Taking Note: The sounds of struggle

SOUNDING OFF: 'A Glimpse of South African Music Heritage', curated by Vusi Mchunu, is now on at Downtown Studios 
Image by: ALON SKUY

By Penelope Mashego, The Times | 30 July, 2014

Struggle sounds have been immortalised at a new museum at Downtown Studios in Johannesburg, where visitors can hear the songs that shaped South Africa's rich and vibrant music heritage.

"We haven't had a music museum. This is a scandal," curator Vusi Mchunu said lamenting the lack of historical music spaces in South Africa.

"There are music collections in universities as part of music departments, but we haven't had dedicated spaces to show our musical tradition."

The studios, declared a heritage site by the Department of Arts and Culture, are where many struggle sounds were created.

Mchunu gave some background: "This was a white town. Blacks used to wait [to record] and sleep in their cars because they couldn't use the hotels here."

The current exhibition,A Glimpse of South African Music Heritage, offers insight into how and why artists recorded here, from 1979 when Downtown Studios was first established.

The pictures on the walls and the antique musical instruments transport visitors to another era, when music was a form of protest and escape. Legendary musicians such as Chicco Twala, Lucky Dube, Sipho Hotstix Mabuse, Miriam Makeba and Yvonne Chaka Chaka worked at the studios. Chaka Chaka, among others, still does.

To reflect its rich and diverse history, the museum has a msamo (shrine) containing the Bible, Koran, Bhagavad Gita and Tibetan Book of the Dead, along with African religious artefacts.

"Musicians regard this as a holy and sacred place," Mchunu said, adding that many artists like to pray at the studios before recording or performing.

He said the museum, which opened this month, will grow to include more exhibitions and memorabilia over time.

"Can you imagine us laying our hands on Miriam Makeba's wardrobe and having it on display? That would be mind-blowing."

Jazz legend and Downtown Studios chairman Don Laka said he has been recording at the studios since they opened.

"It's been a historic journey for me," Laka said.

"It is emotional because it is a story of who we are musically and who we are as artists."

Laka said he enjoyed recording at the studios back in the day, and he is looking forward to recording some new music using the revamped facilities.

• The museum is at 62 Goud Street, Johannesburg Johannesburg.info@dtmh.co.za

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! 

Two minutes with Stephen van Deventer

We caught up with Downtown Studios Studio One Lock Out winner Stephen van Deventer, for a quick chat and this is what he had to say.

Where are you from?
* Centurion, Pretoria

What is your background in music?

* I took it as a subject when I was 14, felt a bit forced by my mom to be honest, but it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I taught myself guitar when I was 16, and started looping at 18.

When did you know that you wanted to be an artist?

*At 14, when I performed for the first time, I knew this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

What’s steps have you taken to realising your dream?

*I've learned instruments, started performing and being active on social media as an artist.

What does winning the Downtown Studios Studio One Lock Out competition mean to you?

* Winning means a lot because the recordings will help me create an excellent demo for my future, hopefully help me with a recording label.

Where do you hope to see yourself in the next five years?

* I see myself on stage with some fans knowing the lyrics to my songs and some just jamming out wanting to learn my songs :) 

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

* Not that I'm in a position to give advice because I'm also starting out but I would say to never give up, don't always do what people say, just follow your heart.

Thanks for the chat Stephen, we wish you the best of luck! 

Meet our winners!

Studio One Lock Out competition winners Sbu Dludlu and Stephen van Deventer

We got to spend the morning with two of our Studio One Lock Out competition winners last Wednesday morning, Sbu Dludlu and Stephen van Deventer.
They joined us at The Downtown Music Hub along with some media, Darryl Heilbrunn, GM of The Downtown Music Hub and Harvey Roberts of Bula Music.

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!