When he is filing in admin forms, he is known as Stanley Nkhumeleni
But when he presses play on the decks, he is known as Bra Smoove.
Bra Smoove is a Vibe Controller from Pretoria, South Africa who learned the trade of DJing while on the job co-running the weekly art community based event, Kulcha Sundaze.
Bra Smoove brings a refreshing take on creating soundscapes by focusing on alternative, eclectic rhythms merged with familiar vocals, giving the crowd a unique audio experience. Inspired by the SoundCloud community of artists, Bra Smoove mostly plays Future Beats, Bounce, Baile Funk with a sprinkle of mainstream sounds like Trap, R&B, Drill, Afrobeats, Dancehall and Amapiano.
Notable venues where Bra Smoove has performed include Rooftop at Hallmark, The Compound, Four Four Two, Sunset Bar, 7th Avenue, Square 2.0, The Social Table, Botaki ba Afrika, among others.
Events that have heard Bra Smoove’s deck operations include The Last Cypher, Black Labone, Smoking Dragon Festival, Soweto Cannabis Festival as well as many open mic events and collaboration events with fellow creative and event organisers, in addition to radio appearances on TUT FM, Tuks FM and UJFM.
Lost//Youth is a South African Alternative Rock band known for their ability to blend the raw energy of 90s rock with the classic sound of the 70s. Drawing from nostalgic influences while incorporating modern pop and urban sensibilities, they have crafted a dynamic and distinctive sound that feels both timeless and ever-evolving.
| Lead singer Alanna Joy brings x tender elements through her vocal style and tells stories of love, heartbreak and self-discovery. The group’s sound is driven by heavy, melodic bass played by Charlie Charles and driving, passionate electric guitar by Faghri Hendricks. The group has played with many drummers over the years but have finally found their fourth member in James Turner who has performed with acts such as ‘Cistamatic’ and ‘Girls on Film’. The Cape Town based band released their highly anticipated second EP on the 3rd of May to fantastic response from fans and critics alike with a review from Earmilk and various playlist and radio features. This body of work acts as the second chapter in their two-part project exploring the concepts of light and dark and will help define their sound as malleable and yet inherently distinctive. They will be touring the album across South Africa in October & November 2024. |
In a sonic pivot, Mx Blouse taps into R&B-tinged rap to explore the subject of
trauma and how it manifests itself in relationships. On “Learn to Love You”—
featuring R&B singer Amarafleur—the Spotify GLOW Artist of the Month (for
October 2023) raps about overcoming issues of abandonment and the
trauma that keeps them guarded and closed off to love.
| The song is the first single from the artist’s upcoming EP titled ‘Emotional Home’ and features R&B singer Amarafleur. Scheduled for release late winter, the project expands on the subject of overcoming issues of abandonment and trauma, in the context of intimate relationships |
Since their reformation in 2018, The Man Motels—composed of Garrith, Lyle, and Pierre—have never been shy about testing their limits. With influences ranging from Violent Soho, Brand New and Drug Church, the band’s sound is a ferocious blend of grit and attitude. After years of success with their debut album, three EPs, and multiple singles, The Man Motels returned to the studio in April 2024 to craft OLD WOUNDS, a project they describe as their most authentic and powerful work yet.
“The drive to test our own limits and put out music that’s more real and powerful than anything we’ve done before is what inspired this album.” The band’s relentless commitment to staying ahead of the curve has been key to their ongoing success. This has included writing constantly, surrounding themselves with like-minded artists, and staying true to their signature grunge/punk sound. OLD WOUNDS dives deep into the complexities and pain of life, capturing the intense emotions that shape who we become. “It’s all about how the cruelty and complexities of life define you,” says Garrith. “There’s a painful loneliness that comes before you can understand and accept who you are. This album has hard, powerful energy, but it’s also filled with melody and emotion.” The band’s approach to writing this album was both introspective and raw. “We dug deep, exploring darker times and painful experiences,” Garrith explains. “Writing can feel like closure—it’s mentally taxing but also enlightening.” OLD WOUNDS isn’t just a collection of songs; it’s a reflection of the band’s musical growth and emotional depth. The recording process was equally intense, a collaboration marked by ideas, suggestions, and even disagreements. “We fought it out until we found common ground that represents a piece of all of us,” He says. The album was tracked with Dean Bailey, mixed by Christophe Hogommat from France, and mastered by Tim Lengfeld, bringing together a team of top-tier professionals to deliver the final product. With OLD WOUNDS, The Man Motels have firmly staked their claim as champions of South Africa’s underground music scene. This five-word description from the band says it all: “This is who we are.” |
Soul troubadour Alain Clark has shared his latest single, ‘Pressed Out Emotions’, on September 6th, 2024 via A Sides. The single premiered on acclaimed tastemaker NOTION. Boasting over 130 million streams across platforms and counting, this soulful savant is no newcomer to the music industry. Since being signed to Warner Music UK in 2009, he has been featured by the likes of BBC Music, The Mirror, and Glamour’s Youtube channel. His song ‘Father and Friend’ was playlisted by BBC Radio across 38 Regional radio stations in the country. Achieving triple platinum physical sales in The Netherlands, Alain Clark was honoured with the Edison Award and the Silver Harp Award, while his album Colorblind reached #1 and the single ‘Father & Friend’ peaked at #2 in The Netherlands, becoming the most-spun single by a Dutch artist over a span of five years. Additionally, his singles enjoyed top 5 radio airplay in The Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, and Poland.
| Alain Clark currently splits his time between Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Los Angeles, California. Influenced by his father’s Soul Cover band, Soulful Blues Quality, he grew up performing with them and began writing songs at the age of nine. His first song, written to impress a girl he thought was out of his league, succeeded in winning her over. The classic feel of Clark’s music is further enriched by the contributions of notable musicians such as James Gadson (Bill Withers, Jackson 5), Steve Gadd (Paul Simon, George Benson), and Pino Palladino (D’Angelo, John Mayer). Citing Otis Redding, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson and Bob Dylan as some of his influences, his soulful flavour of R&B is sure to be enjoyed by fans of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Bill Withers. ‘Pressed Out Emotions’ was produced by David Michael Ott, known for his work with A Tribe Called Quest, FOX’s cast from Empire, and MALIA. The songwriting credits go to Alain Clark, David Michael Ott (who also mixed the track), and Alex Duncan VI. The mastering was done by Mike Bozzi, whose impressive portfolio includes work with The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott, to name but a few. |
Protoje is regarded as one of reggae music’s most influential artists, and often blends hip hop, soul and jazz into his native sounds of reggae and dancehall. His latest single is the ethereal, romantic and dancehall-infused tune “Mariposa”, produced by Zion I Kings.
This is the second single from an upcoming EP which includes his hit single “30 Million” and is due out in 2024 on Ineffable Records. The Grammy nominated artist has previously been featured in Rolling Stone, THE FADER and Vogue Magazine, and has appeared on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series.
Protoje is regarded as one of reggae music’s most influential artists, and often blends hip hop, soul and jazz into his native sounds of reggae and dancehall. His latest single is the ethereal, romantic and dancehall-infused tune “Mariposa”, produced by Zion I Kings.
This is the second single from an upcoming EP which includes his hit single “30 Million” and is due out in 2024 on Ineffable Records. The Grammy nominated artist has previously been featured in Rolling Stone, THE FADER and Vogue Magazine, and has appeared on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series.
