(Manelis.
Pic by Vulane Mthembu)
In association with Playhouse Company,
iSupport Music Business presents Manelis at The Playhouse Theatre on June 1,
2018, at 17h00. The entrance to the concert is free.
“I would take to the crowd on my brief
musical journey through a journey of storytelling and wordplay, presented by a
live band that will perform smooth jazz-influenced beats, electro influences
with Kwaito infused bass lines. I would like the crowd to have some fun and
participate in the performance. Because we are planning to have a joyful
moment,” says Manelis.
For this performance, Manelis will be accompanied
by Sanele Phakathi on keyboards, Sivumintando Mdamba on drums, Senzo Mdamba on bass
and he will be featuring vocalist Zoe The Seed. Also on stage will be Madala
Kunene
Manelis is a hip-hop artist from Durban, one
of the defining artists in this city’s rap development from its beginning in
the mid 90’s. Introduced in the art of Hip Hop as a dancer/b-boy earlier, then theatre
through high school, he only later opting to focus on music performance,
rapping in his case. The development of Manelis’ sound has panned over a
10-year period through various recordings, performances and groups, such Luminati,
a live band he co-founded in 2010 and is referred to as an explosive mix of
genres such as jazz, rock and hip hop. In 2013/2014 Manelis worked on the South
African/French collaboration project Under
Madiba Skies. This included a tour in France in 2013 and in South African
in 2015.
Manelis draws inspiration from old African
flavours, particularly South African artists such as Harare, Ladysmith Black
Mambazo and Letta Mbulu to weave an unmatched genuine sound that has been
described by Isolezwe Newspaper as “ripe, matured and professional”. His
streetwise lyricism has an authentic Zulu feel with a colloquial touch that
speaks of the African urban experience on soulful and sometimes alternatively
experimental instrumental backdrops that inspire from a village to a global
sonic landscape.
He graced stages at the Grahamstown National
Arts Festival (2009, 2011 and 2012), Fire In The Mountain and Splashy Fen
(2008) festivals and contributed music to Durban recorded projects like
Isinamuva Luyabukwa (2006) and Sounds 031 (2008). He released his solo EP Album
titled S’tshengise in 2009. In June
2012, Manelis was invited to perform at the Primavera Sound Festival in
Barcelona, Spain. In 2014, he performed at the Rainbow Restaurant and was one
of the keynote speakers and performers at UIA Durban (Architect Conference).
Manelis’ concert takes place in the Playhouse
Theatre Foyer on June 1, 2018, at 17h00. The entrance to the concert is free.
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