Shotgun Story

The author of Sex, Drums, and Rock 'n Roll... In Africa! Danny De Wet is full-time drama and one-time drummer for eVoid, Petit Cheval, Electric Petals, and Wonderboom. And he's the author of 'Sex, Drums and Rock 'n Roll... in Africa'. We caught up to chat all about his book, his career, and the one he holds most dear (spoiler alert, it's his son!) This episode is full of great stories of a life li...

MusicEx is an experiential event designed to engage, excite, and captivate music lovers by giving them the opportunity to browse products, attend educational sessions, enjoy live performances from major South African artists, and share their passion for music with others. Leniese Van Der Merwe (Assistant Project Director - MusicEx / Marketing Manager - Gallagher Estate) popped into studio to share...

From a family legacy to a Pulsations connection with the world. Thandeka Mfinyongo is a musician. She's a preserver of African indigenous instruments, and she's interested in archiving traditional instruments. She has her masters in music and is currently doing her PhD through Rhodes University. She's also the African Music lecturer at Northwestern University. In today's episode, we chat about how...

Become a PRODUCER of culture, rather than simply a consumer of it... Make Music Day (a community music initiative that was started in 1982 in France by the Ministry of Culture) is coming up on the 21st of June and it's a day filled with free (and accessible) musical events for EVERYBODY (musicians and non-musicians alike). Have a listen to my conversation with Prof Janelize Morelli and find out ho...

A story about making your own dreams a reality. Stanley Sibande is a Zambian-born, Cape Town-based, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter. In this episode, we're chatting about making dreams a reality. Yourself. From booking a tour to Cape Town (from his home in Zambia, without ever having been to South Africa) to now doing the same (from his home in CPT) for his upcoming London tour. Feel like...

Ever wanted to work behind the scenes in the music industry? Keen to hear all of the good (and gritty) music industry insider stuff from someone who's touched every side of it? Vicky Jankiewicz has spent the last 15 years behind the scenes in the music industry. She's one half of the dance floor damaging damsel DJ duo, #SOZLOL, and we had a fabulous conversation on the floor of her apartment over...

Meel Vignetting are a five-piece South African alternative indie rock band from Gauteng. In today's episode, we talk about the music scene in Pretoria, tribute shows, and gender bias in the music industry. One in a series of conversations with some of the ladies... Outro music: 'Thermodynamics' by Meel Vignetting. Used with permission from rights holder. Follow Meel Vignetting on Instagram &middot...

Are you brave enough to busk? Maddie Behrens is a folk/indie/rock/pop singer currently based in Johannesburg. Hailing from a small town in KZN, she learnt the performing ropes from busking in Washington Square Park in NYC. In this episode, we chat all about that, as well as what it's like to be a woman in the music industry in South Africa, the folk music scene, and the late Syd Kitchen. Outro mus...

Sometimes you've got to Do It Yourself. Lindo M is a singer/songwriter from Johannesburg, South Africa. Unencumbered by the idea of genre, Lindo focuses on feeling and authenticity and is driven to create music that not only speaks for itself, but that can also speak for others... Get excited about this artist. Not only incredibly talented, but he's also working behind the scenes to reignite the J...

"Because these days, there's not enough girls at music festivals!" Galpalooza. Women's Day Music Festival at Tweefontein Melkery. Featuring an all-female line-up. Listen to the interview with Jolene East (Jolling | The Honeymooners) Outro track "I Know I Love You" by Jolling. Music used with permission from rights holder. Rockford Media on Facebook · website · Facebook · Twitt...

"I can honestly say it (music) saved my life at one point." Simone Govender is a pop singer-songwriter based in Johannesburg. She teaches music on the side. I heard her exquisite voice at a Saturday morning market, and I knew that I had to have a conversation... The thing is, when you make music for a living, more often than not you're building sets of songs that you think people want to hear. Rea...

"I haven't got millions of streams. I'm just doing what I'm doing." There is something wonderful about talking to someone with a lifetime of experience in their field. And this episode of the podcast is FILLED with delightful stories, lessons, coffee, and bits of GREAT advice. Martin 'Cito' Otto is a rock performer, songwriter, producer, music director, part-time actor, and newly-launched coffee m...

Dave Starke is a folk singer-songwriter in the ancient British Isles troubadour tradition (the modern version, obvs). He speaks a language I deeply understand, that of grappling with how to be an artist. Sustainably. In this episode, we chat about 'cultural confidence', being comfortable with being uncomfortable, writing songs out of desperate overwhelm, and the ancient role of the singer-songwrit...

You're a creator. Use your talents and find a NICHE for yourself. Are you a songwriter (or a composer) debating whether to get a publisher or to try your hand at doing it yourself? As a creator, it's important to have a very open vision of your career and what you can and cannot do, so knowing both sides of the debate matters. Thando Makhunga is the Managing Director of Sheer Music Publishing, and...

Why do you want to go to a label? They can't do anything for you. Benjy Mudie has been in the business of making music for over 40 years. In 1998, he founded the independent South African music label Fresh Music. He has been responsible for signing and developing some of the most successful artists in this country: Squeal, Mango Groove, Little Sister, Vicki Samson (to name just a few!) If you're a...

"There was a moment when I decided I wanted to prioritise music." The body is a mediator through which we experience but it’s also a conspirator, colouring experiences with feeling just in time for our arrival. Johannesburg-based songwriter, Senna-Marie is interested in the clumsiness of feeling, fight and body; documenting how it enters into conversation through her intimate songwriting and vulne...

You can't make a film and not put any music in it. Jack&Jill Productions is a boutique company based in South Africa. Their latest film 'Table Manners' was an official selection at The Indie Film Fest (2019), Universal Film Fest (2019), Jelly Fest (2019), Durban International Film Festival (2018), and Silwerskerm Festival (2018). The film was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Director on it...

"The music business is a war and the fist weapon of war is knowledge." Cindy Alter is an international award-winning chart-topping multi-million album-selling singer-songwriter from South Africa. She was lead singer of the 70s band Clout (best known for their hit single Substitute). In this week's episode, I'm chatting to Cindy remotely from Nashville about all things music. Tune in as she talks a...

"It was a very quick realisation that if you have a band of five people with a publicist and a manager and a booking agent, and a sound engineer, it's impossible to survive. So we had to keep the day jobs." Alastair Thomas plays in a band. He has a production company, he directs and edits things, and he likes dogs. Legendary frontman of Shortstraw and Cockles, Alastair popped into the studio for a...

You've got to APPLY if you want any chance at being funded! Are you a musician and not yet a member of SAMPRA? Are you confused about whether you should be? Today's interview will help you understand the importance of signing up. I'm chatting to Yvette Rammalo, (PR & Marketing Officer from SAMPRA) and she has a lot of GREAT advice for anyone looking to submit an application for the SAMPRA Developm...

Don't listen to the naysayers... Bruce Dennill is a writer, an art critic, and a musician based in Johannesburg. In this episode we talk about the creative faucet, how there's simply too MUCH music, understanding the value of art, having tracks picked up for TV shows and the importance of figuring out who your friends are. 'Dreamed you different' by Bruce Dennill. Music used with permission from t...

"The majority of us will never get involved in the business side of music" "I want us all to be 60 / 70 (years old). Still playing, still jamming and going at it and probably still moaning we don't get paid enough." Steve East, aka Mayor of Benoni is a jack of all trades and a master of all of them! A musician, booking agent, designer, music video director, radio voice, vocalist from the old count...

You're not doing anybody any favours trying to be somebody you're not. Lizzy Lou Gaisford is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in the band the Fishwives. She's also an ecologist with a particular passion for frogs. We sat down for a chat in a rainy room in Eshowe mid-COVID some years ago. I FINALLY got around to listening to it. And much like every episode so far, it's come at a time w...

'My hooks don't ba-dum-ching' "If your idea of success is being on the radio, then you want to be in the entertainment industry. If your idea of success is making a lot of money, then you want to be in the music business. But if you want to touch people's lives, and if you want to have a life of wonder, adventure, and magic, then music is what you're after..." Engaging, irreverent and subversive,...

So don't be afraid of being fearless in your songwriting. Ready to quit? Letting vanity metrics define your worth as an artist? Getting down on yourself because you don’t feel like you’re cracking a certain number of followers or likes on social media? Just STOP! Chock-full of advice and inspiration, Andrew Jed’s interview has some gems that will have you back in studio making music again. This is...