Valencia Govindasamy
LET’S be real. Which up-and-coming unsigned artist wouldn’t love the chance to be mentored by one of the hottest groups in the country, Mi Casa? And have a once-in-a-lifetime experience of touring with the guys around the country.
That’s what’s going down at the Castle Milk Stout Unplugged Talent Search.
Basically, the competition scouted for the best unsigned vocalists live on radio and the finalists will embark on a tour of Cape Town, Durban and Joburg.
Run in association with Metro FM, the tour will see semi-finalists Nani, Martin Pk, Itu, Obakeng, Thuli and Dikelo perform alongside Mi Casa.
During the radio show, each contestant had to cover Mi Casa’s Heavenly Sent and sing their own compositions.
According to Castle Milk Stout General Manager, Julian Rema, the talent search is an opportunity to get our best unsigned artists to perform alongside the greats and learn under their tutelage.
Tonight caught up with Mi Casa’s trumpeter, Mo-T, to learn more about the tour and the semi finalists. Mo-T is easy-going as he tells me about their involve-ment: “Obviously, it’s a good relationship we’ve got going with Castle Milk Stout. It’s like a family type of thing. We shared our ideas and they asked us to do it and we got involved.”
On the semi-finalists, he says they will look for certain qualities in each contestant and will see if it all matches up: “But, it’s ultimately left to the producers of the competition.
“We always have fresh stuff and new songs that the crowd haven’t heard. We’re a funny group that comes up with stuff on a plane or during a simple soundcheck. But the tour is going to be an awesome show and there are always surprises with Mi Casa so anything is possible. And we love all unplugged shows, it’s intimate and we get to tell the crowd about each song. They get to know each of us on another level. Who knows, you could even see me dancing and not J’Something,” he laughs.
Back to the unplugged tour, two of the unsigned vocalists will perform in each city, enjoying the chance to be mentored by Mi Casa. Obakeng and Thuli will perform at Trinity in Cape Town, Nani and Martin PK at Live – the Venue in Durban and Itu and Dikelo at Urban Tree in Joburg.
Of his experience in the competition thus far, Durbanite Obakeng says: “Obviously, it’s a wonderful experience and feeling. Knowing that I’m going to be associated with big brands like Metro and Castle Milk Stout is great for a hustling musician who is trying to establish himself. And I can learn a lot from Mi Casa, even though I’m not doing their style. They made it happen and are now conquering the continent. I’m so glad I get to meet J’Something and share the stage with them, it’s just a wonderful journey.”
The concerts start in Cape Town today, then Durban on Sunday and Joburg on November 26. Win tickets on the Castle Milk Stout Facebook page.