One of the best things this year

...was being able to sing in the Singkronies Chamber Choir. I do not know how I passed the auditions and I completely did this on a whim, but what an amazing experience to be part of it!

The choir was conducted by the amazing Charlotte Botha this year and what makes it so good that it is usually broken up in projects, each lasting 3-4 months - so the commitment is not long-term.

I was lucky enough to be part of two projects.

Let me tell you about Charlotte (the pretty blonde in the top three pictures) - although she is incredibly talented, she works her butt off. Never in my life have I seen such musical brilliance and energy that one person can produce. She inspired us all in many ways. It was also one of the best experiences to be surrounded by talented, young music students. We worked hard but it never felt like it. Wednesday evenings were challenging and unpredictable. The music was not easy but with Charlotte's guidance we managed to sound like something credible.

Charlotte is now conducting at the Drakensberg Boys Choir School.

A few behind-the-scenes moments of the two projects, namely Northern Lights and Baroque Adventures:

Crimson Red Studios opening

We were fortunate enough to be invited to the opening party of Pretoria's new Lomography shop, Crimson Red Studios. We drank some wine, listened to good music by Late Night Fox, had interesting conversations with fellow-lomography-lovers, strutted our stuff in the photo-booth and generally felt like VIP's for a few hours.

Make sure you pay this shop a visit - I honestly felt like a kid in a candy store. Thanks to Mari, Elsie and the rest of the Crimson Red team for their great hospitality on Friday night.

 

This is the band Late Night Fox. Really groovy local sounds.

Keep the tissues handy

I honesty cannot watch this music video without sobbing. Yes, sobbing. This piece of brilliance is by one of my all-time favourite bands, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Invisible Cities

What do you get if you combine a bunch of stylish people, great musicians, an empty parking lot, a pirate radio station and abandoned buildings? A sort-of-like-drive-in but waaaayyy more fun. We brought our cooler bags, our cameras, our friends and our party shoes and we danced the Sunday Blues away.
Here is a quote from the Invisible Cities website to explain what these events are all about:

"Invisible Cities is a year-long music and arts festival in the form of 12 once-off monthly events set in the empty buildings soon to be part of Johannesburg’s Maboneng arts precinct. Transitional spaces - buildings that are no longer what they once were, and not yet what they will soon become. Rooftops, hallways, stairwells and facades will be transformed into snapshots of a possible Johannesburg."

 

 

 

All I can say is that I'm endlessly inspired by the organizers of these events, Skeleton Crew. Make sure you keep an eye on their website for more information on the next event. 

What a pity

Yes, it's all over the news and the entire Blogville will also be on it as we speak. But here's my bit on this tragedy:
She had incredible talent and I believe she had so much more to give with her music. Amy, you will be missed. May your music live on. May you find peace.

Image from youthoughtso.com

On repeat lately...

I am absolutely in love with this music from Bon Iver (pron: "bon e-vair"). The lyrics are heart-wrenching and the sound is just so so beautiful. This is their first album. They released their second album last month and I've honestly not even tried to get hold of it, since I am obsessing over this one for now.

You know how it is when music leaves that lump in your throat.

Blindsided

bike down... down to the downtown

down to the lockdown... boards, nails lie around

I crouch like a crow
contrasting the snow
for the agony, I’d rather know
cause blinded I am blindsided

peek in... into the peer in
I’m not really like this... I’m probably plight-less

I cup the window
I’m crippled and slow
for the agony
I’d rather know
cause blinded I am blindsided

would you really rush out for me now?

taught line... down to the shoreline
the end of a blood line... the moon is a cold light

there’s a pull to the flow
my feet melt the snow
for the irony, I’d rather know
cause blinded I was blindsided

cause blinded I was blindsided

cause blinded I was blindsided

The music matters

Photo from the Faithless Facebook page

What a night! On Saturday 5 February these guys rocked my world. I do not have words to describe the amazing music by these legends. Maxi Jazz had this wild, primal look on his face and when the spoke the first words with his powerful soothing voice it was like the world could stand still. We were lucky enough to get Golden Circle tickets (a great wedding present) and we were standing about 5 rows from the front, which made it an unforgettable experience.

They opened with the intro of Drifting Away and ended with the most amazing version of We Come One.

I felt so inspired afterwards - may their music and messages stay alive for years to come.