCode …... ATU
FE
Plastic Shadows …..The Mean Streets…. Brendan Shields ….. DJ Ali…………..
Issue 17 — June 2012
♦ Editors Note ♦ Team Profile ♦ The Writing is on the Wall ♦ Featured Bands * * * * *
BarreCode Plastic Shadows Cortina Whiplash The Mean Streets Brendon Shields
BarreCode
♦ and in other news ♦ Danni’s Punk Pit * DJ Ali
♦ Jo’s Corner ♦ Togger of the month ♦ Contact
Cortina Whiplash The Mean Streets
Brendon Shields
W
ow Issue 17 ! I can’t believe we are in the month of June already. Before you know it we will be celebrating Christmas again. Times flies when you having fun. Talking about fun, we have got such a cool fun issue this month.
Editors Note
In Danni’s Punk Pit and also our front cover feature, we have the wonderful all girl rock group Cortina Whiplash. I’m so excited about this band. As a big fan of the band I have been wanting to feature them in the mag for a long time now, so when Danni told me she has bagged an interview with them I was really delighted. Also in Danni’s Punk Pit she interviews S.A punk band The Mean Streets. This band has what it takes to put S.A punk music on the map, last but not least, her D.J of the month goes by the name of D.J Ali who is already making big waves on radio station 5fm. Check all this out in Danni’s Punk Pit!!! I get to interview two bands this month and 1, one man band musician all of who is making huge wages across the airways. My first one being awesome rock band who go by the name of BarreCode. This heavy band is all things NOT mainstream. I’m really excited about featuring them and can’t wait to see more of them in the future. My second band interview this month is called Plastic Shadows. This band has been described as an acid jazz band with a bit of swing and dance. Very interesting things coming out of South Africa and I’m glad to be one of the first to feature this band. I also get to interview Brendon Shields who has been followed around in an exciting documentary being made about him. So be sure to check this interesting interview out and the film makers who made it all possible. This month our Togger of the month is a photographer I am very excited about. Her name is Connie Baiao. Remember that name coz she is really making a name for herself in the photography business. She specializes in all kinds of photography ranging from music, fashion and even maternity. Go check her work and interview out in Togger of the month. Then on a sad note we say goodbye to Jo, our Jo’s Corner editor. We will miss you on the team Jo and wish you all the very best for the future. Keep rocking girl !!!!! Lastly don’t forget to check out our “and in news” section where we find the latest news and gossip on our fave musos. This month we report on The Anti Retro Vinyls, The Killers and Brendan Shields. Well that is it for this rad issue. We hope you enjoy the read and if you have Facebook please don’t forget to push the “like” button on the bottom right hand of this screen as these statistics really help us to promote our mag which in turn helps us to bring exciting music and other news to you. A special thanx to my awesome team for a wonderful Issue - you guys are amazing and I love you all. Keep rocking Duwyne, Jo, Danni and Mom
Name: Duwyne
Nickname: Duzzy
Fave saying right now: Mamu or Lani Greatest ambitions in life: In the words of Just Jinjer’s song “What he means”, “ PEACE , LOVE MORE, TOLERANCE (Live by that and you won’t go wrong) Fave shoes: All Stars What’s playing in your CD player/iPod right now: Rock till you drop volume 4 (but I find myself playing “Flyleaf- all around me” on repeat... That women’s voice is amazing.
Name: Daniela
Nickname: Danni / Greenday Fave saying right now: "To do something that you feel in your heart that's great, you need to make a lot of mistakes. Anything that's successful is a series of mistakes." Billie Joe Armstrong Greatest ambitions in life: Become a music journalist and follow Green Day around the world!! Fave shoes/item of clothing: My Green Day chucks and doc martens (Oh and my crazy high heels) and black hoodie. What’s playing in your CD player/iPod right now? Green Day's Warning CD and some Aerosmith
Name:
Joanne
Nickname: Jo
Fave saying right now: Yebo Greatest ambitions in life: To be a teacher Fave shoes: Black boots Fave item of clothing: Jeans What’s playing in your CD player/iPod right now: Seether
WRITING IS ON THE WALL Thanks dudes for a faaaaabuloussssssss mag. Keep spreading the music vibes ! Love LT x
Hey thanks LT, we always welcome good “vibes” from our readers as well. Keep rocking ! Duzz
Hey everyone out there—don’t be shy, drop us a note for “The Wall”. Would luv to hear from you all ! The Fanbase Team
THIS SPACE WAITING FOR YOUR COMMENTS …… GO ON WE KNOW YOU WANT TO ……………...
“and in other news! “ Anti Retro Vinyls After a very successful tour around the country and also featuring on M.K Studio 1 as well as playing Splashy Fen. The Anti Retro Vinyl’s have landed a cool record label with independent record company called “Just Music”. They will be going into the studio with awesome rock ‘n roll producer Mathew Fink. So we can expect some brilliant tunes in the near future. Well-done to the ARV’s for the awesome news.
The Killers The Killers tour sax player Tommy Marth was found dead on April 23rd in Las Vegas with a single gunshot wound to the head. His death was ruled an apparent suicide. He was only 33. The Killers announced the death of Tommy Marth on Twitter saying that their prayers are with his family and there is a light missing in Las Vegas tonight. Although not a full member of the band, Tommy played saxophone on two of The Killers albums and also went on to play the sax on tours with The Killers. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends.
Eriel (Yee Chen) Huang
Sterling EQ
Ariella Caira, Renate Riedemann, Carina Bruwer and Name of event: Date of event: Brief description:
Time: Venue: Cost: Contact:
A one night only award-winning instrumental showcase at uShaka with Sterling EQ! Friday, June 15th Sterling EQ brings their eclectic mix of instrumental showstoppers and exquisite melodies to The Upper Deck Restau rant at uShaka Marine World. Known for changing the face of instrumental music in South Africa, the all-woman quartet who is on the eve of releasing their third studio album, fuses diverse musical styles such as Classical, Kwaito, Pop, Rock and World, into their own distinctive and contemporary sound which is complemented by their energetic, visually arresting live performance. 8pm The Upper Deck Restaurant at uShaka Marine World R250 p/p including a full buffet from 6pm before the show and tickets can be booked through Upper Deck restaurant 031 328 8065/6
A one night only award-winning instrumental showcase at uShaka with Sterling EQ! Durban audiences are in for a treat when SAMA-winning instrumental pop group Sterling EQ brings their eclectic mix of instrumental showstoppers and exquisite melodies to The Upper Deck Restaurant at uShaka Marine World for one night only, on Friday, June 15th. Known for changing the face of instrumental music in South Africa, the all-woman quartet who is on the eve of releasing their third studio album, fuses diverse musical styles such as Classical, Kwaito, Pop, Rock and World, into their own distinctive and contemporary sound which is complemented by their energetic, visually arresting live performance. In 2011, they became the 2nd all-woman group to win an SA Music Award (SAMA) within the last decade. Their groundbreaking contribution to the local music industry has earned them many fans and accolades from across the world, with the success of their social networking sites (21,500 fans on facebook, and their you tube channel being the 19th most subscribed SA Music channel) cementing the fact that Sterling EQ is a proudly South African act with huge international appeal. Their award-winning live show contains a collection of Pop-classic showpieces including Toccata Rock, Jazz-inspired instrumentals like Chic Corea’s Spain, South African hits like Mbube, Nkalakatha, and Mannetjie Roux, as well as originals including their hit song (and debut album title track) Nova, which was also made into a Hollywood-style music video which enjoys local and international airplay. Other highlights include a tribute to pop violinist Vanessa Mae, a “sterling” version of the Mission Impossible theme, and a breathtaking instrumental version of the Italian love song, Caruso. Best you diarise now, in order not to miss out on this sultry show of Sterling EQ performing live in a ONE night only affair at uShaka’s Upper Deck Restaurant on Friday, June 15th Tickets cost only R250 per person, including a full buffet from 6pm before the 8pm show, and can be booked through Upper Deck Restaurant. For more information or to make a booking contact uShaka Marine World on 031 328 8065/6.
BarreCode was formed 1 year ago as a cover band & evolved into an original music outfit, focusing on quality writing and delivery of good ‘ol fashion kick ass, balls to the wall, Rock ‘n Roll. They will shortly be going into studio to record our second EP. With repeat gig appearance requests on the increase, encore after encore being demanded and the ever growing following of fans this journey into Rock and the force that is BarreCode is far from done!
Interviewed by: Duwyne Clayton
Who are your influences? Grant: STING, ZEPPELIN, The POLICE, HENDRIX, JACO PASTORIUS, MILES DAVIS, WECKYL, VINNIE CALUITE, ZZ TOP, TOTO, TOM PETTY, STANLEY CLARKE, SATRIANI, SANTANA, CLAPTON Alex: Anyone that makes my mind travel while I listen to them. Toby: Pretty broad spectrum, let’s say AC/DC to Zeppelin and everything in between from 1965 until now. Otis: Anyone who writes good music. From Andreas Vollenweider to the Foo’s and beyond. Get my attention and you get my vote. I’m not precious like that! Where did it all start as a band? What’s the story behind BarreCode? BarreCode was a band that was formed a few years ago in a whole other format. Toby Styler, our bassist is the only remaining member. Toby gave me a call one evening and asked me if I was keen to join a band that he had put together, as the vocalist. Over the following few months, for various reasons, the band evolved with the arrival of the thunderous Grant Netherlands on drums and the guitar Maestro, Alex Batazzi on lead guitar. After a few jam sessions we decided that we loved the new dynamic and a name was needed. A few ideas were thrown around and BarreCode was settled on and given to the world!
You used to be a cover band, what made you change over to writing your own stuff? CREATIVE PEOPLE HAVE TO GENERATE THEIR OWN MATERIAL and it was a natural evolution for musicians of this calibre to go that route! Creative outlet is very important and it’s why we are musicians, to create music, deliver a message and take that road less travelled.
Tell us a bit about each person in the band? Toby: Strong Silent type who likes long walks on the beach and longs for a Zen Garden. Played the Cape music scene extensively. Alex: Socially challenged. He can’t hold a conversation for more than 10 seconds and freaks out when the phone rings, he feels comfortable only when he is playing his Les Paul. Major International experience. Grant: An artist at heart, a God of Thunder on the Kit but don’t leave anything of yours at house, cos he’ll paint on it and his favourite words are SHMAFF BREAK!! Played with major SA artist and bands through his career. Otis: A tubby boy with an over compensating personality! Closet music arranger and producer..Sssshhh!
“creative people have to generate their own material”
Who is the songwriter in the band and what is the process like? We believe that we all have an integral part to play in a song and we put a lot of who we are, our experiences and our souls into the delivery of a song so we try to do the same when we create songs. It’s not only a process; it’s most importantly a journey! Do you have rituals before going on stage? Grant: NO Alex: Many substance related rituals, yes. Oh, and I like plugging in my guitar rig and playing through it just before leaving for a gig. Is that ok?
Do you still get nervous before going on
Otis: I rein-act a scene from a movie called Still Crazy, where the guy stands in front of the mirror and reminds himself that he has played to audiences of 50 or 60 thousand the world over, even if we haven’t, YET! …IF you haven’t seen the movie, GET IT!
Grant: Sometimes Toby: Nope Alex: I never did. It’s just exhilarating fun. Otis: Always, but its energy waiting to explode on stage!
Toby: None
stage?
You are about to go into the studio for your second EP. What can people expect from this album? We are going to record a ‘live’ album. We want to play and do the take all together and all at the same time, to try and capture the ingredient that forms on stage at our live performances and which make them the memorable gigs that they are.
How can people get hold of you and listen to your
music?
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/ BarreCode/230999620331933 Twitter - @Barre_Code Soundcloud - The Madness (sample) Zone Radio – www.zoneradio.co.za (online radio is KING!)
“we want to become a mainstay on the festival circuit”
Band members …………….. Otis Vocal – Frontman Lock-up your Mothers (Drum n Vocal), 3rd Base (Drums) Claymore (Drums) Private Stock (Vocal) Alex Batazzi - Guitar In Italy : Jasta Elf (Guitar), Cherry On The Cake (Guitar) Santarita Sakkascia (Guitar), Hidalgo - Eros Ramazzotti tour (Guitar), The Nerves (Acoustic guitar, mandolin) In UK : Cosmic Karaoke (Guitar) In France : Moohn (Bass) In SA : The Lemmings (Guitar) Allegory (Guitar), Shine (Guitar), Lungo (Guitar, mandolin), Let There Be Rock - SunCity (Guitar, mandolin, Musical Director), Magnum 4 (Guitar) Toby Tyler – Bass Viking, Lip Service, Wild Goose, The Trevor Show 3rd Base (Guitar) Claymore (Guitar). Grant Netherlands Drummer Played for and with: eVoid Virgil Ellis Band No Friends of Harry Dan Patlansky Tim Parr Has played From: Cpt – NY - LA
Interviewed by : Duwyne Clayton
I first came to know about UV Ray Pillay in the music world and the talented producer who has produced for such bands as the Anti Retro Vinyls and Kissed by Katie in the past. We became friends on Facebook and followed each others work for the last few month or so. So when he approached me and told me that he is teaming with Rasty to work on a project under the name of Plastic Shadows, I knew that I wanted to feature this band and be part of the phenomena, that is now known as Plastic Shadows. This band has been described as an acid jazz band with a bit of swing and dance. At the time of print the band was already getting set to be a support act for well known duo Locnville, which is such a huge achievement considering they are such a young band but I think it is save to say that this band will not be young for much longer as they step into the music world to make their mark. Enjoy the interview !!!!!
Where did it all start as a band? What’s the story behind Plastic Shadows? We were introduced to each other by chance at the end of 2010. We were each working on our own projects at the time. We collaborated on a few tracks since then, working on few different sounds and styles, and decided to join forces and create Plastic Shadows about a month ago.
Plastic Shadows is quite an interesting name for a band, how did you come up with the name? Our name comes down to our music. We create music merging the sound of the vintage world, with the sound of tomorrow, which perfectly creates the sound of today. Plastic represents the sound of tomorrow, and shadows being the sound of the vintage world.
Tell us a bit about each member of the band? UV: I started learning piano when I was 9 and did trinity and royal school exams. I started producing and making beats when I was in high school and recorded a few bands and artists. I've produced for Anti Retro Vinyls, Goodluck, Cheap Bad Habbits, JR., Skyroqnation, Niche Fam and AKA. Rasty: I started singing in school when I joined the school choir in high school. I performed a few solo's and was convinced to do music exams for singing which I completed up to Grade 7 Trinity when I was 15 . I really live for music and can’t go a day without trying to sing or jam to a song. PS....I’m colour blind
How would you define your music? Our music is diverse. At the moment we are focussing on a more vintage sound with elements of electro, jazz and swing. The sound is energetic, alive and fun but also serious and emotional. We like to put a lot of feeling into our sound because we want our listeners to experience what we feel through the music.
You’re still a quite new band but have already accomplished so much, how has the response been from your new found fans? We are still a new band on the scene but it has not stopped us from getting a really good response from the public. Locally our fans have been really supportive with our new sound. Our music has also had a good response internationally. Our single "Friendly Gesture" that was released earlier in May this year has been played in Paris, France and caught the attention of Recording Studios such as "Pacha Records" in Ibiza.
“our music is diverse… vintage sounds with elements of electro, jazz & swing” Your song “friendly Gesture has done quite well. Tell us a bit about that song? "Friendly Gesture" is an electro swing song about wanting to be with a girl but there is more to her than meets the eye. We created a sound that has zazz and a vintage electro element. By using vintage swing we were able to capture the sexiness and cockiness of the swing era.
Where do you find the inspiration for your song writing and what is the process like? Our songs have been inspired by our own experiences and by the artists we grew up listening to. We have no set process of writing songs but we usually start by working out the music acoustically and adding lyrics along the way. We then record what we have and develop the sound together.
If I was someone who has never heard your music what can I expect going to one of your gigs? We have a few live shows lined up, starting with us opening for Locnville at the Chris Saunders Park Umhlanga on the 27th of May. This will be our first of many live performances and we are working hard to create the best live experience to give our fresh new audience. You can expect a live, funky upbeat performance that will get your feet moving.
Are there any albums or recordings that we can get our hands on and where can we find them? All our music can be found at www.soundcloud.com/plasticshadows and can also be downloaded on our pages www.facebook.com/plasticshadows or www.airbornmusic.com/plasticshadows Lastly what do you wish for the future of Plastic Shadows? We want to make good music and we want the world to experience "Plastic Shadows" .
Hello my chickens!!!!!! Wow it has been a LONG month. I hope that all of you that wrote exams are still alive and breathing!!!!!!!! I hope you all enjoy the mag this month. Be sure to check out all the interviews I have in store for you! I would like to just send big hugs to my Emmylicious and Duwyne for being such amazing souls! Love you guys! Have a blessed month Punkers! Keep it Punk. Danni xx
Three words come to mind when I hear this bandFierce, Punk, Edgy. These women are incredible and don’t take nonsense from anyone. Enjoy their interview!
Interviewed by : Daniela de Almeida
Tell us about your band! We’ve shed blood, sweat and tears together over the last three years, we’re not in it for the money (of which there is none anyway), we’re in it for the love of the game and if that ever changes we’ll stop making music altogether. What sets you apart from the rest?;) Easy answer would be the fact that we’re all girls but to us that’s an irrelevant coincidence. What truly sets us apart is our desire to make uncompromising music for the underground. Name and give us a fact about each member. Loandi – eats cabanossi for breakfast. Tessa – makes the best humus. Auriel – can extract corks from wine bottles with her teeth. Who writes the song lyrics and what inspires them? Loandi is the main lyricist overall but everyone contributes lyrics and ideas. Different things have inspired different songs, everything we write about has some relevance to our lives and life experiences. We’re not very good at being subtle. What's the best part of only having ladies in your band? We talk about our emotions and can take our shirts off in rehearsal if it gets too hot. Name some of your musical inspirations! Motorhead, Blondie, Django Reinhardt.
“we’ve shed blood sweat and tears together “
When is your next gig? Not sure, we’re working on a new album and are currently taking a much needed break from live shows. How do you all keep going and keep the faith?? a. Well to be honest we do get despondent sometimes, we wonder if it’s worth all the time and energy, but ultimately music and specifically live shows are a form of therapy for us, if we don’t jam together for a long time we start to go weird in the head. Music makes everything ok and regardless of what happens with Cortina Whiplash we’ll all always use music as a form of release and expression, quite frankly we can’t live without it. b. It’s funny, because in our darkest moments, when we feel like throwing in the towel, someone will always come up to us and tell us how much they identify with what we do and what that means to them in their own lives. It only takes that one person to inspire us to keep going. Guess it’s Murphy’s Law, all we can say is thank goodness for the people who get it. Why is that Punk music makes the world go round? Because it represents the voice of the people. Any advice for other bands who look up to you? Work on your craft, and do your best to find your own voice and not imitate other artists. And guitarists, whatever you do don’t just learn the E-minor pentatonic
I LOVE THE MEAN STREETS. OK now that I’ve got that off my chest I can attempt to speak somewhat normally. This band is truly incredible and their love of Punk Rock actually gives me shivers! Check them out! Thank you Stan Kaplan for the pics! X Interviewed by : Daniela de Almeida
Tell us about your band! THE MEAN STREETS formed in 2008 and we've been playing Punk Rock ever since. There really isn’t much more to say other than that. Come to shows and see what it's all about. We'll party with you all night.
What sets you apart from the rest? I don't think we are trying to be different in anyway - we are just doing what we want to do and love, which is write punk rock music and have fun doing it as friends.
Name and give us a fact about each member. Sarel - plays guitars and is the self proclaimed "leader" and drives a rad old school Rambler.
Where do you see your band on the next year? Having a good time.
Why is music what makes the world go round? Because it's the one and only thing you can count on in life.
Any advice for other bands? hahaha don't take advice from THE MEAN STREETS but I guess, just do whatever you want, it's your life/ band.
Ed - plays guitar and likes to get naked. He's also an awesome Radio DJ for... um... some station in the Vaal. Brian - plays bass and is "the captain" and keep the kids in order. Gareth - plays drums and is a champion of life.
Who writes the song lyrics? Brian, Sarel and Ed write most of the lyrics. Anything from our political views, to partying, to making fun of our friends. Everyday life things.
How often do you practise? Probably like once a week... no not probably... it's once a week.
Name some of your musical inspirations! Life itself. Band wise probably - Rancid, Pennywise, Dropkick Murphys, some Chuck Berry... there are a lot. this could go on for a while.
When is your next show? We have nothing lined up for a while - but you can check out FB page for updates. http://soundcloud.com/the-mean-streets
bonus comments: Thanks to Danni for this - always read her stuff and be rad to her. Thank you Stan Kaplan for being an awesome photographer. Look him up.
“because it is the one and only thing you can count on in life�
Coffee Shop Poetry…… In the wake of your silence, The truth was somehow found, Although you cover your tracks, Your lies were all found out. Goodbye to yesterday, Goodbye to you, Your words have no meaning, So there is nothing left in me for you.
Ruby Red
Interviewed by : Daniela de Almeida
So I was sitting in my car a few weeks ago and decided to listen what’s cracking on 5FM…I found my Punk self enjoying some sick house beats…much to my surprise!!! I can honestly say that DJ Ali has got to be one of the coolest DJs I have ever heard! He is young and fresh…so watch out South Africa! I think we have a sensation that is about to take over!! (Just finish matric first please Ali ;)) Enjoy his interview munchkins! x
So how did you become interested in becoming a DJ? A few years ago it was my Mom's birthday so we threw a party and this DJ was mixing crazy tunes and doing the most amazing things with music and since then I wanted to become a DJ and work with music
Your mix on 5fm was INSANE...is that one of your greatest achievements? Being on 5fm was a great achievement and an amazing experience I was also featured on UJ FM but 5fm was my greatest achievement so far
Who have helped you get to where you are? Paolo is the guy who taught me how to DJ and showed me where to start and along with the support of my family and friends motivated me to achieve my goals
What sets you apart from other DJ's? I've noticed in this industry there is only a hand full of DJ's who do this for the passion and love of the music many DJ's do this to become popular or for the money...I love music and I am in this only for the love of music
Tell us what your average day is like? Well I'm in matric at the moment so I generally wake up go to school haha I'm always late but then after school I'd come home and look up some new music and play around with my decks to try new effects out
What other genres of music do you enjoy? I enjoy hip hop and some rap but my favorite genre of music is house music
Where is your dream place to perform? I have a few places I'd love to perform at in South Africa . It’s a dream to perform at H20 and Rock the Boat and overseas I'd love to perform in Ibiza and Tomorrowland
When's your next gig? I will be at News Cafe Bedfordview every Friday this month so you can catch me there.
Tell us some facts about yourself! I'm Italian and love being Italian haha I'm very talkative I can't keep quite, I love playing soccer and going out and having a good time
Here is your chance to say anything you want to your family and fans...what words would you like to share with them? I'd like to thank my Dad my Mom and my lil bro for always being there and staying up on those late DJ'ing nights . I'd also like to thank my girlfriend for supporting me every step of the way! To all my fans!! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!! I love all my fans and without them I wouldn't be where I am today!! Thank you!
“being on 5fm was a great achievement and an amazing experience”
Brendon Shields Interviewed by : Duwyne Clayton
Encounters International Documentary Festival takes place from Thursday, 07 June 2012 to Sunday, 24 June 2012. This festival is South Africa's only film festival exclusively devoted to documentaries, first held in 1999, and visits Johannesburg before its showing in Cape Town. It features screenings, panel discussions and workshops for aspiring film-makers. The Encounters South African International Documentary Festival celebrates 12 years of thought-provoking entertainment and is considered the premier Documentary Festival on the African continent and a major event on the film circuit calendar. Documentary features are now a global phenomenon and this year filmgoers are offered an exceptional and varied selection of 50+films - many award winning titles, fresh from international festivals, and 8 that will receive their World Premières at Encounters. The Festival will host a number of local and international guests who will take part in Q&A’s and panel discussions, masterclasses will also be on offer. We at Fanbase had the opportunity to interview one of the subjects of a local documentary that has been selected for this festival. “Rockstardom” features Brendon Shields; a songwriter from Bethlehem. The World Premiere of “Rockstardom” is on the 11th of June in Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront Nu-Metro Cinema at 8:30pm (with Q & A), then the SA premiere is on the 13th of June in JHB at the Bioskope - Arts on Main at 7:00pm, and the first public screening is on the 20th of June at the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town at 6:30pm. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see Brendon in action.
First of all thank you so much for doing this interview, it’s really awesome featuring you in the Fanbase music mag? It’s highly appreciated. I respect the effort you guys put in to release this quality publication during some testing economic times. Where did it all start as a musician? Did you come from a musical background? My first memory of music is lying in a very warm car waiting for my Mom to finish her shopping. My Dad was tapping to the rhythm of the music on the car roof. My soul sat up at very moment and declared: “Hey, this is worth living for?” We are not a musical family but us kids were encouraged to sing in the choir (which I loved) and play piano (which I hated) You are known for your song writing, where do you find your inspiration and what is the process like? I am inspired mostly by beautiful pieces of writing I pick up either in newspapers or books or wherever. I like how a good writer can play with words and how they make words ‘dance’. Especially in poetry . I also love the way JM Coetzee can write ‘about’ the 3rd person as opposed to ‘as’ the 3rd character. It’s a totally different type of objectivity. I used to be into Irish writers and the way they twist and turn the English language to their own liking because the grammatical rules of English did not apply to them as Irishman. Being raised Afrikaans I have rebelliously bequeathed to myself this same freedom! The next step is to wait for the music gods to send me a melody to work with. I usually receive this melody whilst strumming a guitar and humming sweet nothings along with it. I think like a snake out of a weaved basket it awakes the music gods who in turn send me melody to shut me up. My job is ultimately to merge their melody with my own lyrical rambling. It’s not a job you want your children to aspire to. Tell us a bit more about the film you are a part of that is featuring at the Encounters Film Festival. I feel uneasy talking about it as it was driven entirely by audio-visual storyteller Michael Cross. He wanted to tell the story behind the songs and songwriting in general. I just do what he says. He told me to speak, then I speak. He tells me to play, then I play. Maybe we should have called the film “Rock Pinochio!”
“ my first memory of music is lying in a very warm car waiting for my Mom to finish her shopping and my Dad tatapping to the rhythm of the music “
How did the making of this documentary come about? Did the filmmakers approach you or was it a collaborative effort from day one of pre-production?
What is your fave song that you have written and why?
A bit of both. Michael knew very early on what he wanted from the film. My only influence was to try and tell a more generic story about songwriters and our daily life in the hope that my story can help other writers find a way to get their work heard. If a writer benefits from this movie please let me know I still like to get paid in beer.
It’s a song called “Eulogy to John Wontbend” and it’s a piece I hope to release on my next album. It deals with hypocrisy around the issue of racism and is set to the melody of a song we used to sing at school athletics meetings. It stirs Rogen Ballen-esque visuals which I can relate with as my own family comes from a working class background.
Did you ever see yourself as being part of the film industry, as a musician or has the documentary inspired new ambitions?
Where can people catch you gigging in the future?
I would love to contribute songs to movies and TV series yes. I always feel awkward in the presence of cool and artistic people but have decided that I will use this film opportunity to annoy as many film industry people as possible to listen to my work and hopefully get something placed! What do you as a musician hope that this film will do for your career or your fanbase? To be honest I do not expect too much from it. But I remember the time when I was really frustrated at not being able to get my work heard by the right people. Despite all the online resources and books for sale about “how to make it in the music industry”, most of us still get stuck and is unable to get through to someone on the ‘inside’.
Let’s just say 2 years ago I would have loved to see such a film in the hope that it can give answers. Now I get to play in one! And I am really proud to be associated with the guys from Rogue Productions who know what they are doing. They are old-school story tellers with fancy cameras. How involved were you in the pre and post production phases of the making of this documentary? Michael and the guys at Rogue knew exactly when to ask for my opinion and when to follow their own instinct. I had some involvement during pre-production where they simply had to fish for as much information as possible about the stories behind the songs. I let them get on with their work during post-production and trusted them 100%.
“ I would love to contribute songs to movies “
As I am sitting here I am still unsure what my career as a performance artist will entail. In truth I just want to busk on the street as it’s here where one has to live or die by a song. Your facial expression and your energy together with melody and lyrics need to be spot-on at any given moment to earn you that R5. You have to sense the prevailing mood of the street and adapt to it. In South Africa one feels the art of busking has been left solely to fake ‘African-big-5’ marimba groups who entertain at tourist sites. I want to help change that.
Lastly does the future hold for you? What next for Brendon Shields? Together with long-time friend and music arranger Van GO I am experimenting with POP music whereby the approach to recording is more flexible than it is with Folk music and writing. We want to release an EP soon and approach commercial radio stations with it. In the meantime I send about 10 demo’s a night to whomever I can find to try and get the songs placed. I will continue doing so. I really want to leave Bethlehem and move to London so that I can have access to the English music market and ultimately compete against the writers over there. Life tries its best to knock the bejaysus out of us but I will continue to dream big.
Hey Jo's corner peeps. Hope you are all well? This month of June brings a little sad news, I'm not going to be writing Jo's Corner anymore as I have other obligations I need to fulfill. It has really been an awesome experience and a very interesting year. The magazine is looking really good and I know it’s going to go far. A big thank you to Duwyne for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the mag. Also to Danni and Mrs Clayton, the mag would not look half as good as it does without your hard work. Thanks for making Jo's corner look so good but most of all thank you to you the readers for reading Jo’s Corner, you are what the mag is all about. With that said I don't like goodbyes so I will rather say, see you later. Light and love to you all Jo x
Quote of the Month ‌.. A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. Winston Churchill
Dear Jo From all of us here at Fanbase we wish you all the best in your new venture. You will always be remembered as an important part of our team. Keep rocking !!!!! Luv Duzz & Danni xxx
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How did you get into photography?
What do you like about photography?
Since as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a camera in hand taking snapshots wherever I went. After leaving school back in the day, I went straight into the corporate environment and stayed for many years. Around 2008, as part as my scuba diving pastime, I did an Underwater Digital Photography course and bought myself a small compact underwater camera. At this time I fell ill and after a few months I was booked off work for a year in 2009. Not wanting to be idle and bored, I decided I had to do something with my time off and my initial plan was to approach swimming schools to take pics of kids underwater. That was until I was approached by a friend to do maternity pics since her photographer had dropped her at the last minute … and that was the start of it all. I bought my first DSLR and started playing around in a more serious way. In March 2010 I entered my first photographic competition for the annual breast cancer calendar and one of my images was selected for the calendar …. And it just continued from there with people requesting my services. Shooting at every opportunity, plenty mistakes, experimenting, learning and having loads of fun!!
Capturing the special moments and being able to use the creative side of me that was forgotten for many years. The possibilities are just endless and yes, sometimes I come up with the craziest of ideas at the weirdest of hours.
What camera are you currently using? Between a Canon 7D and my first camera, the Canon 1000D
Also, making a person feel good about themselves when they see the results – too often people are very negative about themselves and forget about their natural beauty. As a single mother, I have to add that I enjoy the flexibility it allows me in terms of my parenting responsibilities and spending time with my kids.
What style of photography do you like? Having dabbled in various types of photography from portraits, fashion, events, fine art nudes, etc I would have to say that my absolute favourite has to be photographing live concerts. For me, it is a lot more challenging and exciting, given my love for music too. In studio or on location, you have a lot more control in terms of lighting and posing however, with live concerts you have the ever changing stage lighting and the constant movement of the musicians on stage … and getting the perfect shot is the ultimate reward.
Where do you see you’re self in five years, in terms of your photography? I would like to see myself photographing large concerts with international acts here and abroad.
Who is your favorite photographer and why?
What advice do you have for upcoming photographers?
I can’t say that I have a specific favourite photographer but there are a few whose work I do enjoy keeping an eye on. I guess one could say that I enjoy a variety of styles and art and every photographer has a different style and way of expressing themselves and I find that appealing.
First and foremost ….Belief in yourself!!!!! One mistake I made in the beginning was that I constantly compared my work to other more experienced togs and as a result, I never thought I was good enough and that sometimes made me quite despondent. Now there is nothing wrong with aspiring to be as good as them or to try and emulate their style in a way but it’s important to realize that we are all different and we express ourselves differently … and although you may use someone’s style as a base, you will eventually develop your own style that portrays you as an individual.
Describe a day in the life of a photographer? Ever changing … no two days are ever really the same – that would just be plain boring J. But without a doubt, it would have to start with … Wake up, drink loads of coffee (or any of the many energy drinks on the market … Monster being my preference) to get you started after a very late night of editing. Prep for shoot (although this should have already been done the night before), do shoot, function, etc …, pack up, make your way home, upload images from camera, sift through captures and rate them, start editing until some obscure time of the morning and then stumble into bed (if you even get there!!) ….. only to wake up a few hours later to start on the coffee drill again. That’s the short of it really and it can sound boring until I add in …. Meet fab, crazy, wild people from all walks of life, see new places, travel, have loads of laughs, drink more coffee (or energy drinks), use your imagination, backstage shenanigans and in my case, awesome musicians, music and concerts!!
Secondly, you need to love what you do and not see it as a drag … your passion will show through in your work. That said, an upcoming tog needs to understand that things are not always as glamorous as they seem from the outside. As with any career, you need to work super hard and persevere in order to reap the rewards. As much as being a photographer is fun, it is hard work! The hours can be long and sometimes you need to sacrifice social time for work. Never be afraid to experiment with different styles either … you may stumble on something that you thoroughly enjoy. Take the chance and just do it!!! If you don’t, the only thing you will have lost is the opportunity to embark on a new adventure. And lastly … but most importantly …. RESPECT!!!! Respect for all that you work with … from the security guard … to the tea lady … to the make-up artist … to your fellow togs … your models … your clients … everyone!!
You can find Connie on Facebook, Twitter (@Turtlephin) or check out her website address www.turtlephinphotography.com"
Connie Baiao Photography