THE PROJECT:
In 2013 I launched my EP "Nalithemba". It has been two years since that project, and since I took the leap and fully immersed myself in music as a full time singer/songwriter. The journey has been incredible, and so much growth has come since and from that EP, that I feel the time is right to share with you a full-length studio offering. I invite you to be a part of Zaneliza: How The Water Moves.
WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE:
The making of this album is almost complete and the music exists! Musicians, who are also dear friends of mine, joined me in my home town from different parts of the country to record the bulk of the album at the Miriam Makeba Performing Arts Centre (ECAVC), a place which has shown me much support and is very close to my heart. In December 2014, I began the recording process with a session at Peter Aurets studio. Three months later, we now have one more Joburg session left in order to add the last layer of flute, harp and cello. This campaign is mainly to bring to fruition what has been created, and to ensure great post- production takes place to honour the creativity that has already been shown.
I have had the pleasure of working with a wonderful production team consting of Nduduzo Makhathini (Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year for Music 2015) and Cobus Van Dyk, who co-produced my EP "Nal'ithemba" with me. The amazing Gavan Eckhart of Soulfire studios will be mixing and mastering this album. He has worked with artists like Ray Phiri, Miriam Makeba, Lady Smith Black Mambazo, Marcus Wyatt, Freshly Ground and Bongeziwe Mabandla, to name a few, and has had projects that he has worked on be nominated for SAMAS and Grammies. This project is in good hands.
This is a BIG vision, and big visions require big funding. Recording an album is expensive. I have spent just over three beautiful years sharing my music and developing an audience for my sound. It seems that you are here, listening and responding, so I thought I would ask YOU to help me fund this dream which we have planned to launch on 25 September 2015.
WHAT STILL NEEDS TO HAPPEN
All money raised will go towards:
* Mixing and Mastering
* Print and Packaging of albums
* Delivery of Albums and Art
* Marketing and PR support
* Most importantly paying the rest of the session fees
* Exhibition and Launch
THE MUSIC
The deluxe version of this album was recorded with emphasis on capturing the energy of multiple musicians in one room. We were more interested in the organic movement and development of the music than the perfect take. I have approached this album as a piece of art, allowing room for imperfection to ultimately add to the feel of the music and fearlessly and unapologetically capture my 'Now' sound. It is really a snapshot in time.
We were not bound by any conventional idea of what an album should sound like and instead approached it thematically as the unfolding of sonic art.The songs are vessels for messages and motifs, and the chords and melodies are the colours and textures. The sound is both old and new, symphonic and 'folky', soulful and simple, African and universal.
I hope everyone can find their own unique ripple through it. This deluxe album is only available to the people that pre-order now and help finance the existence of this album. You are my Golden circle. I will be releasing a skinnier version of the album later in the year.
THE DEAL
Take a look at some examples of the beautiful offerings we have for you, in return for your contribution to bringing this vision to life. These artists are not short of bravery, sensitivity and honesty in the least. I have been
moved by their work and they have spoken such kind encouragement into me at different times
when I really needed some perspective and staying power. More importantly I believe there is
synergy between our work and some space to play between the visual and the audio planes.
One Shushu Day Handmade Dream Journals in assorted colours
Kate Arthur (CPT) painting
Original Watercolour on Canvas by Kate Arthur
Kate wants to engage you. She makes miniature works, usually portraits. Her references are usually taken from public spaces like social media. Allow her to stalk you and surprise you with an image of yourself. She has been part of several successful shows in Cape Town this year, including 'THAT ART FAIR' quite recently. She was also one of the first visual artist to have a city soiree event. Look out for her work in and around Cape Town.
Emalie Bingham (CPT) mixed media
Original Oil on Canvas by Emalie Bingham
Emalie is an Artist living and working in Cape Town, South Africa. She will be reacting- to songs, to feeling, to sound, a word, a theme - anything triggered by the album and the making thereof, or conversation about and around it. A most intuitive worker whose work will be in all stages of this project. She made these three works to a song called 'Catalyst' on the project. They are each available for $150.
Aiah Fodo (JHB) digital art
.Original Digitial Painting by Aiah Fodo
Aiah's main desire is to capture colour and experiment with varied forms of patterning and shading on the human facial matrix. Her work is, within itself, an expression of human facial appreciation. She is member of Pretoria's Capital Arts Revolution and she is also contributing to the album art and her work will also be featured in the exhibition. These three works are available to anyone who contributes $150 to the album.
Laduma Ngxokolo (Maxhosa by Laduma)
Laduma saw me in perfoming at the Opera house in PE and gravitated towards one of my songs called 'Imfama Ziyabona'. He said: " When you shoot that video, I want you to be wearing my clothes". Laduma Ngxokolo is a South African textile and knitwear designer, best known for his men's knitwear range inspired by traditional Xhosa beadwork, who beat out 10 other African designers to win the inaugural Vogue Scouting for Africa prize and will get a chance to present his designs at the international showcase of Palazzo Morando in Milan, Italy, in September and at the Africa International Fashion Week in Lagos, Nigeria in December.
He is offering one of his signature jerseys to anyone who pledges $250 towards my project.
Andile Dyalvane (IMISO Ceramics)
Andile Dyalvane is the founder of Imiso Ceramics. He is a well traveled designer who prides himself in being South African, and presents that pride through his work at every opportunity. Clay gives him the ability to create something beautiful, valuable and usable with four elements of life: earth, water, and fire. He is creating two brand new pieces inspired and guided by two songs on the project, Golden and Selah. One of the works will be auctioned on the evening of the Zaneliza Launch Event, with another available to you as a perk for $400.
OTHER ARTISTS CONTRIBUTING TO
THIS PROJECT
INVOLVED MUSICALLY:
-
Nduduzo Makhathini (EL/ JB) Producer
-
Cobus
Van Dyk (EL) Producer
-
Daniel Hutchinson (JHB)
Orchestration | piano
-
Germaine
Gamiet (EL) keys
| vocals
-
David
Manchip (EL) electric bass
-
Asher Gamedze (CPT)
drums
-
Tim Hutchinson (Zithulele) saxophone | guitar
-
Ella
Roselt (CPT) violin, ukulele | vocals
-
Sisa
Sopazi (EL) drums
-
Thembinkosi
Mavimbela (JHB) upright bass
-
Gontse Makhene (JHB)
percussion
- Ilke Alexandra (JHB) flutes
- Tsepo Pooe (JHB) Cello
- Sophie Ribstein ( JHB) Harp
-
Vuyo Manyike (JHB)
electric bass
-
Xolani Faku
(PE) trumpet, |
vocals
-
Joel
Karabo Elliot (SA|
USA) trombone, guitar, vocals
-
Cameron Ward
(JHB) guitars
-
Nduduzo Makhathini (EL|
JHB) piano | keyboards
-
Feat
Umle sounds (PE)
vocals | collabo
- East London mixed choir
-
Keiskamma
music academy (HAMBURG SA) recorders
-
Msaki (EL) Vocals, Guitars
INVOLVED VISUALLY:
There is so much ugliness in the world and beauty is justice! We need to see beautiful, meaningful art. More than we think. We need it to poke us and stare us down and change the atmosphere in the spaces we occupy. I have long been searching for a meaningful and organic space between my visual and audio world. Learning to allow songs to begin as paintings and end up as songs: ideas which fail as a piece of street art, but thrive as a digital experiment. The song inspired by a knitted shawl, a pot that takes shape to the rhythm of an udu drum. A piano solo dancing on the cusp of a single word. What a magical world! Could it be that we are all connected and drinking deep from the same well?
The work of these artists will also be featured in the Zaneliza Exhibition | Launch.
-
Tseliso Monaheng (JHB) videography |
photography
-
Francios Knoetze (CPT) sculpture |
digital art
- Khanyisa Puwani (EL)
clothing design
-
Bunti Qina (EL) painting
-
Ronny Asepang Walter Sisulu University Fashion Students (EL) clothing design
-
Tabiso
Njamela (EL)
graphics | illustration
-
Breeze Yoko (JHB)
videography
-
Hayden
Plath (JHB) single video
-
Gabriel
Masango (DBN) dance
-
Ababhemu Collective (DBN) various
-
Asanda Mvana (EL) curator | mixed media
"I dream about being part of an artist community that avails resources, time and creativity to each other, to ensure that people can put work out when the time has come for them to share. Your support affords us the freedom to express in unhindered ways, and for artists to navigate their careers organically, in healthy creative rhythms - what a gift to be able to give to each other! Whatever you do for me on this project, I ask that you also please do it again for another."
- Msaki