1998 was a year of amazing things, marked by an incredible World Cup, the impending millennium and all the doom and gloom that came with it. However the people at Red BulI, forever forward thinkers, launched their iconic Music Academy…a powerful statement to bring about growth of global music.
South Africa has enormously benefitted from the academy with the likes of Culoe De Song, Jullian Gomes and Black Coffee having all been participants of the academy in the past, and now they all are influential figures in the South African music industry.
Every year around the world, Red Bull selects 30 participants to take part in 2 weeks of workshops, studio sessions, and participants get to collaborate with established artists and learn from the Ivy League of the musical royalty. A truly jaw-dropping experience, one that has spanned across the globe in cities like Berlin, São Paulo, Dublin, London, Cape Town and many others for the last 15 years.
Last year the academy took place in New York and Trancemicsoul, a Pretoria based Dj and producer was the only South African participant chosen to take part. We first met up with Trancemicsoul at Rocking the Daisies at the Red Bull Music stage. His Dj sets are a breath of fresh air. He has the ability to amalgamate old and new, turning the new to classics and the classics into new. He's rise in the South African music scene is a testament of the ongoing work of The Academy and how it improves the lives of everyday artists doing great work but lack the exposure and necessary tools to get it. We talk to Transmicsoul about he’s experience:
You were one of the few chosen to take part in the Red Bull Music Academy last year…can you tell us a little about that experience and what it meant to you? Yes, I was really lucky to be chosen as the only South African participant and I always thank GOD for such a blessing. The RBMA experience is very difficult to sum-up in words, it's a totally different world. It’s a world where music, art, knowledge and innovation cross boundaries. It’s a world where race, culture and lifestyle fuse to just one element. This experience really broadened my mindset to start thinking global not local, to really think out of the box. The trip really inspired me in so many ways!
The Red Bull Music Academy is short, fast and vigorous, what can you say were the benefits of you attending the academy? There's quite a lot, but my favourite part will be the lectures, studios and events held by the RBMA organization. Throughout the academy we were lectured by the best of the best in the music industry, and most of the sessions were very up close and personal. Such sessions gave me a wakeup call regarding the importance of having a mentally fit mindset, also to have a vision yet be open minded about everything around me as a human being. It's not about where you come from, but where you want to be in the near future.
The studios and parties proved to me how fast technology is moving, and we need to adapt like it or not, because the mission is to innovate yet keep the groove going. When I came back home I also managed to meet the good people at Red Bull South Africa, Red Bull Studios Cape Town, and throughout the past year they have been helping me very much, and I'm thankful for that.
What is the meaning behind your name? Care to explain it to us and for those who don't know? Well, I used the alias “DJ Trance” as my stage name I got exposed to music composition (2006). I knew the Disc Jockey abbreviation (DJ) had to be removed from my stage name as I was interested in being an artist more than just a DJ due to music composition, but I didn’t want to lose the “Trance”, so I fused it with “Mic”. I also believed (still do) my soul is responsible for making the music, so I decided to include “Soul” to the name and TranceMicSoul was born.
Your sets and music are in a sense rebelling against a lot of the stereotypical Neo-kasi DJ culture…Is this intentional or just a by product of how you've chosen to express yourself? Honestly speaking, my sets are always pure, I don't intend to entertain or force people to like what I do. It doesn't have to feel like a job, I always play records that are close to my heart, be it an opening slot or peak time. I really like to connect with people’s emotions through music.
The South African music scene is growing rapidly and we are seeing a large influx of international artists gracing our shores. Do you feel an artist such as yourself is making an impact in Europe due to this buzz…are we benefitting? Yes, its growing and it's a great thing, but to be honest with you, I think our leading South African artists in music are nowhere to be found internationally. Only quite a few are known for their work. And this goes back to the above mentioned qualities like innovation, and labels, managers having solid concepts for artistic growth. The international acts come to South Africa because we like their sound; it's something interesting to our ears.
Also, most international acts prefer live sets than just DJ'ing which is something most of the South African acts are still working towards. I also think most underground South African acts are the ones pushing the boundaries because they are working towards a different sound which cannot be classified as ‘locally produced’ when it hits your eardrums.
Being from Pretoria how do you feel the area you grew up in has influenced you as an artist? It has so much influence in me, the style of play when DJ'ing, the music, the people and the club culture back then. I grew up paying attention to the importance of track selection, mixing and timing as a DJ. As an artist, I think based on what Pretoria DJ's used to play, thats the sound I was really going for in the studio.
Johannesburg seems to be the major city to be in, when it comes to dance music culture…how do you feel about this? Do you agree and how is Pretoria doing in relation to the City of Gold? Well, Johannesburg for me is the main city that channels other cities regarding what's popping. If a song or artist is big in Joburg, then it will most definitely be big across the country because most of South Africa's main media facilities are around Joburg. As for Pretoria, it’s a very different city compared to Joburg, be it fashion or music. But it looks like its slowly adapting to the City of Gold. The underground movement is fading away!
What is the process before your sets, do you plan your sets, is there a story you always try and tell or do you just go by feeling? I usually prepare the records, not the set, before I play. I always go to a show having a certain sound that I want to play for the night for sure, depending on my slot and also the venue (location, theme, etc).
Which tracks would you say have influenced you greatly over the years and are you still playing some of them? Mmmmmh… This is a very tough one, but yes! I have quite a lot of songs that have influenced me over the years. I still play them for sure!
Speaking of playing, you will be playing at the Sonar festival this year, which is massive. How did that come about and how do you feel about it? Yes! I'll be playing on the RBMA stage and it's a great feeling to be invited to play there, I have heard and seen a lot of good feedback about Sonar Festival. It's a very special moment, I really can't describe it. Everything was put together by the good people at RBMA, many thanks to them.
So far what has been your favourite place to play so far and why would you advise people to go there? Cape Town Electronic Music Festival, Rocking The Daisies, Oppikoppi, SubUrbanState! Just go there, you will thank me later.
CTEMF 2014 Live Recording - Sunday: Trancemicsoul by Red Bull Studios Cape Town on Mixcloud
On the flip side, what has been your worst set and what went wrong? I think when promoters who didn't do research about my style of play, book me to entertain. I really lose the connection with the music if I’m not playing from the heart. The set might be good for them, but I know that I didn't give it my all.
What can audiences expect from you in the next couple of months to a year? Very free spirited music, not trying too much.
Currently what is Trancemicsoul playing in his CD player and in the booth? Which tracks are you currently feeling? Lots of electronic music fused with soul. That's what I like, emotions in a song!
[Interview End]
So basically, it doesn't matter who you are, or what your back-ground is, if you have all the gear in the world or just make music from your computer, as long as you’re passionate about music and a career within it. Then the Red Bull Music Academy wants you, you don't have to established and be playing 300 gigs a year just be good at what you do. You do however need the desire to learn and grow. This year’s academy will take place in Tokyo Japan and it promises to be a showpiece.