Winds of Change

With the wind of change finally blowing me out of the doldrums, it's time for changes and changes a plenty. First off the bat, I'll be launching a second blog which will be your one stop shop for everything relating to the electronic music scene: party reviews, interviews, promotional work, photos. You get the point.

I’ll be kicking off on a huge high with the second instalment of I LOVE BASS, which is definitely going to be a must read if you can’t attend and a banger if you do (valid excuses needed if missed), followed by a host of interviews with the people who made it all happen - 1st and 2nd instalments inclusive. So, do me the honour of having a look – read, revel; you’ll enjoy it. Almost as much as I'll enjoy presenting my findings to you.

I present to you Auditory Vision :

http://auditoryvision.blogspot.com/

 Please hit me up with anycomments or suggestions for the blog

Soulful Hunger

Whether it’s the crazy stage antics of Daron Malakian of Scars on Broadway and formerly System of a Down, or the pounding bass and psychadelic twists and tweeks of Skazi, music is food for the soul. Dub, punk, rock, trance, blues, jazz - whatever genre you find yourself most attracted to - it will always be the music: a drug that is ingested through the ears, each genre producing a different effect on our psyche.

How often do we find ourselves waking up in the morning with a certain song ricocheting off the walls of our skulls? (That may just be me, though) You’ll find you need that "drug", you have to listen to that track, and when you do and you finally achieve your "high", all is well in your world.

In my office at work my ears are often pleasantly assaulted with the sounds of just about every genre of music known to man: From Jamiroquai to Martha Munizy’s soulful gospel voice (thanks to a co-worker). Sure, I don’t enjoy every sound that is played, but, I find, it really makes a difference in my day, to have some sort of music as my backdrop. Gently - sometimes not to gently - supporting and pushing me through the day.

Berthold Auerbach puts it best when he said: "Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

In my opinion, the world would be a sad, sad place if we didn’t have our tunes to get us through the day. Music could serve as your ultimate escape, there could be a specific track that gets you hyped up or even one that soothes your aching heart...

Music: what would we do without it?

I LOVE BASS

Friday saw the arrival of I LOVE BASS at 121 Castle. If you missed it, you missed out! A plush and unspoiled venue with ample parking out front, two particularly well serviced bars, a tapas menu, VIP area and fantastic décor, served as all that was needed to get the party turning into a banger. Add the filthy breaks and dirty bass being thrown down by some heavy talented DJ’s, and we've got a winner. 

First up on the list of exceptionally awesome “thrower-downers-of-tunes” was Callan Maart (on a BREAK records) mixing it up with his own slick production. In my opinion, Callan is a talent and you all should keep him on your radars; He definitely got the night off to a sick start, the ambience so powerful one could assume from the vibes that things were about to get proper messy! 

As the liquid refreshments started to flow, the peeps started making their way to the floor, causing the party to kick up a gear. Next up on the decks was LG Fritz (on a BREAK records, Fukk it) and wow, did he bring the noise in large doses - fuck yes! Fat quantities of noise were the order of business and, believe me, those tunes were legend. The tempo went up and the growing crowd got down.

The stage was set, the crowd was hungry for more and :: more was had :: on steps Mezzanine (MuthaFM, Malignant Music). With his high energy set, Mezzanine had the crowd at his mercy - getting involved with us behind the decks, showing us love, and dropping some exceedingly sick tunes.
Headline Act: Enough Weapons (on a BREAK records) was up next… What a set! All the right ingredients were had for the crowd to get filthy:- along with floor shaking bass, dropping dance floor bangers and each and every hook and twist. People were kept on the bounce. Infectious as it was, I must ask: if you haven’t been a part of the mayhem (caused by Enough Weapons) where the hell have you been? 

To shut things down for the evening, Mr Bong (Two Twiggs Xperiment) jumped behind the decks and, to be honest, surprised even the seasoned “veterans” of the game with a killer set that ended the night on a supreme vibe, leaving people wondering when the next instalment of I LOVE BASS will be happening.

With all said and done, the first instalment went down way better than ‘smooth’, and I personally look forward - with bated breath - to round two.

Stay tuned for exclusive interviews with the guys who made it all happen.

A denomination for your belief

There are some things in life that are inexplicable, baffling and at times unexplainable. In this blog, I dedicate my words to that mysterious bond of friendship. The weird and wonderful connections one acquires when one meets another being with whom one has one or many things in common. Did you ever think there was a greater plan out there?

That perhaps whomever the creator of us was/is developed some kind of map on which a constellation of smaller destined souls were drawn and connected? Or do you believe that, yes the connection may be there, but one must work at continuing that bond, one must nurture it as one would a small plant? ‘Tis just something to think about. Here I go with the philosophical stuff. Perhaps this excerpt will give you a greater understanding of why we should cherish such small gifts such as friendship, peace, love, laughter. I struggle to come to terms with those who don’t; with those who take friendships for granted, who do not see that real and true friends are imperative.

In a comparison of personal relationships, friendship is considered to be closer than association. Although one can evaluate the type and intimacy of each friendship, friendship and association can be thought of as spanning across the same continuum. Sympathy, empathy, the desire to look out for the other’s best interests are a few attributes one can associate with the value of friendship. Honesty, trust and RECIPROCATION are a few of the more important.

There are times when I look around me, and from my perspective, I see the inner workings of say, for example, a crowd of friends at a restaurant table. Obviously, one cannot say exactly what is what to a tee when just observing, but from the outside, one can read the gestures, facial expressions etc. Now, I do not consider myself to be as adept as that old dude from Lie To Me at reading people, but I like to play pretend every now and then. (Tell me you haven’t learnt anything from that program.)

I see one-sided friendships, where reciprocation is nowhere to be seen, long gone with the time that has flown since the friendship was real. I see people making the effort where others choose just to BE:- Those ‘friends’ who aren’t yet sure how much they’ll miss if they continue to believe that they will always have friends and do not feel the need to make any attempt at contact/conversation. I mean, I exert myself in ways I did not know possible, trying to people-please my way through life, while few of those around me do no such thing.

The Roman philosopher Cicero believed that in order to have a true friendship with someone, one must have complete honesty, truth, and trust. He also thought that friends would do things for each other without expectation of repayment. It is hard to live by these words. We are all human and fuck up every now and then and in the process lose friendships and sight of what it is to be compassionate. The trick is to treat others as you would like to be treated (not to sound too cliché) and live life to its utmost potential.

I say in previous blogs that I believe 2011 to be a year of change and challenge and those who stand in the way will be left as casualties. Obviously, I do not mean that in an angry or war-driven manner, but I do believe that you are what you do; your actions mean the most. And if you have one or two of these so-called ‘friends’, it is my advice to sit each one down, discuss these friendships, and either bid each other bon voyage, or each agree to make effort one of your first priorities. I direct, reciprocation is key.

"Fate chooses your relations, you choose your friends." - Jacques Delille

Serene Days Inspire Me Most

Intricacies are meant to awaken, not dampen the spirits. The human spirit is inspired to grow strong by variances.

Let’s be honest, some days just suck balls. We are roused by thoughts that are less than pleasant, noises that irritate the eardrum, and scenery that confuses the shit out of us. These days we trod along in a sort of daze which ends in, more often than not, a night at the pub, either among individuals who spark the crazy in us, or alone with our perplexed thoughts and that old mate, typically a 40+ percentage volume liquor, stimulating that welcomed burning sensation right down to the gut.

Other days, and these days, although rare in some of us, find us with butterflies in the stomach, the optimism evident, keyed up for the day ahead, knowing that TODAY we’re going to kick ass, in every way possible. Each waking minute is filled with thoughts of improvement, plans for greatness, and the joy that we are alive. We feel encouragement from every angle, and take pride in our minds, bodies and souls.

I propose every day be like the latter, no matter how hard one must work at that positivism. So let’s tell it like it is – no ‘world on the shoulders’, fewer regrets and preferably no grudges. How can we make this life one that leaves legendary legacies for those around us to marvel at once we’re gone? Be YOU. Don’t let the silly things faze you. Keep smiling, laughing, singing, dancing. Keep happy. Keep well. And keep safe. But mostly, don’t let anyone or anything stand in the way of the awesome things you want to do in life.

Surround yourself with sanguinity, with buoyancy and brightness. Deal with the shitty things and then move on. Bask in the beauty that is opportunity. Know that you are capable of anything, and that to know joy, one must know hardship. Be at peace with the inner workings of the universe. Destiny is not a target, but a labyrinth of your own movements; it is what you make it. Your fate is in your own unique hands.

Peace and love. These two simple abstracts make heroes out of men.

Like greyhounds in the slips..

Happy Fucking New Year!

Well folks, the New Year should be in full swing for most of you, I’m sure. How upsetting to be back behind the LCD screens instead of in the ocean, dreaming of a life filled with leisure and less work. MY second day back at the grind finds my mind wondering reminiscently about what actually happened last year. Looking back, I appreciate the beginning and end, the haze of good times, not so good times and fantastic times. I see you standing like greyhounds in the slips. Bated breath and all…

According to Urban Dictionary:
“Change... it happens every second of every day...it happens when you grow. When you change scenery...everyone changes...it all depends on if it is good or bad”

Let me be inspirational here for a sec. Give U.D an ass-kicking on the philosophical crap front. I’ve decided to grab this proverbial bull by the horns, face the year head on, no holds barred, challenge myself and hopefully inspire change in those around me. Take a leaf out of my book. I implore you; go skydiving for your birthday as I am. Travel the world. Better yet, come to Thailand with me at the end of 2011. As I’m improving your reading pleasure with my blog upgrades, I also look forward to my hopeful sideline project, while dipping my toes into the music scene. With so much to do and the excitement of what’s to come so near on that glorious horizon, buckling up would be my advice. We are in for an adventure of a lifetime! 2011, the year for change, spontaneity, journeys that would make grown men curl up into foetal-like positions. A year of ambivalence, and pushing oneself to the extremes. This should be the year we come in to our own. A year where I will say (and it would do you all the good in the world to do the same):

“If you don’t like it, do not get in my way, I’m not moving for anyone!”

2011, I’m gonna make you my bitch.
And greyhounds, keep reading, and enjoying.
Peace and love

So you wanna be a DJ?

As promised in the last post I present the loud, the filthy the one and only... DJ Mezzanine.

Bernard Knight is a close personal friend and has been involved in the music scene for more than 15 years, being involved in numerous genres of music from gospel to dubstep, his latest project as Mezzanine or M3zza9 is growing in leaps and bounds I managed to steal a few minutes of his time for you to get to know the man behind the filthy bass

What’s up Mr B thanks for your time.

What & who got you get involved in the music scene?

Hey what’s happening everyone? I can’t say exactly who it was that got me into music, but I reckon it was just something in the rhythm & groove. Had to be that ‘cause according to my mom I got my head stuck in a toy drum at like 18months old. They should’ve known then I’d end up a basshead.

What made you choose the stage name / alias Mezzanine and is there a reason behind it?

Yeah, if anyone knows what a mezzanine is you’d know it is often the space between 2 floors in a building, so the name came out of that concept. I always seem to be in limbo between two things, not a boy anymore, but not really sure if I’m a man, not white but not black either... even the music I’m currently playing is sort of the middle ground between hip-hop & electro... Also the mezzanine is usually where the important unseen things happen.

Do you have any influence in helping up and coming artist’s get their name’s out there?

Definitely. From a production point of view, I’m always keen with helping people get out there. People can contact me on email or Facebook if they wanna colab or learn, or even just get their track listened to & played on air. I predominantly produce hip-hop, but am dabbling in all sorts of stuff at the moment. I mean I produced a reggae-rock track for The little Kings that got played on 5FM. So, yeah definitely can also put people in touch with people who know people.

MuthaFm, Cape Town’s “underground” music station has signed you on to do The Flip Side on Monday evenings how did that project come to be?

Lol... The strangest thing is that I decided last year to put DJ’ing on hold to focus on production, as the DJ industry is really hard to get into an maintain. But along the way I have made a few good connections & gave the right people demos I guess. Also, as I mentioned earlier, I’ve been pushing my production under the name “mezzanine,” & I reckon the right people heard about it. The best thing to do if you’re trying to get noticed in the music industry is to keep busy in the industry.

What does the Future hold for you and MuthaFm?

Well, let’s just say the future is very promising. More than that I cannot give away right now, but something that is coming early next year is that we are going live, which is going to bring a whole new interactive aspect to the Mutha FM experience.

Having listened to your sets there is a strong local influence in your tunes are there any local artists you would like to collaborate with?

Yeah... Unfortunately too many to mention. I’m digging South African music at the moment. The world is looking & I think we’re getting better and better. Every new project that comes out has a better sounding end product. I would dig to do a track with Die Antwoord or Isaac Mutant (which may just be happening).

Do you have any side projects that you’re currently working on?

Yip. I’m currently in the process of starting a production & promotions company. Then also busy signing artists for my record label “Malignant Music.” Unfortunately there are only so many hours in a day.

Any suggestions for people wanting to start out in the music scene?

Keep on following your dream. Be patient but keep working. Keep busy. Don’t get dissuaded by disappointment & realise that this industry is full of haters. Most people that have really made it in the industry did it through HARD work. There are no shortcuts & easy breaks. At least if you don’t expect them, you’ll be pleasantly surprised if you get one.

How can people get in touch with you and keep up to date with your gigs?

Facebook Bernz Knight or email mezzanine@malignantmusic.com

Any last words?

Thanks for your time Ian, and hopefully catch all of you at Rock the River NYE, at the Berg River. (www.rocktheriversa.co.za), and listen to my show Mondays 10pm-12am @ www.muthafm.com

Thanks for your time bru, Good luck for your set at the Brass Bell this Friday!