XPERIA MASHLAB – ROCKTOBER IN STUDIO

The Ultimate Xperia Mashlab rock band, recently dubbed ‘The Wildcards’ by the fans, officially went into studio this week to start work on their upcoming single. This month’s rock collaboration is a true representation of musicians being open-minded and merging their styles together to form the next installment of Xperia Mashlab 2015.

The lineup, comprising Arno Carstens (Springbok Nude Girls), Andre Kriel (Black Cat Bones), Jade Neebe (Jack Parow) and Franco Schoeman (ISO) made their way in to studio followed by Xperia Mashlab fan Austen Ramsay Lewis (on guitar) to work on a host of ideas to bring this masterstroke to life.

The collaborators entered the studio with no clear plan on what they wanted to achieve with this track, but it didn’t take them very long to start the creative process and an abundance of fresh-sounding music. The band progressed from funk to blues and finally to some heavy rock ‘n roll, moving through a host of melodies; enough to complete a full album.

Jack Parow’s drummer Jade Neebe is excited to be in the Xperia Mashlab: “I’ve always wanted to jam with some of the country’s best artists,” she says. She did just that, alongside ISO’s bassist Franco Schoeman, a previous Mashlab artist with the experience. The ever creative, Black Cat Bones’s Andre Kriel explains that, “All I wanted for myself was to just broaden my horizons a bit.”  Helping him to do just that and heading up the Ultimate Xperia Mashlab band is vocalist Arno Carstens.

Arno explains: “I have heard many of these Xperia Mashlab collaborations and they are always very exciting. Putting all these different people together normally brings something fresh: of course I would want to be a part of that and experience the wildness and the magic of Xperia Mashlab.”

Completing the band is Austen Ramsay Lewis, a passionate guitarist with a preference for progressive rock and the Xperia Mashlab. He is sure to bring something new that will surely add to what the established artists already bring.

In an attempt to include the fans to an even greater extent, Xperia Mashlab called on heavy metal screamers to submit their best scream this week to potentially form part of the final product.

Xperia Mashlab is making musical history every day.

For all Xperia Mashlab updates and information, go to the Xperia Mashlab website, or follow Xperia Mashlab on 5fm on Facebook, check the @XperiaMashlab twitter page and #XperiaMashlab hashtag, as well as the @xperia_mashlab Instagram page. You can sign up to the newsletter to keep up to date on all things Xperia Mashlab.

In It To Win it! Lore&Ofentic

When it comes to pushing hard and coming out at the top, the #FisDuo Lore&Ofentic do it with the atmost ease.

Since speaking to them earlier this year the two Kings have not been sleeping… (Not literally, but you know what I mean). Between performing live at gigs all around SA, to starting the #FreeFisFridays movement as well as working on their current project Mofiso Ke Lesika which they intend to drop early next year, the rap duo has even managed to make it to the top 5 in the Jagarmeister #BackTheArtist competition.

They will be competing for the number 1 spot this Wednesday, 14^th October at The Great Dane in Braamfontein, where they will perform their track Ga Ra Robala (2 Stena Budget) as well as another track of their choice. The 5 contestants will be going head to head for the big prize to record a single with HHP, a video shoot as well as a one year record deal with Jagar Music.

The #FisDuo is in it to win it and their drive and determination is exactly what makes them dynamic. Their latest project Mofiso Ke Lesika is packed with interesting collaborations which include Black Lez and Jacqui Carpede but while you wait for the 2016 Mofiso Ke Lesika release the #FisDuo won’t leave the #Fisolians hanging, keep your ears up for their single Mawaza Prod by The Urban Lunatic dropping on the 31^st of October.

To follow Lore&Ofentic catch them on Twitter @Lore_n_Ofentic, Facebook Lore & Ofentic and Sound Cloud Lore & Ofentic.

OCTOBER XPERIA MASHLAB – ROCKTOBER

Following the announcement of the Xperia Mashlab #ROCKTOBER concept, Sony Mobile is happy to reveal the highly anticipated all-star band that will incorporate some of the best South Africa has to offer. Giving fans the opportunity to vote for their all-star line-up, this unique five piece includes a vocalist, drummer, guitarist, bassist and wildcard that will take Xperia Mashlab to a new level.

This supreme collaboration of prominent SA artists and one fan is lead on vocals by iconic South African rock legend Arno Carstens - releasing albums for over two decades, first as the celebrated front man of Springbok Nude Girls and more recently as successful solo artist. Arno has had over 20 top ten singles, won five South African Music Awards and shared the stage with legends of the music world including U2, The Rolling Stones and REM.

Arno will be joined on drums by the impeccable Jade Neebe. Through the years Jade has become a session artist for Melanie Lowe, Josie Field, The Sick Leaves, Chix with Stix, Broadway Screamer and 1st Project. Jade has been ‘zef’ rapper Jack Parow's live drummer since 2009 and has also just recently become the drummer for Jesse Clegg.

Taking the lead on guitar is master shredder Andre Kriel – founder of one of South Africa’s favourite’s, Black Cat Bones. With a background in blues and known for staggering liver performances, Kriel is all set to stagger Xperia Mashlab audiences.

Franco Schoeman adds flair to the band as the bassist. Franco created a name for himself in the bass scene, resulting in him being made a member in Isochronous. With a National Diploma in Jazz and impressive knowledge of the bass, Franco is sure to be an exceptional addition to the Xperia Mashlab Rocktober band.

Completing our five-piece is fan guitarist Austen Ramsay Lewis as the all-star wildcard. Describing his music as progressive instrumental rock/jazz/blues, Austen won the votes by a near landslide.

The newly founded powerhouse band will be sure to rock your October. Tune into 5FM during Forbes and Fix show Monday to Friday between 01:00 PM – 04:00 PM to catch up on all the latest Xperia Mashlab news and behind the scenes insight on the artists also tune in to get an opportunity to name the band.

For all Xperia Mashlab updates and information, go to www.mashlabmusic.com, or follow Xperia Mashlab on 5fm on Facebook, check the @XperiaMashlab twitter page and #XperiaMashlab hashtag, as well as the @xperia_mashlab Instagram page. You can sign up to the newsletter to keep up to date on all things Xperia Mashlab.

THE PEOPLE CAME, THEY SAW AND UNITED THEY CONQUERED

DISCOVERY JACARANDA FM SPRING WALK 2015

A record number of people took to the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens for the Discovery Jacaranda FM Spring Walk 2015. Pretoria’s favourite family walk saw many smiling faces in their Jacaranda FM colours complete their 5, 8 and 15km walk.

Growing from 10 000 walkers at the inaugural Discovery Jacaranda FM Spring Walk in 2012 to the 15 000 participants this 2015 event hosted with aplomb.

Jacaranda FM General Manager, Kevin Fine, elated by the success of Saturday’s event said “Seeing the Discovery Jacaranda FM Spring Walk grow to what it is today is testament to the Jacaranda FM listener’s enthusiasm to be a part of the Jacaranda family and we are grateful to the public for making the event the resounding success it was.”

The theme for this year’s walk was ‘United We Walk’ and walkers came out in large numbers to enjoy the serenity of the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens. The day concluded with one of South Africa’s favourites, Kurt Darren, who kept the crowd entertained as everyone soaked up the last bits Spring Walk 2015 and Jacaranda City had to offer.

OCTOBER XPERIA MASHLAB – ROCKTOBER

Sony Mobile is extremely excited to present the October concept for Xperia Mashlab, Rocktober. This month Xperia Mashlab is breaking all the rules. We are calling on all fans to design the ultimate 5fm Xperia Mashlab rock band.

It will be up to the fans to vote on which vocalist, drummer, guitarist and bassist they would like to see in the all-stars Rocktober band. But that is not all. As always, we want the fans to drive the song writing process. We are therefore asking fans to put themselves forward as a band member as well. If you are a drummer, a singer, a guitarist or play the bass, you have until next week Monday, 5 October 2015 to upload an audition video of yourself playing your instrument.

The candidate who receives the most ‘shares’ and ‘likes’ for their video on Facebook will be put into the voting pool, alongside the best of South African musicians to be voted into the all-stars Xperia Mashlab, Rocktober band.

Voting will be divided up as follows:

•        Monday, 5 October: Drums

•        Tuesday, 6 October: Bass

•        Wednesday, 7 October: Guitar

•        Thursday 8, October: Vocals

But we don’t like to do things regularly at the Xperia Mashlab studio. We are throwing in a 5th band category: ‘The Wildcard’ Do you play the noseflute? How about the oboe, the harp or the tambourine? Be a part of our Rocktober Xperia Mashlab. Or better yet, enter in your choir, string quartet or a 20-man gumboot dancing troupe.

‘Wildcard’ entries open today Tuesday, 29 September 2015 and will close end of day Thursday, 8 October 2015. Voting on ‘Wildcard’ submissions will take place on Friday, 9 October 2015.

All video submissions must be uploaded to Xperia Mashlab on Facebook and Twitter.  Remember to use the hashtag #XperiaMashlab in your post.