On the Couch with MEX

South African creatives suffer from the assumption that their profile will automatically replicate, shy of doing any heavy lifting when it comes to promoting their art. Social Media is a powerful platform to promote your work, your gigs, and your overall investment in the entertainment economy. So, get involved or bow out and get out of the way and make room for willing and invested creatives who...

MEX created an opportunity to go to the source. We had the rare privilege to host Buti Manamela, the Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Science and Innovation.  His previous portfolio was Deputy Minister for Higher Education and Training, and before that, he served as Deputy Minister in the Presidency: Planning Monitoring and Evaluation, Youth Development and Administration. 

Tumi Molekane (born 16 August 1981) is a Tanzanian-born, South African rapper and poet. He was Tumi and the Volume's lead vocalist, officially disbanding in 2012. Fast forward to 2016, when Tumi relaunched his musical ambitions as Stogie T, along with the single "Diamond Walk", followed by an eponymous debut album which featured Da L.E.S, Lastee, Emtee, Nasty C, Nadia Nakai & Yanga.

This week I enjoyed the privilege of sitting with David Briggs, who specialises in the field of collaboration between individuals, teams and organisations. His work is informed by over 20 years of consulting with organisations undertaking large integrations and change projects. He focuses on the micro, not the macro, in order to push the needle in his role - 'half research, half action'. More rece...

A chat with Ezra Delport, from Cape Town, who is a top sound engineer now working in America with Kirk Whalum, amongst others. Our friendship goes back to 1985. Listen and enjoy.

Chatted to John Maytham on Cape Talk on 27 December to discuss my Top 10 for 2022. Topics included: Dr Trevor Jones and Marc Marot both in Cape Town for Music Exchange in November. Marc being appointed Managing Director of Island Records in 1990, the youngest MD in the UK music industry at the time. Other artists we discussed included: Moreira Chonguica, Steve Louw, and Bad Bunny, an a Puerto Rica...

Welcome back to the story behind Marc Marot, ex-Island Records Managing Director and today an artist in his own right.    This is the second part of a two part interview that unpacks a journey that saw him promoted to the youngest Managing Director of a major record label at 29.   Amongst the artists signed and developed by his team while at Island Records were Pulp, PJ Harvey,...

Meet Marc Marot, ex-Island Records Managing Director and today an artist in his own right.   This two-part interview unpacks a journey that saw him promoted to the youngest Managing Director of a major record label at 29.   Amongst the artists signed and developed by his team while at Island Records were Pulp, PJ Harvey, The Stereo MCs, P.M. Dawn, The Cranberries, Elbow, Chaka Demus and...

Ashley Dowds is a South African actor, television presenter and director best known as a continuity presenter for SABC3, and for co-presenting the reality travel show Going Nowhere Slowly , also on SABC3. He is also known for his role as advertising executive Andrew McBain on the e.tv soapie Scandal! , since the show began in January 2005. We discuss the current state of the Entertainment Economy...

This is part two of Marc Marot, ex-Island Records Managing Director and today an artist in his own right. This is the second part of a two-part interview that unpacks a journey that saw him promoted to the youngest Managing Director of a major record label at 29. Marc flew in from London last week to deliver a keynote address at #MEX22.

Meet Marc Marot, ex-Island Records Managing Director and today an artist in his own right.  This is a two-part interview that unpacks a journey that saw him promoted to the youngest Managing Director of a major record label at 29. Marc flew in from London this week to deliver a keynote address at #MEX22. 

We chatted to the legendary Terry Fortune about the state of the entertainment economy, circa 2022, as well as his time in District 6 The Musical and the work he continues doing with legacy acts, today.

Over the past 16 years, Dino Perera founded and built DINOCO Entertainment into one of the most respected companies in the music, entertainment and sports businesses based in New York. Dino was in SA two weeks ago with superstar Sybil, and we got to talk managers, music and more. DINOCO Entertainment is a top provider of sports entertainment DINOCO Entertainment is a top provider of sports enterta...

Recently I had the privilege of sitting with my dear friend Samm Marshall in Johannesburg. In this session he took me through Social TV, an online multimedia news channel focused on impact investment, sustainable development issues and shared values. Check it out, here: https://social-tv.co.za/ 

This week MEX talks about all things Twitter, Facebook, and blogs and what each one can do for your brand with website and media strategist Brian Currin. Brian is the fuel that fires the likes of sugarman.org and stevelouw.com – look, and you’ll better understand this man’s passion and pedigree.

We chat to consummate pro Howie Combrink. After releasing his critically acclaimed single, “The City”, in 2020, singer-songwriter and producer, Howie Combrink joined forces with Rada, a non-profit organisation, to release his new single, “I See You”. The song was co-written with Craig Hinds, Howie’s previous band member and frontman of the band Watershed.

In this episode, I got to spend time with Berry. Listen and learn as she speaks about winning Idols SA, family and more. This sessions big takeout - Is the Idols franchise a poisonous chalice and a point of pop departure before you even start?

Listen to my chat with this top business executive, Craig Stein, He is a shareholder and Director at an impressively successful travel business, and is also deeply invested in the entertainment economy. Stunning thoughts for artists to ponder about the business of the business you’re in.

This week, I speak to Thando Fuze, a spoken word poet, writer, curator, and author of Conversations with The Human. Born and bred in KZN, Fuze is based in Durban and this is her story.

A doyen of the SA music landscape, meet the fantastic Sophia Foster. Mindful of her own experiences when she started in the entertainment business in the mid-60s, she nurtured a vision of running a skills programme for up-and-coming youngsters with her Fostering Foundation. She spoke at Music Exchange in 2018 and continues to mentor artists in both programmes

You don’t choose music; music chooses you. In new arrival Nicole Bacher’s case, the bug bit after getting married, raising children, and running a thriving psychology practice. Sixteen years later, Nicole closed her business to focus on and finish her studies. With that, gaps appeared in her usually jam-packed diary to feed her creative curiosity.

We speak to 24-year-old Cape Town resident, Charlie Void who is inspired by the likes of Lana Del Rey and Troye Sivan, and who has also poked fun at Lindsay Lohan in his song "Snort it", all while working within in the political landscape of the Western Cape. A dynamic young man changing the narrative, one day at a time

Singer, songwriter Amy Jones has walked a long road with MEX, to the point that she was afforded many an opportunity, each one embraced, respected and reciprocated. Martin sat down with her to talk through her journey to here and what lies ahead with the release of "Waiting for Me". 

In this session Jason and I reflect on those pushing the needle and why they remain relevant. Deep listen and take the learning from people who have spent a fair amount of time in the game to know. 

It’s hard enough to make it in the music business and stay focused on the music, so beware of airing your dirty laundry and misguided opinions in public.