Barcoded Magazine 11

Art Meets Mainstream MAY- JUNE 2014

A NEW CLASS OF COOL

TIBZ SHOWLOVE YOLISA PHAHLE DJ SBU

FOREIGN EXCHANGE COMPUTER LOVE CLOUD NINE ELECTRONIC BUSHMAN / ANATII THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN 2 JAMESON INDIE CHANNEL GADGETS BACK TO THE CITY

We are all self made but only the successful admit it

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PLACES TO VISIT IN JOZI

STORMFEST 2014

Cover image coutersy of : showlove.com

SELF MADE Individuals HOW TO SUCCEED AS A FREELANCER1

CONTENT

SELF MADE INDIVIDUALS A NEW CLASS OF COOL

20

YEARS

Of freedom barcoded mag

Celebrated freedom day @ Newtown with 21 000

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Publisher Infin8Media Editor in Chief Phumzile Twala @PHUMIT Production Manager Mbuso Mafuyeka @youngbuu

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ENTERTAINMENT FOREIGN EXCHANGE

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COLUMNIST COMPUTER LOVE

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OFFRAMP CLOUD NINE

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SOUNDBOOTH ELECTRONIC BUSHMAN / ANATII

Graphic Designer Mbuso Mafuyeka @youngbuu

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PIXELS THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN 2

Contributing Writers Mduza van Gough @MduzavanGough

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PIXELS JAMESON INDIE CHANNEL

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MULTIMEDIA GADGETS

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GROUND UP BACK TO THE CITY

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CREATIVE CHRONICLES 5 PLACES TO VISIT IN JOZI

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OPPORTUNITIES

IT Manager Brian Khumalo @Brian_DeITwiz Sales Manager Khethiwe Twala @misskittyred Baile Ramaisa

Phumzile Twala @PHUMIT Namile Mkhize @NAMILEMKHIZE For general enquiries email info@barcodedmag.co.za For advertising enquries email sales@barcodedmag.co.za khethiwe@barcodedmag.co.za baile@barcodedmag.co.za 011 486- 9488 f : barcodedMag t: @BarcodedMag w: www.barcodedmag.co.za e: info@barcodedmag.co.za i : barcodedmag wechat: Barcoded Mag

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LETTER FROM THE

EDITOR

@PHUMIT

SELF-MADE:

are celebrated in this edition (Tibz, and DJ Sbu,) while Dream Team SA Director Refiloe Ramogase shares tips on how to build a brand and Gwen Watkins gives expert advice on freelancing.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”- Steve Jobs, co-founder, Chairman and CEO, Apple.

This edition is all about celebrating creative individuals who have made a name for themselves. As young people, it’s encouraging to learn from such individuals.

As young people within the arts industry, it’s motivating to see fellow artists succeeding and progressing. (Check out our feature with CloudNine Urbanwear and our AbsolutSA Residence feature.)

THE NEW SCHOOL OF COOL

From Wangechi Mutu’s “A fantastic journey” exhibition, to the Indie Channel, to the Better Living Challenge, this issue has focused on featuring concepts or ideas which stand out. Individuals behind the creation of these initiatives are part of what I choose to recognise as ‘The New School of Cool.’ These folks are about innovation and improving lives. They are the trendsetters in the twitterverse and in the real world. Self-made individuals

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One can only hope that this edition inspires someone out there to make a difference and to develop the arts sector as best as they can.

Signing Out. Phumi (@PHUMIT)

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UN COVER

ED A NEW CLASS OF COOL

“I’m not a businessman; I’m a business, man.”

Eight words that changed a lot of lives, no doubt. Lyrics by Jay Z which sum up what it takes to succeed in the season of ‘Millenials.’ Not everyone is a leader.

Most people are comfortable with just following.

But there are those individuals who refuse to stay in line. They live their lives with a self-assurance, confidence and swagger that no-one can jack. Call them whatever you want to: entrepreneurs, self-made individuals or hustlers; fact is they refuse to be boxed-in. Dynamic and BARCODED MAGAZINE

UNCOVERED

progressive thinkers, they are all about transformation. They influence young people and pop culture.

The social media frenzy not only contributed to making the world a village, but has also helped to launch the careers of mega stars such as Justin Bieber and Souljah Boy. Using YouTube and MySpace as platforms, these two managed to garner major exposure for themselves and later gained massive appeal across the world.

In South Africa, a few individuals within the entertainment sector stand out for their achievements as selfmade people.

Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane is one of these individuals.

Owner of Show Love, which specialises in event management and brand activations, he understood from an early age how to separate himself from the pack. Speaking to brokebillionaire.co.za, he advises, “Plan ahead...think of your business twelve months from now. Careful how you choose your team, they represent you and human resources can make or break a business. Be brave...if you don’t do it, someone will do it for you.” Having started out by spotting a gap in the local market for upmarket hip hop events, he used his events skills and knowledge to start his empire, which eventually evolved into a stake in the now highly successful clothing brand Head Honcho and the birth of Show Love Music.

At his stewardship, the latter has gone on to transform the local hip hop scene by creating enviable brands.

Having studied media and international relations at Wits, Tibz seems set on breaking more boundaries.

Always on the ball with trends and an active social media participant (he has 32 700 followers on twitter @SHOWtibzLOVE), his trend-spotting skills include watching what people do during their spare time. His favourite quote, “I believe we’ve come this far because we haven’t forgotten ourselves” is an admirable mantra to live by, especially in the fast-paced, instant gratification-obsessed industry he works in.

Gabe Roth, bass player, producer and self-made muso who also won a Grammy award for engineering Amy Winehouse’s record Back to Black, once advised, “If you’re trying to make a living as an artist, you have to look at it as a business. You can’t be banking on selling a million records. You have to look at it and think, “How can I make $4,000?” The first way is, don’t spend $4,000 making and sending demos to labels that didn’t ask for them. It seems stupid, but it’s the first thing everybody does.” Nowadays of course things have changed dramatically, with artists 7 taking charge of their destinies.

DJ SBU One such artist- slash-entrepreneurslash-all-round media entertainment personality, Sbusiso “DJ Sbu” Leope caught the bug early on. “Entrepreneurship I wanted from the very beginning.

I wanted to be in charge of my destiny.”

His story is one that’s filled with flashes of brilliance, disappointing choices, character-building life decisions and success.

Of his experiences, the Metro FM jock has said,” We all experience challenges. It’s how one overcomes them that sets them apart. I am a survivor and an extremely determined individual. I’m inspired by life, people, my mom, the world; I do believe I can contribute in changing the world positively. I want to be a part of that positive change through my work.”

His latest venture has been the release of his first book, Leadership 2020 book, which has soared to the Best-Sellers list nationwide. The release of the book has seen the TS Records co-founder using his influence to make reading trendy among young people. Having tested his talents through a number of ventures, Sbu has continued to evolve over the years. “I see a lot of young artists/actors etc taking their destiny in their own hands. The decline of music sales and the emergence of more TV channels force more and more talent to run themselves as businesses and constantly look for other ways of revenue than the old boring traditional ways.

image by : www.sowetanlive.co

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Remember it’s always great to have multiple revenues of income. That’s the best gift I ever gave myself from an early age,” he points out.

COVER STORY

According to an article in the Huffington Post about Millennials,” They live in the moment, feel in control of their destiny and have a generally optimistic view of things.”

A common theme among selfmade individuals is the unflinching desire to fulfil their passions. Sbu explains, “I believe following your passion allows you to never have to work a day in your life. Then your passion eventually leads you to your purpose. Purposeful living

Young people can learn a multitude of lessons from people who started with nothing but a vision, passion and drive to succeed.

“You see things; and you say, ‘Why?’ but I dream things that never were; and I say, “why not?”- George Bernard Shaw.

By: Phumzile Twala

YOLISA PHAHLE M-NET C.E.O

is what I’m doing now; Making a living out of serving others. And I have experienced even more success by dedicating my career to serving others. I call it ‘Leading The Giving Way.’ Tony Gaskins says ‘When money is your motive, you will always be lacking. But when purpose is rooted in service, money chases you. You can’t get away from it.’ I am living proof of this statement.”

Yolisa Phahle is a formidable player in the world of broadcasting in South Africa. Her latest power move sees her appointed as the first black female CEO of M-Net. Of her work, while she was the director for local interest channels at M-Net, she has said, ”My job is something I just love doing – being able to work with our film and television industry to produce stories that mean something to our viewers whilst creating jobs and new companies is a dream job.” Her tenure in that field introduced a transformation in local television programming.

She was at the helm of the launches of Mzansi Magic Music in 2012. She and her team also introduced the Mzansi Wethu and Mzansi Bioskop channels in 2013. Growing up in exile, she was surrounded by icon like Hugh Masekela, Arthur Maimane and John Matshikiza. She says, “I grew up at the feet of these icons who used the media to tell South African stories to the world. They inspired me to play a part in the advancement of the arts in South Africa.”

image by :teeveetee.blogspot.com

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ENTERTAINMENT

The Foreign exchange @ the Bassline in Newtown, Johannesburg 30th May 2014.

Impande Entertainment Presents: The Foreign exchange at the Bassline in Newtown, Johannesburg 30th May 2014.

Doors open at 8pm.Tickets are available from R270 from Quickticket.co.za or R300 at the door.

Representative of how the Internet can aid in creating music, the Foreign Exchange started when Little Brother rapper Phonte heard a beat on Okayplayer.com by Dutch producer Nicolay and asked if he could lay some vocals over it.

Nicolay agreed, and the song “Light It Up” appeared shortly after as the B-side to Little Brother’s 2002 single “Whatever You Say.” Relying mainly on instant messaging and email, the duo continued to work together, with Nicolay sending beats to Phonte, who would add vocals and send them back until they had enough tracks together to form an album.

Not once during the entire process of making their debut, Connected, which came out in 2004, did the members of the Foreign Exchange speak over the phone or in person.

Due in part to an increasing production load, Nicolay moved to the States, and Leave It All Behind, the second FE album — more R&B-oriented than the debut — was recorded. Released in 2008 and featuring a handful of stunning videos, its lead single, “Daykeeper,” was nominated for a 2010 Grammy in the category of Best Urban/ Alternative Performance (and lost to India.Arie’s “Pearls”).

After assisting two of their associates, YahZarah (The Ballad of Purple St. James) and Zo! (SunStorm), with albums, the Foreign Exchange released Authenticity.

All three albums were issued in 2010 through The Foreign Exchange Music. A DVD/CD set, Dear Friends: An Evening with the Foreign Exchange (2011) and a two-disc set of remixes and new songs titled The Reworks (2013) preceded the group’s fourth studio album, Love in Flying Colors

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NEWS

COLUMNIST

The Soweto Theatre will come alive on the 6th of May with some of Mzansi’s hottest talent who will be taking part in the Savanna Newcomer Showcase.

The show is a build up to the acclaimed Savanna CCA’s (Comics’ Choice Awards) which take place in August. The showcase will give registered comedians an opportunity to perform a few minutes of stand-up in front of SA’s finest. Voting opened on the 25th of April and closes on 22 June. Their peers will be the ones making the final decision about who makes the cut.

Between 20 and 30 aspiring comedians will have 5minutes to impress the audience and will be performing in front of stand-up legend Kagiso Lediga.

COMPUTER LOVE By: MduzavanGogh

Liezl Dippenaar, Savanna Marketing Manager explained that the show aims to be totally inclusive, “We were inspired to create this developmental initiative to give newcomers the opportunity to shine.”

Tickets are available at Computicket for R70. Keep an eye out for the nominee announcement, which takes place on 25 June 2014.

KEKE PALMER TO HOST BET TALKSHOW Actress and singer Keke Palmer is set to host her own daily talk show on BET from July 2014. The 20 year-old who made a name for herself in starring roles in movies such as ‘Akeelah and the Bee’ and ‘Madea’s Family Reunion’, will be hosting the show produced by Telepictures and executive produced by Judge Greg Mathis.

It’ll cover an array of topics, including pop culture, celebrity interviews, fashion, social issues and undercover “on the street” segments.

This move will make Keke the youngest talk show host in TV history.

AFRICAN INSPIRED WITH EVA MARCILLE America’s Next Top Model Cycle 3 winner Eva Marcille (aka Miss Eva Diva) is set to host a new TV show called ‘African Inspired with Eva Marcille.”

The new mother, who established herself as the sassy, blond bombshell on the TV show will be travelling to West Africa for Season 1. Produced by R’ajawa Company, the docu-series will focus on African culture and its widespread influence on modern life across the globe. She will also travel to Europe and several states in the United States talking to musicians, directors, producers (film and music), artists, authors/ editors and choreographers to explore their take on the continent.

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ince we were children we’ve been made to believe that the main goal in life is to partner up with somebody and breed, but in today’s world, everybody is busy and it is quite hard to find time to do all of that while chasing success, having a crazy social life and keeping up with sporting events all over the world (and the Kardashians) or whatever it is that some of us Gen-Y people do with our time.

It comes as no surprise that a lot of 20-somethings turn to the internet in hopes to find a companion or someone to copulate with. It seems like the almost perfect way to pick a date as the usual ball ache bits of social encounters - like acting as if you’re interested in what they are talking about or if they are actually worth it or you’re just fucked. All that can now be done from the comfort of your bed, your little cubicle that you call “your office” at work or while you’re taking a shit. Most of the time we know that the person we’re texting is boring as fuck within the first few sentences, not after a few weeks of sub-par interactions.

If you ask anyone that has dabbled in online dating they will tell you that the thrill of receiving a message from the girl they are pursuing or their suitor is a heady one. It’s like the messages have the power to trigger mental scenarios littered with mushiness and cuddles, you know, chick-flick shit.

This e-honeymoon period doesn’t last long. The profiles start to become corny with the “hey look, I’m cool” pictures. You can’t help but look at them and say to yourself “I’m better than all these sissies , God why am I even on twitter, surely I can just go to KONG and get a fine young nubile to help get my end wet and let off a nut, I’m not that bad, right, God?” As much as you claim you aren’t on social networks for the opposite sex, one will catch your eye, especially on twitter. Here is why I think twitter is the greatest thing ever created in the past decade, despite it being a good place to promote your parties, rant and act like you matter blah blah blah, it is the perfect hunting ground social for retards(like myself), loners, sexual deviants(your sister), sexual offenders(your uncle) and the “normal people” , but they are so boring, seeing them on your timeline feels like watching dead people sleep, so we cannot really compare them to the gems we see while scrolling down this timeline full of broken individuals.

Hipsters(and the wannabes...we can’t forget about the wannabes) will have their twitter bio read “I’m a xenophile hedonistic humanitarian sapiosexual atheist” at the back of my mind I’m wondering whether these guys go on porn sites and search “Sapiosexual”, we all know the first thing that attracts us to the opposite sex isn’t their intellect. You also get the faux-philosophers and the vain dudes that post pictures of themselves working out

in the gym. Some girls would read that and start thinking “ooh, he is so mysterious”. No, he is not. Too many people with faux-personas online, it is kind of difficult to tell whether someone is “about that life” or they are just pretending.

I’m shallow, I’ll admit it. I hate catfish, a catfish is someone who is something else on the e-streets (normally very appealing) but in reality they look like Shrek and Whoopi Goldberg’s love child. I think being catfished is every guy’s biggest fear when it comes to cyber/online dating.

I guess we all lie a bit on social networks. Instagram’s cool factor is that we’re all light skinned on it, you can’t feel inferior unless you’re really ugly( there are hideous people out there ladies and gentlemen).

Hopefully, someday, most of you will shut down your profiles and accounts with the mindset that whatever you are looking for from a relationship, you won’t find it on twitter, facebook or LinkedIn[laughs] unless you’re really fucked up in the head, lazy or have extremely low standards. I strongly suggest you buy yourself a blow-up doll, get some Vaseline or something and love yourself... you ladies don’t have to worry about finding love, your man will find you... not online...he is not in your DMs. As a dude I feel like we should go back to the old school way of finding a significant other.

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OFFRAMP Acclaimed local fashion designer Thula Sindi has recently reinvented his brand. He’s created new meaning to his slogan ‘Modern, Sophisticated, Simplicity. His online fashion store is set to improve his distribution to clients. Shoppers can safely transact online and receive their goods in less than 72 hours after shopping at www.thulasindi.com

The six finalists for this year’s Foschini Fashion Design Awards were recently announced. Sthandiwe Khumalo, Jade Rea, Frances Pauls, Emily Hellens, Sane Bosman and Zandalee Broodryk will be battling it out for the prizes. The finalists now have to create a collection of 3 ready-to-wear outfits based on the same theme as their exhibition garment, but this year there’s a twist: they’ve each been given 3 metres of black pleather which they have to incorporate into each garment. The winners are set to be announced at the end of May.

A CLOUD NINE URBANWEAR REVOLUTION FASHION FOR DREAMERZ AND BELIEVERZ Two words can be used to describe the creative behind fashion label Cloud Nine UrbanWear: coolly humble. I arrive for my interview with him flustered, thinking I am late (turns out I’m four minutes early.) I find him nestled behind his desk, which doubles as a rack today, with stacks of clothes lying next to his mouse. Taking in my surroundings, I find the walk-in-studio warm and inviting, with Cloud Nine garments colouring the room, along with a smattering of photo-shoot snaps. Tall and forever smiling, Mbuso (he goes by the handle @TheeALPHAMAN in the Twitterverse) greets me and gives me a hug.

Although reserved, with a mischievous ‘knowing’ glint in his eyes, he mentions something about his business partner Tumelo, whom he’s worked well with since their days as part of the wave of upcoming T-shirt brands like Kwaal.

With a slogan like “for dreamerz and believerz,” it’s interesting to find out what inspired the dream. “I’d always worked with a couple of brands and I noticed how much demand there was and that the guys I was working with weren’t taking things seriously. And I always had this thing in my head that I wanna wear my own brand from head to toe one day.”

Spotting the latent talent potential in the market, he and Tumelo combined their street smarts with business skills to birth Cloud Nine Urbanwear.

Besides facing the usual challenges encountered by start-ups like “the most obvious one: money,” according to Mbuso, they faced the uphill battle of being taken seriously by peers and influential industry players. “We’ve dealt with bad deals, where one guy we were working with was liquidated, with our merchandise...so we nearly went under, but miraculously, we survived.”

The PUMA x Solange Girls of Blaze Disc Collection sneakers arrived at PUMA Select in Cape Town mid-April, at a neat price of R2799-00 a pair. Solange created each of the four styles alongside designer Gherlon Marcel, visual artist, musician and photographer Hisham Baroocha, including Darlene and Lizzy, the designers of William Okpo label. Solange is BARCODED set to play a MAGAZINE part in the marketing and media initiatives for PUMA Women’s lifestyle.

“Don’t do business with people who have got nothing to lose. Choose partnerships carefully.

As you grow, try other avenues of marketing.

Invest in your passion. “

images by : @urbankreative

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When you’re starting out, don’t do business on credit. Keep it in a cash basis.

People disappear. Life becomes better for you this way.

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The air in the city of Joburg is polluted with the spirit of survival, which engulfs you at every crevice and corner at the most unexpected times. We’re interrupted or delivered a great sales pitch (depending on how much you love Joburg) by a salesman pushing the latest perfumes he’s selling. After promising to get in touch with him at a later stage, we continue.

Starting a business is never easy. Besides financial investment, a lot of emotional currency goes into it. “We sacrificed a lot of time. There’s a lot of sacrifice actually. I must say I sacrificed a lot of happiness along the way! You see your friends going out, having fun, and you have to work...Time with the family is sacrificed as well,” he explains. The business of fashion is a sphere which the Cloud Nine Crew is working hard to perfect. “On a personal front, I don’t identify myself as a fashion designer really. I see myself more as a businessman,” he says.

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When they aren’t fighting for recognition from industry peers, they are fighting to remain excluded from the list of pirated brands which litter Jozi pavements and flea markets. “Imitation is hard to fight, honestly,” he laments. “And I don’t think government is doing enough.” Scenes of metro cops confiscating pirated goods from street hawkers are an all too familiar scene in the CBD lately. “I don’t think that helps. A better way would be for them to find the source of the pirated stuff.” He adds, “Fortunately we haven’t seen any fakes of our clothes yet.” He attributes this to a strategy which involves them continuously evolving by releasing new ranges regularly. “Besides that, I don’t think we’ve hit the market 19 hard enough yet.”

CLOUD NINE Defining the brand as ‘urbanwear’ means that it straddles the line between streetwear and formal. “It’s where formal and street meets,” Mbuso clarifies. “We’ve worked hard to establish ourselves as a brand with an edge. The details are what set us apart from others. We make sure our clothes are of the best quality and I believe we can compete internationally. When we create items we want people to look at them, and struggle to only identify them as local brands. We want them to have a global appeal.”

Delving slightly into his design process, he lets us in: “We benchmark on what’s on the market and give it a Cloud Nine edge.”

Cloud Nine has maintained its stance on focusing on people who love their brand. “I believe we can do well without fashion shows. I think some of the organisers just use the designers and most of the time the same names are being elevated. From what I’ve seen, fashion shows haven’t really been about ‘new’ guys.” Aside from relying on word-of-mouth the brand uses social media as a driving force, while Mbuso acknowledges “There’s lots of room for growth.” As young self-starters they hope to be a positive impact on young people coming up in various professions. “We hope to show young people that they can start a brand from nothing.”

Not driven by money, but rather by demand from clients and a strong work ethic, Mbuso shares that he lives by the motto, “Do whatever you do the best, because you never know who’s watching.”

Visit Cloud Nine’s walk in studio at 42 cnr Harrison and Market street, Meischke’s building, suite 29, 2nd floor Johannesburg CBD. Check out www.cloudnineurbanwear.com Follow them on twitter: @Cloud9Urbanwear, @TheeALPHAMAN, @2kza_dj.

By: Phumzile Twala

“When you have some cash, invest two thirds of it to invest in what you love. Keep bettering yourselves.”

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EXHIBITIONS

WHITMAN AFRICAN FILM AND VIDEO EXHIBITION

WANGECHI MUTU A FANTASTIC JOURNEY

A Showcase of works by the new wave of African Creatives

Artist’s iconic critical work featured in exhibition

During the month of May the Whitman Independent will be curating a series of film screenings.

Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu’s latest exhibition is showing at the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami until 6 July 2014. Curated by Trevor Schoonmaker and Raymond D. Nasher, A Fantastic Journey is a richly illustrated celebration of the 41 year-old’s expressions of art from the mid 1990s to the present. The works comprise of collage, drawing, installation, sculpture, performance and video.

01 May- Yamine Chouikh (Algeria) 05 May- Nantenaina Lova (Madagascar) 13 May- Ridha Thili (Tunisia) 15 May- Tjobolo Khahliso (South Africa) The aim of the screenings is to create critical conversations with a new generation of thinkers and creators. The Whitman Independent is a collective of young artists from various disciplines who share the united vision of working collectively to create an independent film production collective and art gallery that champions the works of talented young artists in the African context.

The collective also strives to simulate a dialogue about how art (and more importantly youth art) can become a positive and sophisticated influence on cultural consciousness.

The Whitman Independent has already hosted over 30 independent film and video exhibitions and has plans to further expand influence within the national landscape.

Entrance is free and screenings will begin at 8pm.

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The iconic works marry poetic symbolism with socio-political critique to explore issues of gender, race, war and colonialism. The exhibition displays fifty of these works, which represent a critical investigation and depict fantastical worlds.

The gender theme features heavily throughout her collection. Pieced together with human, animal, machine and monstrous parts, Mutu’s heroines appear as seductive and beautiful as they are critical and disturbing.

A graduate of Yale University, Mutu now resides in New York and manages to render the complex global sensibility of the early 21st century through a distinctly hybrid aesthetic.

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I

LEGENDZ

n an old converted warehouse in Chicago, USA, Francis Nicholls, better known by his stage name Frankie Knuckles, experimented with drum-machine-based music in his Soul sets. And so House music was born. Working with the likes of Larry Levan, Robert Williams, Chip E, Robert Owens and Jamie Principle, Knuckles founded a new form of music at a time when soul and R&B were king. Knuckles played at the “Warehouse” from 1977 to 1983 and his fans started patronizing his club “The Power Plant” thereafter. Seeking a way of defining the new music, people started referring to it as “music from the Warehouse” and it was later shortened to “house.”

Of this era, Knuckles once mentioned, “The Warehouse club in Chicago was like “church for people who have fallen from grace.” The Knuckles eventually became known as “The Godfather of House.” He recalled, “I am just one of a number of DJs that pioneered the sound. However, it all began at my club, US Studios, which was later named the Warehouse. It inspired all the other guys that were climbing on the bandwagon back in the day.” Today, the genre is a massive force worldwide, with new markets giving birth to brand names frequently. The style may evolve as with any other music genre, but the appeal keeps expanding globally. From South Africa to Ibiza, House music has become a refuge for young people, a way to create freely. Elements of the genre have been infused with other music types since the late 80s- a trend which continues today. Knuckles laid the foundation of house music’s popularity when he said, “House music’s universal appeal comes from the energy, beauty, soulful sexiness, and gut-wrenching vocal performances that have inspired so many spin-off ideas.”

In 2004, the pioneer’s contributions were celebrated when then Illinois Senator Barack Obama declared the location of the Warehouse on South Jefferson Street “Frankie Knuckles Way.” The house legend’s heart played one final set on March 31st 2014. His cause of death has been attributed to complications with Diabetes II. Artists all over the world reacted with shock and sorrow to the news of his passing. Questlove tweeted: “Jesus man. Frankie Knuckles was so underappreciated. He was the DJ the DJs aspired to be. True Dance Pioneer.” WuTangClan also Tweeted: “R.I.P Frankie Knuckles...Peace. All praises due...” Fellow deckmaster DJ Spinna shared his sorrow: “I can’t believe it. This has been a crazy year thus far. R.I.P. to founding father of HOUSE MUSIC Frankie Knuckles!!! Massive loss man, wow!”

By: Phumzile Twala

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SOUNDBOOTH

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IT’S ABOUT GOD’S

TIMING ABOVE ALL ELSE Born in Bisho in the Eastern Cape, singer, songwriter and producer Anathi Mnyango has been working with some of the continent’s elite artistic talents. Now based in Johannesburg, he’s produced L-Tido’s smash hit “When It Rains” and has worked with acclaimed musical icon Lebo M, among others. His musical talents and networking savvy put him in touch with DJ Khaled from the US. Together they collaborated on a banger called ‘Bananaz.’

BM: What sort of change would you like to see in the local music industry in the near future?

A: There’s been a boom in the local industrythere’s a lot of new music, new production. So I hope to see a lot more of that- more new music and new artists. I don’t have anything against older artists, but I’d love to see more new artists putting their music out there.

BM: You started quite young in the industry.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far?

A: Don’t rely on anybody else. Do it for yourself.

BM: Can we expect more collaborations between you and international artists?

His upcoming album, titled Electronic Bushman, is something he calls an “eclectic mix of African drums, R&B, house and hip hop.” As a young artist in a booming independent environment, Anatii is establishing himself on a global platform. Making connections with some of the biggest names in music is a signature move he’s made. “I’d say it’s about being at the right place at the right time. If I hear that a particular artist is going to be around, I make sure that I’m around and available.

Give them some of my work to listen to and yeah... It’s about God’s timing above all else,” he says.

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A: Yes, there are some projects in the works, but I can’t reveal much right now...

BM: I heard that you’ve been in talks with Erykah Badu... How true is that?

A: (Pauses) That’s my sister right there. Very talented.

BM: Alright cool, we’ll leave that there for

now!

A: (Laughs)

BM: What do you want young music lovers out there to remember about Anatii?

A: I’m all about changing the game really. I’m about coming up with new concepts. Like the animation video we did for ‘Bananaz.’

BM: How did that concept come about?

A: The video took us 8 months to complete. It was inspired by a video I saw on Youtube, so I got hold of the guy who did that video and I designed the character.

BM: Do you plan on branching out to other aspects of the arts? Fashion maybe?

A: Yeah, I’m actually part of the Galxboy label and we’re doing really well. We’re selling out at every season.

Catch up with Anatii’s big moves by following him on twitter @ANATII or by checking out his site www.anatii.com for more updates and booking info.

By: Phumzile Twala

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CASTLE LITE PRESENTS THE EXTRA COLD MUSIC CONCERT US producer extraordinaire Timbaland collaborates with Castle Lite Castle Lite’s back at it again! The brand recently teamed up with multiple Grammy award winning producer, Timbaland to introduce its latest campaign, Extra Cold Music. The music portal, available on their site, www.castlelite.co.za, is a platform for local artists to get their fans buying their music through a digital format. Castle Lite’s General Manager Andrea Quaye says, “Extra Cold Music is essentially on ‘always on’ music portal that will provide consumers with access to the latest in local and international music across various genres including pop, hiphop, house, rock, R&B and kwaito.”

With more than 20 years of experience, Timbaland has contributed to some of the world’s greatest musical icons and is often regarded as the number one urban music producer in the world.

How it works: Each week 5 new tracks are made available for download, 4 of them local and 1 international.

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The tracks are free to download and no data charges apply, except for the USSD dialling costs.

Consumers simply need to purchase two promotional Castle Lite packs and enter the unique code on each under-liner (or pull-tab) via the USSD line provided. Only 100 000 of each track are available, but if a song is sold out, consumers can visit the site to buy them.

“For us as a brand, everything begins with embracing a culture of innovation. Our consumers are heavily driven by music, social networks and smartphones. So we are constantly evolving what we do to meet, and exceed, their expectations,” explains Quaye.

South African musicians have been adversely affected by piracy for a number of years too.

Quaye adds, “By zero rating data charges and investing in the building of a working download platform, we believe that Extra Cold Music will make a positive impact on the sale of music

in South Africa, and hopefully help take a stance against music piracy.” Featured tracks include, Life is Short (Mathew Gold), Feel So Good (Tumi ft. Ziyon), Babylon (King B), You Don’t Know (Shugasmakx), Avakior (Tia Black ft.

George.)

Added perks of the collaboration with Timbaland include exposure to workshops and opportunities for local artists to work together.

The 7th of June will present the highly anticipated Extra Cold Music Concert, which will feature the hottest international acts alongside a host of South African artists. Concert goers will be able to download the music played at the concert on their phones.

Behind the Scenes: The Extra Cold ad needed an Extra Cold backtrack so, the ad team chose a track from Timbaland’s latest and unreleased album. The ad was produced both in South Africa and in sunny Miami.

TIME MAGAZINE’S 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF 2014 Beyonce In December, she took the world by surprise when she released a new album, complete with videos, and it announced it on Facebook and Instagram. Beyonce shattered music industry rules and sales records. Beyonce has insisted that girls “run the world” and declared, “I’m not bossy, I’m the boss.” She raises her voice both on and offstage to urge women to be independent and lead.

Pharrell Pharrell Williams is having way too much fun. At 41 and still with the swagger and appearance of a college kid, he has been the biggest part of our soundtrack for the past 15 years. And you’ll never see him doing it without a smile on his face. He injects that vibrant energy into the music in a way that you can feel. Whether it’s the chord changes that remind you of another time or the melody that instantly grabs you, you are transported to another place. You smile, you dance, you clap along. His music actually does make you happy.

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NEWS

SOUNDBOOTH

MIMI’S SURPRISE FOR FANS Billed as an uninterrupted 12 hour musical explosion dedicated to the city of Johannesburg, the inaugural iHeart Joburg Music Festival seems set to thrill music lovers. Six local and six international acts have been confirmed.

THE WORLD’S FINEST TO GRACE THE STAGE AT iHEART JOBURG MUSIC FEST

The first 3 of six international artists announced are Jason Derulo, Jessie J and Fallout Boy. At the time of publishing, local band Crash Car Burn were announced as part of the line-up.

Mariah Carey’s upcoming 14th album release will be following the trend set by Beyonce last December. Her new album’s title, track listing, artwork and music will be announced through digital partners, with a physical copy release later. She has also revealed that the album takes its name from a “personal possession of mine that’s part of an entity that I’ve had almost all my life.” In terms of collaborations she has worked with Wale, Nas and Trey Songz. In an interview with Billboard, she said, “You would think I would be all about the singles- driven situation, and I am in a way, but with this particular album I want my fans to hear it as a body of work.”

The singer doesn’t have plans to quit anytime soon. “I will always make music. When I said it could be my last, that’s because tomorrow’s not promised to anyone.”

Tickets are available at Computicket from R500 to R1000.

She worked with usual suspects Jermaine Dupri and Rodney Jerkins along with new-school stars Hit-Boy and Mike Will Made It.

The iHeart Joburg Music Fest takes place September 6th 2014.

Visit www.iheartjoburg.co.za for updates.

WU-TANG CLAN ALBUM DISPUTE The hip hop fraternity has been buzzing following news of WuTang Clan’s come-back album A Better Tomorrow. Keeping up with the surprise release trend that’s emerged in the music industry, they also plan on selling one copy of a different 31 track album titled The Wu- Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.

FREEBASE DROPS BEGINNING OF MAY The show is a build up to the acclaimed Savanna CCA’s (Comics’ Choice Awards) wRapper 2Chainz will be releasing his new EP, titled Freebase on May 5th. The project will feature 5 tracks and he’s worked with the likes of Lil Boosie, Rick Ross, A$AP Rocky, Ty Dolla Sign and Cap 1.

Production talent comes in the form of Mike Will Made It, Metro Boomin, 808 Mafia and Young Chop.

South African band Beatenberg will be supporting Thirty Seconds to Mars on their SA tour in June.

The group, whose debut single in late 2013 was released to rave reviews, are fast becoming a brand name in local circles. Matthew Field (vocals/ Guitar), Ross Dorkin (Bass) and Robin Brink (Drums) make up the trio that will be opening for the US rock band on Friday 13 June at the Grand Arena, Cape Town and on Monday 16 June at the Coca-Cola Dome, Johannesburg.

Songwriter Matthew says their music is about “emotions, images and fleeting senses of things: the mad stuff that everyone feels and almost understands.” Their recent collaboration with DJ Clock, ‘Pluto (Remember You)’ has reached pole position across various radio stations nationwide, including 5FM, YFM, Metro FM, Highveld and KFM. Tickets cost between R310 and R510 and are on sale now from Big Concerts.

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BEATENBERG TO OPEN FOR 30 SECONDS TO MARS SA TOUR

RZA recently revealed that fellow member Raekwon disappeared from the recording and mentioned that creatively, the two were on “different paths.”

In an interview with VladTV, Raekwon said, “We are at creative differences at the end of the day. I want to win. I’m used to being a winner. Being that I feel the team is being compromised by his so-called “logic” of making music, I have a problem with that because I love my fans. I would never want o give my fans anything other than the best. So when we’re sitting there discussing the creative process of making a great album for the fans, I’m not going to never settle for less. I’m not the only one (in the group) that feels this way too.”

On the track “Keep Watch” On “Keep Watch,” you put this new young kid (Nathaniel) on there who nobody knows who he is- and I’m not taking shots at the kid- but I don’t even know who he is. That song is something that the crew didn’t have knowledge of, from what I’m being told.

Dudes aint feeling good about it. I hate it. I hate it. I don’t hate sh*t, but I hate that fu**in’ record. It aint the gunpowder that my brothers are spitting; it’s the production.

What he thinks of ‘A Better Tomorrow’ The bottom line: I’m not happy with that. I’m not happy with the direction of the music and I’m not happy with how dudes is treating dudes’ business. If it don’t feel right, I can’t be fake. Fans want the best and I have to sit here and work that hard to give them the best. Period.

Time for a new game plan RZA’s the type of dude where, in the Nineties, he ruled. Now it’s a new day. You’re not attached no more. It’s like being a coach and you won rings back in the day, but now your team is in ninth place. It’s time for a new f***ing game plan. I sit here with integrity all the time. When it comes to my music. When it comes to my business. When it comes to the fans. I’m always going to give them the best of me. And I know the Wu-Tang Clan is built like that, but they’re sitting there listening to one man, aint no “I” in “Team.”

RZA told SportsIllustrated that he is giving Rae 30 days to either get involved with the project, or it may never get released. The album is currently scheduled to drop in July.

MTN BUSHFIRE FESTIVAL TO SET SWAZILAND ABLAZE Taking place from May 30th to June 1st 2014, Swaziland’s premiere arts festival, MTN Bushfire will excite patrons with a thrilling line-up with artists from over 10 countries performing. Legendary Grammy award winning accapella ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo, one of South Africa’s hottest international exports Spoek Mathambo and Zimbabwean legend Oliver Mtukudzi will grace the stage, alongside acclaimed trio Bongo Maffin. Colombian salsa artists La33 will also dazzle the crowd.

French beat box sensations Under Kontrol will showcase their talents to more than 20 000 festival goers.

More than just a music festival, MTN Bushfire is a celebration of live music, theatre, poetry, film, circus, dance and visual arts.

The interactive art and dialogue space, The Barn, will feature a contemporary art exhibition titled ‘Swaziland NOW! ‘which sees local and international visual artists “bringing their fire” and exploring the issues of contemporary Swaziland?

By promoting creative expression and social responsibility, MTN Bushfire is the only festival that donates 100% of its profits 33 to charity.

THE AMAZING

SPIDERMAN 2

PIXELS

MOVIES The Amazing Spiderman 2 movie sees Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone reprising their roles as Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy. Speaking of the on-screen romance, Stone revealed, “They’re struggling with some things. There’s a lot of tension, there’s a lot going on.”

The synopsis reveals that Peter Parker continues to struggle with balancing his life as a high school student and his responsibilities as Spider Man. When Peter begins to investigate more about his father’s past, thanks to the help of his friend Harry Osborn, he begins to realize that the new threats of Electro and the Rhino all have one thing in common: Oscorp.

Starring Oscar winner Jamie Foxx as mild-mannered electrician Max Dillon turned wrathful super-villain Electro, this was the first Spider Man film to be filmed entirely in New York. There were concerns that the movie would be too over-

loaded with villains initially, but director Marc Webb insisted that Max Dillon’s arc will be the unifying story thread, upon which the other of the film’s many other sub-plotseither new or carried over from the previous film shall be hung upon. The co-writers of the movie Roberto Orci and Jeff Pinkner are adept at telling earnest human stories, having previously worked on the TV series Sleepy Hollow and Fringe.

Their writing talents combined well to ensure that there’s a bit of meat to Max’s personal journey in the film, managing to delve into the transformation of the kind electrician and Parker’s oblivion of Max’s hero worship towards him.

Actress Shaine Woodley’s scenes as Mary Jane Watkins were cut from the film. Director Marc Webb told ‘The Hollywood Reporter’ that the cut was “a creative decision to streamline the story and focus on

Peter and Gwen and their relationship.”

Of her character, Stone revealed to ‘The Guardian’ that, “Gwen now has an emotionally driven reason to make logical decisions and her story resonated hugely with me, because it is so incredibly dramatic.”

For Peter Parker, there’s no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen.

But being SpiderMan comes at a price: only Spider Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city.

The Amazing Spiderman 2 was released on 25 April in South Africa and is due for a May 2 2014 release in the U.S.

Blockbuster comic franchise Sequel explores “Spidey’s” continued quest to protect the people of NYC BARCODED MAGAZINE

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X-MEN

DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

N

ATIVE VML and Jameson have come together to create an innovative, fresh concept that has young artists excited.

Creating a platform for exposure of young South African talent has resulted in the birth of the Indie Channel.

has treated him.” He also described McKeller’s role (as Magneto) as “also a fixture in the future war, facing an enemy so monstrous that it forces former foes to band together.”

A nirvana for independent minds and creativity, the channel allows young creatives to submit films which are broadcast on the platform. The Jameson brand has identified itself as a brand which urban youth connect with and has powered ahead as forward thinking. The Indie Channel, the fearlessly authentic voice of South African popular culture can be found here: www.indiechannel.co.za.

The collaboration between NATIVE VML and Jameson has seen the likes of Spoek Mathambo, V.I.N.T.A.G.E, Tyler B Murphy, All Bairre and more featured. We had a chat with Executive Creative Director at NATIVE Ryan McManus, who tells us more:

Days of Future Past is the first of the X-Men films to be filmed in 3D and is the second most expensive movie produced by 20th Century Fox after 2009’s Avatar. The trailer was released to mixed reviews. One critic, Ben Child of The Guardian criticized the trailer for the amount of characters that will appear in the film, stating “overloading the movie with superheroes might please fans of the comic books, but the rest of us will be chewing on our own spleens when the umpteenth brightly coloured dude turns up to spout one line of dialogue, then drop off the map.”

What inspired the creation of the Indie Channel?

It was about looking around in communities of SA. Looking around the country, we have a lot of talent, whether in animation, film etc. But there’s always been this missing element on TV. We have the taken, but you don’t see any of it on TV. We never really see a celebration of creative culture on our screens. So the indie Channel provides a bigger platform for that creativity.

Director Brian Singer announced a May 27 2016 scheduled release for X-Men: Apocalypse, which will act as a sequel to X-Men: Days of Future Past. According to Singer, the film will focus on the origin of the mutants and “it will be more of a First Class sequel.”

How has the creative industry reacted to the Indie Channel?

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. What’s really exciting is that people feel like they own it.

Because it’s their work and their efforts they see on screen.

An epic battle for our future The ultimate X-men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-Men: Days of Future Past. The beloved characters from the original “X-Men” film trilogy joins forces with their younger selves from the past, X-Men: First Class, in order to change a major historical event and fight in an epic battle that could save our future.

The film features an ensemble cast which includes High Jackman, James McAvoy, Patrick Stewart, Michael Fassbender, Ian McKeller, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Ellen Page, Peter Dinklage, Nicholas Hault, Shawn Ashmore, Omar Sy, Booboo Stewart, Fan Bingbing, Evan Peters, Josh Helman, Lucas Till and Evan Janigkeit.

Scheduled for a May 23rd release, Days of Future Past acts as a sequel to both 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand and 2011’s X-Men: First Class. Giving some insight into some of the characters, director Brian Singer described the younger Xavier as being “a very different beast from First Class feckless playboy. He’s a wounded animal, bearded, long-haired, filled with rage at the way the world BARCODED MAGAZINE

In South Africa, with the high rate of unemployment, in your opinion, as someone working in the creative industry, are young creatives heading in the right direction in terms of innovative, sustainable ideas?

Yes and No. Creative people in South Africa are great at re-appropriating things. And we have very inventive people. For brands I can understand it presents a high risk for them investing in creative ideas. But fortunately for us we have progressive thinking clients like Jameson, who are about co-creating and giving customers a platform. Instead of telling their customers what they should like etc, they’re more about open-dialogue.

How much really goes into making an initiative like this come to life?

Sjoe! (Laughs) It starts with having the ideas and then getting the right people on board. We worked with Motion City Films in terms of filming for the channel. And well, the name pretty much says it all; this was very much an independent production, so it’s about thinking on your feet as well. You’ve got to be able to find cool things out there and have a lot of passion and energy more than anything. A lot of the people producing the work aren’t expecting any reward for it- they’re just really passionate.

With some of the content having been broadcast in cinemas, has the response been what you had hoped for, on a larger scale?

More than what I had hoped for. At our premiere screening at the Labia Theatre in Cape Town we had a great experience. Just seeing people enjoying themselves, talking, laugh-

ing, shouting, being really engaged, it turned out to be quite a social gathering. I must say the feeling that comes to mind is of real pride. The channel is bringing a lot of dynamic, interesting people together.

How effective do you think the channel has been in inspiring the youth to start their own creative initiatives?

Time will tell. Right now it’s being broadcast online and we’re giving away free DVD’s at some cool bars and memory sticks too. But with the platform we hope to inspire young people. A lot of stuff on TV isn’t that great, so we hope to inspire more people.

I got a sense of very urban, cutting edge material being broadcast. Are there plans to expand to expose young people in more rural areas to the channel?

We’re hoping to use TV and other media to showcase to a wider audience. Right now it has been in the main cities and it’s been more of a niche movement and popular there.

What advice do you have for upcoming creatives out there?

Keep exploring, keep pushing and find different ways to tell stories.

Fight for integrity and don’t compromise on your creativity.

For more updates, follow @INDIEChannelSA, @Native and @ motioncityfilms on Twitter.

By: Phumzile Twala (@PHUMIT) 37

HOMELAND COMES TO THE MOTHER CITY The City of Cape Town is fast establishing itself as a sought-after film destination for Hollywood productions. Hot on the heels of the Hollywood blockbuster Avengers 2 being shot in the streets of Joburg, the latest production to make the Mother City its home is Homeland, a US political thriller television series.

The series stars Claire Danes in the role of Carrie Mathison, a Central Intelligence Agency officer who suspects that a United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper has been converted by the enemy and poses a threat to the US. The fourth season is set to be shot in Cape Town from mid-June to November 2014. The show, broadcast on US cable channel Showtime, is set to take place in the Middle East where Mathison is posted as chief of station.

JAMESON FIRST SHOT WINNERS 2014 The winners of the Jameson First Shot Competition have been announced: Henco J (South Africa) Ivan Petukhov (Russia) Jessica Valentine (America) The writers and directors are given the opportunity to have their short film produced by Trigger Street Productions, while having an A-list actor featured in the lead role.

Henco J’s story, The Mundane Goddess, is about a Greek Goddess who talks to a therapist about her boring home life.

Ivan Petukhov’s script is titled ‘The Gift,’ tells the story of department store owner Miss Anderson, who after an encounter with an illusionist, is able to see the magic in her world.

Jessica Valentine’s story, Jump, features 48-hour observation at a psychiatric facility where e a man meets a woman with a unique disorder.

The winners are set to jet off to L.A. soon where they will be directing actress Uma Thurman in the lead role.

The Cannes Film Festival will be taking place from the 14th to the 25th of May in Cannes, France. The festival has a long history of previewing films of all genres from all over the world.

The two most important sections of the festival are: Competition and Un Certain Regard. Films that are representative of “auteur cinema with a wide audience appeal” are presented in the former, while the latter focuses on works that have an original aim and aesthetic.

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Films selected to be part of the Official Selection include Maps to the Stars, Captives, The Homesman, Foxcatcher, Timbuktu, Mr. Turner and more.

Party Girl leads the pack in the Un Certain Regard Section, alongside Lost River, Snow in Paradise, Run, Fantasia and The Salt of the Earth.

The festival sidebar will open with Celine Sciamma’s ‘Girlhood’ and close with Matthew Warchus’ Pride.

IMSF FESTIVAL: SHOWCASING SHORT FILM TALENT The Independent Mzansi Short Film Festival (IMSFF) presents an opportunity for film showcases from emerging South African filmmakers. The festival is set to become an annual event which will showcase works of no longer than 25 minutes and will host workshops presented by industry experts. Attending filmmakers will participate in a Q&A session.

From 25 to 29 June 2014, the Maxi Cineplex in Hatfield Plaza in Pretoria will host film lovers and experts to share in a celebration of independent local film short films.

Filmmakers interested in participating will need to complete an online registration form and will need to pay an entrance fee. The fee structure is as follows: R250 for entries submitted before early deadline 16 May 2014.

R350 for entries submitted before extended deadline 30 May 2014.

R450 for entries submitted before late deadline 6 June 2014.

Following an awards ceremony to be held on June 29th, a R50 000 cash prize will be awarded to the film with most awards.

Deadline for entries is 6 June 2014.

Visit www.imsff.co.za for more information about submission requirements and the online registration form.

SIFF SEEKS TO CELEBRATE AFRICAN FILM A film festival that celebrates films from and about Africa? Yes, it exists in the form of the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF.) Taking place from 15 May to 8 June, the festival has officially revealed its selection for this year.

As part of the festivals’ African Pictures programme, films such as African Metropolis, B for Boy, Difret, Electro Chaabi, Finding Fela, Four Corners, Hall of Yellow Sun, Leading Lady, Rags and Tatters, The Rooftops, Salvation Army, Under The Starry Sky and White Shadow will be showcased.

Following rave reviews since its release, South African film Four Corners, directed by Ian Gabriel, is set to make its North American debut. The film follows the life of a 13 year-old chess prodigy who gets caught between two long-warring gangs, the 26s and the 28s of the merciless Cape Flats of South Africa. The South African film Leading Lady by Henk Pretorius will also be making its world premiere.

Now among Egypt’s fastest rising stars, Electro Chaabi started as performers in the poorest neighbourhoods of Cairo. Their exhilarating version of Arab hip hop has thrived across social classes to become the inspirational soundtrack to a difficult time. The film is directed by Hind Meddeb, and is an Egyptian and French production.

The festival will be kicking off with a screening of Jimi: All Is By My Side, starring Andre 3000 in the lead role.

For more information about the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), visit www.siff.net.

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TIME MAGAZINE’S 100

THE FUTURE OF LITERATURE

MULTIMEDIA

APP "BOOKLY" PROMOTES LITERACY IN MZANSI THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF 2014

MEGAN ELLISON

KERRY

WASHINGTON In her role as Olivia Pope, Scandal’s(US) unflappable political fixer, Kerry Washington has used her grace and vibrant magnetism to transcend age, race and gender and to provide a new mainstream media lens through which to view modern womanhood and professional excellence. Kerry’s work with the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities since 2009 is also a source of deep inspiration, using arts education to close achievement gaps and ignite passion among young people.

Her Annapurna Pictures produces daringly original films driven by visionaries, including Zero Dark Thirty, True Grit, The Master, American Hustle and Her. They have earned a total of 35 Academy Award Nominations, and she is the first female producer to earn two Best Picture nominations in the same year. Oh, and she’s only 28.

NATIVE’s e-reader app”bookly” is promoting literacy in South Africa by expanding into a writing platform.

Having started as a platform to promote reading, it has gone on to inspire writing by offering users the opportunity to become authors by writing their own stories. Creator, Levon Rivers says, “At NATIVE, our mantra is to create work that lives in people’s lives. I have been an avid reader since I was young, and I wanted to combine my passion for reading with technology to create a product that will improve literacy in South Africa.”

Since inception, the app has achieved rapid success and has had over 13 million pageviews. Some responses from users have been encouraging: “Its a good thng u doin coz sum ppl like reading bt no libraries near by u hv 2 travel b4 u get there” “ i think u doing a grate job and thanks 4 the books thy helping us nd my ENGLISH teacher nvr gave romeo nd juliet bt nw im able 2 read it.”

Prominent South African authors will also be adding to the content on bookly, and workshops have been set up in Johannesburg and Cape Town to teach kids about the initiative and inspire them to write more.

Rivers tells us, “We have received entries from all over the country, and importantly to me, they were not limited to English submissions. The first competition has closed, but we will be running more over the course of the year to keep the youth inspired.”

The workshops introduce kids attending to established South African authors, who speak to them and inspire them to write.

“We then follow the talk up with a lesson on how to use bookly so the kids can submit their work right away, “Rivers explains.

In June, the Footnote Summit (sponsored by bookly) will be taking place in Cape Town and will feature a number of speakers who work in the publishing industry. With the boom of writing in the digital sphere, the arrival of bookly is an innovative move which will surely impact scholars positively. “We are calling on all South Africans to make a positive impact on literacy in South Africa. This is your chance to help improve literacy in our country,” concludes the Head of Inventions at NATIVE VML. Members of the public are welcome to email info@bookly.co.za for more details, and bookly can be found here: www.bookly.co.za www.twitter.com/booklySA www.facebook.com/booklySA Mxit- add ‘bookly’ as a contact or Mxitapp. com/bookly.

By: Phumzile Twala (@PHUMIT)

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FACEBOOK END OF CHAT

?

Instant messaging Functionality will be disappearing from Facebook’s iOS and Android apps. According to Wired.com, the end of chat is just the first cut in what could eventually lead to the end of Facebook as a single, unified app altogether.

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MULTIMEDIA

A new app that’s set to become part of the staple diet of techno junkies and fashion lovers is the Asap54 app for iPhone. With the Asap54 app for iPhone, users take a photo of an item, or upload an existing one and describe what it is to help the app identify it. Then the app simplifies things for the user by recommending something similar from more than 150 retail partners across the world.

With a recent showing at Milan Design Week, MIT’s Tangible Media Group created ‘Transform,’ a vision of what could be the shape-shifting furniture of the future. The table-like structure morphs based on the motions and emotions of the humans around it.

J

ust as you were getting your head around the news of a sixth version of the iPhone in the works, try getting your head around this: According to NATIVE VML’S mobile report for March 2014, Smartphones are fading.

Wearables are the next best thing. “Most wearables are not meant to replace smartphones but should work as satellite devices that condense useful data and relay notifications from a primary mobile device. If they have screens, they can display simplified versions of mobile apps,” says JP Govender of Forrester Research.

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TIME MAGAZINE’S 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF 2014

PONY MA

Soft-spoken, boyish, reclusive: the words come up repeatedly in descriptions of Pony Ma. But while the founder of Tencent- the Chinese online giant that combines gaming and e-commerce with the QQ and WeChat messaging services- may have a low-key manner, he’s also an undisputed rock star. In China’s unique cultural landscape- from its mobile savvy population to its one-child families- he has tapped into something timeless and universal: a longing for connection.

HASAIN RAHMAN

info@barcodedmag.co.za f : barcodedMag t: @BarcodedMag w: www.barcodedmag.co.za e: info@barcodedmag.co.za

ISince Rahman co-founded Jawbone in 1999, he’s managed to stay one step ahead of the prevailing vogue. He turned the Bluetooth headset into an object d’art exhibited venues from San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art to the Pompidou Center in Paris. He perfected the small, portable wireless speaker before there were millions of them out there. And with the fitness and sleeptracking UP band, he’s turned Jawbone into one of the biggest companies in wearables.

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BACK TO THE CITY 2014 BARCODED MAGAZINE

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BACK TO THE CITY

HIP HOP CULTURE DEFINED…GET FAMILIAR

Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Johannesburg was a hive of activity on the 27th of April 2014. 21 000 hip hop heads congregated at the venue as Back To The City Hip Hop Festival took them to church...

The line-up featuring an array of artists, from old-skool cats to new first class acts, kept patrons thoroughly entertained. The festivities kicked off with the annual hip hop summit and basketball games alongside skateboarders and BMX enthusiasts. Fashion stalls lined the pavements and festival-goers snaked their way through them to check out some of the latest ranges of threads from labels such as Butan, Thesis and Ayashisa Amateki among others. The Amstel Beer Garden was chock-a-block as usual. At the Red Bull stage, rapper ripped the stage with remarkable, rousing recitals of hardcore classic lyricism. Back at the main stage, the crowd was drawn closer like an army being summoned by the General, when Big Zulu flaunted his recurring flashes of brilliance. RMG team member and emcee Rashid mentioned to me two weeks prior that, “We didn’t book any sweet rappers.” I guess this is what he was talking about. It was about grit and raw expression.

Hailing from Bergville KZN, the taxi-driver-turned rapper spewed a flurry of punchlines which had the crowd in a frenzy throughout his set (which felt shorter than the 10 minutes allotted to each emcee if you ask me.)

Hosts for the day Leboywonda and Nadia Nakai held it down with good chemistry and entertaining artist intros in between performances. The Beatbox battles had the crowd riled up and hyped up while Gigi LaMayne and her dance crew started the highlight list for the event.

DJs Tha Cutt and Kenzhero didn’t disappoint, with flawless sets. DJ Zakes joins the list of spinmasters who got the crowd going buckwild.

As the Jozi skyline darkened and the venue filled up with more people trickling in every minute, the night owls were geared for more exciting acts billed to perform.

Maftown emcee Lection was electrifying on stage with a set that engaged the masses. Fellow Motswako wordsmith Cassper Nyovest obliterated previous crowd responses with heads chanting his name and screaming for an encore. The Beatbox challenge wrapped up with the judges making a very unpopular decision while the Emcee battles reminded everyone of the elements of hip hop.

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Kasi rap head honchos F-eezy and Siya Shezi did what they do best, mixing vernacular punchlines and metaphors with wit and humour. Oozing with charm and un easy, cool demeanour, Shezi proved his mettle as street rap king by blessing the crowd with bars on bars. Gingerbreadman took to the mic and the audience showed him love, while Ladies of the Mic, Miss Nthabi, Qba, Supa and Skyewanda gave a performance drenched in crazy metaphors and elegant lyricism.

The international act for the night, Jeru the Damaja, who’ll be celebrating 20 years since the release of his debut album on May 24th, celebrated Freedom Day with the youth. His set, which lasted just over half an hour, endeared the Brooklyn native to the thousands in attendance. A surprise appearance by City of Joburg Mayor Parks Tau drove the message of the relevance of the day home, with the Mayor urging youngsters to head to the polls on the 7th of May to cast their votes.

DJ Capitol and DJ Speedsta catered to the commercial hip hop crowd, dropping the expected club bangers on cue.

Adding a final stamp of approval to the Festival, Cap City’s ‘Hooligans on the Mic,’ The Anvils reunited on stage after Blaklez’s impressive set supported by PDotO. The original trio (yeah Mycbeth made a special appearance) had fans rhyming along to their songs and peppered the set with acapella flows (yes, N’veigh was guilty as charged) which had attendees’ faces grimacing and beaming all at once.

An all-round enjoyable day, Back To the City 2014 is one crazy, exciting, cheeky, flamboyant festival that successfully raises a middle finger to detractors of the hip hop culture. Organised by the Ritual Media Group, in partnership with sponsors such as Hype Magazine, New Age, Channel O and Yfm, with a growing audience yearon-year, the event can only go bigger and better.

By: Phumzile Twala

49

PURE ART

NEW AGE BASQUIAT OSCAR MURILLO USES HIS ART TO CREATE CROSSCULTURAL DIALOGUE. ONE OF CONTEMPORARY ART’S RISING STARS, MURILLO IS A NAME TO LOOK OUT FOR

ARTIST’S FOCUS

Born in Colombia in 1986, Oscar Murillo moved to London with his family as a child. The name Oscar Murillo may not be well known among general youth culture, but the name is fast gaining popularity among contemporary art circles. A graduate of London’s Royal College of Art, Murillo often works with video and participatory installation although his main medium is painting. Murillo, who has been commended for his raw work ethic has been called “the 21st century Basquiat” by fans.

From starting as a struggling artist during his student days, he’s now represented by David Zwirner, one of the most prestigious galleries in the world. His works are part of a popular trend whereby art buyers are investing in names they predict to be future stars of contemporary art. Murillo’s works were snapped up for up to $2000 during his student days while these days his art can fetch more that $400 000. This has obviously elevated his status to one of contemporary art’s rising stars. Despite this, Murillo isn’t completely comfortable with his celebrity status. “I’m just working and trying to tune out the rest,” he says.

His work often infuses his love for community, which stems from his cross cultural ties with London and Colombia, his country of birth. He has said, “My aim is to create a cross-cultural dialogue.” He’s also turned an art gallery into a yoga studio with people using his painting as mats. His work reflects what is fashionable in contemporary art- abstract and lively, contributing to his work becoming a status symbol.

The married father of one had his first solo exhibition in Los Angeles at The Mistake Room from January to April 2014. Speaking to Bomb Magazine, he mentioned that “Painting for me functions as a form of meditation.” He continued, “My studio is a cradle of dust and dirt, of pollution; I don’t tidy up at the end of each production process. It’s all very much on purpose; it’s a continuous process, a machine of which I’m the catalyst.”

Passionate about arts education, Murillo is currently collaborating with schools around the world in a project that involves covering students’ desks with canvases and asking children to draw on them, their creations eventually becoming part of a larger work.

Although trying to stay under the radar, Oscar Murillo is a name that seems set to leave a lasting legacy as one of this generation’s leading contemporary artists.

By: Phumzile Twala BARCODED MAGAZINE

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A S A L E C X E TO CER W AN O H EEL FR

E

S

RT

E XP

DESTINATION: BEHIND THE MIC

Working as a freelancer can be quite challenging. From lack of faith in your capabilities from loved ones, to competition at auditions, to clients who don’t pay on time, working as a freelancer has its ups and downs.

We got in touch with freelancing expert Gwen Watkins, who shared some expert tips.

Tips on how to get your foot in the door your service providers timeously, they are also usually small businesses.”

Forget the naysayers “You want to remember that many of those people who told you that you were giving up the security of a pay check, got retrenched or fired and that is far worse (been there, done that).”

Enjoy the perks “There are small hidden perks. I remember going to my son’s soccer match 20 years ago in the middle of the morning and being able to visit my dad-in-law in hospital during the week when he broke his hip – small happy memories that offset the late nights working and the stress of business.”

Make ‘Simply the Best’ your theme song.

“Self-confidence attracts clients - Forget the English idea of being understated and go with the American idea of utmost confidence in your abilities. When do you ever hear an American say, “Well, I am quite good at what I do.”

They openly state, “I am the best, the biggest, the most experienced, have the happiest customers etc.”

Walk away from bad clients.

“Bad clients are a physical, spiritual and emotional drain (like bad bosses) and, hard as it is to walk away from the money, you have to do it sometimes to save yourself.”

Be ruthless on collecting money.“Be ruthless on collecting money – clients that don’t pay are not clients, they are bad debt and no small business can afford them. Equally pay BARCODED MAGAZINE

The most important tip according to Gwen: ” So ‘Never give up, Never surrender’, to quote a movie that I had time to see.”

Gwen Watkins has been a news writer since 1981. In 2011 she piloted the ‘Parachute Programme,’ an entry-level PR programme for small to medium businesses (SMES). She also has extensive experience lecturing at tertiary level. As a seasoned writer, Gwen offers commissioned features or articles on a per word fee basis to magazines, newspapers and on-line media.

Radio is a great medium used for expression, with some legendary names created over the years. If you’re a young person with a passion for radio, here are some tips for getting into the industry from Darren Gilbert: Be Different: Stand out from everyone else. If you admire someone who is currently on radio, by all means, take what you like about them and use it in your own repertoire.

Volunteer: While the word ‘volunteer’ can conjure up thoughts of working for charity or doing something for nothing, when it comes to radio, it is a great way to get your foot in the door.

Get some training and make a demo: Whenever you apply for a job, you first make sure that you have the necessary qualifications and then you get some practical experience to place on your CV. That means you need to get some voice training (qualifications) and then put a demo tape together.

Visit

www.freelancers.co.za to read more about her services.

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BUILDING A BRAND DREAM TEAM SA’S REFILOE RAMOGASE ON WHAT IT TAKES

S

tarting a business is never easy. Starting one in the cut-throat industry of talent and event management is even trickier.

But coupled with passion, knowledge and dedication, carving a niche for yourself in this market is possible. Director of Dream Team SA, which has the likes of SAMA Award winners Khuli Chana, Ifani and Bouga Luv on their books, Refiloe Ramogase has a young chat with us to tell us about how it all comes together:

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

Tell us about why you’re so passionate about developing talent?

Always be working with a clear plan that has you thinking 3 years ahead of the curve at least.

Everybody is born with a defining life passion. Mine is of a nurturer and shaper of human potential. This is something I have done in every corporate role I have occupied even before we created our agency.

Build a best of breed team around you.

What drives you?

As cheesy as it sounds, the pursuit of ground breaking excellence. Of raising the bar higher than those who have preceded me and in so doing, leaving a legacy that will outlive me and inspire generations to come to be better and dream even bigger.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a business owner in South Africa?

Starting and successfully growing a business that was born at the height of the 2008/9 recession.

The then CEO of the Moyo Group, Jason, said to me that the measure of a man is not what he says yes to, but what he walks away from. I live by these words.

What are some of the most important steps to remember when building a brand?

Be very clear who your consumer is so you can be clear on how to reach and talk to them in a manner that works for them.

If you are building a personal brand, always ensure that the brand you are building has congruency to the person who the brand is being built around.

What’s next for Dream Team?

Growth of our consultancy and BTL/Experiential agency Deeper and more meaningful partnership with our current talent and brand partners A couple new exciting signings to be announced in the course of this year

In your opinion, are young creative individuals heading in the right direction, in terms of becoming more business savvy?

And then some! Watch this space...

The desire is certainly there for young creatives to build their SMME’s. Sadly the support is not where it should be in terms of access to funding, mentorship, etc. Despite all of this, the potential is incredible.

Refiloe Ramogase is the Director and one of the founders of Dream Team SA. He looks after the operations of the 3 different business units of: Brand Factory, Events Factory and Talent Management. He is passionate about developing talent and helping motivated individuals take their personal brands to new heights.

How much really goes into building a successful brand like Dream TeamSA? Passion of purpose coupled with a bloody minded focus.

You need to plan and run your race.

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5 PLACES

TO VISIT IN JOZI

Follow him @refiloer and @Dreamteamtalent on twitter.

By: Phumzile Twala

CREATIVE CHRONICLES

55

MARY FITZGERALD SQUARE WHERE: NEWTOWN JOHANNESBURG

MARY FITZGERALD SQUARE

The Square is named after Mary “Pickhandle” Fitzgerald, widely considered to be the first female trade unionist in Mzansi. It was named for Fitzgerald in 1939 as it was an often-used location for strikers’ meetings in the early 20th Century. A centrepiece of the Newtown Urban Renewal project, the square is a regular feature on the arts calendar, as a sought after venue. Events such as Live 8, Back to the City, Africa Day Concerts, Joy of Jazz have been held at this monumental venue.

MABONENG PRECINCT WHERE: 286 FOX STREET JOHANNESBURG “ Maboneng, meaning ‘Place of Light,’ is a privately developed urban neighbourhood on the east side of the Johannesburg CBD. A fully fledged thriving community, Maboneng is home to several independent retail, restaurants and entertainment venues as well as loft apartments, offices, hotel, a museum and creative factory spaces in a connected urban environment,” according to www.mabonengprecinct.com.

The precinct is home to some art galleries, music venues as well as theatres. The venues have played host to the Arts Alive Festival as well as STRCRD.

SWAY WHERE: 130, 11TH STREET BENMORE, SANDTON

courtesy of swaysandton.co.za

“Surround yourself with beautiful people and exceptional entertainment. Sway is Sandton’s night scene landmark.

Your style and demeanour will dictate your experience.” According to their website, the club hosts ladies over the age of 21 and gents over the age of 23 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Fridays and Sundays are reserved for Urban Hip Hop, RnB and House while Saturdays are dedicated to Commercial House and Hip Hop. Owner Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane (check out our Uncovered piece on him) has described it as, “The kind of place I’d want to party. It is comfortable and slick, the service is excellent, the music is great and the people love to look good. We’ve hosted some of the biggest local acts such as MiCasa, Dr Malinga and AKA. Kelly Rowland and international act DJ Drama have also graced us with their presence.”

LIVING ROOM WHERE: MABONENG PRECINCT, JOHANNESBURG “The Living Room is an exciting new venue growing on a rooftop in downtown Joburg, in the creative precinct, Maboneng. Living Room is a space intended to demonstrate the environment of the designs created, the effects of plants, nutritional food, community living and good vibes.” Visit the eatery which offers “protein and wheat alternatives for vegetarians and vegans. Freshly prepared dishes with home-made gourmet dips and relishes, superfruit juices and smoothies are made fresh while you wait.”

KLIPTOWN WHERE: SOUTH WEST OF JOHANNESBURG, NEAR DLAMINI, SOWETO The oldest residential district of Soweto, the area was named after the klipspruit (rocky stream) that runs nearby.

In June 1955, the area was the home of an unprecedented Congress of the People, organised by the AN, the South African Indian Congress, the South African Congress of Democrats and the Coloured Peoples’ Congress. The Congress saw the declaration and adoption of the Freedom Charter, which set out the aims and aspirations of the opponents of apartheid.

KLIPTOWN- KASI AND FALKO courtesy of graffitisouthafrica.com

In 2005, the area was developed under the urban renewal project and has had events such as the Soweto Fashion Week and Red Bull Beat Battle hosted there.

Recently, running alongside the festivities of the Red Bull Amaphiko academy, graffiti artists including Riot, Falko and Rasty painted various walls throughout the community.

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SUNDAY CHILLAS AT ARTS ON MAIN

A

rts On Main is based in downtown Jozi on 280 Main Street, Johannesburg. There is no age restriction- you can bring the whole family from a toddler to your grandparent and yes entrance is free. They’re open every Sunday from 10AM to 3PM. The moment I entered the venue, I was welcomed by food stands all over and tables with chair benches where you can sit after buying your food. The rooftop has ample space to chill too, just like outside the venue.

Less is more, except when you see a lot of skin especially from ladies. On this particular day I was met by a sea of ladies wearing mini dresses, shorts, miniskirts, with only a few wearing jeans. I would advise you to wear BARCODED MAGAZINE

OMG! The food there is just too amazing. If you’re a food lover just like me and you’re always willing to try out something new- this is your nirvana. They sell food from different countries, so you can expect food from: Thailand, India, Ethiopia, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, South Africa, Italy etc…. Did I tell you guys how delicious their food is? It’s fresh and affordable; they have biltong... chocolate...My favourite part after food is dessert: they have malva pudding, cup-cakes, chocolate cake, carrot cake, waffles, and red velvet cake.

your flat shoes or sneakers.

I noticed there were no security guards in the place, which troubles me. Surely you can’t have a place full of people in downtown Jozi and not hire security to look out for those people?

Upstairs On the market they sell vintage clothes, African clothes, sunglasses, accessories, bags and shoes. These clothes are not something you can find in an ordinary shop, they’re unique.

When I got there around 10:30 AM the parking was already full. They have a small parking lot which makes people struggle to find parking and their parking does not have car guards. Again, it’s in town-I have issues with this- you can’t leave your car unattended because it’s not safe. They really need to do something about the parking and hiring car guards.

When the market is closed you can go chill on the roof top and dance to Salsa music or take a stroll down the road. There are more restaurants like: Pata pata, Ozlo, Chalkboard, Bioscope, Blackanese sushi bar and 12Decades hotel.

The most happening place after the market is The Living room, (no under 18’s allowed). They play mostly hip hop and pop music and they usually have a DJ dropping

the hottest hits. On the downside, sometimes they don’t sell alcohol to anyone and there is no DJ so the vibe is literally dead and they close at 9PM on Sundays.

I had a wonderful time there I suggest that you take some time out and try out something new and exciting, try out food you haven’t eaten before and meet a lots of different people.

GO OUT, LIVE A LITTLE AND EXPERIENCE NEW PLACES!!!

By: Namile Mkhize (@NAMILEMKHIZE) 59

OPPORTUNITIES

GROUND UP

BETTER LIVING CHALLENGE

T

he Better Living Challenge is a call to designers and innovators; manufacturers and retailers; students and professionals; self-taught designers and tradesmen; architects and engineers to develop home improvement solutions that support a better quality of life for all.

The 3 categories of the challenge are: Structural Home; Comfortable Home; Connected Home.

What it’s about: Better Solutions and increased choice for users.

Better designed solutions with increased consumer appeal.

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ABSOLUT

TRANSFORMATION OF DOWNTOWN JOZI

Absolut Vodka has always been a brand on the pulse of urban culture and trends. Under the ethos of their latest campaign, called ‘Transform Today’ they have created an opportunity for young creative minds from various disciplines to connect and collaborate.

Better value for money and greater accessibility.

Better resource efficiency and lower daily costs Better understanding of users’ needs.

Requirements of the challenge are that the solutions must be environmentally friendly and they must be affordable.

3 winners are set to win a package of support services valued at R500 000 to commercialise their innovative and affordable home improvement solution.

Submissions will be accepted until the end of May with the second codesign workshop taking place during this month as well. The selection process will be between June 1st and 31st of July, where finalists will be

invited to exhibit at the showcase.

The final phase of the initiative will be a public showcase- an experiential site of the best solutions for affordable, innovative and green home-improvement.

The Better Living Challenge is endorsed by World Design Capital as an official project in the 2014 calendar.

For more details about submission, visit www.betterlivingchallenge.co.za

‘The Residence’ is an initiative created with the urban creative millennial generation in mind. For two weeks in the month of May a group of 5 artists will be staying in the Maboneng Precinct and will be working together to transform areas of the Joburg CBD. We had a chat with NATIVE VML’s Executive Creative Director: Design, Adam Whitehouse, who gave more insight into how the concept came about: On why the Jozi CBD was chosen for transformation We got a brief from our client Absolut about transformation. They have a global campaign they’re running called ‘transform today.’ Absolut as a brand is aligned with creative individuals and supports artists.

They are always using interesting, creative ways to communicate messages to consumers. So, looking at the Jozi CBD, it’s been undergoing a lot of revitalization already and there’s an amazing creative culture in the city. Places like Juta street, Newtown and Maboneng have great creative energy to them, but there are places in surrounding areas which are quite derelict. So we’ll be using the Maboneng Precinct as a ground zero base and then have the artists go out and find areas to transform.

On what makes this residence programme in particular stand out from other programmes within the arts Honestly, a lot of visual artists create beautiful pieces of art; which is great to look at, but it isn’t really changing

lives. So what we want is for the artists to create functional pieces of art, whether that’s a recreational space or installation arts. We have an industrial designer taking part, so essentially it’s about inspiring the neighbourhood. Transformation is the key phrase and we haven’t limited the artists in any way. They are free to create whatever they want to create.

On whether young creatives can look forward to more editions of the programme in future.

There is intent to make it an annual event. It does form part of Absolut’s communication strategy, it’s marketing for them, but hopefully it will grow. In terms of Maboneng, it’s a convenient area for artists. Maybe this year’s participants can be alumni and mentor future residents.

The Residence is a social experiment and has attracted a lot of interest from artists.

The brand has been working hard at pushing their ‘Transform Today’ campaign, having featured installations in 20 top clubs in Mzansi as a teaser to two exclusive Absolut BlackBox exhibition parties. They also recently released their new limited edition unique pack design celebrating 20 years of democracy. Absolut Brand Manager Shirley Mabiletja said, ”We hope that by commemorating the significant milestone of our beautiful country that we will further inspire the youth to create the future- their future and not someone else’s version of it.

The ultimate aim of the global campaign is to connect with the creative spirit in us all and to inspire artistic transformation around the world.”

Keep visiting www.barcodedmag.co.za for regular updates on “The Residence.”

By: Phumzile Twala

61

STORMFEST TO

INVADE MUSIC SCENE

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

THAT MAKE SENSE

T

he inaugural StormFest will be taking place on the 24th of May 2014 at Linksfield Primary School in Johannesburg. The organisers aim to focus on giving back to schools in local areas. The first event will feature premium names including Mean Mr Mustard, Saving Silence, Brent Harris and the Jam, Blackbyrd and DJ Vin Deysel.

Founded by Robby Harrison and Eugene Dippenaar, StormFest can be described as the best of a combination of passion for music and people. The Festival is set to become one of the country’s premiere events.

What makes this event unique is its focus on social responsibility. It will be hosted 8 times a year from Cape Town to Johannesburg with various bands performing at every festival. Storm Fest SA will be donating funds to schools within the area of where the events are held. This will take the form of bursaries offered to top performing students and encouragement for students through music events, workshops and festivals.

The inaugural event has been met with great anticipation from some of the music industry’s finest names.

EXCEEDING.BRAND.EXCELLENCE

Mean Mr Mustard has released hit songs such as “Angel” and “Only When it Rains.” Band member Garth Potterton has said, “Mustard has built a strong brand and that is what it’s about. For corporate, concerts and a party, people think of us, as the brand is strong.” Attendees should have a lot to look forward to, as Potterton has explained, “We stand out. We don’t sound like a normal band, we sound different. All the modern songs sound like the original versions.”

All girl group- SAMA nominated Blackbyrd have enjoyed great success following the release of their hit single “All of Me” and have shared the stage with the likes of Jamiroquai, Mike and the Mechanics and Patrizio. They have plans to tour with Watershed this year.

Keep visiting www.barcodedmag.co.za to catch more updates about the Festival and interviews. Visit www. stormfestsa.co.za for more info.

By: Phumzile Twala

MUSIC FESTIVAL TO HELP FUND BURSARIES FOR SCHOLARS VISIT www.barcodedmag.co.za to stand a chance to win 1 of 20 VIP tickets! www.stormfestsa.co.za

Tailor made IT SOLUTIONS & GRAPHIC DESIGN services to fit your business 011 486- 9488

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EXCEEDING.BRAND.EXCELLENCE

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