It’s been a long time coming. The Koma Road Block Sessions are here and this time in the form of
listening sessions – in order to give the artist concerned a different kind of
ear. This is where we fully pay attention to artist in a broader way than
performance. Read more here about how…
The Koma Road Block Sessions (#KRB_Sessions), in the form a listening session (#ListeningSession) is a session
whereby an artist who has music, art or
craft that is either a complete or large enough body of work gets a chance to
be listened to. This is done to an audience of different kinds of people in
attendance. The sessions also give the artist in question a chance to speak
about their work while the audience listens and ask questions. The reason for
the existence of such an idea is due to realizing that the stage, stereo, radio,
television, print alone is not a perfect reflection of the artist. Sometimes
what reaches everybody are mere pieces of us. We hardly ever get to speak for
ourselves. This then gave birth to the idea of a listening session, to
supplement the artists’ stage presence with a more connected interaction.
It has come to our attention that the most tangible outlet
for artists is through their art. They are hardly listened to on a human level
– except mostly amongst themselves. This is a platform where the artist can
share in their struggles to create and eventually present their art, while still
having to face the many different challenges that come with producing work. The
artist is in a state of rapid transformation, with very little time to deal
with ordinary everyday life. The sessions come
in as that momentary breather that puts one through a sort of
self-reflective journey as well.
While having the artist share their stor(ies)y, the sessions
will be bringing in a cross-pollination environment where they share in their
methods of conception and production to a majority of an inexperienced
audience.
This installment will be headlined by a great musician and
human being in general,
Tshele Tsoerenyane.
He is an awesome guitarist who was born in Phiri, Soweto. He say’s to have been
drawn to the audiovisual arts during his pre-teen years. “
Ntate Tshele” as he is popularly known by the Sowetan music
community plays guitars, a little piano, a little bass and synthesizers. He taught himself some music theory and can
read & write a little staff notation. The type of music he plays is
Afro-Funk, Afro-pop, a little Hip Hop, seSesotho compositions all with a touch
of jazz. “My dad played the guitar and my mom loved to sing from dawn until
dusk.” – he says. “My greatest influences have been Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley,
Harry Belafonte, Big Joe Turner, Louis Satchmo Armstrong and the likes” – he
adds. He says he is currently inventing a genre and doesn’t know what to name
it. He composes and records his own songs from his studio at home. Ntate Tshele
only started to record his music in 2014 and is busy with what is to be his
official release of music. We will have a listen to his body of work and get to
hear his story about his journey through it.
We then go into something very rare, a podcast known as Alpha Ohms. This episode is a feature
with Phaks ManIs. This is a broad
interview that stretches from his beat-making process to the message of the
music. He takes us on a journey through sound and rare tunes produces by a magical
hand in sampling that is eons beyond his time. This is something one really has
to hear. Whether as a beat-maker, audiofile, music-lover or just you, it is
music that is able to communicate with everyone. Let him take you on a journey
through the music. He takes us on a journey through the tape known as “Beats Cuts & Band Ages.” Through a Jazz/Hip Hop experience which is a
guaranteed mind-blowing experience.
Our live acts for the day feature the amazing Boitomelo “Roccotole” Sithole. Founder
of 1Shoe10Miles, a non genre classed
music project, Rocco is a writer, vocalist, chef and designer. She is art
encapsulated in body, guided by her spirituality and her musical eccentricity –
which she believes is spiritual freedom. Her band consists of Neno Blues on
backing vocals, Kgorogile on drums, Monwabisi on guitars and Curtis on bass. “It all started in a
church choir when she was told to sing Jan but received the same reference. “I
went back and forth trying to imitate existing voices until I discovered my own
sound in October 2017.” – says Rocco. Rocco has performed at the Sawubona Music Jam, Soweto Arts & Craft
Fair, Poetic Thursdays, A Black Boys Dream (AGOG Gallery), Serial Chillas and
Inside Out. Look out look out…
Terrence Africa
will be holding down the boards for us for the day with a Dj set. He is quite
an experienced young individual from Chiawelo. He is firstly a beat-maker and
then a dj – who says he started making beats purely out of the love for that
fat boom bap authentic sound of Hip Hop sound. I use that true school sound to
bring balance back into the game. Inspired first by Madlib, Terrence also has been influenced by 9th Wonder, Phaks Manis, Page, Blaq Faith – just to name
a few of his teachers. He would like to one day work with the Thievery
Corporation on production and would like to work with the emcee known as DiceMac. Look out for one of Terrence
great fat sound sets.
Also on the live performance sets, look out for an EAV presentation. As we progress with
the activity, we will be having Incognito
TheLocks Myth as our Tai-Chi instructor. Inco, more popularly known for his
use of words to create an extraordinary dialect which guides his oratory
through Hip Hop, Poetry, theatre and the literary arts in general. Inco is a
word sage and a very conscious meditator, for this occasion though, he will be
giving us some techniques in calmness of the mind. This one is one to take part
in if you would like to connect with other inward vibes.
A
face-painter will be present to do artwork on faces. Her name is Tshepi Mokgobi. She hails from
Killarney and is part of the Funda Community College graphics team. Tshepi has
done an extensive amount of graphic work for the Funda Community College and
her can be seen on the College’s Facebook page.
Apart from
exhibiting their art, Nceba Bhengu, Simangaliso Sibiya and Jonathan Stevovo
will be doing live painting on the showcase during the day – themed by the
feeling of the day. These are also artists from Funda Centre. Simangaliso
Sibiya is the head of co-operative organization that runs from Funda Community
College called Mollo Wa Ditshomo
that has done super amazing work through
the years. It is. He has represented South Africa in the Netherlands through a
project known as Decolonial Futures.
Nceba Bhengu
is a Bic Competition finalist. He hails from KwaZulu Natal in the rural acres
of KwaSayimane. He is a Staedtler Bronze Ambassador, a live painter for the
Nomalanga Theatre production, has done a group exhibition with Conte Magazine,
he did a live painting during the Keorapetse “Bra Willie” Kgositsile Tribute at
Funda Centre and was amongst the first to perform a live painting at the Hector
Peterson Memorial Museum.
Jonathan Stevovo is also a Funda
student from Protea Centre. He is a first year student at Funda who is getting
exposure through the College and the group projects. Also a Nomalanga
production live painter, “Johnny” has had a fair share of stage presence and
exhibition exposure.
We kindly
and humbly invite you to our humble beginnings, on board a journey many
creative paradigm shifts. We are of the philosophy that everything in is a
state of constant change and that is how we approach everything. May we do justice
in sharing this mentality to all whom we come across.
Our
Instagram handle is emagineaudiovisual.
Written by and spun by: Dumisani Radebe
