A fun and irreverent new collaboration has launched between Cara Saven Wall Design x Koooooos

Jun 7, 2023 | News, Art

Renowned international wallpaper company, Cara Saven Wall Design has an artist range called CS&Co, where they invite their favourite artists to bring their unique styles to the wallpaper world, “I don’t actively seek out new artists to join our range,” wall design specialist Cara Saven says, “I’ll wait for them to cross my path.” Scrolling on Instagram she came across a painting of a giant red lobster protruding from a person’s mouth. It was by the multidisciplinary artist and designer Koooooos. She and her husband had just watched and loved the absurdist dark comedy The Lobster so she bought him the painting as a gift. He hated it, but she was undeterred.

Koooooos’ style turned out to be exactly something Saven was looking for in that it was a fundamental departure from anything already in the CS&Co artist range. Described once as ‘gently grotesque’ which has kind of stuck, Koooooos’ work is playful and irreverent, rendered in sketches and loose lines, “I love messy,” Saven says, “I relate to a haphazard style. There’s a whimsy to Koooooos’ work, there’s a youthfulness to it, it’s not taking itself too seriously. It’s also very strong graphically so it ticks all the boxes.” Koooooos came to Saven with a bunch of ideas: some first base sketches, some finalised pieces and together they mapped out what would work.

Cara Saven CS&Co Koos, The Bathers Side 1, Wallpaper

Cara Saven CS&Co Koos, The-Bathers, Side 2, Wallpaper

“I sent a bigger range of things that I thought could work and Cara was very decisive, choosing this one, this one, this one, and that’. ” Koooooos says. The resulting range includes five designs in his quintessential style. Across the works, people lounge in various states of undress. In The Bathers 1 and 2, women scrub, soak and gossip in the sanctuary of a communal bath house. In Wine Sloths, women drink wine in their birthday suits in a variety of poses and pretzel shapes. In others, bodies are draped over various things: an artist’s model becomes one with a chair in Tired Nudes and a beach goer is wrapped around a coconut tree in Beach Plz.

New to designing for wall coverings, Koooooos was concerned his drawings needed to be very small to create a pattern, “I felt unsure if the work would lose impact if it was a very small, repeated pattern that”s almost like a texture rather than illustrations. But when Cara and I met, she said, “No, big, it must be big and the scale must be bold.” The result is that the artworks could stretch across an entire wall as an impactful mural or they can be tweaked for the client’s desired effect in a space. “We worked some of them out into repeats, which is necessary,” Koooooos says. “Wine Sloths, for example, can grow in all directions. !It”s important that if our clients want to change a colour, or change the scale, we can bend to their needs,” Saven says, “We even love people asking us for fully customised designs. If someone loves the style of The Bathers but would like mountain climbers, it’s so great to be able to go back to the artists and commission a piece like that.”

“It excites me to imagine that someone might say I love the feeling of this, but we’d love one with parrots,” Koooooos adds, “And then we can say, “Yes, let’s do it.”

Cara Saven CS&Co Koos, WineSloths, Interior

Cara Saven CS&Co Koos, Tired Nudes, Interior

One of the biggest joys for Saven is seeing the different, and sometimes unexpected, spaces that the artworks shine in; how they can totally transform a room, or a room can give different meaning to the work. Having a giant wall drawing of The Bathers changes context depending on if it’s where you bathe or where you brunch. “I’m very curious to see it being applied,” Koooooos says, “it excites me a lot to imagine where they’re going to go.”

As for where the lobster painting is, Saven had it up in her study but then decided it needed a more central location in her home. It didn”t match the wallpaper in her dining room at the time, so she changed the wallpaper. “The lobster cost me a lot more than was intended,” she laughs. When her mother saw it, she wondered aloud if it was kosher.

/// View the range HERE 
Follow Cara Saven HERE 
Follow Koooooos HERE

Cara Saven & Koos

Cara Saven CS&Co Koos, Beach Plz, Interior

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

Why Every Month Is Africa Month

Jun 6, 2023 | Lifestyle, Community

Happy Africa Month bo lovey! Yes, I said what I said, sweetpea because ‘round here EVERY MONTH IS AFRICA MONTH – well…if that’s even what you still want to call after all the babes’ name isn’t even ‘Africa’. Nope not at all, that identity is at most just some nickname conveniently bestowed upon us by the Romans during their heydays. And much like the story of the popular kid at school releasing the new terms and conditions within the burn book – it too became the new law.

So let’s run it back, waaaaay back. Like BC back.

“Hi, my name is Cush, sometimes known as Chushi or Cushitic and like many of my inhabitants I too have a much easier to pronounce name, Africa.
Surprised? I thought not.
See on my side of the world, names aren’t just pronouns made for summoning responses. They are a prophecy. A sneak peak into the future and one’s contribution to their community – the culture…tradition – regardless of the nicknames you choose or are cornered to go by. You can’t run away from origin, from destiny.
Cush, because the world stays getting high off my shit.“

Woooo chile, look… I’ve often wondered what the embodiment of our muva, the natal of humankind, the cradle – as per the scientific findings in her most southern region – Africa would have to say if ever given the chance. Would she be completely over our nonsense? How have we, and those that came before us, have traded her stability, her growth and future – for natural resources, for profit and plunder? I wonder if perhaps she’d be kind, soft, understanding with a wisdom and comprehension that precedes anything we’ve ever come across – that’s the sense one gets, being on this continent. That Africa’s ability to go forward, despite it all, is more powerful than can be spoken.

intombi yemfula

blacck joy

Once science realised that the oldest known hominids – what scientists decided to call our pre-evolved selves – dating an approximate of 3 million years ago, indeed lived, breathed and originated right here in Mzansi…uhm wouldn’t that just make us all African? Children of the great Cushitic? I think sometimes us South Africans forget that we live in the cradle of humankind. Technically speaking all nations as you see them today at one point nestled from the same bosoms and like a child – after years of trial, error, cultivation by your surroundings, the curiosity that comes with individualism, growth, evolution and finally exploration  – we left our mother’s side, some for something better, others not so much but all in an aim to make her even more prouder I believe. The dirty south is also ironically the place where the shiniest of jewels are found but you know what they say about diamonds  – pressure baby! Our mining history is a story for another day. 

It would take lifetimes of writing to fully encapsulate what Africa has given the world. I started looking further north before, then east, then west so as to not overwhelm myself. You know trying to follow the thread that stitches moments into eras into bigger pictures – because honey everything is connected! EVERYTHING! Now how can I talk Africa without noting the fact that our former and fellow queens have been pushing the #FREETHENIPPLE since well, hey before Suckerburg claimed beef against it let alone hashtags being a thing? Or how the girlies have been stunting stiletto nails but for less fashionable and surprisingly more functional reasons than we currently do; Queen Nenzima of the Mangbetu people of Congo was the first woman to be photographed with stiletto nails, but who knows how long the tradition has occurred on the continent? Cue today, and nail salons the world over continue to preserve it.

The indigenous ways of living with nature versus against nature were non-negotiable for our predecessors, who made sure to get a cosign from mother earth as they slowly evolved. Unlike the hustle and bustle of this reality and its harsh climatic consequences we now face; I wonder, how much of human-made climate change would be occurring if a whole host of choices hadn’t been made to extract all resources and habits on our planet? 

We see this in the North’s ancient and almost impossible to duplicate Architectural style. Egypt the mother of all architectural enigmas – buildings that damn near scrape the sky made of only natural products, surviving centuries of natural elements, housing bloodlines of royalty! Fast forward to today, with all this beautiful, strong machinery and advanced sciences, we still somehow find ourselves in the boardroom debating on how to properly execute green cities, sustainable living or dare I say it ways in which we can unfuck the ozone – the planet! Chile, it’s almost like a cha-cha dance, one step forward only to take two steps back. Except these steps each seem to take about a few centuries to develop only for us to be like oops – we already knew how to do this! I simply cannot make this shit up.

Ukugcotshwa

By God and Melanin

We’re literally using the same exact sciences developed from the math discovered, in the very same Egypt against ourselves. It’s starting to feel like a weird season of masterchef except I’m Gordon Ramsey yelling into the abyss – or at least at Shell because a couple of years ago (3000 BCE to be exact) someone miscalculated and jazzed up the formula all in the name of innovation. It’s true what they say, if it ain’t broke, aht aht aht! 

Kodwa hey, gotta love being human, more especially an earthing who happens to still reside in the natal – a little closer to the heart and on a really good day you may find yourself within earshot of her divine whispers. Yet somehow even though we live in an era of ‘appropriation’ when sharing and caring – ubuntu –  it comforts me knowing that there’s no form of development of one’s society untouched by our beloved muva. In all my travels, I still feel deeply connected to the truth of living. 

Teachings from the Eastern regions will brutally remind you of this, that ‘If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together’. A wake a call, much like their beloved coffee, reminding you that honey, you’re but a vessel trapped within this space and time, servicing the future. When did the credit become greater than the gift? The vessel greater than its contents? This Africa month I just wanted to remind you that our history – your history – has been captured and documented thoroughly. Worry not bo lovie. She’s been interpreted, translated and redefined in infinite ways like the living art she is. She divinely whispers to you in everything you do, and everywhere you go. You see her on the faces of strangers, new garments, buildings, ideologies, a taste of your favourite sweet chocolate and so much more. 

Lest you forget, humans are creatures of habit, and if you agree with me in saying that we’re all connected then well, how could I not see home when I look at you? 

How can I not say, Sawubona?  

Happy African Month, every month, ya’ll! Always remember, I am because we are.

Gone Looking for God

Mother Of All

/// For further reading:  
100 innovations and inventions icons from Africa
History Africa | Countries & Sub-Saharan 
Ancient African Architecture 
African Culture and History
The Natural Vernacular Architecture of Africa

Images by ThuthuKani Myeza @Only4Display

Written by: Thandiwe Magwaza

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

Azhar Abraham’s and Bilal Bashir’s Project ‘Strengthening Creative Ties Between Cape Town and Dubai’

Jun 5, 2023 | Creatives, Fashion

Sometimes projects come our way that show us the eternal truth of the creative path: you have to make the work you wish to see in the world. This editorial project by Azhar Abrahams and shot by Nigerian-born photographer Bilal Bashir depicts a sartorial story of the African diaspora in Dubai; as bonds are strengthened between our continent and the UAE. As Azhar says “Last year the annual SoleDxb festival was not only the epicentre of a growing global creative community in Dubai, but it also presented the opportunity for travelling South African artists like myself to further affirm our growing ties with the city. This is our contribution to the growing repertoire of collaborations between SA and the UAE.” As Bilal describes, this process highlights the synergy between the African diaspora and their growing place in the UAE, “This project took my collaboration skills to a very specific point of execution. Details became much more important as culture played a huge role in tying the two places together. Creating work that showcases elements of locality, the feelings and thoughts of an observer. I try to showcase diversity in my work, being an African in the middle east. My connection with my roots always stand obvious as I navigate other points of cultural heritage within the spaces I occupy. Facilitating a positive representation of who I am will only benefit those that come after me, strengthening the bonds we share as people.”

Featuring garments by local luxury label @asa.sadan – this project is an ode to the sun drenched warmth of Cape Town and Dubai, and the human spirit forged between these two cities.

Q+A with the creative director Azhar Abrahams  

How did you conceptualise this project?
In June of last year, Asa Sadan released their new collection and showcased their store window at AKJP Studio in Kloof. During that time, I found myself engaged in a conversation with a few friends about the possibility of attending Sole DXB later that year. While discussing this, I couldn’t help but reflect on the growing creative connections between Cape Town and Dubai. It was around this time that Luke Doman had just photographed the cover for Yung magazine, further solidifying the bond between the two cities.

Inspired by these creative bonds, I had the idea of conducting a photoshoot in Dubai to celebrate these connections. From that moment, I embarked on a six-month ideation process, brainstorming and refining ideas on how to bring this shoot to life. It was a new experience for me, as I had never produced or directed a shoot before. Fortunately, during my previous trip to Dubai in 2019, I had established connections with other creatives in the city. This gave me confidence that I could assemble a talented team for the shoot. I discussed the idea with Bilal, and he enthusiastically supported it right from the beginning.

What were the creative considerations you undertook in bringing this together?
Azhar: The goal was to expand the reach of the respective local communities and open up access beyond borders for those who seek to follow suit. Asa Sadan, one of the newest luxury labels from Cape Town, served as the focal point of the shoot, aiming to grow its audience beyond South Africa’s borders. Considering the brand’s cultural heritage, it was important to celebrate it through the choice of styling. When styling each model, I took into account their personal style to determine suitable garments and modest styling approaches. 

The project took place at the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, located along the Dubai creek. This district is a significant heritage site where the original infrastructure has been remarkably preserved. The traditional wind towers, constructed from sandstone, teak, gypsum, palm wood, and sandalwood, exude warm colours that complemented the garments. Additionally, they helped create a sense of community, which I deemed important to capture in order to foster a sense of community.

Can you describe your experience of the African diaspora in Dubai?
Bilal was given the responsibility of casting the models and introduced me to creatives from the African diaspora residing in Dubai. The majority of these talented individuals hailed from different parts of Africa. Engaging with these individuals, I couldn’t help but recognize a prevailing sense of hospitality among them. This welcoming atmosphere can be attributed to a shared desire to establish a reputation and cultivate a fulfilling life, not only for themselves but also for others who share similar backgrounds. Their active participation showcases the diversity and multiculturalism within the city’s creative community, amplifying the valuable contributions and unique perspectives of the African diaspora.

Why did you choose Asa Sadan to capture the sartorial vision of this project?
Asa Sadan is a luxury heritage apparel concept that draws inspiration from South African history and heritage, specifically emphasising the founder’s personal background as a Muslim person of colour in Cape Town. As a Muslim individual hailing from Cape Town myself, my design language is inherently influenced by my cultural and religious heritage. Therefore, I have always felt a strong connection to Asa Sadan and its values. 

The brand’s concept encompasses themes, motifs, and iconography that reflect the rich tapestry of South African history. It pays homage to the founder’s lived experiences and their unique perspective as a Muslim person of colour in Cape Town. This focus on heritage and identity resonates deeply with me, as I share similar cultural and religious roots. Through my design work, I strive to uphold and celebrate the cultural and religious heritage that shapes my artistic vision. This alignment in values and experiences further strengthens my affinity with Asa Sadan, allowing me to authentically contribute to the project and connect with its underlying narrative.

/// Credits
Producer: Boredroom Studios @boredroomstu
Creative Direction and Styling: Azhar Abrahams @eazy.azzi
Photography: Bilal Bashir @bilaltheunderdog
Original Copy: Jason Hartzenberg @bodhi.spaceboi
Cast: Shahd Salem @shahdselation Ronald Ekore @ronaldekore Mutsawashe Muchongwe @jamalmuchongwe Nis Hamid @nisumisu

Written by: Holly Beaton

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

Multi-instrumentalist FKJ to play in Cape Town and Joburg

Jun 2, 2023 | News, Music

Multi-instrumentalist, producer and artist FKJ (AKA French Kiwi Juice) will be performing this month in Johannesburg and Cape Town. His solo live sessions are a sight to behold in which he builds tracks through a variety of instruments, looped through Ableton Live. Having collaborated with artists such as Masego and Tom Misch in recorded studio sessions, tracks like ‘Tadow’ and ‘Losing My Way’ have come to shine a light regarding the fusion of instrumental foundations and the powerful tool of digitisation in music production. FKJ stands squarely between the vintage and analogue, the digital and technological. As a multifaceted artist, his shows in South Africa are set to be mesmerising sonic experiences. 

The shows are part of Steyn Entertainment’s announcement of FKJ as their international artist for ‘In The City Music Festival’ – in which he will perform in Cape Town on Friday 23rd June at Old Biscuit Mill, and in Johannesburg on Sunday 25th June at Constitutional Hill. Steyn Entertainment is hosting FKJ in partnership with Spotify Africa, and forms part of their continued efforts to offer premium musical experiences in the country. 

Tickets for FKJ in Cape Town HERE 
Tickets for FKJ in Johannesburg HERE

Image by Jack McKain

FKJ by Notion Magazine

Written by: Holly Beaton

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

Bongo Band re-release their foundational album in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop

Jun 2, 2023 | New Release, Music

2023 marks 50 years since the birth of hip hop, and 50 years since the release of Bongo Band’s foundational album.

The Incredible Bongo Band was formed by MGM and A&R’s Michael Viner in 1972 to record the soundtrack to a now virtually anonymous B-Movie entitled ‘The Thing with Two Heads’. Bongo Band transformed from a loose studio collective to an instrumental pop covers consortium, interpreting classics of the day in their inimitable percussive fashion. Viner recorded them at MGM studios during downtime, assembling line-ups from whichever musicians were available at the time, leading to a unique blend of multi-talented musicians that included Jim Gordon, King Errisson, Jerry Scheff, and Perry Botkin Jr. The full bands’ line-up is shrouded in mystery, but their legacy is undeniable. They spawned cult-classic records that would become a goldmine for hip hop breaks and attain sampling immortality.

1970s Bronx, the Birth of Hip Hop (photographer unknown)

‘Apache’, which was made famous by the British band The Shadows and is legendary in the worlds of dance music and hip hop. It was a staple for DJs such as Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash as they invented their world-shaking take on the art of DJing at the Bronx block parties of the ‘70s. Over the years it has become a hip hop and breakers anthem and is revered as ‘the break’ of all time with the rhythms of this LP even helping to coin the term ‘breakbeat’. 

“Bongo Rock” is significant, for being one of the musical cornerstones of rap … it is certainly one of the most sampled LP’s in history, if not the most sampled. Almost every history-minded hip-hop DJ has a copy, and the first few bars of “Apache,” can send crowds into overdrive.” According to Kool Herc, the stylistic pioneer many people consider to be the father of hip-hop music, the Bongo’s “Apache” is “the national anthem of hip-hop”. Continuously sampled, including by Nas, Beastie Boys, Moby, Mick Jagger, Kanye West, Sugarhill Gang, Jay-Z, Aphex Twin, DJ Shadow, Massive Attack, to name but a few – this is an album and musical lore you need to be familiar with. 


/// Stream ‘Bongo Rock’ HERE

Press release courtesy of Only Good Stuff

Vans’ New ‘Oversized Florals Collection’ is a creative spin on their Vans Classics

Jun 1, 2023 | News, Fashion

Vans, the icon of creative exploration, is proud to announce the Oversized Floral Collection, a fresh take on Vans Classics influenced by both the future and the past.

Floral print is timeless and Vans’ latest collection features an oversized take on this iconic design across a range of Vans Classics, including the Authentic Stackform OSF in Keepsake Lilac and fresh and fun apparel pieces. The Authentic Stackform OSF takes on new heights, with a chunkier sidewall. The silhouette features oversized floral embellishments across the lateral side-walls and heel contours. 

The Oversized Floral Crew is made with French terry featuring a logo embroidery and textured flower applique. The Oversized Floral Legging Short has a 9-inch inseam and includes an all-over print rib knit jersey with logo embroidery at the hip and lace trim. To complete the collection, the Oversized Floral Sock is the cherry on top of the collection in full bloom. The flat jacquard crew sock features a fuzzy yarn flower detail and color blocking on the toe, heel and hem.

The apparel selection also includes a long sleeve top as well as a floral pant and shorts. Fit for spring and summer, this head-to-toe look is ready to bloom.

SK8 HI STACKFORM TAPERED

OVERSIZED FLORAL CREW FAIRWAY & SOCK MARSHMALLOW

LEGGING SHORT & HERO OUTFIT

Shop the Oversized Floral Collection HERE and at Vans retail locations.

Vans, “Off The Wall” Since ’66
vans.co.za
youtube.com/vans
Instagram.com/vans_za
facebook.com/VansSouthAfrica
 
Follow Vans on Spotify Here!

Press release courtesy of The Bread

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

Liam Mockridge releases latest single ‘Touch’ ft. Herizen & Life on Planets

Jun 1, 2023 | New Release, Music

Liam Mockridge fuses elements of R&B and House with the organic recording of his live band on the new single ‘Touch’. A heavy groove drives this track from front to back while the features by Miami-based Herizen & LA rapper Life on Planets temper Liam’s pop vocals and clean harmonies.

As a recording artist and record producer, Liam‘s music has an undeniable flavour of 70’s Funk & Soul blended with modern Disco. Growing up as the youngest of 6 boys, with a half Canadian half Italian heritage. After finding some success as a bedroom producer, he released his first album on the New York dance label Soul Clap Records. Currently based in Berlin, Liam runs a recording studio in an old newspaper factory, and is working on his second full length album.

/// Listen to ‘Touch’ HERE

Press release courtesy of Only Good Stuff

The Sunflower’s Guide to Manoeuvring Seasonal Depression

May 30, 2023 | Navigating Reality, Lifestyle

Oh for goodness sake, konje we have to do this every year? *The deepest sigh imaginable… like ever* 

The autumn leaves are falling and so has the high from our beloved sizzling tropical summertime. South African summers, there ain’t nothing like it huh? Except this was not just any summer this was a summer that ushered us into a once unimaginable post-pandemic euphoria filled with steamy piano nights, mornings AND afternoons – listen, a fucken feast. Masks off, smiles wide open echoing through the concrete jungle what feels like decades worth of withheld laughter. A whole lot of head nods nje everywhere you go – a vote of confidence, almost as if saying ‘hey man look at us, look at how far we made it heck I think we can go get it’ whatever it meant to you. We’re together for real, and life is back on track. This summer, we’ve all been like a field of beaming sunflowers, just cheering each other on – pointing each other to the light at the end of the tunnel.

Daniel Hansen, Unsplash.

Arno Smit, Unsplash.

Kodwa ke now here we are, location today-fontein and what was once unsolicited whistles and howls for the sidewalk – read catwalk – tailing my thigh high mini has now turned to well, just straight maltreatment and potential pneumonia from mother nature. She can be a true disciplinarian if you ask me. I couldn’t help but notice that as the temperature continues to drop so does my vibrant personality, like every damn year. A mirror to my own surroundings, I just turn…grey. I first noticed this with the occasional rainy day, you know the drill. Trying to find any and every excuse not to leave the house but then I peeped my winters and yoh sana! Oh they be wintering alright! Kubi-bi-bi-bi to say the least. For instance, during this time, my temper and patience can be shorter than usual. Let’s just say I go on what my unbelievably accepting friends know as the ‘I’m cutting you off!’ spree many of which I’ve had to shamefully retract – some with no positive results because consequences, right? The insecurities really are peaking; between the dry skin and hair irritation, pigment discolouration, weight influx and those marketing heifers paired with an unhealthy hyperfocus on my intrusive 9pm – 3am thoughts? Hell even I wouldn’t want to be around me. In this state, maybe they’re the ones who should cut me off? 

If you or anyone you know is related to any of the above then you could potentially have what academics call ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)’ also known as ‘Seasonal Depression’. Other people might not get it but I do, the anticipation of what feels like a recurring level 4 lockdown year after year after year? It’s not for us sunflowers, , us the ‘let’s go chase the sunset!’ ass beings. We wilt at the mere thought of darkness and anticipate dawn like a toddler way past their cadbury limit. If only someone could find a way to bottle that golden hour feeling for these rainy days? Oh, we’d actually be out by the thousands trying to get some, but no one’s cracked the code let alone made affordable and effective therapy available to all.

Ello, Unsplash.

Taisiia Shestopal, Unsplash.

So we try each in our own unique and self-deprecating ways to manufacture a feeling like no other. I’m here to tell you that a 750ml wine bottle ain’t cutting close for this case. Fake dopamine is like a synthetic wig. It’s good at first – I mean you can really get away with it – then suddenly it’s just the pits! So here are a few scientifically approved and totally doable ways for manoeuvering mother nature’s cold shoulder; 

Get some decent rest! 8 hours; nothing more or less! – Now that the whole daylight, night time situation is all jacked up – thanks winter! – you need to adjust your sleep patterns staying up ‘till 3am contemplating your social standing is not doing you or your eye bags any good and sleeping in late is just adding to the SADness. 

Be mindful how you use your sunless energy dear sunflower gang! – Okay this is for my over-commiters, the mbokodos and superheroes of the community. Stop! Just stop! 

Don’t let it get too messy chile – You know how misery likes company even in the form of a piled up chair filled with clothes or a sink filled with dirty dishes, or unwashed hair…you get the point. As tiring as it may be, especially during this time, there’s nothing more refreshing than a decluttered space to match your peaceful mind. I know it will make a world of a difference than having to look at that mess every time you get up. 

Get outside in nature–  like literally hug a tree or somebody consenting. That hug in a mug isn’t gonna give you the warmth you truly crave. Get that Vitamin D by power by force. Oh she’s out there somewhere. 

Eat a balanced diet  – We just spoke about Vitamin D and considering there’s less of it during the winter simply means you’re gonna need to eat more of it. 

Exercise regularly, or at least stretch – You and your smartphone are well aware that you’re no longer clocking your average daily step rate. Move that bowdy! 

Track your daily mood and activities – journal, journal ,journal. Don’t care if it’s via voice recordings, notes on your phone or a good ol’ notebook and pen. Get it out there, don’t let your thoughts swim around aimlessly too long.

Living with seasonal depression ain’t easy, but a little self-care, patience and a whole lotta loving can go a long way. Try to focus on the solutions to our unavoidable frenemy – winter. Questions like ‘what can I do to make myself smile today?’ but  ask yourself that, everyday.  Along with my ‘savvy how-to-winter playbook’ above, I rate we’re good to go. Treat yourself softly when the weather seems harsh, dear sunflower. Now granted these aren’t a substitute for actual medicinal treatment and if the trying ain’t helped then there ain’t no shame in seeking the support of a qualified  mental health professional who’ll hook you up with something specific to your unique self. After all, we’re just trying to see you bloom sunny! 

And remember, only the sturdiest stems that hold the tallest sunflowers.

Written by: Thandiwe Magwaza​

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

Bokani Dyer releases his nation building album ‘Radio Sechaba’

May 30, 2023 | New Release, Music

Already a multi award-winning and established artist, with a growing global reputation, Bokani Dyer’s newest record provides an intimate view into South Africa’s multifaceted people – and an opportunity for global connection through music. Titled Radio Sechaba, the album continues Dyer’s creative journey of making rich and immersive music which places him amongst the new wave of South African jazz artists, including the likes of Siya Makuzeni and Nduduzo Makhathini. Throughout the 15-tracks, Dyer’s multi-faceted influences permeate the set of original songs, resulting in a rewarding listening experience. 

“This is the first album of mine that is really drawing on all my influences and putting them into one thing,” says Dyer of the music on Radio Sechaba. “So from song to song you get different types of sounds and music and different approaches, and there is some quiet stuff and there is some loud stuff too.” This array of influences takes the jazz music that Dyer has built his career on and extends it into new areas – already gestured to by his work with Sakhile Moleshe, as part of the groove-based Soul Housing Project, and his abiding interest in the sonic possibilities of electronic music. “When I was recording the album, I didn’t block my inspirations,” Dyer explains. “So the music draws on African music, American music and, really, whatever sounds great to me.”Alongside this, Dyer has thought deeply about what he wants the music of Radio Sechaba to say. “The name of the project is Radio Sechaba and Sechaba means nation,” says the pianist, songwriter and producer. “It is something I have been thinking a great deal about – how I can use my music to reflect the current moment in South Africa and where we’re at, as a people.”

In particular, Dyer honed in on the related topics of nation building and unity. “This is pretty much the central theme of the project. Radio Sechaba is about what this nation – South Africa – is and thinking about a soundtrack that could go along with that theme.” This is no ordinary topic for the artist: Dyer was born in 1986 in Gaborone, Botswana, where many artists from South Africa, including his father, musician Steve Dyer, were living in exile. It was, he says, “an exciting musical time when I was born into a community in exile from apartheid”. So it’s no coincidence that Dyer – who moved back to South Africa as a child in 1993 – gives his nation-building album a name that echoes that of Radio Freedom, the voice in exile of the African National Congress. For around three decades, from 1963 when it was created, Radio Freedom provided inspiration to those in the movement against apartheid and was an important ongoing link between exiles and those resisting within the country.

Consistently thoughtful about the role music can play in connecting, Dyer’s nation-building narrative finds expression in tracks like the reverential “Ho Tla Loka”, “Mogaetsho” (in which he addresses the big theme of betrayal) and the moving and powerful “State of the Nation”. Radio Sechaba might be built around the bigger project of nation building but it also contains a number of songs that focus on the value of individual introspectiveness. There’s a call for presence on “Move On” (“Just breathe and let it go/stuck in past and future all we’ve got is present/Just breathe and let it go”) and a West-African influence instrumentally – call for self-liberation on “Resonance of Truth” (“Where do we go to find some serenity/Stop looking out too far/Try listening within”).

Radio Sechaba also features “Ke Nako” – which is the opening track on the critically acclaimed Johannesburg scene jazz compilation, Indaba Is which was released in early 2021 on Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label. Meaning ‘Now’s the Time’, the track was included in a 2022 live concert at the Claude Lévi-Strauss theater as part of the Sons d’hiver festival in France. That show placed Dyer’s piano playing centrestage and it’s a gift that has been described by acclaimed South African trumpeter Feya Faku as nothing short of “beautiful”. “His sense of rhythm, his articulation on acoustic piano addresses the piano,” says Faku who has included Dyer in his Feya Faku Quintet shows.

Radio Sechaba is interspersed with short musical interludes – like “Amogelang” and “Spirit People” – that serve as sonic signposts to our collective past, present and future. The album sounds a hopeful note with “You are Home”, a gorgeous, layered piece that recalls West African blues in its eloquent call to all of us: “Know your truth/Let it guide you/From the unknown/It will lead you home”.

/// Stream ‘Radio Sechaba’ HERE 

Connect with Bokani Dyer
Twitter: @BokaniDyer
Instagram: @bokanidyer

Press release courtesy of Sheila Afari PR

Lemkus release the iconic New Balance ‘MADE in USA’ 990s – a tale of American craftsmanship

May 30, 2023 | News, Fashion

Brands with heritage have a certain energy to them. Within their products and stories, nostalgia reigns. This is furthered when the embedded nostalgia is redefined in a contemporary vision, relevant to this moment in time. Lemkus’ heritage story is uniquely South African and dates its inception back to 1935; being the first retailer to introduce brands like Converse and BATA to the country in the 1960s and onwards. Today, it’s a nexus for creativity and community with multiple generations of Cape Town’s sneakerheads tracing a moment in time back to their store at St Georges Mall in the CBD. Cue the introduction of a heritage story like New Balance’s ‘MADE in USA’ collection, and together a tradition of sneaker history is forged right here in our city.

New Balance’s ‘MADE’ collection is an homage to the independent design ethos of the USA. Harkening to an era of craftsmanship, the development of this collection edifies a commitment to construction, engineering and workmanship prides in the region, in 2023 and beyond. Maintaining a manufacturing presence in the United States is part of the brand’s vision to preserve its roots and continually redefine New Balance’s trajectory; this is a path they’ve walked for over hundred years, since their founding in 1906 by William J Riley.

Now with Aimé Leon Dore founder Teddy Santis at the helm of New Balance, a new sense of ALD’s calm and collected sartorial sensibility is infused into the ‘MADE Collection’ and New Balance’s offering. With a soft approach to colour and fabrication, the ‘MIUSA 990s’ feature vintage mesh uppers contrasted with greyscale hairy suede, and set atop two-tone ENCAP midsoles. New Balance’s ‘ENCAP’ is their secret weapon for comfort, and an engineering feat spanning the brand’s founding story – when William J Riley set out to define a shoe that performed in harmony with the natural arch of the foot. 

Clean and precise as ever, Lemkus introduces the ‘MIUSA 990s’ as part of their trusted offering, as purveyors of the finest in sneakers and apparel from across the globe. This is a non-negotiable heritage addition for your collection. 

SHOP THE ‘MIUSA 990s’ HERE AT LEMKUS.COM

Written by: Holly Beaton

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