the layabouts

The Layabouts sprang from the heart of Detroit's radical/bohemian community of the early '80's as a direct response to the musical/political eruption of the British ska/punk scene. Since its inception, many of Detroit's best known musicians have been part of the band, creating a sound that blends rock, ska, reggae, Latin and African rhythms. Known for their high-energy, get up on your feet and dance music, the Layabouts have always sought to take inspiration from the best in both radical music and radical politics

Nkosinathi Maphumulo

1. DJ Black Coffee’s real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo and he turned 37 on 11 March.

2. Unfortunately for the ladies, he married beautiful actress Mbali Mlotswa on 13 May 2011. Mbali played Puleng on the award-winning TV show, 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls.

3. He started his career back in 1994 when he was still in High School, singing in the school choir and studying the keyboard.

4. While studying Music at Natal Technikon, he developed his skill and formed the band ‘Shana’ going on to release 4 albums.

5. In 2003 he was chosen as one of two South African participants in the Red Bull Music Academy, which jump-started his career in the SA music DJ scene.

6. He scooped a South African Music Award (SAMA) at the 16th Annual SAMA Awards in 2006 for the Best Urban Dance Album, Home Brewed.

7. He lost the use of his left arm at age 13. While celebrating the release of Nelson Mandela a speeding vehicle ran over the crowd, injuring him.

8. He set a world record for the longest DJ set (60 hours) using one arm in 2010.

9. In 2009 he announced that 5% of all the album sales from his record label, Soulistic Music, would be donated to charity.

10. One of Black Coffee’s most inspirational moves was when he established a foundation called DJ Black Coffee Foundation, uplifting and assisting people with disabilities.

monique bingham

Monique’s career began at an impromptu session at Francois Kevorkian’s infamous Axis Studios. Gordon Clay (a.k.a. Nappy G) of Groove Collective was working on a spoken word collaboration with Dana Vlcek, bandleader for Abstract Truth. They needed a vocalist to write and perform a record in less than a week. Gordon called Monique. The session lasted less than an hour. The tune was “Like Water.” Dana immediately asked her to join the band as lead vocalist and writer. 

She was indelibly influenced by the collective of musicians whose resumes included stints with the likes of the Sun RA, Chaka Khan and Lester Bowie. The first single from their debut EP was “Get Another Plan” released on Francois K’s Wave music label. The record garnished immense critical acclaim and was licensed by Mr. Gilles Peterson for his UK imprint, “Talkin Loud” in 1996. In 1998 Abstract Truth released a follow up single “We Had a Thing”, penned and performed by Monique. A soulful house remix of the tune by Mathias “Matty” Heilbronn injected it into the veins of the underground. Its inclusion on countless compilations, including “Body and Soul NYC” and Defected’s/Jazzy Jeff “In the House” has made it a bonafide dance floor classic and solidified Monique’s place in underground music history. She went on to write and perform “Pure” with Naked Music’s Blue Six in 2000. 

This was the first of her solo recordings and was an international success in serious set rotation by the likes of Louie Vega. Her first UK release, “Don’t You Love Me” with Sir Piers’ on his Curious label in 2002 hit No. 2 on DJ Mag’s Hype Chart. She officially had our attention. “Matty Heilbronn called me up in ’03 and said very succinctly, “I heard that song you did with Piers. 

 I’m jealous. Let’s make a record.” They did. “Go-Getter”, released by Papa Records in April 2004, hit No. 6 on DJ Mag’s Hype chart and is arguably one of Monique’s most eloquent tunes. The two have been collaborating ever since.

Tira

MTHOKOZISI Khathi, better known as DJ Tira, came to Durban from Hlabisa in 1995 to study and that’s when he first developed a taste for music and bought his first vinyl.

It wasn’t long before he was playing at varsity parties, weddings, private parties and popular nightclubs. Though he completed his studies in human resources, DJ Tira was bitten by the bug and decided to chase his dreams.
In 2000 and 2001, DJ Tira won the Smirnoff SA DJ Knockout competition and as part of his prize got to rock the crowds on the party island of Ibiza two years in a row

deep house music

Deep House is a sub genre of house music that  originated in the 1980,s...Deep house is known for complex,melody,use of unrelated chromatic chords underlying most sequences and a soul ambient or lounge vibe to the vocals.The use of vocals became more common in deep house than in any form of house music...
The vocalists expresses themselves how they feel it could be, Happiness,Anger,Sadness or the feeling of feeling Inlove or unwanted...
Go DEEP or Go SLEEP!!!..