Breaking New Music: The Muffinz, “Ghetto.”
[Shumi Madima, I love you.]
So this is a story about this place where we come from
In South Africa we call it eKasi
The rest of the world calls it the ghetto
Some places just call it the hood…
Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you… The Muffinz.
Image via their Facebook page: The Muffinz Live.
The Muffinz only just released their debut album, Have You Heard, last month (30th May, to be precise - Yep, just 2 days old/new).
“Ghetto” is the first video off that project, and my my, aren’t they captivating.
Image via their Facebook page: The Muffinz Live.
The 5 gentlemen…
- Simphiwe ‘Simz’ Kulla - G-Clef
- Mthabisi ‘Mthae’ Sibanda - G-Clef
- Gregory ‘Keke’ Mabusela - Drummer
- Karabo ‘Skabz’ Moeketsi - Bass Guitarist
- Sifiso ‘Atomza’ Buthelezi - Guitarist
…have this as why they called themselves The Muffinz:
“We wanted a name that would be remembered, something catchy but a name that people would want to find out more about. Plus, we all come from different backgrounds musically and so we all bring different ingredients - as in the ingredients in a muffin.”
Image via their Facebook page: The Muffinz Live.
Gentlemen, well done. Gold star.
*-*-*
Sidebar:
This track calls back a classic from Sauti Sol’s debut album, Mwanzo: “Nairobi” ft. Stan.
And on that note: I’d like to see The Muffinz and Sauti Sol share a stage. Actually, a line-up of these two, plus Elani and Fena.
Now that would be fun. Yes indeed.
![Meet Elani.
[@elanimuziki on Twitter.] Beautiful people. Enchanting singing voices.
Little birdie tells me this is them reemerging from a bit of a hiatus. A recording hiatus. Good times ahead.
Details as in the photo.
See you this evening then.
*-*-*
Sidebar:
More about Elani here, here, here, here and here.
Also, here, here, here and here.
And here.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1aa1jXPe61qjy4n3o1_500.jpg)
Meet Elani.
[@elanimuziki on Twitter.] Beautiful people. Enchanting singing voices.
Little birdie tells me this is them reemerging from a bit of a hiatus. A recording hiatus. Good times ahead.
Details as in the photo.
See you this evening then.
*-*-*
Sidebar:
More about Elani here, here, here, here and here.
Also, here, here, here and here.
And here.
I’ll be honest: I’m rather jealous of photographers. That ability to freeze time at the most expressive of moments is a true gift.
The fact that someone would take their time, taking - I’m told - up to 1,000 images, and spending hours going through each one of those pieces of time to give just 50 or fewer images for us to remember the moments by… It takes a unique brand of love for your craft.
I salute you lot.
I’ve had the honour of seeing such moments from four of these good people - James Reumac Nyakenyanya, The Magic Lens, Quaint Photography, The Focus Photography - moments frozen from Elani’s Urban Expression this past Friday (16th December 2011). Truly can’t wait to see what else is out there.
My favourite thus far, The Top Twelve Shots Taken at Elani’s Urban Expression:
12.
11.
10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
All that were present for that electrifying edition of Elani’s Urban Expression, hands up.
*sea of hands*
In case you haven’t heard of The Magic Lens, well, you need to know this man. Gifted chap, as you’ll see.
But back to the Urban Expression experience: The Top 12 moments of Elani’s Urban Expression, as captured by The Magic Lens…
12. Freedoooooom is coming, tomorrow… Yes, they did an amazing cover off the universally recognised movie, “Sarafina!”
9. Sarabi. This is a group that wowed us all as they warmed us up for Elani’s grand entrance. I hear the creak in my bones as I admit this: Can’t the lads dance!
10. A section of the brilliant crowd giving it up for Elani…
9. Bryan Chweya, lawyer by training, at some point had a garment thrown at him from the crowd. An undergarment. True story.
8. This here lady, Wambui Ngugi, is a rock star. Simple as that. Jumped off stage at some point to dance with us folk in the crowd. Someone told me of a time her insane levels of energy had her falling of stage - No, ye sadists, did not happen in this case.
7. Listen to that. Listen. To. That. Yes, I know you can hear her voice through the photo. Urban Expression marked the first open stage on which Maureen Kunga played the guitar - and she wasn’t bad. Wasn’t bad at all.
6. Nanjira dashed over to Alliance Francaise as soon as she had the chance (She’s doing the Love And Protest tour with Eric Wainaina); her and Mr. Chimano here make for quit the fun-loving duo.
5. Beautiful people, right? Neenu and Soraya - 2 ladies I truly am glad to know. Look again: There’s the random chap at the back with… What’s that expression on his face?
4. As regards the stage photos of Elani, this has to be my favourite. That’s all there is to say about this one.
3. Pure ecstasy.
2. There’s a face that has made it twice into this Top 12 list. Look at her expression. (Especially against her friend beside her…)
1. And at the top of the list…
Elani
I won’t even lie: I have a mini-obsession with these guys.
Elani performing “Kuku” in concert earlier on this year.
Catch them live in this year’s edition of Elani’s Urban Expression, 16th December at the Alliance Francaise.
