Fashion photographer Filippo Fior shares his perspective and why Africa’s time is now

May 19, 2023 | Interviews, Creatives, Fashion

If you are a follower of the fashion season, whether through our fashion column Interlude, Vogue Runway or through social media – then you are certainly familiar with fashion photographer Filippo Fior’s work. He, in many ways, has been the principal archivist of runway shows for the last fifteen years; capturing the symphonic movements of collections, and tracing the development of the designers and brands behind every show with his lens. Having sourced and celebrated Filippo’s images for sometime, could only have been enhanced by finding out that he has a South African connection; our conversation charts Filippo’s intense passion for fashion as art, his love for South Africa and the African continent, and invites us into his thoughts behind some of his favourite shows. 

“My story is kind of complicated – I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and lived there until I was 10 years old. I remember it still so vividly; the sights and sounds. I think it’s true that Africa is something you never lose from your heart; even all these years later, I miss it so much. My father, being Italian, wanted to come back to his home, so we went from the bustling city of Johannesburg, to a tiny village in Tuscany with a population of around 3000 people. It taught me another kind of living, so I’m grateful to have been raised with two very contrasted experiences. When I left home at 18, I went to study aerospace engineering – all the while being an amateur photographer, and I ended up pursuing photography full time.” Filippo says. A pivot from aerospace engineering to photography is a reminder that our career paths are more than anything, the way we wish to show up and interact in the world. As someone who is endlessly curious and detail-oriented; the confines of a laboratory may have been too monotonous. Filippo reflects, “I started taking reportage and photo-journalistic images when I joined an agency all those years ago, but then with digital photography coming out – things changed. Magazines started having less interest in reportage, so I had to move towards a new industry. Of course, being in Italy, fashion is in our blood. I worked in Milan, and then became part of the early formation of GoRunway, who I am still with today.” Go Runway is the primary photographic agent for fashion weeks in Milan, Paris and so on. 

Jacquemus Spring/Summer 2021
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Sunnei Spring 22 RTW Milan GoRunway

As far as social-documentary photography is concerned, Fiilippo describes how he was able to translate his formative development towards the medium of fashion, “my dream has always been to be a National Geographic photographer. I have always wanted to use photography to explain what is happening in a certain condition. My god – fifteen years ago – my first fashion show was interesting. I was put backstage, which suited me fine because it’s a kind of reportage; but the runway, that was something very different. It was a complete disaster, because you think ‘oh come on, it’s just a model coming down a straight line with good lighting, how hard can it be?’ Honestly, counting the steps of the models and setting my camera was impossible. It was very harsh at the beginning.” The harshness of this kind of fashion photographer – the live, and time-sensitive reporting from fashion shows – is something Cris Fragkou has spoken to us about. The area designated for the photographers is known ominously as ‘the pit’ – and its intensity is juxtaposed with the ethereal nature of most shows. Filippo explains, “as pit photographers, we are like a band of brothers – we know each other, and we have to rely on each other, but we are also kind of enemies because we are all with competing agencies and overlapping briefs. It’s a strange environment, in which you have to be a good politician – and you have to keep your position, and mine is a hard-won central position. At the beginning of my career doing this, there were so many of us; and I was the new guy, kept on the sidelines. Now, with so much happening in the photography industry, there’s very few of us now on the runway. In a way it’s good, but it also speaks to the decline of something like ‘the pit’ and the publishing industry.” Filippo goes on to speculate, like many of  us do, that the loss of power by magazines, and the decline of print media, speak to the volatility of many industries today. As we digitise, and technology becomes more integrated into how we work and express ourselves, so do we find spaces like fashion shows having more singular intentions; namely, their visibility on social media platforms and in-house content requirements by the brands themselves. 

Alaia Fall 22 Paris

“Fashion shows depend on so many factors, and comes down to the intentions and momentum of the brand or designer. I’ve been shooting the first shows by Jacquemeus when he wasn’t very famous; he was doing shows in a garage in Paris, with not much press and not many lights. It’s been great seeing him grow, and how much a designer can put into building not just clothes, but a whole world around them. The show I shot of him, out in the wheatfields, is one of the best experiences I have ever had as a photographer. You can see that Simon has a real ability to share his romantic nature. Fashion shows are very indescribable – the big ones like Dior, with hundreds of people outside – that energy is intense and so focused on the ‘dream of fashion’. Some shows are little, because they might not have the budget, or they’re huge and the set-design is astonishing. It is always about what a designer can show, though – the feeling a designer can give is not really dependent on budget. I think we need to remember that. I’ve seen small shows that are so emotional and beautiful, and very big shows where the feeling is lost.” Filippo says, responding to the difficult question as to what fashion shows are like; as for the democratisation of fashion through IG live shows, and the general attention of the public during seasons, Filippo says, “I think it’s really important to have everyone a part of fashion. We have to show that it’s not only something for the rich; fashion is that art-form of expression, and a way to showcase ideas, values and visions. Yes, the price-tags of most houses are high; but fashion is more than that. Even if we are in uncertain times, and the industry has a lot of work to do around social and environmental issues, I think now more than ever, we need to dream and fantasize through it.”

As for Filippo’s love for Africa, he says, “I think people like Thebe Magugu, and so many others, are really showing that Africa is the place that will grow next. Really, my dream is to come to Cape Town to shoot a Resort or Cruise show one day. It is the most perfect location for it; and I think South Africa has so much to give the fashion world, it’s one of the most important countries that show the melt-pot of cultures in the world. Africa has already given so much, and I’m excited to see how much it grows in the future as a cultural and fashion centre of the world. It would be so good to see something happening in Cape Town.’’ From someone as esteemed as Filippo in international fashion – his words are not lost on us. Our time is now.

All images credited to Filippo Fior.

Written by: Holly Beaton

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

Levi’s® Offers R15,000 Grand Prize in its Hunt for the Oldest 501® Jeans in South Africa

May 18, 2023 | News, Fashion

Levi’s® has launched a nationwide hunt for the oldest pair of 501® jeans in South Africa. To celebrate their 150th birthday this year, the brand is calling on all fashionistas, denim-lovers, and collectors to take up the challenge and stand to win R15,000, along with additional prizes up for grabs.

Levi’s® 501® jeans are more than a pair of pants. These iconic jeans have cemented themselves as a symbol of individuality and self-expression, encapsulating the ethos of generations past and present. To celebrate the countless stories told by Levi’s® 501® jeans over the past 150 years, Levi’s® presents the The Oldest 501® Hunt—a nationwide search for the oldest pair of 501®s. 

Whether they’re in the back of your cupboard (or your parents’ cupboard), hidden in a thrift store, or you’re wearing them right now, Levi’s® wants to hear about it. The Oldest 501® Hunt is a chance for us to share our personal histories, celebrate timeless craftsmanship, and to be a part of a new chapter of fashion.

To enter, participants need to click “Join the Hunt” on the Levi’s® website, fill out a form with their details, upload images of their 501® jeans, and hit submit. Levi’s® will then contact shortlisted participants.

 For more information and to enter, visit the Levi’s website. Happy hunting!

The Oldest 501® Hunt presented by Levi’s® is open to all South Africans over the age of 18. Terms and conditions apply. Entries close 30 June 2023.

Written by: Holly Beaton

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

Africa Rising Music Conference Reveals Electronic Line-Up Powered by Jägermeister

May 18, 2023 | News, Music

Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) announces the eagerly anticipated electronic lineup for its ‘ARMC By Night’ event, powered by Jägermeister. The event will showcase some of the top and emerging electronic acts in Africa and Europe’s scene, with the event taking place at Johannesburg’s Hallmark Hotel from May 23rd to 24th, 2023.

ARMC’s by-night program has been carefully curated to include the best forthcoming talent celebrating African-influenced genres. Electronic acts will take to the stage after the conference on day two. The ARMC By Night electronic lineup will feature some of the most exciting acts such as OKVSHO, Deep Aztec, Rose Bonica, Megatronic (UK), kMat DJ, and El Mukuka (Zambia) headlined by Boohle. Attendees can expect an unforgettable night of music, with a diverse range of genres represented, from house and techno to Amapiano and experimental electronica.

Black Villian, Deep Aztec, KVHS.
Boohle, KMAT, Chronicle Deep.
Rose Bonica, Megatronic, El Mukuka.

The event will feature two showcase events and a packed program of activities, including panel discussions, workshops, and live music performances. This year’s conference is set to be a vibrant and exciting celebration of African music, providing a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talents and connect with industry experts.The ARMC conference will have a diverse mix of attendees, including both local and international delegates. With a special focus on Zambia, while also highlighting the contributions of partner, The Berlin Music Commission. This partnership is set to infuse a thrilling aspect to the event and offer valuable perspectives to all attendees, in a quest to build bridges between Africa and Europe.

The electronic music scene has been on the rise globally in recent years, and Africa is no exception. With a rich cultural heritage and a growing appetite for new sounds, the continent has seen a surge in the popularity of electronic music in various genres. According to a report by Midem, a music industry conference, electronic music is the fastest-growing genre in Africa, with a growth rate of 18% or more each year since 2018. This growth is largely driven by the younger generation, who are increasingly embracing electronic music and incorporating it into their cultural identity.

Africa’s electronic music industry is set for a promising future, thanks to its young and expanding audience, a rising number of music festivals, and access to cutting-edge technologies. The continent is on the brink of establishing itself as a key player in the worldwide electronic music scene, and the Africa Rising Music Conference is leading the way in this exciting development.After last year’s success and support from the likes of Mixmag and Trace TV Southern Africa, the conference will once again feature key players in the electronic music space including one of Germany’s longest-running electronic music publications, Groove Mag and Association for Electronic Music. 

Get tickets here.

Find out more about Africa Rising Music Conference here

Medical Science is integrating the use of psychedelics and ‘party’ drugs into psychotherapy – we explore what this means

May 17, 2023 | Navigating Reality, Lifestyle

Nothing could have prepared me for the mind-altering experience I’d have at the end of my first year of university. Having put my body and mind through the absolute trauma of simply trying to survive the complexities of being a first-year student – trying my utmost to strike a balance between box wine benders and passing at school –  it’s safe to say my mental health by the end of 2014 was in an absolutely horrific state. Mind you, this was also before I started going to therapy, drowning my sorrows in dubiously cheap rounds of gin, copious amounts of cigarettes and enough grass to make my birthday twin Snoop Dogg, proud. I was broken, lost and disillusioned with a world I felt less and less connected to.  So, what does one do in such a sorry state? Well, obviously, go to a trance festival with no intention of slowing down the debauchery. 

What I thought would be a weekend filled with endless dancing while rushing from one too many little specky ecstasy pills ended up with all of us deciding on the first evening that what we actually wanted to do was take LSD. Quite the massive step for someone who, at that point, hadn’t even tripped with psilocybin mushrooms. The details are a bit of a haze, but before I knew it, I had a tab on my tongue, the cliched picture of a dolphin broken into a mosaic of mind-bending psychedelia. A deep sense of nausea followed as if my body was cursing me for ingesting something so alien but nothing too out of the ordinary. Maybe it was a dud, I thought, well, that is until I found myself on the dancefloor, and as soon as I turned to look back at an acquaintance, I realised that my tether to reality had become incredibly thin. Without going into every detail of my trip through immensely challenging realisations and personal epiphanies and despite not being able to have a single original thought the next day, one message stuck with me, “You’re not alone, and you don’t have to do this alone”. I found a therapist that January when I returned to university, and it is honestly probably the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.

Image by Raimond Klavins.

This is an all too familiar story, and I would hazard a guess that there are almost countless stories detailing the same experience and I’m sure many of them, much like me, had an extremely powerful and profound experience that altered the course of their lives for the better. However, I think that more than us speedrunning ego-death in the middle of the Karoo, we should be talking about the steady increase in the amount of clinical and scientific research being done on the potential of psychedelic therapy (sometimes referred to as psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy or PAP). Although indigenous communities around the world have been using different psychedelics for therapeutic and religious purposes, the idea is still relatively new within at least official circles in the West. However, results have been incredibly promising from much of the literature you’ll read. 

So how does PAP work? Well, simply put, it usually involves a combination of a controlled amount of psychedelics combined with talk therapy. For those in the know, it was the aptly named President Richard Nixon who really doubled down on the war on drugs during his presidency in the late 60s to mid-70s, recklessly categorising many psychedelic substances on the same level as substances such as heroin and methamphetamine –  making the rising psychedelics research at institution like Harvard, illegal and obsolete. However, with a widening cultural conversation on mental health, psychedelics as a tool have seen a large-scale resurgence in studying, and unlocking its therapeutic potential and benefit. 

Some of the psychedelics currently being trialled and used in some countries as tools during PAP are ketamine, LSD, MDMA, psilocybin, mescaline and ayahuasca. It would be irresponsible of me not to mention that although all these psychedelics have the potential to assist therapeutically, they are not to be toyed with. At the peak of my trip, I vividly remember feeling so deeply detached from what was happening around me that I snapped back to reality with incredibly deep breaths, as if I had just surfaced from holding my breath underwater for far too long. And then there’s Ketamine, the most studied drug for mental health therapy and a particular favourite recreational drug for just about every German I’ve ever met. Let’s just say there is a massive difference in the positive effects of Ketamine when you compare the breakthroughs psychiatrist and psychotherapists have been able to make with it compared to seeing a guy in a K-hole at 4 am in Modular. It’s important to remember these aren’t wonder drugs and they come with some risks that should be considered. The very key to psychedelics as a therapy is not the self-administering kind of recreational use; rather, it is the very controlled, thoroughly designed setting and treatment plans that afford the benefit of these substances through safe and monitored means.

First and foremost, there’s the little case of many of these substances being illegal within South Africa. From my research, I have only found that two substances, namely ketamine and ibogaine, are legalised for medical use within South Africa. Interestingly both are dissociative in nature but are generally used to achieve different outcomes. Ibogaine is generally used as a means to try and treat addiction ranging from alcoholism to opioids. Ketamine, on the other hand, is used rather effectively from research to treat severe depression, anxiety and PTSD. However, findings also indicated that these positive effects are relatively short-lived.

Images by JR Korpa.

As mentioned before, using psychedelics for therapeutic purposes comes with some risks. However, the most considerable concern stems from the meteoric rise in the number of people that are using psychedelics to self-treat their mental health issues. The fear here stems from the lack of a controlled environment and the fear that it is practically impossible to guarantee that the substances aren’t contaminated with something the taker doesn’t want. Generally speaking, within a clinical setting, PAP is seen as pretty low risk. The one concern that you may hear brought up a lot by detractors, however, is that the risk of psychosis is a very valid concern and, once again, why it should be encouraged that these substances be taken in a highly controlled environment, preferably a clinical one; patients need to be vetted and have walked a long road of therapeutic and psychiatric interventions before undergoing PAP.  I mention this because as anyone who has partaken in their fair share of psychedelics will tell you there is almost an endless amount of “healers”, “guides”, and “yogis” out there curating experiences with a whole host of psychedelics. Now I can’t tell you who to place your trust in, but it would be irresponsible if I didn’t mention that given the state of mind, you may want to be quite selective about who you share that incredibly vulnerable state with. 

Unfortunately, the field of PAP and just psychedelics, in general, carries with it an almost unprecedented amount of misconceptions regarding the subject. I remember vividly being in a grade 4 classroom, and receiving my first lesson on the dangers of drugs. Substances like tik and marijuana and the one that sounded scariest of all, LSD; my education on these all promised deeply fearful experiences. Fast forward to a 19-year-old Casey in a field feeling as at peace as I had since starting my teens, not solely down to but most certainly helped by that very same scary-sounding drug. Then on the other side, you get the overenthusiastic psychedelic space cadet that swears that this hit of DMT will change your life forever, just like it did theirs. By this, they mean they quit their job and now religiously watch Joe Rogan and use any opportunity to ramble on about the globalist elites. The truth is far more nuanced, however. Can the likes of ketamine, LSD, MDMA etc., be highly efficient tools in therapy? The answer is yes, within context – but here’s the critical detail on psychedelics being simply a tool. Like any measure of support, any kind of therapeutic substance or  medication are always intended as supportive measures that should form part of a holistic and broader therapeutic program.

As anybody who has tried to work through their traumas, anxiety, depressive and manic episodes through therapy will tell you, therapy is REALLY hard work. It’s slow, arduous, painful and cathartic, but the one thing it never is is easy. Dr Rachel Yehuda, the director of mental health at the James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the Bronx, says about MDMA treatments for PTSD, “While the research into psychedelics shows a strong potential to help people struggling with mental illness, they are not miracle drugs. Although the effects have been shown to be quick and long-lasting, therapy with the drugs often entails intense, frightening sessions as patients deal with the trauma from their past… The most common misconception about MDMA with psychotherapy is that you’re taking this magic pill that will take away your symptoms. What’s happening is you are getting in a state that is conducive to doing difficult work in a manner in which you are in the right window of tolerance where you can emotionally engage, where you can process the memory but not get so distressed by the memory that you become emotionally numb.”

Image by Andres Sanz.

Now I want to end off with some thoughts and some recommendations. Simply put, far too much research is already available on this topic for me to scratch more than the surface. A quick Google search for psychedelic treatment or any of the psychedelics mentioned above can send you into an almost endless rabbit hole. Still, there are some forms of media I’d like to highlight. The first is the Psychonauts podcast series, which I recommend because it is within the South African context and also because it is free on Soundcloud. Next is one. I think a lot of people have engaged with the work of Michael Pollan and his best-selling book and great Netflix series How to Change Your Mind. These are fantastic departure points from which you can branch out wider. My closing thoughts are that South Africa has massively pressing issues; I haven’t had power for four days, for example, and maybe it’s because we don’t have the luxury to really allocate time to this, but South Africa is and has been in the grips of a SEVERE mental health crisis. I’m not saying that these PAP treatments will end this crisis altogether simply because I think the issue is far more complex than that, but if it can help, why not at least try? In the words of Funkadelic, “Free your mind, and your ass will follow”.

Written by: Casey Delport

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

Bongeziwe Mabandla in candid conversation on his latest offering ‘AmaXesha’

May 16, 2023 | Interviews, Music

Time is a canvas awaiting the different shades of memories that we paint as the days of our lives. Some of the brush strokes make coins that carry love and pain in a twisting set of events; one side of the coin wills the fate of everlasting fairytale love, and the other side presents an unyielding facade of the fairytale only for a waning relationship to exist behind closed curtains. Unveiling the daunting challenge of walking away from a love that has run its course, Bongeziwe Mabandla used the pandemic as a time of reflection and release, confronting the grief of lost love with his latest album, ‘AmaXesha’.

Across the shores in Berlin, Bongeziwe took to prolific music platform COLORS to paint the dreadful question posed to his intended “Sisahlaleleni?” Why are we here if we are no longer happy? Speaking on the story that inspired this song, Bongeziwe states: “Sisahlaleleni” was written after I conversed about a yogi that had attended a life-changing yoga lesson. Before they started the lesson, the teacher said, “Hey, if you feel like this class is too heavy for you, there’s the door”. Needless to say, the yogi in question endured having her leg on her neck despite it making it hard for her to breathe; as she finished the class, she asked herself: “Why did I put myself through this when there was just the door?” My narrator for the day related this to life highlighting how as human beings we sometimes oblige to be in situations even when they no longer serve us and we just never think, “Wow, there’s the door I could just get out of this”. I have been in situations like that, where my heart is no longer, but disappointing somebody and getting out feels like the worst thing. I had to learn that sometimes, it’s important to take the door.”

The successor to his critically acclaimed album imini, AmaXesha explores the complex nature of relationships on the backdrop of a rich palette of Afro-folk, electronic music, contemporary soul, and soft teenage rock. Thematically Bongeziwe wrestles with power dynamics, unrequited feelings, closure, comfort, and the daunting process of letting go. Capturing the essence of there is a time to plead, a time to grieve, and a time to fall into obscurity, we caught up with him to chat about his recent COLORS performance, the creative process behind AmaXesha, the 30 000 hours of success, and more.

Watch “Sisahlaleleni (Colors Performance) Here:

CEC: Congratulations on your COLORS Performance. It was breathtaking! Please take us through the show preparation process and what it was like to finally perform behind the acclaimed COLORS?

Bongeziwe: “I’ve wanted to do Colors for a while, and we had a plan for my previous album, imini, with Platoon, my artist services. As we started making plans for AmaXesha, the Colors conversation came back to the fold, and Platoon wanted us to approach them ahead of the new album. Time went by, and I kinda forgot about it, but lo and behold, Colors reached out to check availability for certain days; I didn’t want to be too excited quite yet, and then like, maybe two weeks later, we heard that they had confirmed and I was over the moon because this is literally one of my biggest dreams was to do the show. 

When we got on a call with the team, and they chose a light blue of sorts, it hit me that this was a reality. We flew to chilly cold Berlin, booked into the hotel, and immediately started rehearsals. The next day we actually showed up at the wrong place because my international sim wasn’t working, and I needed internet access to travel to the right place. Fortunately, the people from where I ended up kindly directed us to the colours studio.

I got there and met the small team of about six-seven people, and they were the nicest people you could meet; they were strict (we weren’t allowed to film the behind-the-scenes process) but extremely helpful. Things went a little left. I spilled tea on my top, and we had to wait for it to dry. My pants actually tore the button, and they helped me stitch it together. It was a wonderful, fast, humbling three hours in a relaxed environment. I couldn’t believe that, like, you know, you can actualize your dreams in like manner of hours”. 

 

Would you say these moments also made you come to terms with the 10,000 hours that are behind what many people feel is an overnight success? 

Bongeziwe: “Definitely, I did 30,000 hours! I’ve always seen my career and the stories that I share about it from that lens because there are several moments where I’ll put in the hours, make foolproof plans for the album and by the end of the year, nothing happens. Then you are met with these surprises where, in the following year, someone will approach you and say: ‘Hey, I actually saw you last year. And I knew, like, I have to book you.’ You never know what all the hard work will do for you; you never know who’s watching and how close you are to the hard work Paying off”.

 

The Colors performance extended this metaphor about how certain colours evoke emotions and moods; it also made me think about the rooms that facilitate creativity. In your case, which room enables your songwriting the best? Is it the studio or in the garage or bathroom at home?

Bongeziwe: “I enjoy writing at home. Many of my albums are home albums, and while it happens during flights, while walking and sometimes mumbling while driving, I am a home writer. At the same time, I won’t undermine the importance of the studio because once the foundation has been laid and now we need to put in the hours to record, mix, and master the album, the studio has an invaluable place in my heart”. 

COLORS x STUDIOS Autograph Card, Bongeziwe Mabandla
Images by @travysowen

Now, delving a little deeper into the album and its creative process,  How was the creative process with your frequent collaborator Tiago Correia-Paulo especially during the COVID Climate? How did the digital structuring of creativity affect the intimacy of working with your producer?

Bongeziwe: “Usually, I would write the music, and when I feel I’m finished writing the song, I would come into the studio with him and just sort of just play the song for him acoustically. Then he would just start finding a tempo and give me room to lay my voice in our draft recordings. The COVID restrictions made things extremely difficult, and there was an emptiness in how I would actually record by myself, send it to Tiago in Mozambique, he would work on it, and send it back for feedback. It was a strange working environment”.

 

And from this strange environment came a rich palette of Afro folk, electronic music, contemporary soul, and soft teenage rock. How were you able to play into so many arenas of sound without differing from the theme, story arch and cohesiveness of the listening experience?

Bongeziwe: “The brief for this album, in the beginning, was to create something super abstract but also keep that songwriting soul music, folk storytelling part of it strong; I’d love to credit Tiago for putting that together. My focus is mainly on singing and playing guitar well. Our mood board for the music has always been to combine a palate of elements; it’s a classic signature of the sonic treatment that goes into each project. I’m confident that with this album, we reached a new height in terms of experimentation, going a stretch beyond combining elements that aren’t usually put together”. 

 

The makings of another timeless classic to add to your rich catalogue. I also came to appreciate the creative direction into visuals such as “Ukuthanda Wena”, which at length extends a metaphor of keeping up appearances even when deep down the love you held dear to your heart has crumbled; in your opinion, what makes us want to keep those appearances even though in our naked states, the scars are unbearable?

Bongeziwe: “That is the grand question, isn’t it? Well, there are a lot of complexities in love and relationships. Especially if you are someone like me, who still struggles with many insecurities. There’s no one size fits all approach. “Ukuthanda Wena” and the album as a whole is the process of finding an answer to this very question; you never quite know what makes you choose to keep up those appearances instead of accepting what isn’t meant to be, it is only when it hurts too much to hold on, do we find the will to let go and rebuild”.

Watch “ukuthanda wena” Visualizer Here:

It’s letting go and starting over that brings the most discomfort. Would it be fair to say you do not favour the “find what you love and let it kill you” quote?

Bongeziwe: “Absolutely not; a significant part of me dies each time I think I’ve struck gold with love, and life wears us down to the point where we have to part ways. Take “Sisahlaleleni”; I address those exact questions: Why stay in a place that’s not good for you? Or not good for both of you? Throughout the album, I intend to show how heartbreaking it is to end love, and move on and how much pain it requires from you.

In a song like ‘Hamba’, you know, I literally say, ‘Uyayazi kunzima kanjani?’ speaking back to the draining task of accepting what isn’t working out and maybe to our earlier conversation about why it is easier somehow to maintain the facade of than to live in a lonely truth. There’s something that feels like death when you end a relationship, it’s uncomfortable, hard, complex, and I dread it. I don’t believe in finding something that you love and letting it kill you. I’m hoping to find something that I love that I can keep and let it make me live”. 

 

Thank you for taking the time out to have this chat with me, brother; before we close, would you like to share some future plans? How do you plan to bring the magic of this album to the masses? 

Bongeziwe: “Definitely, I am going on a global tour. As far as Europe is concerned, I have two sold-out shows in London, and of course, we have plans to tour South Africa as well, with tour dates to be announced soon”.

amaXesha
Noba Bangathini
ndikhale
Ukuthanda Wena
Watch “noma bengathini” Here 
Stream “AmaXesha” Here 

 

Connect with Bongeziwe Mabandla:
Facebook: @BongeziweMabandlaOfficial
Twitter: @Bongeziwe
Instagram: @BongeziweMabandla

Images by  @travysowen 

Written by: King Cedric

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

Studio H’s 100+ Flavour Report Is a Love Letter to South Africans

May 15, 2023 | Interviews, Creatives

Food is one of the most sensorially-encompassing mediums of expression and creativity. Human beings can consider food among the principle artefacts of our existence and evolution; texture, taste, scent, and sounds of the alchemical processing of cooking, and using ingredients drawn from the bounty of the earth, are endlessly fascinating markers of who we have been, who we are; and where we might be going. Culturally and regionally, food derived from South Africa’s complex terrains and contexts are an anthropological tale of the joy, richness, hardship, history and community; diversified among many peoples and places – not least among them the most original people in existence, owing to the Cradle of humankind and the Khoi and the San people. Such an anthropological view of our country has been taken by Hannerie Visser and her team at Studio H; but this is anthropology-meets-culinary, made absolutely delightfully. Created in collaboration with food anthropologist Dr Anna Trapido, 100+ Flavour Report is an archival extension of Studio H’s 100 Flavours installation that ran at the V&A Waterfront in 2021. As the press release for the report so poignantly describes, “In an authentic and engaging way, 100+ Flavours showcases the overlapping influences – ancient and modern, urban and rural – that have created regional and cultural variations on shared themes – vetkoek meets magwinya, tšhotlo fuses with fynvleis, and bunny chows become kota and spathlos. The report highlights – in a comprehensive yet easy-to-understand way – the major impact that the ravages of colonialism, apartheid, poverty and dispossession have had on who consumes what, where and how often in South Africa. It also draws attention to the insightful social, economic, political, and psychological local stories that are infused into every spoon of soured sorghum ting and each bite of biltong. There is a tale to be told through every mouthful of mebos and each crunch of madzhulu termites. And there are ancestral acknowledgements in every sip of amasi, boegoebrandewyn and umqombothi.”

XIGUGU and SPRINGBOK
TAMELETJIE
INHLOKO and MAGEU

With a long background in magazine publishing, Hannerie began Studio H a decade ago as a response to the growing intersections between the culinary arts, design and branding, “during my time in magazine publishing, I think being at New Media with magazines like VISI and Woolworth’s TASTE showed me what was possible if we centred food within the discipline of design – I loved working on food and with food-related clients, so it happened very naturally and its become the facet of interest that has come to differentiate us from other creative studios. At Studio H, we call ourselves ‘culinary-minded designers’ and we do anything from trend-forecasting, on strategies for clients and amplifying, design and branding, product development, as well as sensory design for events. I think food continues to show its cultural importance and as a great source of inspiration to focus design-led thinking towards.” With our rich culinary history splintered across 11 cultural groups and thousands of years; South Africa is a wellspring of such a focus, with food being a unifying medium through which to expand a historiography of memory and tensions somehow instilled with hope – as is the powerful ability of food to bring everyone together. As Hannerie describes, “The 100+ Flavours Report is an extension of our work with V&A Waterfront and Maker’s Landing. As part of the launch, we were asked to do a sensory installation to activate the space. I’ve always had this idea to do a South African food museum, and so that seemed like the perfect space to initiate that idea. In collaboration with food anthropologist Dr Anna Trapido, who we work a lot with, we did an installation called ‘100 Flavours’ focused on South African flavours, cooking methods and instruments.”

Hannerie explains that Dr Anna Trapido felt very strongly that the installation and subsequent report had to reach further back in time than one might realise; namely, the fact that South Africa is the place where the earliest evidence of our relationship to fire and cooking has been established, “we begin the report with ‘forming fire’ and it details how fire was discovered, and that was here in South Africa. Everything points to our country being the starting point of humankind. We sat on this archive of knowledge after the installation, so the report is a way of telling this incredible story of food here. There is a very deep need for documentation and archiving of South African food knowledge and history; because of our history, and there’s a certain part of our food culture that is well-documented, and then there’s an even greater part of South African food culture which is not documented. There are no recipe books about Venda or Tsonga culture that I’ve come across, for instance. We are starting to see food media become more aware of this and more focused on representation. Our report, hopefully, is a small contribution to the diversity of our food cultures, and how they can be preserved and celebrated.” For Hannerie and Anna, there is one flavour that stands out among the rest as a unifying thread across South Africa; coriander, “it’s used in so many dishes and in so many forms. There’s dried coriander in boerewors, and that smell of coriander and fat cooked on a fire, it crosses all boundaries and all cultures. That’s what is so amazing about food, it’s such a powerful medium, and it can instantly bring people together. If you look at something like ‘vetkoek’, almost everybody eats it in some way or another – the preparation and names might change, but the idea of a doughy, savoury accompaniment is transcendent. There’s so many dishes that we all share, and in the end we all eat the same food.”

SKOPAS
UMVUMBO
JAFFLE

The 100+ Flavour Report is an incredible resource with 131 flavours in total that express a digital, national treasure. In terms of what can be expected from the report, and her favourite flavours, Hannerie says, “one of my favourite entries is a braai-broodtjie because it’s just so simple. Then, bokkom is such a personal one for me – my dad always used to give us bokkom, and he would peel it for us and cut it up into small bites, that’s very nostalgic. My third favourite would be ‘waterblommetjies’ and at the back of the book, we have amazing recipes too. I learned so much doing this report, more than I thought. I was listening to David Chang’s podcast the other day, and they were listing their favourite culinary regions – and they listed the usual suspects – and then David Change goes, ‘but what about something like South Africa?’ and that just made me so, so emotional. We have incredible food, incredible wine and people and places.” As Hannerie is speaking, I am taken back to last Christmas, when my mum and I were walking along the beach in Paternoster, only to come across a massive bokkom run by people in the community; men and kids alike, casting out massive nets, running and working in total unison to bring thousands of bokkom; to be salted, dried, and stored. Someone told us that only one family in the whole of the village are the last people with the licence to do runs of this scale, and I think of how agriculture, politics and the commodification of the culinary seeks to separate us. Then, I think of the waterblommetjie and lamb pie at Peregrine Farm Stall, on the way to holidays or festivals, and the way that flavour feels to me, still, to be precisely to be young and South African, and how the Overberg gave my youth many dances and wild experiences. All this to say, with the deepest love, that the cultural significance of the 100+ Flavour Report cannot be overemphasised; nor can our luck to live in South Africa. In trying times, the work of Studio H reminds us what it means to fight for the future of this country and Her many, many stories.

KIFYAAT KOS and MILLETS
MIELIES
CHOPS CHUTNEY and BREDIE

The 100+ Flavours report can be purchased and downloaded here  and costs from R950 per copy. 

In-person or digital presentations, as well as immersive ingredient deep-dives for groups can be arranged on request.

View the interactive 100 Flavours + window display at Tiny Empire, 37 Buitenkant St, District Six, Cape Town.

Images courtesy of @studio_h_
Design by @hoick

Written by: Holly Beaton

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

British soul musician Aaron Taylor releases EP ‘Have A Nice Day’

May 11, 2023 | New Release, Music

British soul musician Aaron Taylor releases 5-track EP ‘Have A Nice Day’, alongside a heartwarming music video for its title track, his first body of work since his dazzling debut album ‘ICARUS’ dropped in 2020. 

‘Have A Nice Day’ oozes laidback soulfulness as he captures the highs and lows of everyday life. Drawing upon fatherhood, contentment and simple pleasures, the London-based artist transforms the mundane into magic with five tracks of feel-good R&B. The project includes recent singles ‘Ebbs and Flows’, ‘Coffee In The Morning’ and ‘Patience’, plus new song ‘Joy Inside’ and the EP’s title track, which has been released with a quirky music video that stars a puppet version of Taylor as the pair tackle the day ahead. 

Speaking of the inspiration behind ‘Have A Nice Day’ EP, Aaron Taylor explains: “The EP went through several variations and tracklist selections, and eventually I noticed a theme of what I describe as a “day in the life” of Aaron Taylor. There are songs about morning coffee, about wanting to have a nice day, about just taking it easy. Becoming a father has highlighted the importance of enjoying each day as much as possible and reminded me to take pleasure in the simple things. Musically, this selection of songs flowed best and were mostly composed within a similar window of time.” 

Filled with warmth and relatability, ‘Have A Nice Day’ showcases Taylor’s timeless R&B sound with silky production elements and soothing vocals. From the title track’s positive intent, the down-tempo ‘Ebbs and Flows’ provides a feeling of comfort, before ‘Patience’ leans into Taylor’s gospel influences with the help of U.S singer songwriter Madison Ryann Ward, serving as a peaceful reminder to be OK with the average pace of life. This freeing sound bleeds into sentimental offering ‘Joy Inside’ which pays tribute to the love he feels for his newborn son (and includes vocals from his sons’ mother), before ‘Coffee In The Morning’ lovingly rounds off the project as Taylor describes wanting to be everything to a person. 

Now surpassing over 100 million Spotify streams, Aaron Taylor has built an impeccable reputation as a British singer songwriter. He made an early impact when one of his first solo tracks ‘Lesson Learnt’ was picked up by Apple TV and used globally in one of their adverts, and has gone on to develop a diverse and dedicated fanbase. With over 1.2 million Spotify listeners per month, widespread radio support comes from BBC Introducing, BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio 2 and many more, while there’s been co-signs from tastemakers Annie Mac, Trevor Nelson and even Elton John.

 

/// Stream ‘Have A Nice Day’ HERE

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Botox, Buccal Fat Removal and Beauty Trends – Everything You Wanted to Know

May 10, 2023 | Lifestyle

We live at the conjunction of medical science, social media and beauty as a mammoth industry, along with the collective pursuit of self-care; really, there’s no better time than now to educate yourself on what’s out there. The technological advancements in the beauty industry, alongside the incredible ways in which technology is reaching across every facet of living are spectacular (and sometimes strange) feats of science. Botox has been around for a while (she’s our first minimally-invasive procedure to gain notoriety), and the plight of the BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) had the 2010s in a chokehold – thanks, Kimmy. Today, the concept of the ‘spa’ has shifted to encompass all manner of medical wonders, and while I’m only newly acquainted with Dermapen (goodbye acne scarring), I thought I’d share a rundown of some beauty trends in 2023. 

Disclaimer: always seek guidance from a qualified provider: look for a licensed medical professional, such as a certified aesthetician, dermatologist or plastic surgeon, and be sure to understand all the risks and benefits entailed in whichever process or procedure that you may be considering.  

 

Minimally Invasive Procedures 

The development of minimally invasive procedures are treatments that provide significant cosmetic improvements with minimal downtime; with procedures like botox, fillers, and laser generally being performed in a medical office or clinic, and often require little to no recovery time. These are used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. The most common right now are Botox & Fillers, which are used in a variety of different ways – with overlapping outcomes.

Botox, AKA botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxin that temporarily paralyzes the muscles responsible for creating wrinkles. When injected into the skin, Botox blocks the nerve signals that cause muscles to contract, resulting in a smoother appearance, and is most commonly used to treat forehead wrinkles, frown lines, and crow’s feet around the eyes. Fillers, on the other hand, are injectable substances that add volume to the skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines; the most popular is hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers. HA fillers work by attracting and retaining water, which creates a plumping effect, increasing a hydrated appearance in the face. They can be used to fill in wrinkles and lines, add volume to the cheeks, lips, and jawline, and improve the appearance of scars. The effects of Botox typically last for three to six months, after which the muscles will gradually regain their ability to contract, while fillers can last anywhere from six months to two years, depending on the type of filler used and the area of the face being treated.

It’s important to note that ‘filler migration’ is a real thing; as it’s a substance injected into the skin, it takes time to dissolve into the bloodstream – during this process, and if more filler is added, it can lead to the literal migration of the filled substance from the original injection site; hence, the appearance of swollen lips.

Regenerative Medicine 

Regenerative medicine uses the body’s own cells and tissues to repair and rejuvenate the skin. Treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell therapy can stimulate collagen production; and this arena of beauty procedures is a particularly fascinating feat between technology and the biofeedback nature of the human body. Also, my fave fashion girl Courtney Trop swears by PRP (vampire facials, basically) – saying that at 36 years old, her skin has never been healthier. Straight out of Dracula’s transhumanist dreams, PRP (platelet-rich plasma) facial is a cosmetic treatment that uses a person’s own blood to rejuvenate the skin. During the procedure, a small amount of blood is drawn from you, and placed in a centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich plasma from the rest of the blood components. The platelet-rich plasma is then injected into the skin using small needles or applied topically; with said platelets containing growth factors that can stimulate collagen production and promote healing, which can improve the texture and tone of the skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and minimize the appearance of scars and sun damage. The PRP facial can be combined with microneedling or other treatments to enhance its effectiveness. Microneedling creates small punctures in the skin, which allows the PRP to penetrate more deeply into the skin layers and stimulate collagen production more effectively.

Dermapen is the only procedure (yet) that I’m acquainted with, and it’s cleared up some acne-scarring and skin texture issues I was having – in addition, I’m a shea butter girly, so I recommend this as a ‘return to the earth’s bounty’ treatment for acne-scarring and hydration. Dermapen uses a micro-needling device with a series of tiny needles to create controlled micro-injuries to the skin, creating small punctures in the skin that stimulate the body’s natural healing response, promoting collagen and elastin production.The depth of the needle penetration can be adjusted based on the patient’s individual needs and skin type. These micro-injuries trigger the body’s natural healing response, which involves the production of collagen and elastin, two proteins essential for maintaining the skin’s structure and elasticity, and their production in our bodies decrease with age. By promoting collagen and elastin production, this process can improve the texture and tone of the skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and minimize the appearance of scars and sun damage. In addition to collagen and elastin production, these micro-injuries also help to increase the absorption of topical skincare products. After the procedure, the skin is more receptive to topical treatments such as serums, creams, and other skincare products – retinol, Vitamin C, glycolics etc, which is a whole other realm in skincare’s holy grail. Dermapen has minimal down-time, although the redness I’ve experienced (particularly after my third session) is truly a sight to behold; so keep out of the sun, and keep that Zoom camera-turned off for at least a day or two.

Anti-Aging Treatments 

Finally, medical science has played a significant role in the development of anti-aging treatments, such as topical creams, injectables, and lasers, which can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. I think aging gracefully is a beautiful thing; we earn our wrinkles and lines as etchings of wisdom and living. For me, the perfect balance of using what science has to offer, and being true to aging, is characterized by designer Isabel Marant. A few to keep in mind are chemical peels, a type of exfoliating treatment that can remove dead skin cells, stimulate collagen production, and improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage. Then, laser resurfacing is a non-invasive treatment that uses laser energy to stimulate collagen production, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improve the overall texture and tone of the skin. 

Among the many titans of active skincare ingredients, there is the holy trinity: Retinol, vitamin C, and glycolic acid. Each of these ingredients has unique properties and benefits for the skin. Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A and can stimulate collagen production, increase cell turnover, and reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. Retinol can also help to unclog pores and reduce acne. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help protect the skin from environmental damage, such as pollution and UV rays. It can also brighten the skin and improve the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Vitamin C can stimulate collagen production, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that exfoliates the skin by removing dead skin cells and promoting cell turnover – I swear by The Ordinary Glycolic Toner, which has lasted me over a year. It can improve the texture and tone of the skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and help to unclog pores. Glycolic acid can also improve the skin’s hydration levels and stimulate collagen production. When using skincare products containing these active ingredients, it’s important to follow the instructions carefully and start slowly to avoid irritation; especially if you have sensitive skin. It’s also important to wear sunscreen daily to protect the skin from further damage – which, as the best in the business will tell you, is the single most important skincare ritual. 

Lastly, and the only ‘cosmetic procedure’ I’ll explain, is the recently trending buccal fat removal. Has it ever dawned on you how celebs and models seem to have the most insane cheek-bone structure? Well, it has been widely circulated that this is rarely a feat of genetics; rather, it’s the removal of excess fat from the cheeks. The buccal fat pad is a layer of fat that sits beneath the cheekbones and helps to provide fullness to the cheeks. In some people, this fat pad can be more prominent than desired, leading to a rounder, fuller appearance of the face. During buccal fat removal, a small incision is made inside the mouth, and the surgeon removes a portion of the buccal fat pad. The procedure typically takes less than an hour and is performed under local anesthesia or general anesthesia. The results of buccal fat removal are immediate, and the outcome is a slimmer, more contoured appearance to the cheeks. However, it’s important to note that buccal fat removal is a permanent procedure, and the amount of fat removed cannot be replaced.

So, whether you choose to use a serum or get a lil ‘tox to the forehead, no one is judging. As long as these are things we do for ourselves, and not because we are bending to pressure or some bizarre face filter app; the world is getting more and more complex with science and technology leading the way, and why shouldn’t we experiment too, within reason? In and amongst it all, we can thank Mother Nature for the water which hydrates us, the food which nourishes us, and the fact that beauty is very much a subjective, deep perspective held differently and uniquely by all.

Written by: Holly Beaton

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

TheLastLetter returns with her first single of 2023 ‘Nice Gyal’

May 9, 2023 | New Release, Music

TheLastLetter returns with her first single of 2023 ‘Nice Gyal’. The song is an empowering anthem about stepping into your confidence With its hard hitting trap beat produced by South African producer Malume LiieLow, paired with a catchy hook “Nice Gyal” is sure to become a favorite among listeners of Z, as she is nicknamed.

In “Nice Gyal,”Z delivers a powerful message about taking control of her life and disregarding the harmful opinions of others, releasing potential lovers who have an unclear position in her life, and breaking out of her shell. The song’s upbeat tempo and positive vibes are sure to inspire listeners to embrace their inner self and walk with confidence. With this release, Z continues to showcase her diverse sound while foraging her path in the African music industry. 

Stream ‘Nice Gyal’ HERE

///  Follow the TheLastLetter
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IG:  Maulme_liielow

Versatile drops latest spiritually-charged Amapiano track ‘Vulindlela’

May 9, 2023 | New Release, Music

Versatile (Nhlakanipho Ntanda) is a multi-genre recording artist and producer from Soweto. Over the past 2 years, he has been growing his popularity as an Amapiano vocalist through performing at some of the best events and culture hubs, as well as collaborating with key players in the Amapiano community. 

His latest track, ‘Vulindlela’ is a prayer for guidance and surrendering one’s hardships to a higher power. It falls in the bracket of ‘Spiritual Amapiano’, a subgenre of Amapiano that marries all the familiar dance elements of ‘Piano’ with profound messages of hope, motivation & comfort. With this song Versatile continues to make a mark as an artist who has something very special to offer in the African music landscape.

Sonically, ‘Vulindlela’ is a smooth soulful record with a simple yet catchy bassline, the instrumental has a spacious warm feel tempered perfectly by Versatile for an intimate listening experience. ‘Vulindlela’ was produced by Emmanuel N, who is a well-versed producer & musician that has worked closely with Versatile since 2021. 

Versatile’s style is created through a mixture of all the genres he grew up listening to such as Afro Pop, House, Kwaito and Hip Hop, and blending them to shape his own rich sound. This non-purist approach to making music is what makes him stand out. With career highlights such as performing alongside Mafikizolo, Fally Ipupa and Mayorkun at the Africa Honour Day Concert at Expo 2020, as part on an international concert curated by MTV Base for the African Union in Dubai, Versatile is one to watch in the Piano scene. 

Listen to ‘Vulindlela’ HERE 

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