In conversation with MTKIDU

The South African dual, MTKIDU, have conducted a unique and interesting interview on Skype. The interview on Skype, which in itself is special, is a cool and fresh way to get acquainted with MT and KIDU. In their dialogue, the two are discussing a variety of topics which are close to both of them.

The main subject of the interview is the South African music scene. The artists talk about their role models from the scene, its history, where it gets its significance and the future routes it should follow. In between the lines you also get to know MT and KIDU a little bit better and their South African life style. We will say that a Zebra and Hyena are included in the interview. But how, that’s for you to find out…

[11:22:20 AM] M18J92T: yo
[11:24:05 AM] M18J92T: yo
[11:24:11 AM] M18J92T: yo
[11:30:57 AM] kidu: yo
[11:31:12 AM] M18J92T: howzit china
[11:31:23 AM] kidu: lekker boet
[11:31:41 AM] M18J92T: sharp sharp lets do this thing.
[11:31:46 AM] kidu: cool
[11:32:13 AM] kidu: what u wearing?
[11:32:52 AM] M18J92T: my leopard print thong, wats else!? this is africa?
[11:33:14 AM] M18J92T: title: a conversation between mt and kidu: South african music scene
[11:33:55 AM] kidu: hey sorry my net went down
[11:34:29 AM] M18J92T: no worries…onto the next
[11:35:29 AM] M18J92T: so kidu, name some of your all time favourite SA bands?
[11:36:08 AM] M18J92T: and why? haha the worst question of all time…your welcome
[11:36:28 AM] kidu: max normal, no friends of harry, boo cause they were the real deal
[11:36:44 AM] kidu: i like die antwoord still
[11:37:03 AM] M18J92T: why still?
[11:37:58 AM] kidu: cause some people are over them cause they famous but i will always love waddy
[11:38:25 AM] kidu: what were your fav bands?
[11:38:39 AM] kidu: or what are your fav SA bands
[11:38:44 AM] kidu: ?
[11:41:35 AM] M18J92T: whilst growing up, there were a few…constructus, arthur, max normal, mapaputsi, trompies,ready D, real estate agents
[11:42:22 AM] M18J92T: i was a weird kid, i bounced from genre to genre… metal-kwaito-grunge-hip hop-jazz-electro etc
[11:43:01 AM] kidu: yeah i remember seeing ready D at a few shows he was amazing. also loved the whole kwaaito thing that went down and mid tempo was a rad for a bit.
[11:43:10 AM] M18J92T: my listening has always been mood and “if i like the feeling and tempo” based- never genre based
[11:43:52 AM] M18J92T: not forgetting the mega rave scene: with the likes of mother, camel raves, carl cox etc
[11:44:14 AM] M18J92T: i did pop a few eccies in my time and rave to the grave
[11:44:16 AM] M18J92T: fok
[11:44:59 AM] kidu: yeah i kind of drift to things that are a bit more alt even though i hate that term. the problem with the SA scene is that it always looks outside to define itself.
[11:45:27 AM] kidu: we always make crap versions of bands that are already famous overseas
[11:45:46 AM] kidu: thats why i love the fact tha die antwoord blew up
[11:46:01 AM] M18J92T: this is true and funnily enough only now are we really embracing ourselves and our multicultural influences.
[11:46:25 AM] M18J92T: and sub cultures in toe
[11:46:46 AM] M18J92T: “JOU MA SE POES IN N VIS PASTE JAR”
[11:46:56 AM] kidu: sis!
[11:47:09 AM] M18J92T: MAAR fris!!!
[11:47:34 AM] M18J92T: and any other new acts you following?
[11:47:49 AM] kidu: so do u feel pressure to show that your African in the way you approach music?
[11:50:39 AM] M18J92T: not at all… as i am here to reflect and showcase my experiences and surroundings via my music.
[11:51:30 AM] M18J92T: I was born here, i took my first breath here and i made my first noise here.
[11:52:12 AM] kidu: yeah me to im ancestors are all from Europe but this is all i know.
[11:54:01 AM] M18J92T: bureaucracy and racism(categorisation via colour) will never define our out put
[11:54:27 AM] M18J92T: nor define our validity as South Africans
[11:55:10 AM] M18J92T: as we are aware of the past, will never forget it-learn from it-own it and move forward together
[11:56:05 AM] M18J92T: identity in the modern age is a fluid construct that should be embraced and utilised
[11:56:31 AM] M18J92T: we are all hybrids now to a degree…whether some like to admit or not
[11:56:46 AM] M18J92T: whether some choose to embrace it or not
[11:56:48 AM] kidu: yeah people are very afraid of music with a message why do you think we continue to make statements with the work we do? it would be easier to make fun dance stuff.
[11:57:07 AM] M18J92T: easier-YES for filling- NO
[11:57:42 AM] M18J92T: music without a message is futile and self indulgent
[11:58:02 AM] M18J92T: and will never catalyze change
[11:58:59 AM] kidu: i think sometimes people dont want to change… they just need a track to pomp in the car on the way to work
[11:59:01 AM] M18J92T: fuk that shit-we are the gatekeepers of our future and hence have a great honour and responsibility.
[11:59:21 AM] kidu: what do you think of radio is SA?
[12:00:50 PM] M18J92T: the same thing i think about mtv or any other corporation…its just a another vehicle for the pop music industry and by extension the advertising industry. its about the bottom line and nothing more
[12:03:18 PM] kidu: what direction should music go in in SA?
[12:06:20 PM] M18J92T: for me its not about what but its there…with the likes of die antwoord,spoek and mshini wami, the blk jks, kwani experiance, jacob israel, desmond and the tutus, the frown,sweat X, haezer, ben sharper,340ml, tumi and the voloume, DJ Mujuva, dirty parafin etc the list goes on. we are making amazing and truly reflective South African music that’s has a global appeal as well
[12:07:04 PM] M18J92T: we must stay true to our surroundings and hence original influences
[12:07:24 PM] M18J92T: like you and i have always said
[12:07:32 PM] kidu: totals
[12:07:57 PM] M18J92T: we want to remain honest and relevant to a south african context but not isolationist
[12:08:55 PM] M18J92T: via listening to oral traditions and research: we tell stories, we share urban,rural folklore and myth
[12:09:02 PM] M18J92T: we reflect contemporary south African society
[12:09:40 PM] M18J92T: we are here to learn from the past in order to never repeat it
[12:09:42 PM] kidu: why do you think the audience i SA is so happy to eat from the overseas?
[12:12:25 PM] M18J92T: shampies cus the poor ignorant souls dont know any better- big ups MTV and radio 5. you are poisoning the airwaves and there “doing it, doing it and doing it well”
[12:13:00 PM] M18J92T: but on a positive not…the internet has become the great leveler
[12:13:11 PM] M18J92T: but we wont go into that
[12:13:19 PM] M18J92T: thats a whole other show kids
[12:13:41 PM] kidu: cool dude i have to go feed my zebra’s now
[12:14:38 PM] M18J92T: yeah my hyena’s giving me those… i wonder what you bones taste like gaze, bless him.

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