In light of the current Letterman family tribulations, I thought it appropriate to share my song "Regina". Not just because Dave's wife shares the name of the title character, but because this is a song ultimately about loves ability to imbue us with unimaginable strength. I'd like to think that this could be inspirational to them if they heard it (also because it DOES rock!)
So share this with everyone you know gang.
C'mon Dave! Let an indie artist debut on your show and play a song that would have some direct meaning for you and Regina!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Damn, September already???
As you may have noticed, I have not followed through on an official "band line-up" announcement from Jo'burg yet. I've been working it from every angle since I got here to make the band happen but there have been logistical hiccups, scheduling conflicts, incidents of miscalculated musical chemistry and well, inadequate marketing for the album.
Not to worry, I've made some adjustments to the original plan and have shifted marketing strategies (and personnel). This sets the timeline back a bit for the official launch of the album and band here in South Africa, but I'm confident that in the long run, this is going to set things up for a much more successful launch. (and journey).
In the meantime, I'm going to try to be a little more diligent about blogging here and share some of the good things that are happening. So to start: while the band isn't yet complete, we have begun building and there ARE four skilled musicians who have not only committed to this project (and with whom I have begun rehearsing), but believe wholly in the music and its success. I'll introduce them all over the next couple blogs, but for now:
Mar Gueye - master Sabar drummer of Dakar, Senegal
I have known, toured and recorded with Mar Gueye for many years now. He is my friend and my brother. We've always expressed our friendship by jokingly calling each other Sama Boor - "my king" in his language, Wolof. Mar provides the West African flavors/grooves to my music through his Sabar drumming - a Senegalese tradition of playing the drum with one bare hand and one stick - as well as other Senegalese styles such as Bougarabou (both hands). He's also a formidable Djembe drummer and regularly demonstrates the West African origins of Latin styles in his grove patterns (remind me, I'll tell you about the recording of the Brasilian section of "Everything That's Broken" sometime).
After his drumming contributions to "Ownership" I could not see going out live with out Mar. I'm so fortunate and grateful that he agreed to not only be in the band, but was willing to leave his family (including new born son Mohammed) in New York for a couple of months to come to Johannesburg and help me build this thing. It hasn't been easy - there's been a lot of down time while I'm working the business end of things.
So let me finish up here by sharing one of those moments that make it all worth while. The other day we were set up in the rehearsal space, wood-shedding "Jozi". Mar didn't actually play on the recording of the song, but I began playing the Maskanda guitar part of it just to warm up and he followed suit. The pattern he started playing was unique and totally unexpected (by me anyway); but more importantly, magical. It took the song to a deeper and more exciting musical place. We smiled at each other, both knowing what most musicians know: just because you've finished recording a song, doesn't mean the song is finished. Once you start playing a song live, it evolves beyond its original reified state, usually (as in this case) to a deeper, richer place. It demonstrates the continually transformative nature of music. Process, not product, is why we're musicians and we live for those magical moments.
Of course Mar wouldn't express it that way. He'd say: "yeah it's nice man".
More later...
Uxolo
Ema
Not to worry, I've made some adjustments to the original plan and have shifted marketing strategies (and personnel). This sets the timeline back a bit for the official launch of the album and band here in South Africa, but I'm confident that in the long run, this is going to set things up for a much more successful launch. (and journey).
In the meantime, I'm going to try to be a little more diligent about blogging here and share some of the good things that are happening. So to start: while the band isn't yet complete, we have begun building and there ARE four skilled musicians who have not only committed to this project (and with whom I have begun rehearsing), but believe wholly in the music and its success. I'll introduce them all over the next couple blogs, but for now:
Mar Gueye - master Sabar drummer of Dakar, Senegal
I have known, toured and recorded with Mar Gueye for many years now. He is my friend and my brother. We've always expressed our friendship by jokingly calling each other Sama Boor - "my king" in his language, Wolof. Mar provides the West African flavors/grooves to my music through his Sabar drumming - a Senegalese tradition of playing the drum with one bare hand and one stick - as well as other Senegalese styles such as Bougarabou (both hands). He's also a formidable Djembe drummer and regularly demonstrates the West African origins of Latin styles in his grove patterns (remind me, I'll tell you about the recording of the Brasilian section of "Everything That's Broken" sometime).
After his drumming contributions to "Ownership" I could not see going out live with out Mar. I'm so fortunate and grateful that he agreed to not only be in the band, but was willing to leave his family (including new born son Mohammed) in New York for a couple of months to come to Johannesburg and help me build this thing. It hasn't been easy - there's been a lot of down time while I'm working the business end of things.
So let me finish up here by sharing one of those moments that make it all worth while. The other day we were set up in the rehearsal space, wood-shedding "Jozi". Mar didn't actually play on the recording of the song, but I began playing the Maskanda guitar part of it just to warm up and he followed suit. The pattern he started playing was unique and totally unexpected (by me anyway); but more importantly, magical. It took the song to a deeper and more exciting musical place. We smiled at each other, both knowing what most musicians know: just because you've finished recording a song, doesn't mean the song is finished. Once you start playing a song live, it evolves beyond its original reified state, usually (as in this case) to a deeper, richer place. It demonstrates the continually transformative nature of music. Process, not product, is why we're musicians and we live for those magical moments.
Of course Mar wouldn't express it that way. He'd say: "yeah it's nice man".
More later...
Uxolo
Ema
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Phambili!
Wow! Who's had time to blog??? Leaving for Jo'burg today to launch "this thing"! More after I turn the spark into a flame.
Cheers all,
Ema
Cheers all,
Ema
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
"You Can't Always Get What You Want." (sung to myself)
Before we go "full on announcement" about the band, I want to get a bit personal on this one.
Sometimes in the pursuit of our goals we find ourselves in the difficult position of having to make decisions that disappoint, hurt and/or anger people who have supported us. Well, it's one of those days for me and I'm feeling a bit badly about it.
When it was time to start putting the band together I was faced with a big dilemma. I recorded "Ownership" with musos from both the US and SA side - all of whom I really wanted in the band. But it was just not logistically feasible to bring multiple players from either side to the other. So I had to decide: do I launch a band from Jo'burg or NY. Well Jo'burg became the obvious choice due to both the PR attention we've received, and the fact that more of the musos from the album were more centrally located there.
But making this economic/logistical decision meant that I had to disappoint a few people, particularly someone who had supported me from the very start of this project on the US side and I might add, was fully expecting to be a part of the band.
I had to tell my friend and brother Nery Arevalo, who supplied "Ownership" with some just deeply soulful percussion, as well as musical, spiritual and moral support, that I could not take him with me to SA. And though it's an economic issue and not a personal or musical one, that doesn't make it any less painful, for either of us.
Nery, you are a stellar musician, an indominable spirit and a dear friend...and I love you. I know you understand and I promise you here, publicly, that I will find a way to make it up to you.
Your brother in music always,
Ema
Sometimes in the pursuit of our goals we find ourselves in the difficult position of having to make decisions that disappoint, hurt and/or anger people who have supported us. Well, it's one of those days for me and I'm feeling a bit badly about it.
When it was time to start putting the band together I was faced with a big dilemma. I recorded "Ownership" with musos from both the US and SA side - all of whom I really wanted in the band. But it was just not logistically feasible to bring multiple players from either side to the other. So I had to decide: do I launch a band from Jo'burg or NY. Well Jo'burg became the obvious choice due to both the PR attention we've received, and the fact that more of the musos from the album were more centrally located there.
But making this economic/logistical decision meant that I had to disappoint a few people, particularly someone who had supported me from the very start of this project on the US side and I might add, was fully expecting to be a part of the band.
I had to tell my friend and brother Nery Arevalo, who supplied "Ownership" with some just deeply soulful percussion, as well as musical, spiritual and moral support, that I could not take him with me to SA. And though it's an economic issue and not a personal or musical one, that doesn't make it any less painful, for either of us.
Nery, you are a stellar musician, an indominable spirit and a dear friend...and I love you. I know you understand and I promise you here, publicly, that I will find a way to make it up to you.
Your brother in music always,
Ema
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Very soon...
Well, we're almost there - I'm back in Jersey trying to sort everything out - trying to finalize details with all of the musos so I can make the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT i.e., band lineup. Also we're now implementing the next wave of PR strategies and organizing all of the logistics for rehearsals, PR events and performances (any tour managers out there???)... Whew. But it's getting close now kids, so stay tuned.
I'll be heading back to Jo'burg for the final push so we'll reveal what's behind the curtain before then!
And if you haven't received the emails or FB notices, we've started a FB group page - a little more update friendly - so please all you Facebookers, go join up!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=103240869165
Uxolo
Ema
I'll be heading back to Jo'burg for the final push so we'll reveal what's behind the curtain before then!
And if you haven't received the emails or FB notices, we've started a FB group page - a little more update friendly - so please all you Facebookers, go join up!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=103240869165
Uxolo
Ema
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Retraction
Sorry the "Chillers" info was incorrect...didn't broadcast today. I'll keep you posted.
But the interview on Radio 2000 with Angela Ludek was very nice. Thank you Angela, you're a thorough and a thoughtful interviewer. We video taped it as well so we'll post it here as soon as I can get back to Jersey to do a little editing.
We've accomplished a lot in Jo'burg this time. I'll give you all a debriefing after I get back next Tues. and decompress!
Cheers
Ema
But the interview on Radio 2000 with Angela Ludek was very nice. Thank you Angela, you're a thorough and a thoughtful interviewer. We video taped it as well so we'll post it here as soon as I can get back to Jersey to do a little editing.
We've accomplished a lot in Jo'burg this time. I'll give you all a debriefing after I get back next Tues. and decompress!
Cheers
Ema
Friday, July 17, 2009
Talkin' it up in Joburg.
For those of you on the Mother Continent with DSTV, tune in to Africa Magic + (channel 115) on Sat. the 18th for "Chillers" with Nadine Richardson at 9:40 (20 min version) and 18:40 (50 min version). Nadine interviews me for a full 50 mins. with clips of "Jozi" the video and songs from "Ownership" interspersed between the dialogue.
Also if you're up early (!) listen to the live stream of me being interviewed by Angela Ludek on Radio 2000 Sat morning July 18th at 8:15AM (Joburg time - that's 2:15AM EST for all you insomniac yanks!).
http://www.radio2000.co.za/streaming.html
And of course, Happy Birthday Madiba!
Also if you're up early (!) listen to the live stream of me being interviewed by Angela Ludek on Radio 2000 Sat morning July 18th at 8:15AM (Joburg time - that's 2:15AM EST for all you insomniac yanks!).
http://www.radio2000.co.za/streaming.html
And of course, Happy Birthday Madiba!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Launching the band eMsanzi.
Well, the "Big Issue" article posted last time was the first return I got from a PR strategy I began implementing in January. During my last trip to Jo'burg I realized that I needed to hand these efforts off to somebody else to take it to the next level as I start going out live.
Fortunately for me, Iceberg Entertainment of Johannesburg stepped up and they will be doing just that. The campaign is targeting all media forms with the intent of expanding exposure for the CD and setting me up for live performances during the upcoming spring season of music events in South Africa.
Thus I will be launching the band from South Africa on Sept.1st. There's much to do and in between now and then I will be in Jo'burg, July 5 - 21st to organize and do some PR stuff, and then again in August from the 17th on to start rehearsals, etc..
Ownership is beginning to pick up some steam in South Africa and it will be incredibly meaningful to me to have the band's "maiden voyage" in Jo'burg!
So I'll come back to you with the band lineup but I can tell you that my sisters Stella Khumalo and Faith Kekana who graced the album with their angelic voices will also be gracing the stage.
More later...Uxolo
Ema
Fortunately for me, Iceberg Entertainment of Johannesburg stepped up and they will be doing just that. The campaign is targeting all media forms with the intent of expanding exposure for the CD and setting me up for live performances during the upcoming spring season of music events in South Africa.
Thus I will be launching the band from South Africa on Sept.1st. There's much to do and in between now and then I will be in Jo'burg, July 5 - 21st to organize and do some PR stuff, and then again in August from the 17th on to start rehearsals, etc..
Ownership is beginning to pick up some steam in South Africa and it will be incredibly meaningful to me to have the band's "maiden voyage" in Jo'burg!
So I'll come back to you with the band lineup but I can tell you that my sisters Stella Khumalo and Faith Kekana who graced the album with their angelic voices will also be gracing the stage.
More later...Uxolo
Ema
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The Music Mixer - article in The Big Issue this month.
Heita all,
I'm really pleased with this interview in The Big Issue this month.
the Big Issue is a very effective, socially responsible "trade not aide" magazine that provides an economic engine for marginalized people in Cape Town, South Africa. Its journalism and publishing standards are of the highest quality its editor Donald Paul is one of the nicest guys...; and there just happens to be an article on yours truly in the latest addition.
We've posted the article on the Ikhaya Studios website. Here's the link:
THE BIG ISSUE #148 "The Music Mixer " by Donald Paul
But if you're in the Cape Town area, support the mag and it's job providing efforts - drop the R14 in that vendor's hand and you'll walk away with a really well written tri-weekly magazine and the satisfaction of knowing that you've just contributed to someone moving themself out of social exclusion into self-sufficiency.
Lot's more news coming shortly!
Uxolo all!
Ema
I'm really pleased with this interview in The Big Issue this month.
the Big Issue is a very effective, socially responsible "trade not aide" magazine that provides an economic engine for marginalized people in Cape Town, South Africa. Its journalism and publishing standards are of the highest quality its editor Donald Paul is one of the nicest guys...; and there just happens to be an article on yours truly in the latest addition.
We've posted the article on the Ikhaya Studios website. Here's the link:
THE BIG ISSUE #148 "The Music Mixer " by Donald Paul
But if you're in the Cape Town area, support the mag and it's job providing efforts - drop the R14 in that vendor's hand and you'll walk away with a really well written tri-weekly magazine and the satisfaction of knowing that you've just contributed to someone moving themself out of social exclusion into self-sufficiency.
Lot's more news coming shortly!
Uxolo all!
Ema
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