Latitudes and rain collaborate with six local artists to reimagine their latest 5g range

May 30, 2025 | Lifestyle, Art

The 2025 RMB Latitudes Art Fair took place at the Shepstone Gardens in Johannesburg from 23–25 May 2025. The Fair has become a standout event on Johannesburg’s cultural calendar, celebrated for its unique, immersive approach to experiencing contemporary African art. 

Part of what made the Fair special — beyond the art — was how people moved through it. The experience unfolded across indoor and outdoor spaces, encouraging visitors to wander, pause, and engage. This became even more valuable as the environment invited guests to explore art in a dynamic and multi-sensory way.

rain, the Fair’s official 5G connectivity partner, made that movement seamless. Their the101 pro™ smart router offered high-speed 5G wifi throughout the space, letting guests stay connected without interruption. No queues, no logins — just a network that kept up.

In a setting shaped by light, scale, and texture, documentation became part of the experience. And with stable connectivity, capturing and sharing those moments felt natural, not forced.

rain is a brand that has always been committed to celebrating local creativity and talent, and to reiterate this, they unveiled the new 101 art skins collection, featuring work by six local artists: Amy Ayanda Lester, Davina de Beer, Balekane Legoabe, Nessi Penman, Nkhensani Mkhari, and Peter Eastman. rain also showcased another collaboration at the fair—their ‘state of the art’ piece created by local artist Black Koki, featuring his bold, original work designed exclusively for the the101™ 5G smart range.

Photograph of Nkhensani Mkhari. All imagery courtesy of rain

Photograph of Davina De Beer. All imagery courtesy of rain

Photograph of Balekane Legoabe. All imagery courtesy of rain

 About the Artists:

Amy Ayanda Lester is a Cape Town-based painter and printmaker, working in bold colour and abstract, loose forms. She finds inspiration in the local landscape, particularly in the flora, colours and people. Her art frequently features proteas, fynbos, and the iconic mountain silhouette, drawing from her family’s experience of connection to the land.

Davina de Beer is a South African multimedia visual artist based in Spain and South Africa. In her current studio work she uses muted colours alongside vivid blues and greens in paintings informed by patterns found in tile designs in Andalusia, Spain. The subdued colours together with dripping paint and faded imagery speak of memory and loss.

Photograph of Amy Ayanda Lester. All imagery courtesy of rain

Photograph of Nessi Penman. All imagery courtesy of rain

Photograph of Peter Eastman. All imagery courtesy of rain

Balekane Legoabe is an artist, curator, illustrator, motion designer, art teacher and reiki practitioner based in Cape Town, South Africa. Her work explores the relationship between nature, spirituality and identity through the interrogation of personal and collective histories. She gets visual inspiration from ancient rock art and cave paintings; African, Eastern and Western mythology, as well as language, metaphor, ritual and family. 

Nessi Penman is an impressionist, contemporary painter. Her artistic technique involves the application of heavy impasto layers of oil paint, resulting in textured and multi-dimensional artwork. Through her paintings, she aspires to evoke a sense of tranquillity and foster a deep appreciation for the natural world. 

Nkhensani Mkhari is a South African nomadic artist. His diverse body of work is distinguished by an observation of his surroundings and an ongoing investigation of the artistic medium’s foundations. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant cultural and social landscapes of South Africa, Mkhari’s art delves into themes of identity, community, and the human condition.

Peter Eastman is a painter based in South Africa. Over the last few years, his substrate of choice has been aluminium to which he applies amongst other things enamel, resin, wax, graphite and oil paint. His subject matter is the natural world, which he uses to express ideas about memory, erosion, decay, growth and time.

Black Koki is a South African born visual artist. Crafted from experiences making drawings, painting and street art, his current artistic practice is post-graffiti, reflecting an interest in the relationship between space and data. He investigates warped spaces and textures that seem to define an urban reality augmented by the digital world. 

“At Latitudes, our mission is to make art accessible while championing opportunities for local artists, and we’re proud to continue this journey with rain,” said Roberta Coci, co-founder of Latitudes. “As the official connectivity partner of the 2025 RMB Latitudes Art Fair, rain once again provided free wifi to over 9 000 visitors, ensuring seamless connection throughout the event. But they went beyond infrastructure: through an inspired collaboration with six local Latitudes artists, rain launched a new collection of router skins that bring art directly into people’s homes. It’s a powerful example of how local brands can use their platforms to celebrate South African creativity and foster a deeper love of art across the country.”

The the101 skins art collection will be available to new rainOne customers starting June 2025.

For more information, visit rain.co.za

 

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Urbs & Cutex release ‘Wherever You Are’, from their upcoming album

May 30, 2025 | New Release, Music

‘Wherever You Are’ is the first teaser single from Urbs & Cutex’s upcoming album “On Our Way”, to be released on 13 of June 2025.

After a hiatus of almost a quarter of a century Vienna’s beat maestros Urbs & Cutex return with what is effectively their first ever rap song featuring New York MC T.R.A.C. (of Visioneers fame). Continuing exactly where they left 22 years earlier ‘Wherever You Are’ sets the mood – a smooth yet uplifting party anthem for all and an appetizer for their upcoming album On Our Way.

About the upcoming album “On Our Way”:

After no less than 22 years Vienna’s veteran musicians Urbs & Cutex release their third album “On Our Way”. Full of a laid-back mood and uplifting beats this surprising release finds them in fine form, staying true to their trademark sound while subtly expanding and evolving to create a unique blend of HipHop and Downtempo.

Urbs & Cutex (pronounced Cut Ex) are a duo from Vienna specialising in laid-back instrumental music that combines classic East Coast Hip Hop with elements of Triphop and Downtempo. Both started out as DJs in the early 90s making their first steps in production separately before connecting to form what is considered one of the defining groups out of Vienna’s rich electronic scene of the period. The two albums released in the early 2000s are being rediscovered by new generations of listeners and have accumulated millions of plays on various streaming platforms.

After a hiatus of 22 years, several solo albums (amongst others Urbs’ solo outings “Toujours Le Meme Film” and “Geheimland”) and dozens of singles, remixes and collaborations they join forces again to find their mojo still fully intact, continuing exactly where they had stopped two decades earlier. With charming stubbornness they create music that will sound retro to some and timeless to others. “We search for everlasting truths” they calmly state. The album begins with the familiar style of their 2003 album “Peace Talks!”, combining soulful and jazzy loops with dope HipHop beats, even surprising us with what is the first rap part on any of their albums courtesy of New York’s T.R.A.C. (of Visioneers fame).

A few songs in the style evolves into something new and entirely unique, as they use elaborate arrangements and artful layering of samples to create songs that go beyond mere loops prevalent in HipHop.

Over the duration of 14 tracks Urbs & Cutex expertly balance uplifting moments with deep and hypnotic sequences. They create a laid-back atmosphere but manage to avoid the dullness of chillout music and the stale uniformity of modern Lo-fi and Boom Bap.

 

Listen to ‘Wherever You Are’ here

 

Press Release courtesy of Beat Department 

Charles Webster releases ‘Free’ and ‘Many Blessings’

May 30, 2025 | New Release, Music

Presenting the next two singles from Charles Webster‘s forthcoming album ‘Charles Webster And The South African Connection – From The Hill’: ‘Free’ with Atmos Blaq and ‘Many Blessings’ with China Charmeleon and Girly.

Following his lead single, ‘Bakulindele’ featuring Muzi, Charles Webster returns with the next two instalments of his collaborative project on Stay True Sounds. This entire album is crafted with beats sent by some of the finest talents in South Africa’s underground music scene and refined at Flame Studios in Johannesburg.

 

‘Free’, is a deep, immersive journey into the expansive electronic textures that Webster’s best known for. This time, the legendary producer joins forces with Atmos Blaq, one of the most exciting names in South Africa’s 3-step music movement. Hailing from Dobsonville, Soweto, Atmos Blaq is a future-facing producer redefining the landscape of South African electronic music. A unique collaboration, ‘Free’ is a track rich in texture that floats freely through ambient tones and spacious sounds while highlighting the driving three-kick drum rhythm that defines 3-step. This partnership merges Webster’s seasoned creations as an OG producer with Atmos Blaq’s raw creativity. “It’s not about making a hit,” Webster reflects in the pair’s studio chats. “When music comes from the heart, people connect with it.” Atmos Blaq adds, “I got to be free… we created magic.” The magic is unmistakable in ‘Free’, a tune that captures the essence of both artists by bridging generations, cultures, and creative minds to create one incredible soundscape.

The third single ‘Many Blessings’ is a House piece that showcases remarkable artistry and musical synergy. This track delivers an immersive experience, seamlessly blending organic and electronic elements that echo Webster’s legendary Café de Flore remix while reflecting his deep connection to South Africa’s vibrant house music scene. Featuring the ethereal vocals of Girly from Delft Western Cape, Nkulu Keys’ emotive chords, and Chris Moolman’s rich basslines, Many Blessings achieves a balanced mix of South African rhythms and European electronic influences. “Working on ‘Many Blessings’ was a joy… very natural and alive with ideas and emotion. Collaborating with talented musicians and vocalists truly makes the whole process a delight.” — Charles Webster. A true sonic journey, ‘Many Blessings’ celebrates the rich musical heritage of Johannesburg and Cape Town. 

 

Listen to ‘Many Blessings’ and ‘Free’ here

 

Press release courtesy of Only Good Stuff

The Textured Legacy Of Mohair in South Africa

May 29, 2025 | Fashion, Interlude

Mohair carries with it the rhythm of the Karoo. The story goes that in 1838, the Sultan of Turkey gifted 12 infertile Angora rams and one ewe to South Africa; unbeknown to everyone, the ewe aboard the ship was pregnant and thus the first lineage of Angora goats were born in South Africa. Today, amidst the erosion of our textile industry due to rapid globalisation and market competition, the shorn coats of Angora goats and its resulting lustrous mohair wool remains one of our strongest textile stories. This month’s chapter of Interlude is a glance at this luscious fibre, and some of the key figures associated with celebrating its use today.

This topic is broad and as my disclaimer for Interlude perennially remains; this Chapter is by no means exhaustive; may it simply spark your appreciation for an inimitable yarn adorning South African textile legacy. 

Mohair is rooted in a landscape that teaches stillness, patience, and endurance, across large swathes of the arid landscapes of the Karoo. Sheared from the coats of Angora goats, mohair is one of our most extraordinary exports: the fibre is light yet strong, luminous yet grounded. Its journey from the arid plains of the Eastern and Western Cape to the ateliers of Paris, London, and Tokyo traces a lineage of labour and land, colonisation and liberation.  

Lukhanyo Mdingi’s Bridges Collection, photographed by Johno Mellish, via lukhanyomdingi.com Archives

Angora Goats, courtesy of Mohair South Africa’s Press Kit via mohair.co.za

South Africa is the world’s leading producer of mohair, responsible for approximately 51% of global supply. This is an incredible feat, and a prized jewel in our textile, fashion and design spaces; and working with mohair for South African designers has become a kind of rite of passage. Most of our Angora goats are farmed in the Karoo, where the extreme climate—hot, dry summers and cold winters—combined with semi-desert vegetation, creates the ideal conditions for growing premium fleece. These goats have been selectively bred and genetically refined for generations in the pursuit of perfection, resulting in a fibre that is renowned for its quality and consistency.

Twice a year, Angora goats are sheared by hand—an art passed down across generations. From there, the mohair goes through a meticulous series of processes: shearing, classing, scouring, carding, combing, and spinning. Each stage requires knowledge and care. The result is a fibre that holds colour richly, resists creasing, and maintains its shape with graceful ease. Though soft and delicate to the touch, mohair holds that stunning ability intrinsic to most animal-based fibres of resilience. 

The story of mohair is a narrative of intimacy—between farmers and their flocks, between makers and the potential of materiality. This intimacy is supported and protected by Mohair South Africa, the industry body that oversees quality and ethical standards from farm to fashion. Through their traceability programme, mohair threads can be linked to a specific farm; with their important advocacy ensuring transparency, protecting animal welfare, and preserving rural livelihoods.

Beyond standards and quality, Mohair South Africa is also investing in the future of the industry. One of their key missions is to support emerging Black South African mohair farmers, partnering with those who meet the criteria and helping them establish themselves within the wider mohair sector. This initiative is essential to creating a more inclusive and sustainable industry that reflects our broader social and political transformation as a country, and as the organisation itself explains, “we unite a vibrant and passionate network of stakeholders across the farm-to-fashion supply chain. Our unwavering commitment to sustainable farming practices, research and development, and education and training for farmers positions us as a key player in the global mohair market.”

As I’ve noted, and in a country where textile manufacturing has been heavily eroded, mohair remains a living exception. It offers continuity where other fibres have faded. Designers drawn to its tactility are working with a material that offers both creative potential and ethical weight, and through local production, mohair sustains farms, millworkers, weavers, and tailors. It touches many hands before it becomes a finished garment.

Among those who have worked most thoughtfully with mohair is Lukhanyo Mdingi, whose collections trace the intersection of heritage, process, and emotion. In his work, mohair appeared in finely finished coats, softly latticed dresses, fluid silhouettes, and tactile layers—developed in collaboration with rural artisans and spinners. Since his first collection over a decade ago, Lukhanyo’s commitment to artisanship in both process and creativity saw him visiting farms, listening to the stories embedded in every skein, and always allowing the fibre and the hands that make to guide the design process. As we know, Lukhanyo’s work has appeared internationally from Milan to Paris, and his LVMH win in 2021 brought intense visibility to South African mohair, among many other techniques and textile innovations, to the world stage.

Mohair Weaving, courtesy of Mohair South Africa’s Press Kit via mohair.co.za

Fransiena Moos for Frances VH Mohair, titled ‘Voorskoot Vygie’, photographed by Ané Strydom, via francesvh.com

Frances VH, the label of designer Frances van Hasselt, offers another interpretation altogether. Raised on a mohair farm, Frances understands the fibre intimately, both technically and emotionally. Made together with women artisans in the Eastern Cape, Frances’ designs play with sculptural silhouettes, negative space, and experimental weaves, allowing mohair to take on unexpected textures and tones. Always centering the people of the Karoo to whom Frances owes her lineage, she continues to showcase the incredible diversity of mohair in innumerable ways. I am currently head over heels for her recently launched kidswear collaboration with Big Little Store; kaleidoscopic mohair jackets for little ones, have you ever?

Cape Town-based Mors Design approaches mohair from the vantage point of functional comfort. Their collections span fashion and interior, from oversized scarves and knit jerseys, to these incredible mohair bonnets. Each piece invites touch, and mohair as its central and only textile retains its sense of place, anchoring the studio’s work in a local kind of luxury.

In the hands of these designers, mohair hums with continuity, charting a future legacy of softness, slowness and respect amidst the beckoning chaos of fast-fashion and hyper-consumptive fashion manufacturing. Mohair remains still and reminds us to be steady in our approach; treasuring what we own with authorship and care. 

For Fall 2013, Stella McCartney collaborated with mohair and textile manipulators to create the ‘Bryce’ Ivory Mohair Faux Fur Jacket—a cruelty-free response to the plush silhouette of traditional fur. Similarly innovative, Issey Miyake’s 2025 ‘EASE AND EASED’ collection drew inspiration from the shape of a kamigoromo (a paper kimono), using hemp washi paper for the base, with hemp as the warp and a mohair-wool blend for the weft—merging ancient form with future-facing fibre design. 

These designers have been drawn to the fibre’s softness and sheen, and to the traceability and ethics behind it. One of the most striking global moments for South African mohair came in Dior’s Fall 2022 menswear collection, where mohair appeared in tailored outerwear and oversized knits. Kim Jones, Dior’s creative director at the time, would go on to celebrate the Karoo even more broadly through a collaboration with South African ceramicist Hylton Nel; the Dior Men’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection, unveiled in June 2024. Drawing inspiration from Nel’s whimsical ceramic works, the collection featured motifs and elements that celebrated the Karoo region’s artistry. 

These applications affirm mohair’s range, and point to South African mohair’s integrity beginning on the land. Mohair farming depends on regenerative agricultural cycles—a necessity in a region in which drought is a constant concern. Many South African farmers are adopting practices that preserve soil health, conserve water, and rotate pastures, ensuring that the goats remain healthy and the ecosystem resilient. Well-cared-for goats live longer and produce finer fleece. The fibre itself holds the imprint of this attention—its sheen and strength a reflection of the wellbeing of both the animals and the environment. We have much to learn from the deep interconnectedness of fibres: how they are grown and cared for, and how they eventually arrive in the garments we wear or the textiles we wrap ourselves in.

As autumn settles across the southern hemisphere, mohair is returning to our wardrobes and interiors. It arrives as a textured presence—rich in memory and gentle in its assertion. In a season that invites layering, mohair offers anchoring and a resistance to excess, that we as South Africans can be deeply proud of and root for. 

To me, mohair embodies our future—a fashion future that is rooted in care and aligned with nature. As the fashion world reimagines its systems, mohair stands ready. It holds a memory of land and our history, and championing mohair offers a case study about where South African fashion can go when we are guided by clarity of vision and a willingness to listen.

 

Written by Holly Bell Beaton

 

For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za

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Community & The Divine Feminine: Inside The Alien Universe Of Khan Khalii

May 26, 2025 | Interviews, Music

One of life’s most frustrating yet intriguing facets is striking a delicate balance of our celestial energies. By that, I’m referring to the push and pull of the divine masculine and feminine. My interest in the divine feminine is sparked by how it is heralded as the home for fertility, creativity and intuition. For Tongaat-born-Pretoria-based singer and songwriter Nontokozo Qhobosheane, affectionately known as Khan Khalii, the sanctimonious frequency found in musical expression is how she channels her divine feminine through song, bold narrative and community.

With a rich catalogue boasting projects like “Gods Never Die, Vol. 1,” “Sooner,”  and collaborations like “VERSIONS Doubles, Vol.1,” “Moonlight,” “Oasis Park III”, and “VERSIONS Soundtrack, Pt 2” Khan’s artistry is nuanced by ethereal soundscapes that are complemented by emotive, raw storytelling. Blending Soul, R&B, and experimental textures, her music feels almost ritualistic — immersive, genre-defying, and deeply spiritual. Listening becomes a trance-like experience: part ancestral healing, part cosmic drift.

Her latest opus, “Lumeria”, serves as a marker of her artistic growth and conceptual brilliance. The serene seven-track offering is the first of a four-part concept universe set in an angelic alien world inhabited only by women. Through exploring grief, growth and transformation, we are warped into a sonic journey where we confront our shadows, facilitating much-needed inner work, grappling with the seven stages of grief at every turn to emerge from the listening experience with a renewed sense of strength.

Photography by Neo Lesego Kgotlagomang

Photography by Sibu Ngcobo of Everything Films

Khan’s feminine divinity unravels in her sense of community and business acumen, and this is evident through her being selected as one of thirty-five global fellows for the Versions Fellowship, Digital Lab Africa Music Cohort 2023, the Bridgefire Program, In The City, Basha Uhuru and Fak’ugesi African Digital innovation Festival where she contributed to the music industry through initiatives that use music to advocate for social justice, cross-disciplinary collaboration, digital innovation and more.

Above and beyond her impressive corporate profile, my favourite initiative of hers is Khan’s Korner, which started during COVID on Clubhouse, a workshop series for women and queer creatives focused on demystifying the music business and empowering marginalised voices through prioritising wellness and empowering her budding community with the skills, the tools and the education to navigating an extremely turbulent and uncertain industry riddled with entrepreneurial hurdles.

Curious about the genius behind the spiritual evolution, I shared an interesting conversation about her beginnings, the concept behind “Lumeria,” how certain songs shape her artistry and the misconceptions she deals with as an artist who is gaining international recognition. 

Take me back to the beginning. Please tell us about who you are and the journey you went on growing up that led to you creating music?

Khan Khalii: “My name is Khan Khalii. I’m a singer, songwriter, and music producer. I was born in Tongaat, KZN, but grew up in Pretoria. Music has always been central to my life—I spent much of my childhood in choir. I tried drama, too, but being naturally shy, it didn’t quite work out for me.

Growing up, I immersed myself in music, watching countless videos on VH1 and MTV Base. I also devoted time to writing poetry, which became an essential creative outlet. Deep down, I always knew music would be my path, even if I wasn’t sure exactly how it would happen.

My musical influences are diverse but meaningful. In high school, I connected deeply with The Soulquarians. Artists like Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, and Simphiwe Dana hold a special place in my heart. I also went through a significant Lebo Mathosa phase back then. I’ve consistently been drawn to artists who are unapologetically different and Black—I could see reflections of myself in them.

For me, making music is truly an act of worship. When I write, I feel closest to God, and with every song, I experience a kind of rebirth. The only way I can describe it is that I feel like I’m in church—it’s that sacred and transformative.”

Lumeria is set in an angelic alien universe inhabited only by women. What inspired this specific vision, and what does this setting allow you to express that a more conventional approach wouldn’t?

Khan Khalii: “The soundscape I was creating needed to exist entirely in a different universe—there was no way it could belong in our normal day-to-day reality. This creative direction coincided with a difficult period in my life. I was going through an existential crisis after losing my best friend, my cousin, and several family members in succession.

So, the idea emerged to create music that would belong to another universe altogether. When you’re building worlds, you naturally need to envision the beings who inhabit them. I’ve always felt safest around women, which inspired me to imagine a universe where only women existed.

During COVID, I went down an astrology rabbit hole and stumbled upon Lemuria—a mystical land that exists in mythology. Though my knowledge isn’t extensive, this discovery resonated with me. It made me reflect on the historical absence of Black women in science fiction until relatively recently.

That realisation sparked something deeper. I wanted to create a world where Black female alien superheroes would listen to this kind of music and feel cool and beautiful—a universe where they could truly belong and see themselves represented.”

Watch “Lesedi Laka” here

Photography by Sibu Ngcobo of Everything Films

Photography by Neo Lesego Kgotlagomang

“Imprint,” “Blood On My Hands,” “Phehello’s Interlude”, and “ILY” are some of my favourite tracks from “Lumeria”. What unique elements in each of these songs do you feel best represent different facets of your artistic identity?

Khan Khalii: “Wow. Okay. With ‘Phehello’s Interlude’, that’s a very special song for me. I didn’t think people would connect to it the way they have. That track contains the last voice note my best friend had sent to me—literally the last time we ever spoke. So, I’d say that represents a very sentimental, intentional, and sincere element of my artistry.

For ‘Imprint,’ it’s very love-coded and emotional—quite mushy. Ironically, I don’t like ‘Imprint’ that much, though it’s become one of the songs people connect with most. I understand why, though. The song is essentially about a love that didn’t reach its full potential but didn’t materialise or work out. Many people have had those experiences, so with ‘Imprint,’ I’d say the key element is relatability.

‘Blood On My Hands’ was an extremely challenging song to write. The process took over a year, starting back in 2023. I needed to figure out the soundscape first, and once I felt comfortable with that, I had to determine what story I was trying to tell within it. The song is about someone being gaslit and figuring out how to leave someone who’s hurting them. That may also be relatability, but it’s much more cinematic. Yes, I would categorise that one as representing my cinematic side.

And ‘ILY’—I wrote that song for my best friend Phehello before he passed away. He was going through a challenging period of depression and felt like the whole world was turning against him. It wasn’t a good time for my friend, and the only way I could truly show Phehello how much I cared was to write this song for him. I wanted him to know that no matter what happened in life or his challenges, I would always create a safe space where he could come over, hang out, and just forget about his problems for a while.

‘ILY’ represents safety because so many people walk around feeling unloved, unappreciated, and invisible. I wrote it for anyone who feels unseen, unheard, or underappreciated. Often, the most sincere, kindest, and hardest-working people get pushed aside because they might not have the most bravado, aren’t the loudest, or just prefer observing from the background. ‘ILY’ is truly for the wallflowers. I really believe that.”

As a South African artist gaining international attention, what misconceptions about African music do you most often encounter, and how does your work challenge those perceptions?

Khan Khalii: “From my experience working with international producers, particularly in the Afro House and House music space, I’ve encountered a persistent assumption that I must sing in Zulu. It feels like an unconscious prerequisite even when it’s not explicitly stated.

There’s this underlying perception that Africans are a monolith, and we all must conform to certain expectations. Yes, I do incorporate traditional elements in my music, but it seems there’s an expectation that you must be strictly ‘traditional’ or what some might call ‘Afrocentric.’ What I find challenging is the lack of room for exploring what being African truly means. Artists like Tyla, Bongeziwe Mabandla, and Desire Marea have really broken those boundaries. But when you’re primarily viewed as just a vocalist, you’re expected to deliver a certain type of sound.

I often think, ‘What if I want to write differently? What if the song calls for a different approach?’ These are the challenges I’ve faced over the past couple of years—making people understand that our country has tremendous diversity. We’re all different, and while it’s our duty as African artists, especially South African artists, to be custodians of our culture, it shouldn’t happen in a way that strips us of our individualism and identity or panders to these limiting stereotypes.”

Thank you for joining us for this interview. Before you go, could you let us know what the rest of 2025 holds for you and what’s next for Khan Khali?

Khan Khalii:  “What’s next for me is the ‘Lumeria’ show happening in August, which I’m really excited about. Before that, I’ll be releasing part two of ‘Lumeria’ in July, along with a couple of music videos. So those are the main projects I’m focusing on right now.”

Stream “Lumeria” here

 

Connect With Khan Khali

X (formerly Twitter): @khankhalii

Instagram: @khankhalii

Tik Tok: @Khankhalii_

YouTube: @khankhaliiofficial4574

 

Written by Cedric Dladla 

For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za

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French Duo, Astels, unveil their debut album, ‘The Meeting’

May 23, 2025 | New Release, Music

Astels, an emerging duo that has captivated the French music scene, unveil their debut album, ‘The Meeting’. Following the success of their 2024 EP ‘Lost In A New Era’ (with nearly 8 million streams), Théo and Camille deliver a sincere and bold project at the crossroads of Electro-Pop, RnB, and House. This first album tells the story of their meeting – the starting point of Astels – and how they discovered each other both musically and personally. It also explores the many challenges they have faced in their young careers. This evolution has led them to define their artistic identity with greater confidence, exploring a wide range of genres.

“This first album tells the genesis of our project and how it allowed us to reconnect with a part of our artistic identity. Unlike our first EP, which reflected the inner chaos of our early days in the music industry, The Meeting is a succession of moments and emotions that shaped us. Each track represents a stage of this journey, the struggles we have faced together in our young career.” Astels.

From the very first track, “Winter Blues”, the tone is set: a blend of Pop, House, and Soul influences, driven by Funk harmonies and sharp Hip-Hop rhythms. “We wrote this track during the winter of 2023, a time when we first had to confront toxic figures in the music industry,” they explain. The album also tackles significant themes, such as “On My Knees”, a plea against climate inaction set to a UK

Garage/2-Step production, or “Black Stars”, one of the duo’s most personal songs, expressing the rejection and misunderstanding they faced from their close circle regarding their choice to pursue music. “We composed this track in 20 minutes on a winter night and recorded it in Camille’s grandmother’s closet, as a form of revenge against years of doubt,” they reveal. Between introspective ballads and danceable anthems, ‘The Meeting’ showcases impressive versatility: “Give Up On You” and “High” reimagine the codes of RnB and Jazz, while “Don’t You Think” introduces Rap for the first time in their discography, symbolizing determination and defiance in the face of obstacles. With “Walkin’ Proud”, the duo celebrates self-confidence and acceptance, marking a turning point in the album where identity struggles give way to personal fulfillment. Finally, “All Night Long”, a track designed for the clubs, pays tribute to their House inspirations and closes The Meeting on an euphoric and festive note.

“We wanted to showcase the broadest possible musical spectrum: from House with All Night Long, to RnB with This Is How It Is, and Pop on Appetizers. This project is a reflection of our respective musical influences, intertwined to create something unique.” – Astels

Formed in 2023, Astels – comprising Théo (multi-instrumentalist and producer) and Camille (singer) – quickly made a name for themselves as a must-watch duo in the French music scene. Initially discovered through their viral jam session videos, which accumulated tens of millions of views on social media, they solidified their rise with their debut EP Lost In A New Era, surpassing 8 million streams. The duo went on to sell out shows in Paris and London and performed at festivals such as Le Weekend des Curiosités and La Crème Festival. With ‘The Meeting’, Astels takes a new step forward, affirming a hybrid and immersive musical universe where Funk, Electro-Pop, RnB, and House blend with refreshing spontaneity.

 

Listen to ‘The Meeting’ here

 

Press release courtesy of Only Good Stuff

LINKIN PARK present the Deluxe Edition of their latest album ‘FROM ZERO’

May 23, 2025 | New Release, Music

Linkin Park notably extended and expanded the original chart-topping record ‘From Zero’ with three brand new tracks, including the latest “Let You Fade.” Capping off this body of work, the cathartic closer doubles as an emotional highpoint boosted by the interplay between Mike Shinoda and Emily Armstrong over the ebb-and-flow of the song’s heavy intro and hushed bridge. Once again, it showcases LINKIN PARK’s grasp of dynamics, thriving in the midst of sonic extremes with grace, tension, and release.

“Up From The Bottom” initially kickstarted this Deluxe chapter. Soaring into the Top 5 at both Alternative and Rock Radio, it has gathered 42 million Spotify streams and 22 million YouTube views on the music video. Watch HERE. Earning acclaim, Revolver applauded, “It taps into the propulsive, pop-punk-ish and mid-tempo spirit of last year’s FROM ZERO single “The Emptiness Machine,” and likewise features piano embellishment and a bridge sporting turntables, 808 beats and more,” and NME hailed it as “ferocious” and “explosive.’  

FROM ZERO, winner of this year’s “Rock Album of the Year” at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, has churned out successive hits since its 2024 debut. “The Emptiness Machine” surged as “the biggest rock song of 2024,” spending 15 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Rock & Alternative Airplay Chart. Their next anthem “Heavy Is The Crown” followed in its footsteps at #1 on the respective chart. FROM ZERO impressively bowed at #1 on charts in 14 countries. Stateside, it opened at #2 on the Billboard 200 and at #1 across six Billboard charts: Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums, Top Alternative Albums, Top Hard Rock Albums, Vinyl Albums, and Indie Store Album Sales. Not to mention, it has incited widespread acclaim from the likes of VULTURE, The Guardian, KERRANG!, NME, Associated Press, USA Today, and more. As reported by Billboard, LINKIN PARK was the one-and-only rock band to cross over 2 Billion yearly streams in 2024.

 

Listen to ‘From Zero’ here

 

Press release courtesy of Warner Music Africa

Dr Feel puts his spin on ‘Ubuntu’ with a new remix

May 23, 2025 | New Release, Music

Dr Feel puts his own spin on “Ubuntu” with his fresh remix, bringing new energy to this already powerful track. Known for his deep, rhythmic Afro House sound, Dr Feel, originally from Zimbabwe and now based in Johannesburg, has made waves in the scene with support from Black Coffee and performances alongside the likes of DJ Kabila, Oskido, and Shimza.

In this remix, Dr Feel takes the track in a new direction, infusing it with an uplifting vibe. The bright, flowing melodies and electric guitar riffs bring a fresh energy, while the playful arps create a sense of lightness and joy. This version breathes new life into the original, adding an element of warmth and happiness that complements its spirit perfectly.

Released on Sippy Time, Dr Feel proves again why he’s one of the most respected producers in the game. “Ubuntu” (Dr Feel Remix) is more than just a twist on the original; it’s a track that speaks to the spirit of togetherness and power, both on and off the dance floor.

 

Listen to ‘Ubuntu’ (Dr Feel Remix) here

 

Press release courtesy of Sippy Time

Culture Zine Workshop presents ‘Rolling Culture – A Culture in Motion’

May 22, 2025 | Creatives, Community

The Culture Zine Workshop is a collaborative event series based in Johannesburg that invites creatives to archive, reflect on, and contribute to local culture through storytelling and design, in the form of zine-making. Each edition centres on a core theme, fostering authentic conversations between emerging and established voices. 

This month, The Culture Zine Workshop returns with a new edition, bringing a storytelling experience to the forefront. This instalment introduces ‘Rolling Culture – A Culture in Motion’, a short film that captures the dynamic pulse of South African street culture. 

The workshops, produced by Huemxn and co-hosted by Alphabet Zoo and iQhawe Magazine, bring together writers, artists, and cultural thinkers to reflect on contemporary movements. Each edition includes a guest creative who helps guide the theme and direction of the session. Previous guests include Kasi Flavour, Ebumnandini, and Vans. For this edition, Culture Club Magazine joins the team as an exclusive partner.

All imagery courtesy of Huemxn

Taking place on 31 May 2025 at Breezeblock in Brixton, the workshop will feature guest creative host Day Marumo. The event includes the exclusive screening of ‘Rolling Culture’, a film co-produced and co-directed by creative agency Huemxn, with cinematography by Aziah Soul and post-production by Hloni Matjila. 

This edition, titled ‘Rolling Culture – A Culture in Motion’, sees Day Marumo be the guest creative host spotlighting the conversation about creativity, community, and contribution. The featured film explores the influences that shaped Marumo’s creative path and highlights the individuals actively documenting and defining South African street culture.

“Rolling Culture is more than a film — it’s a tribute to the people and stories that keep the culture alive and in motion,” — Lebo Mashigo, founder of Huemxn.

In addition to the film screening, there will be a panel discussion with these featured creative voices:

The event includes a DJ lineup from Makhumalo, Circles and Squares, Franadilla and Zango Kubheka.

Event Details

Date: 31 May 2025

Time: 15:00 – 20:30

Venue: Breezeblock, Brixton

 

Book tickets to The Culture Zine Workshop here

 

Press release courtesy of Huemxn

Shelley Mokoena’s label Connade Experiments with Radical Restraint

May 20, 2025 | Interviews, Fashion

Shelley Mokoena knows precisely who she is. With clarity, and a breadth and depth of creative vision, Shelley’s label Connade is an articulation of her inner world, and a reflection of the layered realities and mediums that guide her. Connade forms part of a subtle movement (or, return, rather) to an African minimalist sensibility in which, “restraint,” as Shelley aptly puts it, is its foundational principle; deriving inspiration across architecture, design, mythology and nature. This is certainly not minimalism for minimalism’s sake, but rather a refined expression of intention—in service of clarity. 

Shelley’s work resists excess in favour of meaning, drawing from architectural precision, sculptural form, and the quiet force of stillness. Her lexicon is spare but eloquent, deeply rooted yet future-facing, and through her practice, Shelley is a preeminent artist pursuing a growing design vocabulary that honours heritage while imagining new aesthetic possibilities for the continent. The result is utterly phenomenal. 

When Connade arrived in the world a few years ago, it arrived as a force. In fact, it was one of the first brands I ever discussed in the early days of Interlude, where I unpacked the label’s debut pieces and noted their technical precision and sculptural finesse. That attention to detail has remained a hallmark of Shelley’s design language. The Cleansing Collection ’22 stands as a prime example—with elements like piping and panelling creating contour and volume, drawing inspiration from the fluid nature of water. Shelley’s work always holds the mark of deep spiritual insight and invites us to consider the impact of materiality as an expression of something more profound. 

‘Black Light’ SS25 Collection, courtesy of Connade

Shelley wears pieces from SS25, courtesy of Connade

Shelley Mokoena, courtesy of Connade

Suffice to say, Connade went quiet for a bit; but as I learn from Shelley in our conversation—and following the immensely anticipated release of Connade’s Spring/Summer 2025 Black Light collection—Shelley creates at her own pace, in her own time, precisely with the intention and preservation of what matters most: meaning over momentum, and a preservation—of energy, of integrity, of vision. 

As it is, this is truly conscious fashion.

Like many of the greats arriving at the altar of fashion—Rei Kawakubo with her studies in Fine Arts and Literature, and Issey Miyake with his training in Graphic Design—Shelley’s background as an interior designer is equally telling. With a natural inclination for spatial awareness, the disciplines and principles of structure, balance, and material sensitivity flow into her work in fashion. Shelley notes, “I feel like I’ve done quite a lot in the past. I studied interior design. I’ve always been into fashion, from a very young age. I always knew that it was not something I necessarily wanted to study, but that it was something that I would go into eventually.” Shelley’s grounding outside of the perils of ‘fashion world’ in the strict, traditional sense has allowed her to approach building Connade as an artistic endeavour—with fashion, beyond an aesthetic pursuit, is her study on how garments occupy space, move with the body, and evoke feeling. “I think you can see the sculptural elements of the garments that I make, informed by my interior design background,” Shelley affirms, “that plays a big part in the clothing I create. I had a different clothing brand before, which was more of a thrift-wear brand. But I think I’ve always known that I would start my own clothing brand. Which is, I guess, a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. You know, because if you know what you want to be, then it’s not always a good thing because you have this idea of what you’re trying to do.”

At first glance, one might mistake Connade for a nod to Japanese design sensibilities—but this is a misinterpretation of context, and context is crucial to understanding both the label and Shelley herself. As Shelley points out, Connade is first and foremost an expression of African minimalism—a design philosophy rooted in clarity and cultural depth, centering form, function, and heritage without excess; “sometimes the word ‘minimalism’ can get taken out of context. People see it as a style instead of a way of doing things. For me, it’s about restraint—implementing what’s necessary to create what needs to be, not a stylistic trend. It’s about understanding that things don’t have to be too much and that there should be a sense of meaning.”

Unlike Western minimalism, which often strips away context, African minimalism preserves cultural narrative and symbolism within clean, refined expressions. Connade’s collections are, therefore, perennially and expressively minimal, deeply enriched, and always carry a spiritual and mythological undercurrent.

African minimalism is both a historical philosophy and a contemporary movement, and we can see it reveals itself in the geometric precision of Ndebele mural art, the sculptural restraint of Dogon architecture in Mali, and the intentional simplicity of Zulu basket weaving; with coiled forms and earth-toned patterns functionally encoded with social and spiritual meaning. Shaped by ancestral knowledge— and favouring natural materials, muted palettes, and thoughtful, intentional construction—it is a mantle of expression intrinsic across the continent. For Shelley, the mythos of Connade is integrated across the multiplicity within her identity, and the commitment to absorbing reality as she sees it. 

Shelley Mokoena, courtesy of Connade

‘Black Light’ SS25 Collection, courtesy of Connade

‘Black Light’ SS25 Collection, courtesy of Connade

Shelley shares that, “coming from an African standpoint, I knew I didn’t want to create what people typically call ‘African fashion’. I wanted to bring a perspective that was unique to my own experience — to combine my design background with the simplicity and form I see in African architecture and design. I was interested in this balance between absence and presence — in using space, restraint, texture — to create something I personally haven’t experienced before.”

Shelley’s personal style and the visual language of Connade are inseparable—an authentic extension of one another, bound by a shared philosophy of presence. Her signature monochromatic palette is a considered alignment with her sensibility and values. “I love colour—for other people!” Shelley laughs. “Colour is amazing. It’s a way to create a sense of feeling. There’s a lot of colour philosophy in design and art. But for me, using monochrome palettes—black, white, greys, neutrals—it ties into my love for nature. Even the designs I create are very much influenced by nature and this idea of perfect imperfection.”

This reverence for nature runs throughout her work, guiding Connade’s emotional tone. “When you look at nature, it looks perfect, but there’s so much imperfection in it. It’s not trying to do too much. With monochrome, you’re not trying to do too much—just like nature. So I feel like it’s always going to be part of the brand identity, and part of who I am.” In this way, Shelley’s design choices are never arbitrary—they are personal and poetic, reinforcing the cohesion between who Shelley is, and what Connade is becoming. 

As an elder of monochromatic mastery, and bearing strict allegiance to neutral tones, Yohji Yamamoto has often noted how working with colours like black forces one to push silhouette and design in other ways. With neutrals, he suggests, you can’t rely on colour to carry the integrity of a garment. On this, Shelley echoes a similar sentiment: “That’s so real—because you have to now really have to design! You have to rethink how the silhouette sits, how the garment speaks without anything. When you’re working with black and white and neutral colours, they don’t really do too much. So you have to create from that absence.” Monochrome demands focus on the essence of the garment itself. 

When I ask Shelley about the pause between her last collections, she shares that “With any fashion brand — especially for someone like me — you often start without the right team or all the resources in place. It’s a process. Even with big brands like Victoria Beckham, it’s still a work in progress. For me, it was important to take a step back and ask: What have I done in the past few years, and what do I actually want to put out into the world going forward?” While most are rushing toward the hype, and ‘seizing the moment’ as it were in the fleeting timelines of fashion, Shelley’s unbridled confidence in her work is a testament unto itself. This is Shelley’s time, divine timing; what a teaching this pace of intentionality is for us all. 

‘Black Light’ SS25 Collection, courtesy of Connade

This period of reflection is at the heart of SS25. Shelley explains, “With this new collection, I really wanted to create something that—if I were to die today—I could say, ‘Yeah, that’s okay. I’m proud of that.’ That idea is something I carry with me now. Whenever I’m creating, I ask myself: If something happened to me today, would I be happy with what I’ve left behind?” This sense of personal accountability underscores her creative process, but it’s also tempered by an understanding of surrender. “At the same time, I try not to put too much pressure on myself. It’s about grace — knowing I won’t always love every piece or feel 100% certain, but trusting my gut and following what feels right.” 

The collection notes for ‘Black Light’ SS25 are philosophically and radically, perfect. Self-described: Connade’s design ethos is monastic yet radical, ethereal yet grounded. This season, volumes are amplified, textures are sculpted, and garments are engineered to exist beyond time. With each collection, the brand dismantles conventions, reconstructing heritage into future-facing forms. ⁠Transcending fashion, this collection is a movement that reclaims the poetics of darkness as fertile, generative, and divine. It is a meditation on concealment as luxury, anonymity as power, and form as mythology. ⁠Shelley notes that, “with the new collection, I was inspired a lot by African mysticism — that unseen layer of storytelling and symbolism that’s always been present in our culture, but doesn’t always find expression in fashion. I wanted to explore that visually, structurally, spiritually.”

A potential move to Cape Town is ahead, and the vision of a concept store for Connade; this, I feel, will be its own Mecca given Shelley’s impeccable taste; in literally, everything. Shelley’s ability to translate minimalist principles into an immersive, tactile experience across garments, spaces, textures, and details demonstrate that whatever she touches, and imbues with her essence, will always be transcendent. Aesthetically influential and philosophically ahead of the rest: The Mythos of Connade; how lucky we are to bear witness. 

 

Written by Holly Bell Beaton

 

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