CHURCHBOY AND CHURCHGIRL GIVES US THE EXPERIENCE

                                                                                          

THE EXPERIENCE

THE EXPERIENCE                                                     THE EXPERIENCE

This past sunday I missed out on the biggest show in Vosloorus, I feel so left out because everybody is going on about it. Since I was not at the show I decided to ask people to write to me about the show, please be adviced these people are not writers but this is how they saw the show, there is a comment I had to censor due to morals and my ethics . I also respect the artist.

                                             THE EXPERIENCE

LINDOKUHLE KHUMALO

WOW " THE EXPERIENCE" , it finally happened after being postponed twice and honestly I never thought it would happen. The initial date was on the 9^th  of December last year didn't happen,

2^nd of March didn't happen, so you could imagine how I was feeling on the day of the show *shakes his head*. I did not even know what time it was, I was double checking my double checking, untill some said to me "IT'S TIME" heartbeating so fast I just could not control it. Let me say this " God's timing is perfect timing! On the two dates I had before I could not get Mr Mbatha ,my dates clashed with his schedule then there was an opening of which on that day was going to be the show, met with him he agreed and that was the begining of everything coming together. God blessed me with people who went all out for me and the show to happen. Tinyiko Titi Mathebula that guy was with me every step of the way, artist arrangements, rehearsals and assisting with transport thank u man, Vuyokazi Tshaya was always there at rehearsals coaching the vocals thank you sister, Thato Mthembu he arranged the music and putting ideas together, thanks alot man. Even the deco company helped me alot.

The show was about me reviving the brand CHURCHBOY AND CHURCHGIRL I had taken the back seat for sometime now, I also wanted to show people my latest work and my new coming line,also the most important thing about this event was raising funds for my store which will be open around September late this year. Just off the record, people weren't so sure if the show will happen because of the fact that I fused music, comedy and fashion together, even though it has never been done before people were sceptical about it. THE EXPERIENCE

All the artist where great on that day and I enjoyed ALL of them, but I got those who stood out for me, NQUBEKO MBATHA his music is soothing and his got that unique voice that just makes you listen. HLENGIWE MASONDO she was on a different tip not the chorus leader we use to at church. CHURCHILL SELATOLE WOW his incredible always pumps up the crowd las tbut not least VUYOKAZI TSHAYA I love her singing period!

THANK YOU to Nqubeko Mbatha(main act) all the ARTISTS.COMEDIANS.KASIE FM.BAND.MY PASTOR.FRIENDS. FOLLOW ME

@CBCclothing

@LINDOKHUMALO

CHURCHBOY AND CHURCHGIRL CLOTHING ON FACEBOOK

KELEBOGILE MILLICENT MOKANYANE



 All was good...hi light was the joyous band..especiali usabu..coz im such a fan...churchil..was onpoint i enjyd his performance...iwasnt soo keen on the main act (nqubeko)..bt he proved himself..so i liked him to...ditsebe was jst on another level...ohand the fashion show...lindow pulleda twist ther..twas nyc...totally loved..
id also like to add..that..the bandss..wer killer...more especiaali..the drummers....usnikiwe...sphiwe..no.ntokozo.
The easssstrand iss Lucki to have ..so much talent...up comming groupss like izeaal...nd rare..hv aa nyc sssound
Lindo dd well...propss to him..
we r lucki to hv 'companyss'..like mge cbcg..Mge..nd imzwalaane...hv sstarted..a beautiful..thru the events they hosst...theY enabl ususs..to grow..spIrituali.



MUSAWENKOSI TSHABALALA

Hi the show was great i really had an awesome time im really proud of my cuzin his planning was really on point the sound and artist were great it was really worth that 70 bucks and coming all da way 4rm vaal it was an #experience indeed somethng iv neva seen b4.Zeal those guys were my favourite... And ditsebe

ZABA MFEKA



The show brought together saints, friends, musical colleagues, comedians, and fashionista’s to one room. The band did their opening intro as Mpho “Chicken” Mothoana ascending to the stage in his opening song “Messiah”.  We had Zeal do their thing (I just love how they do their song: Sizo Hamba Naye) and then the 1^st christian comedian ascended to the stage, Tshepo Twala (better known as Ditsebe.com) as the MC for the day.

We heard the likes of Vuyokazi, Hlengiwe, Muzi (great overture before he started singing), and Churchill Selatole who had the house on their feet dancing to “This is my season”.

Following the interval, the band rocked with a Lucy Pearl number as ladies strutted their stuff on the runway yase Mt Gerizim, beautiful skirts and dresses with the latest church girl tank tops. 

We then moved onto hearing Tshepang (pity she was given short time) but she was great, we moved onto Rare which is totally out of this world (I love the arrangement of: Potters House) and their music is rare indeed. Then we had the legendary pianist Nqubeko Mbatha who did a sterling job without any backing vocal from “iThemba Lami” through to “He paid it All”.

The vibe was awesome, MC did a wonderful job, all the bands (both young and old) were great. I salute all the parties which took part in putting together a great show: Sixty’s Music Academy on sound, Maroon Grass Entertainment and Church Girl Church Boy Clothing Co.  May God continue to use you all together as we are one in the body of Christ, as this is not just about putting shows together but to minister to souls of all kinds.

GOSPEL FROM A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW

This week I decided to get out of my comfort zone and write about jazz, I did not know what to expect because I am not familiar with this genre but really excited to crack this story. I decided to prepare myself over the weekend and listened to Kirk Whalum and any jazzy gospel I could get my hands on. I played it in the house, in the car even got some tracks on my phone, what a jazzy weekend I had! Some of it got to my partner because she did not understand it. Things I do for a story.

This week we shall explore gospel through the eyes, mind and heart of Neo Komane.

Neo Komane was born and bread in Katlehong east of Johannesburg and this is where he started his career as a musician, well to him it is more of a calling then career. I was so excited to find out more about Neo and to understand more about his music, his influences and most where all this enormity comes from.

The first question I asked after greetings was, why jazz Neo?

Very calmly he said ; I wouldn't call it jazz, it's gospel! just form a different point of view. I do your normal church songs which everybody know, all I do is to add my flavour to them. The thing is I did not want to be conformed and do it the normal way, I always think out the box and try to do what seems to be an iimpossibility. My philosophy is simple " Once you are conformed, yo will lack creativity".

Hardly fifteen minutes of our conversation Neo hits me with philosophies, but you know what I was ready for this, my mind was primed for this day, I was thinking like him thanks to all the jazz over the weekend.

Is Neo Komane an artist or minister?

(takes a few seconds before he answers) I consider myself both, but

predominantly a minister. Maybe if the demand grows then I will take it to the business side of it, because honestly I do not charge when I am called to perform, simply because I am still building a brand.

The kind of music you listen to when growing up?                                                                                 

I have always listened to jazz music from a very young age, and I think it had a great influence as to finding something that will best tell people about me. The likes of: Moses Molelekwa, Bheki Mseleku, John Coltrane. Those were my inspirations and still are even today, I mean that song " Giant Steps" by John Coltrane is still relevant to the kind of music played today. If I had a choice to go to any country to rehearse, I would go to Mali I live their music, Cuba to learn salsa in depth lastly the USA

Ladies and Gentleman I did not know who these people were, never heard of them, never heard their music, all that was in my mind was. His making up all these people?or clearly  I'm from another planet! here I was thinking Neo and I are on the same level of thinking after the " jazzy" weekend I had. Thanks to Google now I know these people, no let me rephrase I know these Legends.

Where did all this start?

I learnt the basics of piano at church, was taught by Mr Sipho Gobelani, and like any normal church lesson, you are taught one key and to transpose with a button, mine was A flat.So I took it upon myself to learn all the other keys, and fortunately enough it took me only a day to know them all. I also used the Internet as my source. I am inspired by Joe Makanza. Lately I am inspired and mentored by a guy named Yonela Mnana.

First gig or performance?

My first gig was with Mpumi Dhlamini, and he was one of the guys I really loved how he played his piano, futhermore he mentored me because when I got to him I had an idea but no direction so he taught me how a song is arranged and all the things I needed to know. He gave me my beak.

How may instruments do you play?                        

Piano which is my primary instrument.                                                                                                     Saxophone(Alto)                                                                                                                                        Clarinet                                                                                                                                                          Imbira                                                                                                                                         Shiwewele( a round ball size of a tennis ball, used to be played by Sheppard)  and lately trying to get hold of a SITha, used in India, I'm listening to a lot of Indian music lately.

This is the wow moment for me.

Neo Komane composed a song for his two favourite musicians, Bheki Mseleku and John Coltrane titled " His an unchanging God". I thought I would hear the song but Neo had flu the day we met, what an interview it would have been!                                                                              

Neo and the Band.

I do not limit myself so I call people who understand me and most of all my music, these are the kinds of people who are willing to learn from me and I learn from them. My songs are are not straight they change key a lot and in my band we are not grounded by seven keys we always want to go beyond and branch out of the comfort zone. We break the stereotyping of towards playing gospel, somewhere, somehow there is this " GOSPEL CODE" which is if you playing gospel it must be played straight. I'm sorry but I do not want to sound like other people. My music would be dead without a good bass player,bass holds everything together for me and Pat holds my music quite well and of course him and Sinikiwe as a combination then I'm set. I think Thami Gubevu can also hold it down for if Pat were to be busy when I need him.I like how he plays

Neo's motto in life.                                                                                                                       Proverbs 16v 3. If you put God in the centre, then it is bound to happen.

Asked Neo if he will release an album anytime soon and he said " Not yet. I'm still trying to find my sound, even though I'm at the right track but I'm still getting there. I am actually trying to fuse all the music that inspire me and make it one sound, till I do that it is work and work for me.

There is so much to be said about Neo Komane, and some were off the record topics but I really enjoyed being around this young upcoming with a bang jazz gospel minister. Good luck Neo and to see your album very soon, we really are blessed to have such talent in East Rand.

RHYTHM FROM THE HEART

This week I am profiling a humble and very ambitious musician. This man needs no introduction, took his bio and uploaded it.

MY NAME IS LUNGILE MADUNA, I STARTED PLAYING PROFESSIONALLY IN 2005 WITH HUGH
MASIKELA IN A GIG PUT TOGETHER BY BABSY MLANGENI & STEVE KEKANE. AFTER THAT
CONCERT I STARTED WORKING WITH BABSY IN HIS BAND.
LATER THAT YEAR I AUDITIONED AND STARTED WORKING WITH THEMBISILE NTAKA FROM
POP STARS
2006: WE WERE ASKED BY TOUCHDOWN AFRICA TO BE A RESIDENT BAND OF THEIR NEW TV
SHOW ON SABC 1 "ZIYAWA LA" WHICH WE DID FOR 2 SEASONS. IN THIS PROGRAM WE
WORKED WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT MUSICIANS, DANCERS, POETS SUCH AS LIRA;
SIPHOKAZI; ZULUBOY; ZABS; TUKS; LORCIA COOPER, CAMAGWINI ETC. I ALSO WORKED
WITH SOMIZI &
LATER THAT YEAR I DID A TOUR WITH JOYOUS CELEBRATION
2007: I WORKED WITH LUNDI, KHOLEKA, KEKE PHOOFOLO, SPIRIT OF PRAISE, LATER
THAT
YEAR I WAS ASKED TO PUT TOGETHER A BAND FOR KELLY KHUMALO.
2008: I STARTED MY 3 YEAR WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH MULTI AWARD WINNER
SIPHOKAZI AND TOGETHER WE WORKED ON MOST OF SOUTH AFRICA'S BIGGEST EVENTS
SHARING THE STAGE WITH WORLD GIANTS, SUCH AS REGINA BELLE; ANGELIQUE KIDJOU;
CHAKA KHAN, RASHAAN PETTESON AND OLIVER MTUKUDZI JUST TO NAME A FEW
2009: I WAS APPROACHED BY ENGAGE ENTERTAINMENT TO BE PART OF THEIR NEW AND
REVAMPED GOSPEL GOLD WITH ZWAI BALA. IN THIS TV PROGRAM WE PLAYED WITH A LOT
OF
S.A'S  BEST AS FAR AS GOSPEL IS CONCERNED, WE DID THAT FOR 54 EPISODES
MY BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT THUS FAR MUST BE DOING THE 2 MONTH EUROPEAN TOUR WITH
EDDY GRANT AND UB40
2010: I WORKED WITH MAFIKIZOLO, CAMAGWINI, NANA COYOTE; KWELA TEBZA, SLIQ
ANGEL, BLONDI MAKHENE, SHARON DEE, RAE, NEYI ZIMU. I ALSO WORKED WITH TSHEPO
TSHOLA ON HIS LIVE GIGS AND STUDIO RECORDING, I ALSO WORKED ON SIPHOKAZI'S
3RD RECORDING.
WE WENT TO SERBIA FOR A WEEK AND SLOVANIA FOR A WEEK WITH SONTI AND AFRICA
VILLAGE EXHIBITING SOUTH AFRICAN INDIGENOUS MUSIC AND CULTURE, I ALSO WENT TO
TANZANIA FOR AN OPENING OF EAST AFRICA'S FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT WITH DRUM CAFE.
IM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH CAIPHUS SEMENYA AND LETTA MBULI. I WORKED WITH
LOYISO
BALA, GLORIA BOSMAN, PU2MA, WANDA BALOYI AND JAMALI ON A NATIVE RHYTHMS
PRODUCTION CALLED GOSPEL IN ME. WE DID A MZANSI MAGIC'S 1ST BIRTHDAY WITH
MAFIKIZOLO; YEVONNE CHAKA CHAKA AND STEVE KEKANE.
OF LATE I HAVE DEVELOPED AN INTEREST ON MUSIC PRODUCTION SO WE REGISTERED A
COMPANY MADISHE PRODUCTIONS DIRECTED BY MPHO KODISANG, VUSI GCABASHE AND
MYSELF. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON OUR 1ST PRODUCT WHICH IS VUSI'S ALBUM FOR THE
PAST 2 YEARS BUT WE NEARING THE END SO BY GOD'S GRACE WE WILL RELEASE IT SOON.
WE HAVE ALSO STARTED ON VUYOKAZI TSHAYA'S PRE PRODUCTION OUR 2ND PROJECT.
IM VERY EXCITED BY THE DOORS GOD IS OPENING IN MY LIFE, GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO
DO A COUPLE OF INTERESTING RECORDINGS; THEMBA MASINA, PROPHET NEYI ZIMU'S 1ST
ALBUM WITH SPIRIT MUSIC WHICH IN MY OPINION IS GONNA BE HOT AND MY CHOIR
GOSPEL GOES BEYOND "GGB" LOOK OUT FOR THEM, THEY ARE BLAZING HOT......DON'T
FORGET U HEARD FROM ME 1ST, FOLLOW US ON TWITTER GGB_CHOIR AND WATCH OUR
VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE.




Some intresting things you need to know about Lulu

DRUMKIT
Yamaha oak custom
8" 10" 12" 14" 16" toms
14" oak snare drum and
13" akira jimbo snare
22" bass drum
Anatolian cymbals
Diamond hats
Diamond crash and 2 splashes
China and a signature ride handmade

FAVOURITE BASS PLAYER
Bongani Masina. He uderstands me because we have been working together for a long time, since 2006 till now.

GROWING UP LOOKED UP INSPIRED BY;
Vusi Khumalo
Sello Muntwedi
Kwazi Shange
Nkanyzi Cele
Rob Watson
Then after sometime transcribed to
Dumisane Hlela
Babes Ndamase
Andile Nqubezelo
Mnca Mtshali
Godfrey Mgcina
Phillip Mentjies

OLD DRUMMERS VS THE CHOPPING GENERATION
It is a different track but it is not a matter of wright or wrong since music is not algebra.
I always say as long as we relevant to the song and style, and  if your employer loves it then do it.
What good is a song if it can't be inspired, chops should be the means to an end, they should allow us to communicate very important emotions of a song.
After a performance if all a person can say is that you good, then you have missed the opportunity to impact them.

DEFINE LULU IN ONE SENTENCE
A book is not enough to define me, but I believe in God's ability to do what man can't do.
I also believe I am a family man