Gladiolus Tristis is Aaron de Kock’s, better known as RT Palmer‘s, second official EP. This project follows his 2021 release, Amalgamate, which featured BLACACTUS. Gladiolus Tristis marks the first-ever solo project from RT Palmer and is one that he took the time to meticulously curate into the oscillating seven-part production that was released on 9 December.
[Aidan Fraser performs at M-PIRE music on 8 November. PHOTO: Supplied/Aidan Fraser]
Aidan Fraser is a rising indie artist from Johannesburg with an eye-catching, androgynous fashion sense. He got started making self-produced demos for YouTube in 2019, was handpicked for a collaboration with local star J’Something of Mi Casa in 2020, and has now been signed for a full album with the label, Just Music.
[Sold Ash released his self-titled debut EP on 28 April 2020. PHOTO: Daniel Luckhoff-Wessels.]
What began as a performance in an 11th-grade talent contest has evolved into one of the most prominent acts on the Cape Town psych-rock scene. Ruan Vos, better known by his stage name Sold Ash, has been making waves locally with his muted yet extravagant showmanship, lyrical prowess and meticulously-curated sound.
[Ben Jamieson (left) and Benjy de Kock (right) at Concept Records on 30 November. PHOTO: Pierre-Louis Bredenkamp]
Ben Jamieson and Benjy de Kock are the duo behind Concept Records, an independent recording studio nestled in the suburbs across from the Rondebosch Golf Club. However, Ben and Benjy view it as much more than that: a growing creative community that fosters connections among local artists and discussions about the state of the industry as a whole.
Zwoog is the brainchild of Marcel van der Veen, a musician and producer currently based in Worcester, South Africa. The electronic music project began in the midst of the lockdown in 2020. The music is intense and hard to categorise, but it stays true to its roots and genre.
Enchanting vocals, jazzy rhythms and smooth instrumentals are delivered effortlessly by the Cape Town-based afro-soul artist, KhiweG. Her debut EP, Bhotani, showcases the creativity and dexterity of this singer-songwriter. The project tells a story of the journey towards self-awareness through the difficulties of life, and the relationship between a grandchild and their grandparents, or “guardians”.
Cistamatic, which began as a solo project by Gabbi le Roux, has since April evolved into a riot-punk trio, that has taken the Cape Town punk rock scene by storm. The band sum up their sound in five words, “Gutsy, angsty, punk, cheeky, and existential.”
[Odwa Bongo performs with his uHadi at The Hasso Plattner Institute at the University of Cape Town on 12 October. PHOTO: James Browning]
Odwa Bongo is a vocalist and uHadi player based in Cape Town. He has been performing full-time since 2015, playing deeply emotive sets of both contemporary and traditional isiXhosa music.
Metro Villa, an alt-rock four-piece from Cape Town, was formed in late 2019 thanks to a Facebook ad and a guitarist with a penchant for railroads. On the heels of the release of their debut single “Sort Yourself Out” on November 18, we caught up with the band to learn more about their musical backgrounds, inspirations, struggles, and even dream future collaborations.
Spacious, colourful, celebratory, cheeky, and gentle — are a few elements that describe the sound of the local virtuoso, Nobuhle Ashanti. This multitalented artist has made a name for herself as a seasoned pianist, composer, session musician, radio host, and teacher.
