SEPTEMBER 2017 · NO. 7 PERFECTING THE ART OF REINVENTION THANDISWA MAZWAI TAMARA DEY BRIDGING THE GAP 10 24 32 reclaims her spot in the talks about her with legend Letta Mbuli music industry musical journey 1 Contents Meet the CEO JOHANNESBURG CONTACT US CONTACT US 6 Meet the CEO (HEAD OFFICE) : +27(0) 21 410 9974 : (015) 812 0081 20 De Korte Sreet, : [email protected] : [email protected] 8 The passing of Paul Ross marks the Braamfontein, 2001, passing of an era Duncan breathes New life South Africa DURBAN RUSTENBURG The Playhouse Company 214 Beyers Naude Drive 10 Thandiswa Mazwai reclaims her into THE OLD SCHOOL POSTAL 29 Anton Lembede St Rustenburg spot in the music industry 6 KWAITO SOUND P.O. Box 31609, Durban North West Braamfontein, 4001 0299 12 DALRO / Theatricals turns 50 Johannesburg, CONTACT US CONTACT US 14 Duncan breathes new life to the old South Africa, : (031) 369 9536 : (014) 523 3732 school Kwaito sound18 Entries 2017 : [email protected] : [email protected] CONTACT US 16 The law regarding sampling : +27 11 712 8000 EAST LONDON NELSPRUIT and cover versions : +27 (0) 86 674 4391 2 Buffalo Street Regus Building East London Corner Ferreira and Van Der Merwe Street 18 Multi-talented Musos : [email protected] 14Multi-talented 5200 Nelspruit musos: 1200 20 Zoe Modiga – A star in making PORT ELIZABETH CONTACT US Fairview Office Park : 043 704 7542 Contact us 22 Dispelling Myths around DJ 3rd Floor : [email protected] +27 13 754 7814 Licensing Ring Road [email protected] Greenacres 24 Kwaito diva, Tamara Dey talks about 6045 THOHOYANDOU WITBANK her musical journey CONTACT US Jerice’s Palace : (041) 399 9615 Post Office Street 10 Corridor Crescent 26 CEO Roundtable Thohoyandou Smokey Mountain Office Park : (041) 503 7520 28 DJs performing with : [email protected] 0950 Ben Fleur Extension 1 A star in the Emalahleni instrumentalists 18 making CONTACT US CAPE TOWN : (015) 962 6345 CONTACT US 30 Exploring synchronisation Artscape : [email protected] +27 13 656 0713 opportunities and licensing D.F. Malan St [email protected] Foreshore GIYANI 32 Bridging the gap with Cape Town Multipurpose Centre legend Letta Mbuli 8001 Giyani 34 We want more of Timo ODV 20 36 African music eas the biggest We want more of Credits winner as two new kings of... Editor in Chief: Tiyani Maluleke Timo ODV 40 Catching up with the SAMRO Content Writers: Thando Mketsu, Andile Ndlovu, Christina Kennedy Foundation’s 2016 Overseas Project Supervisor: Phash Ratshilumela Scholarships winners Guest Contributors: Jonathan Shaw Design and layout: Lattitude Group @SAMROSouthAfrica @SAMROMusic @samromusic www.samro.org.za 2 34 3 EDITOR’S NOTEelcome to another to fellow creative genius Caiphus Linda Sikhakane, have been up to jam-packed edition Semenya – and is still weaving since clinching one of the country’s of SAMRO Notes! creative alchemy. We were fortunate most prestigious music awards for We hope you enjoy to have had an audience with instrumentalists. A lso on our radar in tuckingW into this magazine tailored this doyenne, and we also profile SAMRO Notes is popular hip-hop artist to entertain and inspire you, our Thandiswa Mazwai, who has released Duncan, who speaks about the ethics hard-working members, and also to a ‘songbook’ album paying homage and legalities of sampling, and we also MUSIC celebrate the vibrancy of the industry to our music legends – including take a look at some bubbling-under we work in. One thing is becoming Mbulu.SAMRO Notes also chats to musicians who we’d love to hear more CREATORS abundantly clear, in today’s ever- the ever-glamorous Tamara Dey, who from – including rising house music changing music industry: you need was dubbed “the first lady of kwaito” star Timo ODV.There’s much more to ARE THE to be a chameleon to thrive. It’s when she burst onto the scene. She’s dip into and enjoy in this edition, as becoming increasingly essential to be also dropping a new album, this time we count down to SAMRO’s annual versatile and work across platforms steeped in a new fusion sensibility Wawela Music Awards that toast LIFEBLOOD – not just out of necessity but to that veers towards African pop. If excellence in music creation across a keep that creative spark alive. Music South Africans had barely heard of Zoë range of categories. THAT creators are the lifeblood that feeds Modiga two years ago, they certainly our musical heartbeat, and in this do today. Until the next edition, we wish you all a edition we feature a mixed bag of joyful second half of the year! FEEDS OUR veterans, established industry players Since winning a 2015 SAMRO and boundary-pushing new kids on the Overseas Scholarship for singing, MUSICAL music block. Included in this focus is this jazzy songstress has made an a comprehensive homage to several emphatic imprint on the music scene. generations of sublime female music We chat to her about the release of HEARTBEAT makers. her debut album, Yellow: The Novel. Still on our most dazzling new stars Letta Mbulu is one of South Africa’s in the SAMRO universe, SAMRO Tiyani Maluleke grand dames of music, and this Notes finds out what last year’s two General Manager evergreen songstress is celebrating scholarship winners, marimba player Marketing a remarkable 50 years of marriage Dylan Tabisher and saxophonist 4 5 tions and concerns, in respect of the Bill, cations as Managing Editor: Business Bigotry is something she has faced many to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Finance, where she was responsible for a time, she says, especially being a young Industry in parliament. the management of three key tax and vat and black woman. publications. She then moved on to the “The history of my appointment is not lost Dramatic, Artistic & Literary Organisation “Firstly, I doubt there will be any woman on me. It’s very special. It’s a moment in (DALRO), where she was the GM of Corpo- who can say she’s never felt discriminated history. But I just think of all the work that rate and Legal Affairs – and was later pro- against on the basis of her gender. In most needs to be done – there’s so much to be moted to the position of MD. Add to that cases, I like to bring things out in the open done,” she says, as she munches on an a position of Non-Executive Director and and deal with it – bigotry flourishes in dark energy bar and drinks a protein shake. Chairperson of the Governance Sub-Com- corners. People who are on the receiving mittee at Media Diversity and Development end of it are often punished for, as I have, She acknowledges that it is a Agency. but in the end it will work out for you. ground-breaking moment in SAMRO’s But it was in January 2014, where the Being frank and shining a light on these history. She is the first woman to take over wheels were set in motion on her journey prejudices is how they stop,” she says. the reins in the five decades-plus history of to the SAMRO hot seat. Migogo joined the organisation. Being a very young black CAPASSO in the position of CEO. CAPASSO Thankfully, Migogo also knows how to woman, too, makes it even more extra-or- is a mechanical rights licensing agency unwind. She credits her family (she is also dinary. based in Johannesburg – collecting and a mother to two children) with keeping her distributing royalties to its members, sane. At the time of this interview, she is “My leadership of CAPASSO was history which includes music publishers and waiting for Jay-Z’s 4:44 album to be made MONG its many reputed ben- needs to be done – there’s so much to be in itself. There were a lot of things that composers. available on Apple Music, after it was The first efits, yoga is said to improve done,” she says, as she munches on an CAPASSO did that were a first for us in the One of her biggest achievements includes initially only offered on the rapper’s Tidal energy and vitality – something energy bar and drinks a protein shake. country – the strides that we made in the successfully leading the organisation from streaming platform. She is a big fan of The woman to take new SAMRO CEO, Nothando digital licensing sphere. Many firsts in the licensing revenue of R31 million in 2014 to Weekend’s Trilogy album, and English indie AMigogo has needed to get through her first She acknowledges that it is a mechanical rights industry. R80 million by 2016. CAPASSO also suc- rock band alt-J, who recently released their over the reins month at the helm of the largest collec- ground-breaking moment in SAMRO’s “But being at SAMRO now - the sheer cessfully licensed the majority of digital third album, Relaxer. tive management organisation on the history. She is the first woman to take over history and size and position that SAMRO service providers and over the last couple in the five continent. the reins in the five decades-plus history occupies on the continent, means it’s a of years entered into agreements with the Back to the yoga. totally different ball game. It’s a big jump. likes of Apple Music, YouTube, MTN and decades-plus Often, over the past few weeks, Migogo AMONG its many reputed benefits, yoga is The level of responsibility and the number Google Play. “In life, you’re more than just what you do has spent her time meeting with her new said to improve energy and vitality – some- of interested stakeholders are far more.