On: HHP
HHP invited Helen Herimbi into studio to reveal the real Jabba X Jabulani Tsambo has his back to me. We’re in the studio attached to his home and the second track off his upcoming EP, Feels Good To Be Back, is wafting through the speakers. He is at the sink, washing dishes and bopping his […]
On: Gabi Motuba
Following the release of her debut album, Gabi Motuba speaks about compositions and community Gabi Motuba is a musician’s musician. It is a few days after the Soweto Theatre launch of her debut album as band leader, Tefiti: Goddess of Creation, and we sit at the front a busy Jozi coffee shop. The composer and […]
On: Jeremy Loops
Photo by Taahir Matthews Jeremy Loops speaks to Helen Herimbi about songwriting, surfing and streaming Jeremy Loops swaggers in with a guitar case in hand. The folk singer is fresh off a European tour that included him selling out and headlining a night at Shepard’s Bush Empire in London – the same venue that saw […]
On: Boity
TV presenter and actress, Boity speaks to Helen Herimbi about pivoting to her passion: rapping Boity is busy. On the day that we catch up, she had caught the worm when she exclusively premiered her debut song on Metro FM’s Fresh Breakfast before people clock in for work. Then she was wrapped up in a […]
On: Spikiri
Spikiri talks to Helen Herimbi about new music, respectful names and improved formulas Sporting a Starter jacket and his signature plaits, Spikiri is in a good mood. He speaks freely, laughs a lot and, when his wife whips out a mini-tub of Vaseline from her bag, he dabs a finger in it, mid-sentence, without skipping […]
On: Sannie Fox
In between gigs in London, Cape Town’s own Sannie Fox took time out to speak to Helen Herimbi about her second album The last time I spoke to Sannie Fox, the vocal powerhouse and songwriter/producer had just come off the road. She had been on the Crossroads Tour with Jimmy Thomas and Michael Roach. Now, […]
On: PRO
As the proceeds of the Dankie San tribute concert go towards an education fund for PRO’s daughter, the hip hop family tells Helen Herimbi what PRO taught them On a balmy Jozi night, I am perched on the couch. I make the Netflix chill and put on a movie I would’ve never willingly watched: August […]
Post-Koppi musings
Two years ago, I swore I’d never go to Oppikoppi again. Nothing bad happened. I had just been going to the festival in Limp City since I was a baby writer. I’d missed some years but overall, part of my job was attending festivals like that and I did it on and off for years. […]
On: Unathi
Ahead of her national tour, Unathi takes Helen Herimbi through an exercise of how music helped her become courageous, correct and capable. “I tell people all the time,” Unathi says after we’ve run 1.5km and are back at the first step of the steep Westcliff Stairs. “The key to the stairs is: don’t look up. […]
On: Nasty C
Following the release of Strings and Bling, Nasty C talks to Helen Herimbi about ceilings, scriptures and getting on stage.