Natalie got to speaking with THE CROOKED KIND coming up to the 10th anniversary of Smoking Dragon Festivals,

Excited for the build up and letting us know more about what it takes to preform live and love the music industry.

Here’s what they got to talking about:

1.       What drew you to the music industry?

   As colossal rock fans we had no choice but to make something of ourselves, beyond a shadow of doubt. As a diverse band we believed we could bring something fresh and totally different to the music scene in South Africa.

2.       How did you meet?

  2.            The Crooked Kind formely known as Stasis met as 4 High School students at St Benedicts College. Stasis then recruited a 5th member by 2017 at Pretoria University.

3.       What does your band name mean?

3.   The name is a play on society. Whether we like it or not we have all shown signs of crooked behaviour. You can interpret The Crooked Kind the way you like.

everything. Why settle for one when you can get twenty !!!

4.       Who are you inspired by, who are your biggest influences ?

                4.            What makes us special is that the band consists of 4 members who share a love for bands such as The Arctic Monkeys to the likes of Tool. These constrasting tastes in music have shaped The Crooked kind into a band that gives you a bit of

5.       Please explain your creative process ?

5.  We believe we possess a rather unorthodox approach in terms of writing music. We are more riff-to-chords-to-lyrics orientated. Alex would whip out a tasty bass riff or Geoff would noodle something on guitar and we would work from there. We believe the music is what captivates the attention of the listener first before the lyrical content is developed,

6.       What’s an average day like for your band ?

6. Half of us are finishing up our studies , the others work full time. We dedicate most of our free time to the band whenever we get the opportunity to rock out after a heavy days work !!

7.       Is there a hidden meaning in any of your music?

7. Our music is closely related to our day to day experiences as a band, analyzing our music might help the listener develop a broader spectrum of who we are as individuals and what we have gone through, even if you were referring to our track Adolescence 😉

8.       Do you collaborate with others? What is that process?

8. We are currently collaborating with Vincent from Sumo band and Vinn Rijn. Building relationships with other artists helps us build a greater connection with the music industry. We aim to be trusted musicians and we are enthusiastic about helping out any musos on the way.

9.       Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans

9. Social media ! Social media ! Social media ! Instagram and Facebook play a critical role in our fan-to-band communication system. We are very responsive to direct messages and we advertise every gig and track release. 

10.    What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? Why?

10. We could go on forever but there is nothing like being in a band. The ability to get on stage and exercise your passion is the greatest reward there is. We feel as if we are spoilt by our fans and support system and we have enjoyed every second of it; from recording our first EP to messing around with your best mates !! The positives definitely outweigh the negatives but sometimes we ask ourselves if music today is for the people. We live in a day and age with no music on MTV and no hard copy CDs left to purchase.

11.    Have you ever dealt with performance anxiety?

11. Debut performances for bandmates are always the trickiest . They are tasked with a  notion that they have to overly impress. Its safe to say that every band member in The Crooked Kind has experienced some form of performance anxiety but not to an extent where it affects our performances.

12.    Tell me about your favorite performance venues ?

12. Railways, JUKES, JARR bar, Rumours, Sundowners… the list goes on we love performing and we don’t mind where we do as long as we give the people what they want !!!

13.    What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

13. We would advice youngsters to maintain healthy relationships with other musicians. Its all about who you know in this line of work.  

Maintain a facebook and instagram page, update your social media platforms at least every second day in the evening and refrain from nonsense. Invest in quality equipment. Better equipment will serve as a valuable asset over time. Quality gear is a long term investment and will help an artist feel more confident on stage.

 Keep your music relevant. If you want your presence to be known open your eyes to music around you and you will be able to combine all the tricks of the trade.

To get VIP TICKETS to see THE CROOKED KIND LIVE at SMONKING DRAGON

Smking Dragon VIP

SMOKING DRAGON GENERAL

A little while ago we had the privilege of speaking with yet another amazing creative from JOZI Photographer and Creator Miss Ashleigh Holmes,

We spoke a bit about her passion and drive with in the industry, a few of her influences and some details on what it takes to create in our City.

1.When did you first find a passion for the art of photography?

I remember earlier instances when I was interested in photography, but it was only around 16 years old when I started getting into it. We had one of those old school digital cameras, that was never really being used. So, I picked it up and started snapping some pictures of family, friends and our little trips and then the passion started as I just really began to love being able to savor a moment in time through photography. It also prompted me to start looking at things in a different, more creative way to try and capture the essence of a place or person and make it art.

2.Coming up in Jozi who has been your biggest local and international influences & why?

My influence is guided by many varying artists from all corners of the world and all walks of life. So, there are no specific influences that I can point out, because I rely a lot on what is out there on social media and photographer communities to be inspired and to see what others are doing or how. This is more due to the fact that a single image may speak directly to the sort of style that I am always trying to achieve, or it inspires me to want to push more and do better and keep growing. Therefore, instead of focusing on a few specific photographers, I am more focused on the content that is out there and saving these collections of images as reference points or inspiration.

3.Are there any tricks you know now that you wish you knew when you started your journey into photography?

All the little tricks I know now come from speaking to other photographers as well as just generally practicing, so I would first suggest putting yourself out there. My first proper shoot I did was with a family, which was a bit crazy, thinking of it now, as there are a lot of things to think about and a lot that could have gone wrong. Though, diving in like that meant that I just had to remain calm and needed to use it as a learning experience… It needed to happen eventually, and I had to move past the fear and doubt. You also need the practice in order to get comfortable with the settings and how to use your camera… get off of automatic mode and start using your manual mode. When you see the finished results, look at them against other images you love. This comparison is just a way to see where you can improve or what you like about your own photo style. If we are working in a location, I take one or two test shots to see how it is framed, if my settings are right and if its working as an image I would love. If not, I direct until it works to a suitable aesthetic and just always look for soft lighting in areas.

4. Could you explain a bit about your vision/artistic process before starting a shoot?

I try to always aim to get clear and clean shots, where you can see details and someone’s face or expression, the colors and the textures. I really love the artsy and edgy photographs that I see from fellow photographers and sometimes wish I had that edge with my photography; though for me it’s about having the person I am shooting with, feel comfortable while I try to bring out aspects of their personality through their shoot. It’s also a personal process as I want to portray them as best as I can, in the way that I see them and just hope that they like what I see.

5.What kinda gear do you recommend for aspiring photographers?

Start small when starting out. The camera is usually the most expensive item you will carry, but you don’t need big fancy equipment to take stunning photos. When you work with the basics, it will push you more to always think about the right lighting, to figure out which settings work in which situations and how to make the best of the location you’re working in. Get your basics, like a good camera bag, a good 50mm lens if you’re interested in portraits and then its all up to you to get creative.

6.Where do you see your work in the next 5 years?

The goal now is to hopefully own my own studio one day. I have set out a basic objective’s plan and the things that I need to achieve within certain time frames which keeps me on track and keeps me pushing forward. It’s a long road but I am determined to hopefully have my work known enough and out there to create such a space.

7.What about photography caught your eye?

Photography is so beautiful, it can create a story, make a statement, keep memories, create art and set a mood. You can use it for business portfolios, social media content, marketing, blogging, stock images, in events, in your home… and more; The creative possibilities in photography are endless, it’s just a matter of exploring and I think that’s so freeing.

To see more from Ash J Holmes Photography or book your next Shoot follow the links below to get in touch:

Website www.ashholmesphotography.com

Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/photographerashholmes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashj_holmes/

This week we had the opportunity to speak with an incredible SA artists doing amazing things both creatively and for the community around him.

Here’s what Janko had to say with us:

When did you first discover you had a passion for the arts and what would you say was the first project you remember working on?

I was born in 1980 in a little town called Villieria in Pretoria, South Africa before permanently relocating to Cape Town in 1997. I grew up in a family that appreciates art, my parents have always collected art and we attended many exhibitions when I was growing up. I was especially inspired when my parents took me to visit the artists at their studios where I was able to watch them hone their skills in their personal space. There are also several talented painters in my family and my great-grandfather, Dr. Theo Wassenaar, was a renowned poet.

I always practiced art, even as a child. For high school, I went to Pro Arte a well-established art school in Pretoria, where I was exposed a variety of art forms. However, after school in 1997, I decided to study law. I was a practicing advocate for more than 10 years, while maintaining a passion for art and continuing to create.

To pursue any career successfully, I believe one must give 100%. I reached a point in my art career where I had to fully commit, so I stopped practicing law to pursue art full time in 2016. My formal career as an artist began with sculpture, but I now balance both the practice of painting and sculpting equally. I believe that as an artist it is your duty to explore all creative avenues during your artistic career. I believe that you are not only a sculptor or a painter but an artist equally deserving of both.

Having such a unique mastery of your craft how you describe your style as a sculptor/painter?

I believe it was Picasso who said, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” I try not to be governed by preconceived notions of what is popular or critically acclaimed in art. In the end I believe this could result in a monotonous duplication of the same thing over and over. I have learned that it is better to be guided by the process, rather than to force it one way or the other. The result, I have found, is much more fluid and stimulating. If I create something that I personally find beautiful, without over-thinking it too much, other people will also appreciate it.

My sculptures are visually stimulating, bold and dramatic and influenced by the precepts of contemporary futurism in sculpting. I believe that they convey the history of the medium through strong individual characters, with a subtle touch of surrealism. I do all my own sculpture patinas by hand, using both conventional and unconventional methods, which result in unexpectedly rich and unusual colours.

For me the process of applying the various patinas to the raw sculpture is very similar to the process of applying paint to canvas. My paintings usually start with a colourful abstract defined against a solid backdrop that establishes a base for the overlaid image of a face, figure or bust. When I paint, I also try to be guided by the application of the paint, rather than to force it one way or the other.

2019 has been a year of growth in painting for me. My current body of work is a two-dimensional expansion of my sculpture series titled “Subjectivity – to be in the mind of a subject”, which relates to our consciousness and portrays the idea of how internal thoughts are shaped by perspectives, feelings, choices, beliefs, and symbols in our everyday lives.

The series consists of mixed media paintings done on both canvas and archival paper. All my paintings are also available as limited, personalised Giclee fine art prints .

Could you take us through your artistic process when starting & completing a project like “Ambivalence”?

“Ambivalence” forms part of my series titled Subjectivity, and portrays the idea of how internal thoughts are shaped by perspectives, feelings, beliefs and desires. The series was inspired by how our subjective consciousness and the brain interact to shape our objective reality.

My artistic process usually starts somewhere in nature. I love the ocean and the mountains and spend a lot of time outdoors, I believe that it is the time spent outdoors that best influence my work both in sculpture and in paint. It is necessary for the mind to see new things if it is to create new things. When sculpting, the shapes occurring in nature inspire me and I attempt to build my armature in accordance with the flow and characteristics of the material.

I often see figures and faces in the natural objects I collect. I will then use these found objects, in combination with conventional sculpting methods, to create my sculpture. The result is then cast into limited editions of resin and bronze using the lost wax casting technique. All my sculptures are hand-finished – I especially like working with bright, contrasting yet complimentary colour schemes.

How has being from South Africa defined and moulded your unique, colourful sense of expression?

Being from South Africa, one needs to look at the African diaspora. All the people who came before us contributed to our identity and had a vast impact on what we consider our African identity to be. Indigenous cultures, immigrants from neighbouring countries, adventure seekers, even the power-hungry colonizers at one stage made the African continent their home. They all left behind small remnants of their own personal and cultural heritage, which over a period interweaved with one another, and collectively contributed to what I consider to be our African identity today. It is this unique African flavour that translates back into our colourful sense of expression.

So yes, it’s exciting being an artist in South Africa especially at this moment. SA art is definitely attracting collectors from overseas, many of them with deep pockets. Big names and up-and-coming artists alike are doing well – most of the clients who collect my art are also foreigners.

I think there are a few factors that contribute to this popularity. Globalisation is definitely one of them, there are expats from SA everywhere. I also think there’s heightened interest in art from all emerging markets, not just SA. What I find really exciting, apart from all the foreign investment, is that young South Africans are also spending money on art. Because they can’t generally afford the more established names, they are supporting young, exciting artists. Just look at the turnout one gets at events like First Thursdays and pop-up exhibitions all around our country.

Who would you say locally & Internationally are your biggest influences in the industry?

Except for the obvious industry influencers like Vermeer, Kandinsky, Picasso and Warhol to name but a few, I love collecting art myself and supporting emerging artist locally. I have a wide variety of influences. I would like to think that the art I buy and hang on my walls somehow influences me.

The term “international artist” is not as clear cut as it used to be. Just take into consideration what some of the social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram and Facebook have done for artists and collectors on an international scale. You can now post an image of your painting or sculpture and instantly reach hundreds of thousands of people across the globe. With that level of art influencing going around I suppose I get influenced daily, whether it be nationally or internationally.

What can we expect from Janko in the future?

I would say that my aspirations and goals as an artist is to be able to wake up passionately, with the drive to create art every day. My future goals are to explore more, to increase the quantity and quality of art I can produce, to better my international exposure, to maintain financial success and to enjoy a balanced lifestyle.

We would like to thank Janko for speaking with us and sharing his story if you would like to get in touch with him please use the email below or find him on Social Media :

studio@jankodebeer.com
info@jankodebeer.com

Our newest Journolist miss Natalie taryn Botha conducted her first interview with the ever talented Red Robyn on the build up to the 10th Anniversary of SA’s dopest music festival Smoking Dragon, Here’s what they go to talking about.

1.       What drew you to the music industry? I love that music gives you a direct Chanel to people’s souls , it’s a great responsibility to be a musician you can really change peoples lives with a great song. I always wanted to use music to give people hope for better days.

2.       Who are you inspired by? I am inspired by Jesus and his commitment to what he believed and to love ,  even to death

3.       Please explain your creative process / My creative process is quite erratic I can be inspired by almost anything a song , a colour , a quote and I will generally hum something into my voice noted and later work on it with my guitar.

4.       What’s an average day like for you? An average day for me consists of exercise , stalking fashion blogs on Instagram, listening to music , probably some cleaning and lots of tea. I don’t always work on music but most days I spend evenings working on music weather it’s actual songs or admin.

5.       Is there a hidden meaning in any of your music? I guess so , I don’t intentionally hide meaning but I think people should take away what they’re interpretation of the song is. I always write about my actual experiences and I enjoy writing in metaphors so I guess there are hidden meanings if someone wants to look into that.

6.       Do you collaborate with others? What is that process? Yes I do but I haven’t really in the last year. I did one collaboration with The World of Birds called ‘2020’ and we loved working together so much that they asked me to join the band full time and I couldn’t be happier to now be part of that collective. The process is different every time sometimes it happens over email piecing things together other times I will sit with Ben who is the producer and we will write something together sometimes it starts with a lyric sometimes a drum pattern it just depends on the day.

7.       Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans : I don’t really think about my followers as fans I like to just think of them as cool people who identify with my story or my music I sort of just reply or comment back as if I would a friend or anyone else that sends me love. I have a blog where I share my stories more in detail and would imagine that is my primary medium for communicating with people who follow my music.

8.       What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? Why? My favorite part is getting to meet all kinds of people with the most interesting stories and connecting with them. My least favorite part how unpredictable it can be you can have such a busy season and out of nowhere be doing nothing for a while and it can really affect your emotions having to be up and down all the time.

9.       Have you ever dealt with performance anxiety? I do I think every performer deals with it on some level. There is always pressure to perform and be better than you were the last time , the fear of failing or not being able to entertain is always something that tries to paralyze me before performances.

10.    Tell me about your favorite performance venues : As far as venues go they are quite limited but I really like the waiting room in Cape Town and Moral Kiosk in JHB , Khaya records in Durban

11.   What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps

I would say to that person that they should just commit to what it is they believe they want to do. Always know what you want to do and why you want to do it and everything else will fall into place when you have a clear objective. It’s always a balance between hard work and a bit of serendipity you have to be ready for your opportunity always.

Follow Red Robyn

Facebook Link

Find Red Robyn this New Years

The fifth instalment of the Oasis Experience takes place in Pretoria on Saturday the 30^th of November and features a tantalizing line-up that will have you dancing all the way through summer. Join Lady Zamar, GOODLUCK, PHFAT, Crazy White Boy, Cinimin, Mark Stent, Jethro Tait, Apple Gule, and more live at the beautiful Pretoria National Botanical Garden. Tickets are on sale now from www.lovemusic.co.za 

To compliment the natural beauty of the Pretoria National Botanical Garden, the Oasis Experience has been created to offer an exclusive outdoor family festival experience unlike any other.

GOODLUCK are really looking forward to returning to Oasis Experience with their incredible live performance and Jules has a special love for the festival. “Oasis Experience is the most epic festival in Pretoria. They pay such close attention to making sure they have the best line-ups, with a variety of music that so many different people can enjoy. I love it when festivals give you something you know but also give you something you can discover for the first time… That’s when the magic happens! We can’t wait to be back for the 2019 Summer season!”

The line-up promises to have everyone’s favourite act on stage with Lady Zamar, GOODLUCK, PHFAT, Crazy White Boy, Cinimin, Mark Stent feat Justin Chalice, Jethro Tait, Apple Gule, Jab A Jaw (Sake Of Skill), and Onny to entertain the thousands that will take to the Oasis to quince their party thirst.

Tickets sales have launched and are selling fast, so get yours now before they completely sell out.

Oasis Experience Live In The Garden

Date: Saturday, 30 November 2019

Venue: Pretoria National Botanical Garden, 2 Cussonia Ave, Brummeria, Pretoria

Line-up: Lady Zamar, GOODLUCK, PHFAT, Crazy White Boy, Cinimin, Mark Stent feat Justin Chalice, Jethro Tait, Apple Gule, Jab A Jaw (Sake Of Skill), Onny

Tickets Link
Social Media Links:

Facebook Event Link

Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/TheOasisExperienceSA/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/the_oasis_experiencesa/
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|| Ticket Prices ||

 
NB: All Online Ticket prices exclude booking fees.
> General Access <
Phase 1 – Adult General Access – R130
Phase 2 – Adult General Access – R160
Phase 3 – Adult General Access – R180
Phase 4 – Adult General Access – R220

> VIP Access <
Phase 1 – Adult VIP Access – R300
Phase 2 – Adult VIP Access – R400
Final Phase – Adult VIP Access – R450

> Kids Tickets < LIMITED to 500 Tickets
Infants & Small Children – R20
Phase 1 – Kids Aged 11 – 17 years old – R80
Phase 2 – Kids Aged 11 – 17 years old – R100
Phase 3 – Kids Aged 11 – 17 years old – R130
Phase 4 – Kids Aged 11 – 17 years old – R160

> Table Bookings <
R3 000 (R750 per Person x 4 Adult Guests)

Includes: VIP Entry for 4 x Adult Guests, Express VIP Queuing, 1 x Standard Bottle (750ml) & mixers, Private Table Area with seating & VIP toilets. Strictly Adult Only

|| This event is a cashless event ||

> Door Tickets <
A limited number of Tickets may be made available at the door for R300 (Adult Tickets Only).

> Physical / Promoter Tickets (Cash – STRICTLY ADULT TICKETS ONLY) <
Physical tickets are available for R160.00 (No Booking Fee) at Aroma Gourmet Coffee Roastery & Aroma Gelato and Waffle lounge – STRICTLY ADULT TICKETS ONLY.

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> > Online Ticket Link < <
www.lovemusic.co.za

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> > Age Restriction < <
This Event is catered for ALL AGES, ID on request.