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'Tomorrow' (AFS036) features songs from three of Ntombi Ndaba's solo albums originally released between 1988 and 1991 on her own label Anneko after previously recording as the band Ntombi & Survival. Released in 2018 it is being repressed this year and is available for pre-orders now via @rushhourstore (🔗 in bio) by @afrosynth

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3 years ago

Happy birthday to mama Ntombi Ndaba!💝 To mark the day here's an interview after the release of her 2018 compilation Tomorrow (AFS036) and before she toured Europe in 2019 with @esawilliams - it's in her mother tongue isiZulu and part of a longer feature for LOBE Media's 'By Hand & Mind' web series which went up a few months ago (link in bio to watch the full video)
🎥 Kagiso Mnisi www.lobemedia.live by @afrosynth

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5 years ago

South Africa said goodbye to arguably its first and most enduring pop star this week, Bernard 'Babsy' Mlangeni. Born in Soweto in 1943, he lost his sight at the age of three and was sent by his family to the Athlone School of the Blind in Bellville, Cape Town. Inspired by American artists such as Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, he formed a band called the All-Rounders with other blind artists, including guitarist Koloi Lebona. Both would remain central figures in the SA music industry for decades to come. The All-Rounders released throughout the 1960s and by the mid-70s Babsy embarked on a solo career.

A pioneer of the soul sound that predated the bubblegum disco scene of the 1980s, Mlangeni's vocal power as well as his ability of sing in various languages — Sotho, Zulu, Xhosa and English — saw him emerge as one of the country's top-selling artists, his fame and talent arguably rivalled only by Jacob 'Mpharanyana' Radebe (who died in 1979 at the age of just 31). Releasing primarily on EMI/CCP's Black Music imprint, with the help of Clive Calder, Mlangeni and Lebona later formed their own label, Black Artists Management (BAM). Mlangeni would go on to mentor another talented blind, multilingual vocalist in Steve Kekana, and would continue to perform and record into his old age. Over a career spanning more than six decades he released countless albums, far too few of which remain accessible on digital platforms. Here are some of them...

RIP Bra Babsy by @afrosynth

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2 days ago

For this weeks newsletter I picked out a compilation that's dear to my heart. I visited @afrosynth (formerly in Maboneng, JHB) in 2017 and picked up a copy of Boogie Breakdown: South African Synth Disco 1980-1984.

I met Dave (DJ Okapi) the year before in Peckham, LDN at a Boiler Room event. He put me on the guest list after chatting on SoundCloud and I proceeded to call in sick at my corporate job 2 days in a row to attend. 2 days to make it seem believable.

We subsequently brought Dave down for a night at @camdenbar_west in 2018 - A night of dancing to all sorts of (mainly South) African sounds in Westbourne and one of the nights more anchored in my hazy memory.

I hope you enjoy the notes - I did. It tells a story of survival for minorities during apartheid, escapism and technological defiance during the global cultural boycott of the time.

Oh, and the compilation is approaching its 10th anniversary - s/o @culturesofsoul :) taken in Johannesburg, South Africa by @afrosynth

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8 days ago

[AFS063] AFROSYNTH - MPUMI DHLAMINI - NEBULA NOMAD

South African multi-instrumentalist Mpumi Dhlamini’s Nebula Nomad explores themes of deep inner reflection and cosmic wonder. The EP puts three tracks from the 2024 album on vinyl for the first time: two reimagined versions of earlier compositions ‘The Higher Being’ and ‘Sibusise Nkosi’, along with ‘Culmination’. Dhlamini writes, produces and performs all vocals and instruments, with contributions from Mzizi, Tendai ‘Shoxx’ Shoko, Ayo Solanke, Sibusiso Mkhize, Zoe The Seed and Sphelelo Mazibuko. A brief introduction to a remarkable talent at the vanguard of South African spiritual jazz who has battled adversity and come out stronger, with something important to say. LP out soon on Afrosynth by @afrosynth

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18 days ago

When Nkosazana Penny Mtya journeyed from King William's Town (now Qonce) to Johannesburg in the early 1980s in search of fame, her path collided with Muntu Semenya, the son of exiled stars Caiphus Semenya and Letta Mbulu, who had recently arrived from the US and was making his mark in South Africa as a producer and keyboardist.

Their demo secured a deal with WEA Records and they soon entered RPM Studios with co-producer Thokoza Memela and top session players Jethro Butow and Mike Faure to record three tracks: ‘Cassanova (Stop That Game)’, the instrumental ‘I Feel It’ and ‘Memories’, a duet with Yandy Mgolombane.

The EP, titled 'Penny’s Groove', received little promotion on its release in 1985 and soon disappeared into obscurity, the label notoriously reluctant to invest, perhaps unsure of how to market the polished ‘international’ sound and diverse influences. The tracks were never performed live and everyone involved soon parted ways, the album a testament to broken dreams.

Restored from the original master tapes and licensed from @gallomusicsa, pre-orders are now open for 'Penny's Groove', out soon on Afrosynth Records (AFS062) via @rushhourstore (🔗 in bio) taken in EQonce by @afrosynth

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a month ago

"It's time you lived out your calling.
Don't you ever look back, don't you ever..."

Mpumi Dhlamini made 'Nebula Nomad' in just a week and rushed to release it in September 2024, a triumphant end to a tumultuous year and a project, he says, “which had me fall in love with my music again”.

Forged from pain and loss, Dhlamini wrote all the songs, handled most of the instruments and vocals himself and produced and mixed the album, even designing the artwork. “I do everything myself, not because I don’t trust anyone else but because I’m just more efficient in doing what I do.”

Three tracks were selected for the upcoming EP: two reimagined from earlier albums along with ‘Culmination’, an original composition from the 2024 album featuring @AyoSolanke on soprano sax and @Sbusiso16mkhize on trumpet. The full song is up now on the Afrosynth SoundCloud page.

“This album is an ode to the idea of being a nomad in the universe — constantly moving, searching and evolving,” adds Dhlamini. “It’s about the journey rather than the destination, and the limitless possibilities of sound and space.”

Mastered for vinyl by @brandenburgmastering
Print layout by @michael_macgarry
Pressed by @r.a.n.d.muzik
Distributed by @rhd_rushhourdistribution

'Nebula Nomad EP' will be out soon on Afrosynth Records (AFS063) - pre-order 🔗 in bio by @afrosynth

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a month ago

South African multi-instrumentalist Mpumi Dhlamini @mpumidhlamz's 'Nebula Nomad' explores themes of deep inner reflection and cosmic wonder. The EP puts three tracks from the 2024 album on vinyl for the first time: two reimagined versions of earlier compositions ‘The Higher Being’ and ‘Sibusise Nkosi’, along with ‘Culmination’. Dhlamini writes, produces and performs all vocals and instruments, with contributions from @mzizi_mthintheki , @tendaii.__ 'Shoxx' Shoko, @ayosolanke , @sbusiso16mkhize, @zoetheseed and @sphelelomazibuko. A brief introduction to a remarkable talent at the vanguard of South African spiritual jazz who has battled adversity and come out stronger, with something important to say.

Pre-order AFS063 now via @rhd_rushhourdistribution (🔗 in bio) by @afrosynth

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3 months ago

'Mix To Groove', Doctor House's 1994 solo debut after PT House, is out now on @monohorizonrecords. I'll have some copies along with fresh reggae and other goodies from @soundwayrecords, @sharp.flat_ @samprecords @analogafricarecords @culturesofsoul @rushhourmusic @ad93rec @spaceistheplacemusic in the crates at the V&A record fair this Saturday 🚢 taken in The Watershed V&A by @afrosynth

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4 months ago

'Forward in Reverse (Pt. 1)', the new album by Durban kwaito originator Sandy B and Belgian producer @sofa_elsewhere is available now in record stores worldwide and from today on digital platforms including @bandcamp

In South Africa you can grab the record from @voomvoommusic, @roastinrecords @gcwala.co and @the_commons_muizenberg in Cape Town, @mrvinylcoza in Joburg, or in Durban from @khaya_records or directly from @sandybworld while stock lasts

Original artwork by @big_diff_ , design by @michael_macgarry , mastered by @brandenburgmastering , pressed by @r.a.n.d.muzik , distro by @rhd_rushhourdistribution 🪬 by @afrosynth

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4 months ago

Adey Omotade's four-track album 'Eero Eesu' (AFS060) is now available on cassette! Signed copies are up at the RMB Latitudes Art Fair @latitudes.online in Johannesburg this weekend and available directly from @adeyomotade, along with the record and a limited-edition poster.

Thanks to @tapemuzik for putting it together and @michael_macgarry for adapting Adey's artwork for this format 💎 taken in Shepstone Gardens by @afrosynth

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4 months ago

Exciting news this morning. I've finally received my personal copies for this worldwide release Forward In Reverse - Sandy B + SofaElsewhere released by @afrosynth and @rushhourmusic
Please grab your copies. 2 copies per person for the price of 2. 😀
Thank you in advance.
Peace and Love,
See you soon.
#Vinyl #NewRelease #worldtourcomingsoon by @afrosynth

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5 months ago