The Muffinz

Lead singer Sifiso Buthelezi has the voice of an angel. Think a young Michael Jackson meets Usher, with a twist of rock. Then there is the drummer who, when he gets the mic, mixes rumba with wired Kenyan rhythms. Their music runs between rock and R&B, yet it is not neo-soul. Hell no, it ain’t neo-soul. They are signed to the most fearless label in the country, Just Music. The Muffinz are recording at Jazzworx and we can expect an album out by the end of next month. They have the potential to play on a global level and they probably will.

Doctor Malinga

Kalawa Jazmee have done it again! Always on the cutting edge of SA music, from Boom Shaka to Trompies to Oskido’s Church Grooves, in 2012 Kalawa give us Doctor Malinga. He first came to our attention at the Metro FM Awards, where he gleefully leapt around the stage. His house music meets kwaito meets afro jazz and afro pop in the fantastic tradition of Kalawa Jazmee is set to be released in April. As yet, he does not have a name for the album. But the performer is not that worried.

It is his live shows that sell him. He tucks his shirt in and pretends that he is a fat amaBBEEEE man. He dances like a ballerina and all the while his DJ Oskido is giggling, as is the audience. “I am also a comedian,” he confesses. “I believe that laughter is good for the health.”

When Tonight asked him how he got started in the music industry, he answered: “I started by promoting furniture.” Of course he did.

Pascal and Pearce

As much as we hate house music, it is here to stay. Yes, thanks, David Guetta. Not that Pascal and Pearce are as dire as Guetta. These house/dance producers know exactly how to make those hips shake. They have done remixes for many acts, including Locnville and Flash Republic. Their track Paper Sky received more downloads than Adele locally.

Their debut album Passport is flying high. It is unashamedly commercial, yet it still has integrity.

They describe their music as “a techno-influenced, rumbling drum and bassline partnership, which climaxes to the grinding, yet rhythmic, package that Pascal and Pearce have become known for”. Yet another Just Music local release which has potential to make it on a global level.

The Frown

Okay, this is only based on one song – but what a good song – The National by The Frown aka Eve Rakow. It is one of the songs that won R50 000 as part of the MKVP, a project initiated by this progressive music television station to develop SA music.

“We are not like you,” The Frown states, her voice enchanting us to find out more. In the music video, which is enjoying high rotation on MK, she has extra-long eyelashes and powder-white skin. She appears more vaudeville than musical, a performer rather than a singer. She is enticing, mysterious, strong and rather vengeful. Think Cocteau Twins meet Sixousie Sioux. But leave the black out. The Frown is the most exciting female find in a long time.

Nancy g

We don’t know whether it’s her wide-eyed innocence, which alternates with passion and anger, but Nancy G might just be the future. She rocks it on acoustic guitar and is even more fantastic with an electric band behind her. Not since the days of riot grrrls have we seen such a cool rock chick. Her debut album comes out courtesy of Muthaland/Ghetto Ruff. Called T he Offering, it is produced by Nancy G and the great Kevin Leicher as well as a new producer, Mark Montgomery. The music, says Ghetto Ruff director Lance Stehr, is a mixture of rock and soul.

Loveglove Pyrotechnics

Die MK Avontoer has coughed up an exciting new find in the form of Loveglove Pyrotechnics. The five-piece all have specific characters, kinda like superhero porn stars. Hailing from Stellenbosch, Loveglove Pyrotechnics are set to take the music industry by storm. Their lead singer Dimitri Lovecuts (because love hurts, as in Slayer) is dynamic and viciously sexy in a very, very bad way.

Their music is glam rock meets metal meets Jezebel. Loveglove Pyrotechnics are fun-loving rock ’n’ roll animals – a breed which is fast becoming endangered.

Blayze

Last year, we highlighted Ameen as the next big thing in producers. His success includes Kwesta and Slikour. In 2012, we predict that the young Blayze is going to rock it as a producer. Not only can he rap, the boy can also sing and his understanding of the finer parts of producing is remarkable.

“I don’t just want to be known as a rapper,” he said. “I’m a producer first and people got to know the brand, Blayze Entertainment first.”

We Get it Poppin, featuring J-Namic and Jamali’s Marie Chan was a big hit on radio, as was Bravestar, featuring Bongo Riot. His next release is by 17-year-old rapper Lil Trix and is called Red, Black and White.

Spaza Shop Boyz

What Jonny Joburg and $ir Charlie Macc are trying to sell the public won’t be found at your corner spaza. Previously known as Jozi’s best-kept secret, the electric-rap duo’s ear-bruising bass tunes weren’t going to be ignored for long.

Their style of dress (leather, tanks, black skinnies and is that a Jason mask?) is an extension of their refusal to blend in. $ir Charlie Macc is a visual spectacle on stage and Jonny Joburg provides most of the rhymes (which include quite a few “Ciroq” mentions) and distorted vocals over left-of-centre devices, such as an excerpt from a speech by Malcolm X.

Their self-titled EP almost picks up where Kanye West and Jay-Z’s Watch the Throne collaborative album left off. Having performed primarily in Joburg, the highly energetic pair show great promise and envisage themselves hitting international markets sooner rather than later.

BIG FKN GUN

By far one of the best finds to come out of Durban, the now Jozi-based BIG FKN GUN aren’t here to play games. Progressive seems to be the word that always trails closely behind any description of the hip hop group. Off the strength of their debut offering Stick up the Hi-Fi, and the buzz around their forthcoming EP Pop Models, fans can’t wait to see what frontman-rapper Solomon the Future, producer-DJ Soulfaktor and producer-manager So&So have got next.

BIG FKN GUN are authentic Mzansi storytellers (listen to Wunga) over soul/JDilla-esque beats. They started off as a virtual group, like Gorillaz, but recently they have performed in the flesh in front of audiences in Durbs and Jozi and were even finalists in the Hansa Pilsner Festival of Legends competition.

Solomon the Future has also brought the BFG flavour to songs by township tech king Spoek Mathambo, indie rap group, fratpack and alternative fellow Durbanites, Dirty Paraffin.

Youngsta

Few artists can claim to have made 22 mix tapes in 22 months. Riyadh “Youngsta” Roberts is that artist. The 19-year-old rapper, who hails from Wynberg, Cape Town, recounts his experiences as a young man who loves fast women and fast cars but loves rhyming more in his mix tapes and on this debut album Guy Fox.

Youngsta has managed to bring a youthful cool, whether he is stealing the shine from AKA at the Vodacom Unlimited hip hop show or shutting down Kool Out’s event, Cape Town’s Most Wanted.

This year, while plotting a countrywide takeover, Youngsta kicks off rap lovers’ weekends by putting new songs up for free download in a move he’s called TYIF (Thank Youngsta It’s Friday). Good thing Youngsta lovers believe the quantity matches quality when it comes to his music.

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