The Studio One Revamp

As part of the refurbishments of Studio One at Downtown Studios, the studio was kitted out with a "state-of-theart" Solid Statio Logic Duality SE Mixing Console ... the only one of its kind on the continent. 

Video: Sandile Sethi

Look who was at the Downtown Studios ...

Rebecca Malope and Taryn Gill in Studio One

Guess who was recording in Studio One at Downtown Studios last week ... none other than the Queen of Gospel herself, Rebecca Malope. Taryn Gill popped in to chat to her.

Two minutes with Sbu Dludlu

We had time for a quick chat with Sbu Dludlu, one of the winners in the Downtown Studios Studio One Lock Out competition ... this is what he had to say:

Where are you from?
I am from Duduza in Nigel on the East Rand

What is your background in music?
My background in music has been an adventure because I have worked
with the best in the industry. Artists such as Mbuso Khoza, Berita,
Kelly Khumalo, Bheki Nqoko, Xoli Nkosi, Andy Narrel and Musa Manzini.

When did you know that you wanted to be an artist?
I knew that I wanted to be an artist when I was about 8 years old.

What's steps have you taken to realising your dream?
I have tried to get a recording deal but have never succeeded and so I went ahead and registered my own company, Mtima Records.

What does winning the Studio One Lock Out competition mean to you?
Winning this competition is big for me because I have always hoped to be able to record my album in a big studio such as Downtown Studios.

Where do you hope to see yourself in the next five years?
In 5 years I hope to have have sold many CDs and to have my own studio as well.

What advice can you give younger aspirant artists just like you?

The best advise that I can give to younger and aspiring artists would be that they must know the business side of music as well so that they can know what not to sign in some contracts.
Thanks Sbu, we wish you the best of luck! 

And the winners are ...

Darryl Heilbrunn, seasoned SAMA's judge

After an overwhelming number of entries, and much deliberation, we are pleased to announce the winners of the Studio One Lock Out competition.

To enter, these guys had to submit a song to seasoned SAMA judge Darryl Heilbrunn. Darryl and his panel, which included Levy Mhlongo and Douglas Hook, were pleased to note that many of the entrants went to a lot of trouble to ensure that they presented decent demos that were well recorded and listenable. 

"The standard of the entries received was pretty good," said Darryl. "The production standards were high and finding the top three proved to be quite a challenge."

The congratulations goes to Richard Hala, Sbu Dludlu and Stephen van Deventer who have each won a two day lock out in the iconic Studio One, with a sound engineer.

We can't wait to hear what the outcome of their sessions!