The 2nd annual Mzansi Kwaito & House Music Awards will again be happening in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa this year. The #MKHMA team promised to keep this inaugural event in Soweto where ‘Kwaito Music’ was born.
Last year’s event was held at Walter Sisulu Square and the theme was simply ‘All Stars & Glamour’ and it was great to see supporters coming to celebrate all artists who have molded proudly South African music over the years.
The CEO and the Founder of #MKHMA Perfecta Khumalo says, ‘’this year’s awards are going to be bigger and better. We have started with the preparations and strongly believe in perfection. We are going to once more stick to our theme which is ‘’All Stars & Glamour’’. This is going to be exciting and our marketing and PR strategy has improved. We are here to prove that kwaito music is not dead and kwaito music is born again. We are here to motivate the legends, let them start releasing new kwaito albums, we not talking about single albums but the whole 12 tracks album. Currently the House artists are doing well hence we want the kwaito artists to do the same, we want to balance the equation’’. Perfecta said.
The #MKHMA are to honour the upcoming and legends who have been flying the flag high when it comes to Kwaito and House Music. This year’s event will be hosted on the 25th November 2017 at Walter Sisulu Square in Soweto. This year’s ceremony is packed with 17 categories. All categories will be voted by the public through SMS line which will charge R1, 50 per SMS, they will decide who the best is and the winners will walk away with the unique award/trophy worth R5000.
Kwaito Music Categories Include:
Best Kwaito Male Artist
Best Kwaito Female artist
Best Kwaito DJ
Best New Kwaito artist
Best Kwaito Single Album
Best New age Kwaito song
Best Kwaito song of the 90’s
Best Kwaito Group
Best Mapansula Dance Group
House Music Categories Include:
Best Male House Music Artist
Best Female House Music Artist
Best House Music DJ
Best New House Music Artist
Best House Music Single Album
Categories Which Cut Across Kwaito & House Music
Best Radio station that plays Kwaito & House
Best Collaboration
Most voted song
With roots reaching back to it’s spiritual home of Seshego, a small township in Polokwane, South Africa. Katlego Ngoepe better known as “Katlego Swizz” has emerged as something of a polymath of the deep, driving electronic afro aesthetic in South African underground house music scene. ‘On The Spot Light’ we have ‘Katlego Swizz, Surreal Sounds head honcho’ and a man with passion for developing musicians. Welcome to it…
Sho!Mag: Thank you for taking some time out of your busy schedule to have a talk with us. Can you tell us who is Katlego Swizz and where is he from?
Katlego Swizz: Well it’s my pleasure. I’m born & raised in Polokwane, at a small township called “Seshego” ko Zone 4.
Sho!Mag: For you where does the love of Music come from especially House Music? How did your journey start and what drew you to house music?
Katlego Swizz: J Ok it all started back in the late 90s where growing up was something else, there was a guy by the name of William, and we used to call him “Willy Pere (Horse)’’, he used to be our fix in regards to new music around our block as ‘youngings’ growing up. Every graduation party, 21st Birthday Shandis, he was our fix guy. Then around 1998 ‘Dj Fresh’ released his ‘House Flava 1’, and I must say that record caught my attention. I was like: “What the hell is this? What do they call this type of music” ..
Then, around the year 2000 ‘Iggy Smallz’ dropped the ever so amazing album/compilation “Another Late Nite Sensation by Solantis Spice” (R.I.P) then that really changed my life. All 13 tracks spoke to me in a crazy way, which they still do even today. I started having this illusion of knowing the main people behind this recordings/music to a point where I used to know the track I.Ds off by heart even with the labels that released this music. Then as time went by, around 2003/4, there was a brother who inspired the thought in me of actually becoming more involved in this deejaying thing, his name is ‘DJ Beef Madcows’, also from here in Polokwane, literally not far from my house. In 2009, ‘Problem Child’ a.k.a ‘Ten83’ taught me how to Deejay, and gave me information about all the relevant fundamental tools I may need to be a pro deejay that I am today.
Sho!Mag: For the benefit of someone out there who might not be know you. What would you say is your role in House Music? Are you a Music Producer or A Deejay or just someone who happened to fall in love with the sound of House Music?
ANS: I’m a label manager by day for Surreal, and a deejay. I’ve started tapping into composing my own music which I’m loving the journey and challenge, I have a track which I produced and it actually took me a period of 6-8 months to complete from actually creating it, mixing it, mastering and even creating a dub version for it. I really take my time on the production side, I don’t want to rush into it because I know how much of a precious thing it is to me.
After having a massive break-out back up from SA House Music maestro, Black Coffee. Zano took over the airwaves and dancefloors around the country and beyond our borders with his single “Hello” in 2008. This was the beginning of an amazing journey for Zano who is a singer, songwriter, music producer, and Creative Director at Klean Kut Kreatives. This week ‘On The Spot Light’, we have a ‘one on one’ with the massively talented ‘Zano’ just to find out what he has been up to. This is our artist ‘On The Spot’ and we welcome you to it…
Sho!Mag: Thank you for taking time out to talk to us. The first question which jumps into mind at the mention of that name ‘Zano’ for me is, what is Zano’s real name and where is he from?
Zano: My real name is Thokozani Nzima all the way from eMbalenhle in the Mpumalanga Province. I was given the name Zano by the late Lebo Mathosa and Shota who I was signed to at that time.
Sho!Mag: For the benefit of those who not familiar with ‘Zano’. What do you do in the music industry? Are you a music producer, deejay or a vocalist and why did you choose to that?
Zano: I’m a singer, songwriter, and music producer who happens to also sing J. My passion is in more behind the scenes work although obviously that took more centre stage. I don’t think I chose these music fields, ‘I honestly think music chose me’. This is why I’ve always taken music as a calling.’Am only a messenger’.
It is with great pleasure this week that we introduce to you ‘Jackie Queens’ on the Sho!Mag ‘Spot Light’. As usual we have our weekly ‘low-down’ and for the past few weeks we noticed Deejays got all the ‘Spot Light’. This week we switch things up and bring to you ‘Jacke Queens’. Fresh with a banging single titled ‘Mwanangu’ and also a collaborative ‘EP’ titled ‘Women Of House’ . Also nominated in the ‘Best Female Vocalist Of The Year Category’ of the ‘Dance Music Awards South Africa’ to be held later this year. Ladies and Gentlemen, she goes by the name ‘Jackie Queens’ and we welcome you to it…
Sho!Mag: Before everything goes down, let us thank you for taking some time out of your busy schedule for this ‘one on one’. A lot of us might be wondering. Who is Jackie Queens and where is she from?
Jackie Queens: I am a yummy mummy of one gorgeous boy, singer, songwriter and serial collaborator. Born in Zimbabwe, now honorary daughter of South Africa!
Sho!Mag: How did it all start for ‘Jackie Queens’? By that I mean how did you get into the music industry? Was it something you always wanted to do and are you from a musical family?
Jackie Queens: I used to sing a lot growing up but it was never something I thought to pursue until my mid twenties. It started out, as most things do with me, chasing something I’ve always wanted to do. Only in the past year or so have I decided to take it more seriously in terms of thinking about it as a career. I wouldn’t say I’m from what is traditionally known as a musical family, but I can say we have the inclination.
Sho!Mag: ‘Jackie Queens’, what is it that you do in the music industry? Are you a singer, music producer or a deejay?
Jackie Queens: I sing, write and executive produce passion projects centred on women in music.
This week we have the ‘Deeper Shades Of House’ #DSOH as our ‘Podcast Of The Week’. Deeper Shades Of House (DSOH), is a weekly two hour Deep House radio program which is broadcasted by over over 30 Fm, internet, and satellite radio stations across the globe. This show is hosted by none other than the legendary Lars Behrenroth, who in his own right needs no introduction within the ‘Deep House Music Scene’. ‘Deeper Shades Of House’ is also available in deepershades.net as a stream, podcast, and download for past and present shows.
What makes ‘Deeper Shades Of House’ special? Well, this podcast only showcases nothing but the best when it comes to Deep House Music. The first hour of every weekly show is compiled and presented by Lars Behrenroth, within this hour one can expect to be introduced to brand new music, fused with carefully selected tracks you might not have listened to in a while. Since this is a two hour show, the second hour is dedicated to a guest mix. This section of the show is presented by a featured Dj who is selected from anywhere in the world and can either be a known or an unknown Dj.
One of Lars Behrenroth’s focus is ‘to present music and mixes by anyone whose passion allows them to create quality, whether they’ve been in the business for decades or just started yesterday, whether they’re household names or no one has ever heard of them’.
Past guest Djs within the show include ‘Osunlade, Black Coffee, Abicah Soul, Ben Watt, Jimpster, Jus Ed, Kuniyuki Takahashi, Rocco, Soul Clap, Fred Everything, Charles Webster and many more.’
Deep Shades Of House Facts
Since 2006 the podcast has been downloaded over 6,5 million times.
In the last 15 years, over 585 shows have been aired almost every week.
In 2011 and 2013, out of seven shows, Deeper Shades Of House was the only Deep House radio show nominated for a Best Podcast International Dance Music Award (IDMA).
Source: Deeper Shades Of House
Listen To The Show: Deeper Shades Of House
Get In Touch With Deeper Shades Of House
Nomination stage of the Dance Music Awards South Africa 2017 #DMASA have officially been closed. The Top 5 Nominees within the 20 Categories of the #DMASA have been announced and it is up to us the public to now place our votes for the best. Voting for the #DMASA officially opens on the 7th of September and closes on the 4th of October. Just as we did for the Nomination Stage, voting will be done through the #DMASA website www.dmasa.co.za. #DMASA winners will be announced on the 5th of October. Come on ‘House Music Nation’, let us have our say by voting for the best. #DMASA
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