Shotgun Story

A story about making your own dreams a reality.
Stanley Sibande is a Zambian-born, Cape Town-based, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter.
In this episode, we're chatting about making dreams a reality. Yourself. From booking a tour to Cape Town (from his home in Zambia, without ever having been to South Africa) to now doing the same (from his home in CPT) for his upcoming London tour.
Feel like a little dose of inspiration? Listen to this conversation.
Music outro: 'Clusters' by Stanley Sibande. Music used with permission from rights holder. Follow Stanley on Instagram · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

Ever wanted to work behind the scenes in the music industry?
Keen to hear all of the good (and gritty) music industry insider stuff from someone who's touched every side of it?
Vicky Jankiewicz has spent the last 15 years behind the scenes in the music industry. She's one half of the dance floor damaging damsel DJ duo, #SOZLOL, and we had a fabulous conversation on the floor of her apartment over lunch.
We talk about her long and varied career in the industry, brand merch, MFM, Oppikoppi, Good Luck Bar, Galpalooza, the late Henry Engelbrecht, the music scene in Joburg, and so so so much else!
Outro music: "Moonlight" by Hellcats. Music used with permission from rights holder. Find Vicky on Instagram · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

Meel Vignetting are a five-piece South African alternative indie rock band from Gauteng.
In today's episode, we talk about the music scene in Pretoria, tribute shows, and gender bias in the music industry.
One in a series of conversations with some of the ladies...
Outro music: 'Thermodynamics' by Meel Vignetting. Used with permission from rights holder. Follow Meel Vignetting on Instagram · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

Are you brave enough to busk?
Maddie Behrens is a folk/indie/rock/pop singer currently based in Johannesburg. Hailing from a small town in KZN, she learnt the performing ropes from busking in Washington Square Park in NYC.
In this episode, we chat all about that, as well as what it's like to be a woman in the music industry in South Africa, the folk music scene, and the late Syd Kitchen.
Outro music used with permission from rights holder. Follow Maddy on Instagram · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

Sometimes you've got to Do It Yourself.
Lindo M is a singer/songwriter from Johannesburg, South Africa. Unencumbered by the idea of genre, Lindo focuses on feeling and authenticity and is driven to create music that not only speaks for itself, but that can also speak for others...
Get excited about this artist. Not only incredibly talented, but he's also working behind the scenes to reignite the Joburg music scene. And I can tell you, we need more like him.
In today's episode, we talk about the lost art of protest music, why Joburg loves dance music, sustainable band merch and his new work.
Outro music: 'The Matador' by Lindo M. Music used with permission from the rights holder. Follow Lindo M on Instagram · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

"Because these days, there's not enough girls at music festivals!"
Galpalooza. Women's Day Music Festival at Tweefontein Melkery. Featuring an all-female line-up.
Listen to the interview with Jolene East (Jolling | The Honeymooners)
Outro track "I Know I Love You" by Jolling. Music used with permission from rights holder. Rockford Media on Facebook · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

"I can honestly say it (music) saved my life at one point."
Simone Govender is a pop singer-songwriter based in Johannesburg. She teaches music on the side. I heard her exquisite voice at a Saturday morning market, and I knew that I had to have a conversation...
The thing is, when you make music for a living, more often than not you're building sets of songs that you think people want to hear. Reading people's minds is an art, and one that is hard to get right. Simone seems to hit the nail on the head most of the time.
In this episode, we talk about building these sets, and with that said, also finding the courage to play your own songs! We chat about cyber-bullying, learning about the business side of music, faith, and the pinch-yourself moments that happen when you're following your dreams.
Outro music: "The Attention's Really Killing Me" by Simone Govender. Music used with permission from rights holder. Find Simone on Instagram · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

"I haven't got millions of streams. I'm just doing what I'm doing."
There is something wonderful about talking to someone with a lifetime of experience in their field. And this episode of the podcast is FILLED with delightful stories, lessons, coffee, and bits of GREAT advice.
Martin 'Cito' Otto is a rock performer, songwriter, producer, music director, part-time actor, and newly-launched coffee mogul, best known as the lead singer of WONDERboom.
When your third gig as a band is opening for Simple Minds in front of 15,000 people, you know the tales are going to be good...
Outro music 'Prodigal Son' by WONDERboom. Music used with permission from rights holder. Cito on Instagram · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

Dave Starke is a folk singer-songwriter in the ancient British Isles troubadour tradition (the modern version, obvs). He speaks a language I deeply understand, that of grappling with how to be an artist. Sustainably.
In this episode, we chat about 'cultural confidence', being comfortable with being uncomfortable, writing songs out of desperate overwhelm, and the ancient role of the singer-songwriter in our cultural heritage.
"You can't become whatever you want, you can only become what you are. And we just are musicians. You know, you can fight that as much as you want, and you can have misery either way. You can be miserable because you're not an artist, or you can become an artist and be miserable with that. And I think the latter is better."
Listen to this episode to understand the life of a singer-songwriter in South Africa a whole lot better...
Music outro: 'Burn After Reading' by Dave Starke. Music used with permission from the rights holder. Dave Starke on Instagram · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist

You're a creator. Use your talents and find a NICHE for yourself.
Are you a songwriter (or a composer) debating whether to get a publisher or to try your hand at doing it yourself? As a creator, it's important to have a very open vision of your career and what you can and cannot do, so knowing both sides of the debate matters.
Thando Makhunga is the Managing Director of Sheer Music Publishing, and she popped into the studio to chat a bit about the ins and outs of music publishing, what it means, and why it's so important.
We talk about the roles of a publisher and the songwriter, the importance of transparency in the relationship between them, and how publishing is about ownership! Money conversations can be tricky for artists, but they're imperative to have.
For more information, contact [email protected]
Music outro: 'unfolded' by Shotgun Tori. Music used with permission from the rights holder. Head over and subscribe to Sheer's newsletter · website · Facebook · Twitter · insta · Spotify Playlist