First Ever Trace Awards To Exclusively Celebrate African & Diaspora Artists

Aug 28, 2023 | News, Music

Global music powerhouse and Afro-music tastemaker Trace has revealed the nominees for the first ever Trace Awards in Africa, a live event & global TV spectacular that celebrates the creativity, talent and influence of African and Afro-inspired music and artists.

Taking place on 21 October 2023 at the BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda, the Trace Awards & Festival was presented by Visit Rwanda and Martell.

Comments Olivier Laouchez, Chairman & Co-Founder, Trace, “African and African diaspora artists are extraordinarily creative and dynamic. They represent a massive cultural force and deserve more global recognition and celebration. The Trace Awards’ nominations salute achievement and excellence from more than 150 performers, producers, DJs, writers, composers, directors, established artists and rising stars, and their management and labels. We congratulate all the nominees, most of whom will attend and perform in Kigali on 21 October. It will be an unmissable experience for lovers of African and Afro-inspired music.”

From North to South, from East to West, the entire African continent will be represented by its best artists at the Trace Awards, showcasing the excellence and diversity of Afro-centric music in genres such Afrobeat, Dancehall, Hip Hop, Afro-pop, Mbalax, Amapiano, Zouk, Kizomba, Genge, Coupé Décalé, Bongo Flava, Soukous, Gospel, Rap, Rai, Kompa, R&B, and Rumba.

Competing in 22 award categories are platinum-selling artists from more than thirty countries in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and Europe including Algeria, Angola, Brazil, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, DRC, France, French Guiana, Gabon, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Martinique, Mayotte, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Reunion, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tunisia, the UK and Uganda. The winners will take home one or more Trace Awards Trophies – unique pieces of art designed by acclaimed Congolese sculptor and designer, Dora Prevost.

Leading the nominations are West African artists, particularly Nigerian artists, who underscore the global popularity of Nigerian Afrobeat with over 40 nominations in total, including multiple nominations for Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Davido, WizKid, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Fireboy DML and Rema.

South African artists make their mark in the nominations, with Hip Hop artist K.O scoring an impressive three nominations including Best Male, Song of the Year and Best Collaboration. Also honoured are Musa Keys (Best Live, Best Collaboration), and Blxckie (Best Music Video), while Pabi Cooper squares up against a strong field in the Best Newcomer award category. Just over the border in Swaziland, Uncle Waffles scores a well-deserved nomination in the Best DJ category.

The contribution of female artists is recognised in multiple categories including Best Female Artist, where Cape Verde’s Soraia Ramos is competing against Josey from the Ivory Coast, Senegal’s Viviane Chidid, Kenya’s Nadia Mukami and the double threat of Tiwa Savage and Arya Starr (Nigeria).

The diverse music of the African diasporas is represented by nominations for some of the most acclaimed artists in France, Brazil, UK, The Caribbean and the Indian Ocean including Stormzy (UK), Booba and Aya Nakamura (France), Leo Santana (Brazil), Shenseea (Jamaica), Donovan BTS (Mauritius), Princess Lover and Kalash (Martinique), Bamby (Guyane) and Admiral T (Guadeloupe).

Africa’s enduring love of the uplifting Gospel genre is reflected in the Best Gospel Singer category, which sees South Africa’s Benjamin Dube going head-to-head with Kenya’s Janet Otienao, Uganda’s Levixone, KS Bloom from the Ivory Coast and Moses Bliss from Nigeria.

In a fitting tribute to the host country for the inaugural Trace Awards, Rwandan artists come to the fore in Best Rwandan Artist, highlighting the talent of Rwandan musicians Bruce Melodie, Kenny Sol, Ariel Wayz, Bwiza and Chriss Eazy. Also representing the east of the continent, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz notches up several nominations, including Best Male and Best Music Video, while Azawi, Lexivone and the Uganda Ghetto Kids carry the torch for Uganda.

Further north, Algeria’s Raja Meziane and Kader Japonais are competing against Tunisia’s Artmasta and Morocco’s Amira Zouhair, Dystinct and El Grande Toto in Best Artist – North Africa.

Francophone music and artists take their fair share of the accolades with 10 nominations including two nods for Didi B from Ivory Coast as Best Male and Best Artist – Francophone while Libianca from Cameroon earned two nominations, for Best Newcomer and Song of the Year, respectively. DRC’s Fally Ipupa also scored two nominations: one for the Best Live (Global) and one for the Best Artist Africa – Francophone categories.

Portuguese-speaking artists from Lusophone Africa are highlighted with nominations in Best Artist Africa – Lusophone for Gerilson Insrael and Perola from Angola, who are both pitted against Cape Verde’s Lisandro Cuxi and Soraia Ramos, as well as Plutonio (Mozambique).

Up-and-coming artists make their mark in the nominations, too, in the hotly contested Best Newcomer Award, sponsored by Belaire, which sees popular Cameroonian artists – Libianca and Krys M – squaring up against Cote d’Ivoire’s Roselyne Layo, Azawi from Uganda, Pabi Cooper from South Africa and Nigeria’s Nissi and Odumodublvck

Targeted at lovers of African and Afro-inspired music and culture, the Trace Awards will broadcast live on 21 October 2023 on Trace TV, radio and digital channels and on global streaming platforms, national terrestrial TV and satellite channels. The viewership and social interaction is expected to exceed 500 million fans in 190 countries. Rwandan creativity and excellence are represented by the involvement of BK Arena, RwandAir and RBA as partners to the Trace Awards & Festival.

For a full list of nominations, please click here or see below:

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITES HERE

Press release distributed by Tutone Communications

Press imagery courtesy of Tutone Communcations

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

Bongeziwe Mabandla releases cinematic film for ‘Umntwana Ongaphakathi’ (The Child Inside)

Aug 28, 2023 | News, Music

In “Umntwana Ongaphakathi” (The Child Inside), we immerse ourselves in a tale of self-discovery and healing, chronicling the poignant journey of the lead character, Khumbula (played by Bongeziwe himself). Set within the raw confines of a derelict home and a murky tavern, our narrative unearths the tumultuous relationship between Khumbula and the tangible representation of his inner child.

Echoing a psychotherapeutic exercise that promotes healing through dialogue with one’s inner child, this narrative emerged in the wake of Bongeziwe’s haunting track “Soze” off of his latest album “amaXesha”. Here, love transcends time, and invites an introspective exploration of self-love.

In this cinematic landscape, Khumbula grapples with his relentless past, spiralling into a whirlpool of self-destruction, his inner child a constant apparition. Their bond, conveyed through the raw embodiment of pain, showcases an emotional mirroring between Khumbula and his younger self. Their dance of conflict and reconciliation takes us through their shared darkest recesses, ultimately leading to a cathartic confrontation that serves as a painful reckoning.

This culmination ushers in a transformative phase of acceptance and forgiveness, setting Khumbula and his inner child on the rocky path to healing, all under the melodic serenade of maternal love.This narrative, while specific in its portrayal, resonates universally, speaking to the struggle of reconciling with our past and seeking redemption.

This collaboration was a journey spanning several months, a commitment by Bongeziwe, the writer and director Zee Ntuli, and their team to realise this emotionally resonant narrative.The process required a personal introspection from everyone involved, culminating in a film that is emotively raw and brimming with intricate technicality. This depth of feeling is enhanced by the technical facets of filmmaking, emphasising symbolism and emotional impact.

Bongeziwe Mabandla, the creative force behind “Soze”, steps into Khumbula’s shoes, showcasing his versatility as a musician and actor. His album, “amaXesha”, a meditation on memory, finds its echoes in our film as we delve into the relationship with our past. “Umntwana Ongaphakathi” is an artistic manifestation of Zee Ntuli’s core belief: the pursuit of beauty within the abyss of darkness, a poetic excavation of our pains and fears to find the dormant beauty within. It’s an invitation to an introspective journey, one that we hope will resonate with audiences on a deeply personal level.

SOZE LYRICS
You taught me what love is
No one will ever know what you did for me When I fall
You raise me up
You say to me you are my hope
Time is passing now
I delight in knowing it is passing with me and you Things come and go
The earth hides all people
I will never ever forget you
I will never ever forget you
Before the sun goes down
I have to give gratitude to God for you
Time is passing, now
But I delight in knowing it is passing with me and you Even when I am no longer in this world
When I have crossed over to the other side
This love will never end
It is eternal
I will never ever forget you I will never ever forget you

 

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

Press release courtesy of Sheila Afari PR

CREDITS
WRITTEN & DIRECTED: Zee Ntuli 
FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY: Darling Films
 EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Lorraine Smit & Melina McDonald 
PRODUCER: Anastasia Tsobanopulos 
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Deon Van Zyl 
PICK UP SHOOT CINEMATOGRAPHER: Michael Cleary 
PRODUCTION MANAGER: Kirstin Twiss & Vasilea Ackermann 
ART DIRECTOR: Claire Gritten 
WARDROBE STYLIST: Neo Serati
HAIR & MAKEUP: Orli Meiri 
STARRING: Bongeziwe Mabandla & Kaabo Mokhine & Patrick Mthuthuze 
MUSIC PRODUCER: Tiago Correia-Paulo

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

Magic Number releases first single ‘Good Morning Sunshine’

Aug 25, 2023 | New Release, Music

Magic Number’s last release might have been some time ago, but you’ve probably been routinely listening to the major force behind the project. Ross Hillard’s masterful musicianship shines through in many notable dance music releases. Having honed his skills whilst crafting his forthcoming second long player, the breathtaking first single, ‘Good Morning Sunshine’, is now ready for us to enjoy. 

This positive, anthemic gem is driven by the vocal talent of Sophia Marshall, heard elsewhere with the acclaimed The Havenots on Cooking Vinyl Records. Her memorable vocal hook is followed by an empowering story of taking back control of life. She prompts us to not let life pass us by and to relish those precious moments with those we love. A superb, darkly humorous animated video complements the release. As Sophia’s vocals remind us all “You can’t change the world when you’re ten feet underground”, a post-burial, cartoon corpse comes back to life. The reanimated character then amusingly performs the ensuing story of positive living. Propelling these sentiments further, uplifting jazz-inspired drums and horns intensify throughout the song, culminating in a superb trumpet solo: a crescendo leaving us craving an encore.

From the well-received ‘That Day’ LP, released through the esteemed Mantis Recordings in 2004, Magic Number is a renowned downtempo and orchestral composer. His engineering and bass playing can be experienced through releases featuring Louie Vega, Kerri Chandler and, of course, Atjazz, the originator of Mantis Recordings and owner of the eponymously named home of this release. It’s Ross Hillard’s evolving talent that leads us to the renaissance of the Magic Number project; creative songwriting, explorative composition and high-end production that can all be experienced throughout the forthcoming LP, Badly Written Songs. This first instalment, ‘Good Morning Sunshine’, is available August 18th on Atjazz Record Company through all leading streaming and download sites. 

Stream ‘Good Morning Sunshine’ HERE

Press release courtesy of Only Good Stuff

Multi-Platinum Grammy Award Winning Usher Releases ‘Good Good’ Featuring 21 Savage And Summer Walker

Aug 25, 2023 | New Release, Music

Multi-Platinum Grammy Award Winning Global Superstar USHER has released new single “Good Good”, featuring 21 Savage and Summer Walker. The song from his highly anticipated as-yet untitled ninth full-length album due for release this fall follows “GLU” which recently earned USHER his seventh #1 record on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay Chart. “Good Good” is written by USHER, Tauren Stovall, Paul “Ghost” Dawson (Rihanna, Ariana Grande, Jay-Z) and more, with production by Grammy Award nominated duo Mel & Mus (Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj). 

The song is out via mega, a music collective founded by L.A. Reid and USHER in partnership with ‘gamma.’- the artist-first multimedia platform providing creative and business services across all artistic and commercial formats co-founded by CEO Larry Jackson and President Ike Youssef. This joint venture will see gamma. exclusively distribute and market all music released by mega. 

In conjunction with new music coming, Usher My Way: The Las Vegas Residency kicked off its second sold-out year, birthing numerous viral moments with shows through October. Usher: Rendez-vous à Paris, the sold-out European residency at La Seine Musicale, will kick off on September 24 until October 5.

About USHER
USHER has changed music, culture, and countless lives. The multiple GRAMMY Award-winning diamond-selling international megastar, actor, dancer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist inspires change yet again in 2023 and beyond.

Beyond selling over 80 million records worldwide and collecting dozens of awards, he has simultaneously lit up the small screen on NBC’s The Voice and the big screen in blockbusters such as Hustlers. He has also tirelessly distinguished himself as a devout humanitarian, raising tens of millions of dollars for various causes and uplifting youth via his New Look Foundation. Since 1999 he has been providing opportunities for young people in underserved communities and enabling them to flourish and achieve seemingly impossible dreams. A long-time supporter and Global Citizen Ambassador, Usher has performed at events since 2015 raising awareness to defeat poverty, defend the planet and demand equity. A true outlier, he is equally at home on the stage of his sold out My Way Las Vegas residency as he was on a 2016 government cultural mission to Cuba as part of President Barack Obama’s Presidential Committee for Arts and Humanities.

 About gamma.
gamma., founded by CEO Larry Jackson and President Ike Youssef, is a modern media and technology enterprise created to revolutionize the way artists create, distribute, and monetize their content and brand. Announced gamma. repertoire includes a long-term agreement with entertainment icon Snoop Dogg for exclusive rights to market and distribute the iconic Death Row Records catalog including new music from Snoop Dogg and multi-platinum Grammy Award winning superstar USHER partnered with gamma. for the release of his latest hit Glu. Digital distributor Vydia, is a wholly-owned division of gamma.

Stream ‘Good Good’ HERE 

Connect with USHER:
TikTok
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
Youtube

Press release courtesy of Sheila Afari PR

Head hydro-tripper Black Eyes releases his debut solo record ‘Hydro-Trip vol. 1’

Aug 25, 2023 | New Release, Music

Head hydro-tripper Black Eyes has risen from the depths of the deep to release his debut solo record ‘Hydro-Trip vol. 1’. Fresh off the sea creature’s back from co-producing the ‘Planet People – Terra Firma EP’ with synth-botherer Reedale Rise which came out earlier this year. His solo endeavour takes us on a jazzier vibe yet still keeping true to the deep ways of the water. 

Lead track ‘Understood Sea Being’ plunges us on a rugged ride with deep Detroit chords and Black Eyes’s own punk-like vocals throughout. ‘Let’s Get Deeper’ slows the pace up with chopped up samples and introduces us to the classic hydro-trip sound we’ve grown to love down here in the underwater cities; it’s deep and trippy. 

‘Scuba Lyfe’ picks up the pace a bit but evolves into a low down dubby groove mixed with some hi-tek jazz. Asking Rolando (who we all know was part of the infamous Underground Resistance and Los Hermanos, as well being a Berghain resident DJ more recently) to come on board the subterranean vessel was an obvious choice for remix. He switches the gears and adds some fluid Detroit techno to finish off the EP. Berlin-based Deskai masters the EP, who also mastered the ‘Planet People EP’, so you know what to sonically expect. This EP has been in the making for some years and we are happy to finally share the way of the hydro-trip with all you land dwellers. As per usual with anything hydro-trip related; scuba gear is heavily encouraged when listening to this EP. Let’s keep it deep!

Lost Control – Sleeve Artwork

Stream ‘Hydro-Trip Vol.1’ HERE

Press release courtesy of Only Good Stuff

Gigi Lamayne & Megatronic Unite For Liberating New Single ‘Let My People Go’ with Paradise Sound System

Aug 25, 2023 | New Release, Music

The SA Hip Hop Award winning female rapper, Gigi Lamayne and international DJ and music Producer Megatronic are set to challenge the status quo with a powerful and uplifting anthem of liberation “Let My People Go”. Off the back of her last riveting single” Menzi Ngubane ” which featured the renowned Lady Du and Robot Boii, she showcased her versatile lyrical prowess, on an undeniable amapiano rhythm. In “Let My People Go”, Gigi Lamayne and Megatronic invite listeners to open their eyes to the struggles behind the everyday hustle and bustle of life. This is the second installment which will give us a glimpse into her new era of creativity. 

The Love and hip-hop reality TV star has teamed up with UK born DJ, Performer and Producer Megatronic  who recently graced the Berlin Rave The Planet Parade stage. The Power house  artists have poured their pioneering energy and creative flair into a song that speaks to the human spirit. From the production driven by a beating drum, Gigi Lamayne’s open cry in the chorus reminiscent of African traditional music, this song is bound to set your soul on fire. 

“Let my people go” is a song that carries a meaningful message of liberation, freedom and social justice. It serves as a call for redemption for the previously oppressed communities, urging an end to social injustice and discrimination. Above all, it resonates hope, resilience and yearning for the world where everybody can live with dignity and freedom.

This song is an ode to the people across race, and across borders the message showcases how the fabric of humanity is what connects us all. Gigi Lamayne and Megatronic have breathed life into “Let My People Go” and we cannot wait to see how this collaboration builds bridges and allows the sound of Africa to be taken to the world. “In my home, music knew no boundaries. From the unique sounds of the Commodores to Whitney Houston’s power, we embraced it all. I watched as my family played sounds from around the world on our old radio. I began as a poet and found my way into this wonderful world of music,” shares Gigi.

As the release date of Gigi Lamayne’s EP draws near, fans and music enthusiasts worldwide are eagerly anticipating the magic she is set to unveil. With her innovative approach to music and her intention to bridge continents through her artistry, Gigi Lamayne is a true musical visionary, breaking barriers and creating a harmonious world through the universal language of music.

Stream ‘Let My People Go’ HERE 

Press release courtesy of Paradise Sound System

Smoove & Turrell release ‘The Light’ feat. Ronnie Foster

Aug 25, 2023 | New Release, Music

There really is nobody quite like Smoove & Turrell. This talented crew of virtuoso musicians from the North East of England have been scene-leaders in the UK and internationally for well over a decade, and their distinctive brand of northern soul and analogue electronica has set them aside in their own lane for six albums and continuing.  

Having built their audience organically through hard work and extensive touring, their trajectory is still very much upward with their most recent album ‘Stratos Bleu’ hitting number 1 in the UK National album charts (dance) on release in 2020. Consistently prolific as recording and touring artists, their previous release ‘IGOTCHA’ was the first to be taken from their forthcoming album and has been strongly supported on BBC 6 Music.

Smoove & Turrelp drop ‘The Light’ which opens with the gospel backing of label mate Izo FitzRoy before John’s incredible voice and social lyricism and Smoove’s unmistakable production lift us up into The Light. Legendary US Blue Note keyboard genius Ronnie Foster joins the party as only he can, one of the very few instrumental guests Smoove has ever wanted (or needed) beyond his own band.

Front man John Turrell says “How can you sum up the last 3 years of life on this lonely island. There was so much wrong with the way we’ve been let down by the people in power, from parties in No 10, Post truth politics bringing culture wars to our streets through a media that is driven by greed. The best way is to rise above it and let the love shine in. Stand up for the people that did so much for us during the dark days. Solidarity to all those who deserve so much better than they are getting now! The Light is what we can achieve if we all work together” 

B Side Joy! Is an equally emotional anthem – John says “If recent years taught us one thing it’s how much we need each other, how human contact is so important, just being the person who listens when someone is having their worst day can sometimes be a lifesaving intervention. In a way I wanted to write a song that could reach people in a slightly different way. A sort of mantra to get you out of the slump.”

Stream ‘The Light’ HERE 

Press release courtesy of Only Good Stuff

Lucky Sun drops new single ‘Falling Fool’ featuring vocalist Jaidene Veda

Aug 25, 2023 | New Release, Music

UK producer Lucky Sun (aka Tom Lown) returns with his new single ‘Falling Fool’, featuring personal favourite vocalist Jaidene Veda.

Released last summer, Lucky Sun’s ‘Balance’ album received DJ support from Hot Toddy, Rainer Trüby and Ashley Beedle among others, with the Yorkshire Times describing it as “a timeless listening album”.

US artist Jaidene Veda’s voice is often described as “Björk meets Sade”, or dubbed “a modern day Tracey Thorn”, though various reviews of her work still state that her style is inimitable. Having collaborated with some of the industry’s finest, she is the perfect fit for this collaboration and ‘something magical’ happened in hers and Tom’s respective, transatlantic remote studios.

Jaidene Veda &  Lucky Sun (aka Tom Lown)

‘Falling Fool’ is a special gem. Deep, both in terms of sonics and groove, Jaidene’s vocals and Tom’s music writing and production create a unique and spiritual atmosphere, with a lot of soul and feeling. Crisp drums, warm bass and chords, played on Rhodes, Piano and Strings create the perfect bed for Jaidene’s lush ‘Naked Music’-esque voice. Accompanying the original version are a stripped back ‘Dubstrumental’ and  a ‘Veda Naked Vocal’ version.
Stream ‘Falling Fool’ HERE 

Press release courtesy of Only Good Stuff

Love and Creativity Intertwined with Dicker & Dane

Aug 24, 2023 | Interviews, Fashion

The single force underpinning our capacity for creativity is human connection. On the altar of artistic expression, our work can only be transformed by our ability to love each other, community and life itself. If there were a creative duo steeped in this notion – of love and creativity intertwined – it would be Armand Dicker and Anthony Hinrichsen. Their collaborative story is bound by their love for each other and their simultaneous and respective visions for life, fashion, art, exploration – and then some. As creative and life partners, I am struck by the ‘twin-soul’ essence of Ant and Armand together; like spiritual mirrors to each, their work as a creative duo acts as a container for the redirection of their energies coming together. This is what makes their duo-ship, Dicker & Dane, one of the most compelling forces in the sartorial landscape. Just in the week that I am writing this, their exclusive story for Vogue Portugal has been published. With photography, creative direction and styling created by the duo alongside their small team – the editorial is a mid-century dreamscape, featuring garments by local labels Viviers, Rich Mnisi, MMUSOMAXWELL, Cape Cobra Leathercraft, Amble and LABHOMMES.

While the pair mostly reside in Cape Town, the last few years have seen them work between various places in the world from Paris, to London and now, Bangkok. In our conversation, Ant shares that this is his third time living in Thailand – and Armand’s second time. It was the place in which Ant’s initial trajectory in fashion was first realised, as he says “I studied film and television production and then right after university, I got an opportunity to come to Thailand. I did the teaching thing for a bit and then realised it wasn’t really the life for me, so I caught a bus into Bangkok and managed to meet a boss on the same day who introduced me to the fashion industry here. My first job in fashion was working in PR and international sales for a Thai brand.” After returning to South Africa, Ant honed his editorial skills at Gingko Agency in their ‘Beautiful News’ division, a space that releases one positive short film per day.

“I wanted to come to South Africa and be part of the industry there, but at the time – just under a decade ago – there didn’t feel like there were many opportunities. Especially compared to what I had experienced in Thailand, which is a very vibrant and amazing industry. Thai locals support Thai designers and the Thai government provides a lot of funding – people can really create here.”

For Armand, design was his initial segue into fashion, noted for his brand ‘Dicker’, “I have always had an affinity for fashion from my very early teenage years. I think the Devil Wears Prada woke that up for me. I studied fashion after school and some great things happened for me. I started interning with South African designers who I felt had an international edge and during my holidays I was interning at SA Fashion Week, with Suzaan Heyns. My final collection at school was done with the intention to get it into AFI Fastrack, which I did and ended up in the top four alongside Thebe Magugu, Nthabiseng Molefe and Martelle Ludik.”

When Armand and Ant started dating in Cape Town, they moved to Thailand together and spent two years between Malaysia and Thailand, Ant says “we moved here together as models but we weren’t really getting the kinds of jobs that we wanted. We started styling together and decided to make our own editorials. That’s when our duo really started.” Lockdown would bring them back to Cape Town, and into a cocoon that fostered their respective knowledge and skill sets towards developing their duo. As Ant says, “we started testing stories with friends. I think for us, it’s always been important to have creative control and to maintain final say on images, casting and styling. It made more sense that we worked as a duo in which we could contain what we really wanted to say with our work, individually and together.”

It has been three full years of Dicker & Dane and the results have surpassed their expectations. At the beginning, Ant and Armand wrote down a vision list of what they wanted to achieve for the next ten years; three years later and their final wish, a Vogue Portugal cover (for the June print issue, The Voyage Issue) has already happened. Another one of those wishes was Ant’s dream to style an Iris van Herpen piece; lo and behold, Ant describes a chance trip to Paris, “we tried our luck and they sent four dresses down from Amsterdam to Paris, for us to shoot. It was unbelievable.” In terms of their duo-ship, Armand says “it really happened through our everyday life together. We’ll be sitting watching Drag Race or we’ll be in an uber together and we usually see something – like a piece of clothing or an object. We live in each other’s heads so much and we are so sync, so when something arises around us that piques our interest – usually a story or editorial unfolds from there. We are a bit telepathic. Even those inflatable heads for the Vogue Portugal cover, we found those in Bangkok last year and we knew that we were going to save them for something special.” This kind of unified mind is the nexus of their power together – and is why their seamless execution reaches beyond the siloed, individualistic structure that fashion production has traditionally been built upon. Together, Ant and Armand allow each other to dream bigger and better. 

For Dicker & Dane, there is a principle to their work that goes beyond the final images – even beyond the garments, or the creative features of their stories. Casting is their primary focus, particularly driven by their uncompromising view on representation and inclusion. Armand says, “I mean, Ant won’t say it himself – but I know the impact that he has scouted. Laura Ashleigh Meyer for example, at Topco, was the first differently abled model on the main board of any agency in the country. A model he found, his first shoot was with Vogue Portugal and another, their first job was with adidas in Times Square. I think we have been part of getting young, aspiring models to realise that there is a space for them in fashion. Our creative work has managed to create spaces for people –  that’s bigger for us than many of the achievements of the past and future.” 

I ask about their inclination to travel together, working and living relatively nomadically. Ant says, “I think this way of living is ingrained in me. There was a point in my childhood where we moved 12 times in two years. I was just young enough to not grasp the seriousness or stressfulness of this; for me, it was a big adventure each time – a new house, a new street, a new opportunity for exploration. I’ve kind of kept that delusion into my adulthood. I actually love being slightly unsettled in new spaces and I think it pushes me. If I spend too much time somewhere, I get a little stagnant – I am someone who could live in my lounge for the rest of my life. To make sure that happens, I think moving around is my solution to that. We absolutely love being a travelling team.” Based in Bangkok, Dicker & Dane laud the Thai consciousness for art and beauty in their everyday life. Being able to walk endlessly and take images – piqued by new and bright perspectives offered by the city – form the pulse of their current thinking and considerations in their work. For the duo, their primary focus are the Asian and European markets, each offering an endless array of possibilities.

Integrity is crucial to Ant and Armand’s practice. As Ant says, “we have very strict rules as to what’s okay and what’s not okay. Whether it’s our own set or our client’s set, those rules are the same. If I see someone in our team being disrespected by anyone on set, then we all leave set. No single job is more important than how the people who are working on it are feeling. Fashion has a bad reputation for how people get treated. Before we were in charge of the sets ourselves, we both witnessed deep disrespect to others and experienced that ourselves.” He goes on to say that, “my first shoot as a model, I didn’t realise until years later that it was an assault. When I modelled years later with Armand and we could speak about it, then I realised “oh, it’s not actually normal for a photographer to put their hands in your pants to ‘adjust you’” – so this is a big focus of ours, and every set we do starts with a conversation with the model. If anything makes them uncomfortable, or what their boundaries are, or even if they don’t want to wear something – we make sure that as a team, we understand all of those things. We take what we do very seriously but we are not brain surgeons – we can adapt and evolve on set. These rules are non-negotiable. We hold ourselves and our clients to these same standards.” This energy of safety and respect is the precise dose that fashion requires to remedy its reputation – and Dicker & Duo administer the future of fashion with stunning effect. 

As for the vision going forward, the duo have given up dreaming. Not for any reason other than as an act of trust in what they are doing. For months, it felt like things weren’t moving; until suddenly, everything they had wished for happened at once. This act of trust and flow is a profound teaching for any creative; the ability to tap into the timing that Universe seemingly lays out, rather than the timelines we decide in our minds. Dicker & Dane have achieved much, but that’s scratching the surface. Their pathway tells the tale of the highest mandate in true, sartorial consciousness.

Cover Image by @rynostols

Written by: Holly Beaton

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

Kamyar Bineshtarigh’s solo exhibition ‘9 Hopkins’ announced by Southern Guild

Aug 21, 2023 | News, Art

Southern Guild is pleased to present 9 Hopkins, a solo exhibition of abstract artworks by Kamyar Bineshtarigh, from 24 August to 19 October, 2023. This new series of expansive, mixed-media paintings is at once an exploration of gestural mark-making and an engagement with the urban fabric of Salt River, an historic industrial area located close to central Cape Town. Working intuitively in conversation with his observed environment, Bineshtarigh lifted each of the new artworks from the painted walls of his studio complex. This is his first solo exhibition with Southern Guild since joining the gallery at the beginning of 2023. 

Bineshtarigh’s long-standing interest in script, language and mark-making has been deeply informed by his surroundings since moving into his studio in Salt River, a complex of ageing industrial buildings on a triangulated island of land bordered by Hopkins, Aubrey and Yew Streets. With the buildings scheduled for demolition and redevelopment, 9 Hopkins represents a conclusive moment in his interaction with this particular site. 

The exhibition’s works find their conceptual origins in the unintentional marks observed on the walls of a panel-beating workshop on the ground level of 9 Hopkins Street. The auto workshop’s walls bear the iterated hand and fingerprints of the panel-beaters, who over a period of many years, have used the surrounding wall space to wipe paint, lacquer, grease and grit from their palms. Inscribed with these handprints together with amassed layers of debris and paint remnants, the walls stand as accidental archives of presence, physical labour and human gesture.

Courtesy of Hayden Phipps/ Southern Guild

Bineshtarigh experimented with creating facsimiles of these unstudied gestures using ink, graphite and turpentine, expanding on his unique process of making first cultivated in his 2022 solo, Uncover, at Norval Foundation. Painting directly onto large sections of his studio’s walls, he applies layers of cold glue to form a skin that he then peels away, extracting the base layer of pre-existing wall paint overlaid with artwork. The works – especially those lifted from the oblong rectangles of the building’s pillars – echo the skeletal structure of the space itself.  

The works in 9 Hopkins are expansive murmurations, alive with movement and layered intent. Bineshtarigh’s inquiry relates to the role of this intention and the perceivable transfer of energy in mark-making. The crux of this experientially driven exercise negotiates the curious space between art-making and the act of uninhibited being. 

Like many of the buildings in the area – the most studied example being the nearby Rex Trueform clothing factory – the history of the Hopkins Street complex is enmeshed with constructions of race, class and gender. The buildings’ earliest architectural plans date back to 1935, when Salt River emerged as a garment manufacturing hub. The area’s textile industry would ultimately share a complex historical relationship with the racial politics of the Apartheid regime. Pre-1948, the industry’s workforce was predominantly White, but this changed when the country’s divide-and-rule policies designated the Western Cape a preferential area for Coloured labour. Bineshtarigh’s studio itself once housed a garment factory that employed only White women before the promulgation of segregationist policy shifted this to low-income labour of Coloured and later, Black women.  

Following the democratisation of the country in 1994, South Africa’s borders opened to international trade. Local textile factories could no longer sustain themselves amid the influx of cheaper imports, eventually leading to widespread retrenchments and industry collapse. Now deteriorating and seemingly forsaken by the municipality, the complex is set to be demolished in October 2023, eradicating the multitude of livelihoods and activities the space currently facilitates. While the building borders multiple sites protected as local heritage zones, the Hopkins Street complex has either been deemed “not heritage worthy” or “requiring further investigation” by a heritage assessment commissioned by the site’s developers.  

The implications of our built environments exceed the realm of the tangible; architectural spaces hold the physical and metaphysical vestiges of their lived histories. 9 Hopkins stands as a memorialisation of unconscious mark-making as an indicator of human presence and a mapping of memory and being.

Courtesy of Hayden Phipps/ Southern Guild

ABOUT SOUTHERN GUILD 

Founded in 2008, Southern Guild showcases contemporary artist practices from the African continent and diaspora. The gallery’s rigorous curatorial programme pivots on unprecedented modes of making, cross-disciplinary collaborations, and the ingenuity of the human hand. Southern Guild represents artists from South Africa, Benin, Congo, Iran, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe amongst others, working closely with artists to articulate their voices authentically to an international audience. Having pioneered the functional art and collectible design category on the African continent, Southern Guild is uniquely positioned to articulate the socially embedded role of African art throughout history and the marriage of personal narrative with Africa’s current geo-political, economic, cultural and ecological context.

 

Press release courtesy of Southern Guild

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