A Little New Years "Housekeeping" - Msanzi Redux

Wow the year really just got away from me! And here we are prepping for the end of it tonight. So before we say "hamba kahle" to 2010, I want to address a "slight" omission from the past year (and before).

As I focus on the U.S. marketing push for Ownership in 2011, I keep looking back to the launch in South Africa for both, its inspirations and its lessons. But what stands out the most, upon reflection, are the faces. There were so many people that participated in the project, some directly, some tangentially and some even unknowingly. I want to acknowledge all of them - from those who were sitting right next to me in the roller coaster car to those who helped maintain the mechanisms, as well as all who watched and waved in support. Credit where credit is due - I'm also including a few who saw to it that I didn't "peak" too soon ; - )

They are (in random order):

Makati Molekwa, Richard Carter, Lauren Shapiro & Les Ofchinsky, Shrek, Faith Kekana, Stella Khumalo, Mar Gueye, Daniel Othuke Isele,  Barry Crystal, Pops Mohamed, Tshidi Kekana, Rob Mattner (immeasurably), Tala, Fall Modou, Glen Mafoko, Donald Paul @ The Big Issue, Bebe Lueki, Cindy Alter, Jaz Rice, Gola, Mabeleng, Dio Santos, Angela Ludek @ Radio 2000, Brooks Spector @ Radio Today, Ralf Schmitt, Tumi Moroka and Bafana, The Crew at Bedfordview - Jim Morrison, Monica and Radius, Khaya Mahlangu, McCoy Mrubatha, Sidney Mavundla, Zubz, Phosho, Peter Pearlson, Neill Solomon, Nadine Richardson @ Africa Magic + TV, Warren Liebman and all at African Drum Cafe, Riaan Van Rensburg, Michael Levy, Jo Van Driessche, Raymond Joseph, Shana Kokwane, DJ Fix @ Y-FM, Hamid Idjou @ MTV - SA, Percy Mabandu @ Mail & Guardian, Shabalala @ Sunday Times, Khomotso @ The Star,  Helga and Jeremy @ Total Exposure, Yemi Conga, Sam Ibeh, Thuli Dumakude, Jill Derderian, Diana @ African Market, Evan Milton @FMR Radio, Don, et al @ Plum Records, Everyone from Moyo's that last Sun night - Shaggy, Elhadj, the rest of the band... Mabu Vinyl, All the folks a Usmanya Tandoori, All the folks at Imagique, Dr. Fuller (Mar's Physio!), Lawrence (car), Harold Silber, Bumper's Repair, Ralph Margo,George and Joseph - The Revolution, Gabi LeRoux, Jayne Mayne, Vernon, Kgwalepa "Kay" Manamela,Gary Skirrow @ African Cream Records, Trevor @ African Music Store, Tony McLaughlin, Rob Allingham, Elhadj Cissoko, Welcome Msomi, Gcina Mhlophe, Dave Reynolds, Ben Van Rensburg, CX Pallets, Fred Fruylinghiser @ Elite Freight, Thabo Lehlongwa, Busi, Joao Da Graca, Kayla Young Photography, Peter Cato (drum fumigation!),

I know I'm probably missing a few but this is a pretty good representation.
For the love AND the "schooling," you all have my undying appreciation.

Happy New Year! Woza 2011!
Uxolo,
Ema

A Couple of Announcements: Website, CD, Tour-2011

Hi All - San'bonani, Hola, Bonjour, Salaam "Heita"!

Well boys and girls, after a lengthier than planned "decompression" period following the robust marketing / PR campaign for Ownership  in South Africa*, I'm happy to announce that we're gonna be "workin it" on the US side - concentrating all efforts on marketing and touring in support of the album over here.

* [There are so many people to thank in South Africa, but let me get through this announcement and then I'll tend to that in the next posting].

OK, First of all, things moved so quickly with the launch in Jo'burg, that I never got the website up before going over. I can now cross that item off of the "to do" list. WWW.EMAWORLDROCK.COM  is officially up and active. So for all info on "all things Ema" - news, music, videos, tour dates, etc., GO THERE!

Second, (short and sweet) I have a lot of material that is waiting to be realized and reified. So I will begin working on the next album in early spring 2011.

But before that (and thirdly), it's time to start performing stateside "finally!", I know). One rather stinging lesson that came out of the South Africa campaign is that trying to tour a 9 piece band is an economically unsustainable proposal in the current industry climate (unless you're Springsteen or Beyonce'). So no "big burst" strategy for the US; I'll be starting off a bit more modestly. I was asked to do some rather informal, intimate solo performances in Cape Town and Joburg and I've had enough inquiries this side that I'm going to be doing a series of "House Concert" tours starting in January 2011.

I have stripped down a lot of the material from Ownership  for solo performances and am quite excited really about the way it's all coming out. I'll also be sharing a few tales from Jo'burg and maybe even throwing in some older material as well as an occasional traditional SA piece. I do plan to gradually expand the line-up in a "modular" fashion for duo, trio or quartet (depending on size, style and budget of venue) with an eye towards a full band as things progress (maybe even finally getting some of my musical family over from eMsanzi side!)

Until then, if anyone's interested in attending or hosting a house concert, I'm booking for the East Coast starting in Jan. For more info, check it out: www.emaworldrock.com/houseconcerts.htm I'll also be making a couple of very special concert announcements shortly so check back here soon!

OK thassall fer now except for a quick pitch: I hope you'll consider giving the gift of music for the holidays. Remember, giving a copy of Ownership is a dual gift: Your loved one receives a CD of finely crafted and compelling music and you support independent, artist owned work. Thanks. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and
"Festivus-for-the-rest-of-us!" (chuckle)

Peace and Love,
Ema