Year of Dogs Front man Werner Bekker has just dropped a brand new solo album and it flippen beautiful.
His brand-new EP “Love the Texture, Hate the Taste” drop on Friday, August 9. “Nectarines” is the lead single for the EP release.
this heartfelt track delves into the complexities of love and loss, encapsulating an array of emotions that Werner has experienced.
In Werner’s own words, “’Nectarines’ was written for someone I love dearly, who sadly is no longer a part of my life.
Our paths crossed, and it felt like that would be our reality for all of time.
When I wrote this song, I was feeling a lot, experiencing things I had only dreamed of as a young adult, and living a scary and intoxicating soup of exhilarating experiences.
I learned how to love with full trust and how to let go of my inhibitions, and for that, I will be forever thankful.
The song explores the particulars of this person’s likes and dislikes, my own ideas about how we felt about each other, and our misdoings.
e They were a safe space, even when I did not know where my life was heading and made me feel closer than I have ever felt with anyone before. In short, it’s a song about how nuanced love can be, from the smallest to the largest feelings and experiences.”
Looking ahead, Werner Bekker is excited to be touring Europe next year during the European spring. Partnering with ROLA, he will be performing across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Additionally, Werner is working on a new release set to drop upon his return from the tour.
3x GRAMMY™ Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir, Aria-nominated DJ Groove Terminator and The GRAMMY™ Award-winning, certified Platinum-selling producer Dennis White (aka Latroit) along with Gallo Music present History of House, a project highlighting dance music’s roots in Africa with a collection of house classics re-imagined in Zulu. On this innovative project due this June, these icons take an exhilarating journey through the history of dance music.
“It’s a natural evolution from the shows we’ve been performing together for the last few years,” says Groove Terminator. “We wanted to inspire people with our takes on classic house songs that uplift them.”
Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir and Groove Terminator release their rendition of the classic house track “Pride (A Deeper Love)” by Clivillés & Cole.
This release features a chill mix by Grammy-winning producer LATROIT.
Released during Pride month, this is the third and final single before “History of House” album is out in August 2024.
Guys Elle E is back with a fresh new track and it’s a new get your kak together and overcome your fears Afrikaans ruk en roll Anthem!
According to Elle E:
“Probleem Kind” is about someone that’s abusing prescription medication, having narcissistic tendencies and being very manipulative.
Someone that is clearly struggling mentally and their behaviour is pushing people away.
But in the second verse she gets encouraged to take her power back “Soos Britney Spears, have no tears, waai daai messe teen jou fears”. (Like Britney Spears, have no tears, swing those knives against your fears.)
Who is Elle E
Ellenie Eloff aka Elle E is a self-taught singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. This DIY musician obsession with music has seen her forever exploring new sounds and ways of expressing herself – producing most of her music at home she applies the same DIY thinking into creating the visual aesthetic that defines her unique style.
Shongololo is an Afrikaans Geraas punk (Garage punk) band that started in 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. With PJ Maas on drums and vocals, Joshua Bloxam on guitar and back-up vocals and Ruan Jacobs on bass, they have taken a DIY, confrontational and energetic approach to their music. Having noticed that there was a lack of alternative Afrikaans music that is raw and unapologetically in your face, they began jamming together in a small studio that PJ Maas was renting in Johannesburg.
Swart Hond is the third single released by Shongololo. The song appeared out of thin air one night at a practice, where a short improvisation jam ended up with the bones of the Swart Hond. The lyrics went through a few variations but nothing stuck. All the
Shongololo’s knew was that the chorus should have a punchy 2 syllable vocal line. At one point Josh referred to a story that PJ told once about how his mother can instinctively tell when the Swart Hond is following him.
Pretoria’s own Crash And The Void is back and bolder than ever with their new single Neon Bloodstains out today via Mongrel Records, featuring guest vocals from Johni Holiday of Ruff Majik. Inspired by the intense and competitive world of the video game Cyberpunk 2077, the band crafted a song that mirrors the violence and drive required to succeed in the music industry.
“I feel like the violence and competitive nature found in the game, which I played extensively, was a good parallel to the music industry and how you need to carve your way to success,” says Marius Schutte, the band’s vocalist and primary songwriter.
The track’s message is clear: stand your ground, don’t sell yourself short, and be realistic about the monumental task ahead when striving for success.
This self-produced song showcases the collaborative spirit of Crash And The Void. Initially entered into a competition to be featured in Cyberpunk 2077, the song evolved beyond its original form. The final doom breakdown, a highlight of the track, was a collective effort created during a rehearsal. The original demo, solely created by Marius Schutte, didn’t include this breakdown due to competition restrictions. Marius’s love for soundtracks and ludomusicology is evident, with the song’s opening lead line being a heavily distorted synthesizer inspired by Mick Gordon’s work on the DOOM soundtrack.
True to their innovative spirit, the band members recorded their parts in their home studios, with Marius programming the drums. This DIY approach not only highlights their versatility but also their commitment to producing high-quality music.