HAVE A
LISTEN!
let’s shake off Winter’s chill with these hot tracks
The breeze welcomed by September is charged and beckoning in Summer’s anticipated rays. Much like the wind these song picks are full of energy and boisterous melodies, waiting to be jammed to!
With some lekker local tracks, international up&comers or even just tasty tunes, each of our picks puts together our teams wide focus. Take a moment to appreciate this months picks, from sentimental artists like Karla Von Solms, to electrifyingly experimental artists such as Fire-Toolz.
Words by: Kira Belle
‘Feel’ picked by Tyla Burnett
Karla Von Solms
An emerging precious jewel in the crown of the Cape Town scene, Karla Von Solms lays bare in this album what many hope to attain in a life’s work. Recorded to an iPhone piece by painstaking piece, mixed in house from the heart, this album took me entirely off guard when I listened to it on the train after the eccentric girl from the Eastern Cape who works in the shop opposite me told me off hand one day that she had recorded her own album. A masterpiece that I hope will see a sequel. 11/10.
‘Who am I?’ picked by Zubayr Charles
Orla Gartland
‘Who am I?’ by Orla Gartland has been playing repeat on my Apple Music playlist. In the chorus, she sings, “Been trying to be everything, but I can’t be your rock, and your lover, your mom and I’ve tried. Now I’m not anything, just a painting that’s meant to blend in with the wall. I’m tired. If I’m your everything, who am I?” This is extremely powerful. The lyrics remind me of how detrimental it is to show up for other, constantly, and how we lose ourselves in the process. If we are so fixated on helping and others lovers, and this act is not reciprocated, what is left for us? And do we lose ourselves by being someone else’s version of ourselves “everything”. This is the beauty of music!
‘Bad Dream’ picked by Nadia Hassim
Flower Face
Ahead of her tour, Flower Face released her new single “Bad Dream” last week Friday, and I’ve listened to little else since. Ruby has a way of singing that evokes emotions you thought you had safely tucked away. Combined with her poetic lyrics, she paints vivid imagery of a heartbreak so painful, it’s almost sweet. All the love I keep in my stomach that my heart can’t handle returns to the surface when I listen to this song. It stays true to its title, and each moment drags you through a bad dream you can’t escape. My favorite lyric comes in the second chorus when she shouts, “Give it up, honey, you don’t know a thing about love; You’re a sucker for the girls and the drugs.” She continues to deliver in all her releases, and I’ll be impatiently awaiting the release of what I hope is an album to come.
‘Everybody Prays’ picked by Bob Wire
Lizzie Gaisford
Lizzie Gaisford’s recent album ‘Love The Land is full of little treasures’; memories sewn together into songs that are dreamy and deeply evocative. My favorite of these is the opening track, Everybody Prays, a marvel of songwriting that sends shivers down one’s spine. It’s dark, yet light, simultaneously carrying the weight of a heavy subject matter while floating along on delicate vocals and a sweet melody. The imagery in Gaisford’s clever lyrics will be familiar to those that have grown up in South Africa, and will paint a beautiful picture for those who have not. In any case, it’s definitely worth a listen.
‘Lavender Networks’ picked by Jesse Cloete
Fire-Toolz
Fire-Toolz latest full-length project “Lavender networks” is a violent journey through the chaos and tranquility of existence in the digital age. Her machines dance between the screamo vocals and luscious synths, juxtaposing rage and release before you even have time to catch your breath. This closing track “Pleasant Valley magic cube of Holiness” has been my favourite track; it pulls you in and forces you to watch your life from behind a wall of singing machines. You’ve never heard electronic music done quite like this before. Definitely worth the experience.
‘Gravitron’ picked by Nic Trethowan
Paul Spring
Gravitron, with soft vocals somewhere between Thom Yorke and Death Cab for Cutie, this track has a hypnotic guitar line that gently pulls you through this Alt-Indie track. Been listening to it on repeat on my whimsical playlist.
‘Along the Way’ picked by Matthew Michael
Adelle Nqeto
Adelle Nqeto’s “Along the Way” sows transitional moments between her syllables which bares snippets of uncertainty. Yet, within the breath of her exhale, I’ve come to inhale the possibility of what we have yet to see.
Sometimes uncertainty is a silly sorrow, so don’t dillydally along the way.
