It’s been almost a week since the SABC announced that 90% of the playlist must be local. But all we’ve been hearing are old hits. Here are 10 songs made in this era that we would like to hear on the radio.
Lance Theron ft. Candice Thornton “Higher”
5FM, here’s a jam for you. Candice Thornton’s voice echoes naturally over droning synths and the customary house music kick on “Higher”. Heart FM has already spread this song across Cape Town, all it needs is national airplay. Because a song this good deserves more than being a provincial hit.
See Candice Thornton on out list of coloured artists you should stop sleeping on
Priddy Ugly “Bula Boot”
Apart from being a nod to Thebe’s song of the same title, Priddy Ugly’s “Bula Boot” is an eardrum wrecker, guaranteed to keep listeners of all tastes glued to their speakers. Priddy Ugly’s one of the most exciting artists out now, and some radio airplay could create a star to contend with your AKAs and Cassper Nyovests.
Check out Priddy Ugly’s mixtape on our list of mixtapes and EPS that could have won SAMAs
Melo B Jones “Black Girl Magic”
Melo B Jones is proof that it’s not over for soul music, as many claim. You will definitely love this song if Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and Macy Gray are your thing. With the hashtag #BlackGirlMagic trending, her song is guaranteed to resonate widely. The mellow and soulful “Black Girl Magic” would be a good fit for that Metro FM Sunday afternoon playlist.
Youngsta “Top Ten List”
Youngsta’s reaction to last year’s MTV Base Top 10 Hottest MCs list just got reincarnated, this time, with a video. The rapper exhales flames about being overlooked mostly because of him being from Cape Town. A censored version of “Top Ten List” is a guaranteed radio hit especially with its catchy autotuned hook and trap production.
Read: Youngsta’s best guest verses
Dope Saint Jude “Brown Baas”
Dope Saint Jude is what would happen if the woke feminists on Twitter got on the mic over pattering high-time trap hi-hats and heavy basslines, and expressed their views in rhyming stanzas. Touching on race and gender, without being preachy, Dope Saint Jude is a needed voice in South Africa’s music scene, SABC, please.
Uno July “Skelem”
“Skelem” is a cross between trap and kwaito. What sets Uno’s version of the trend is that this song, though catchy, still centres around lyricism. The rapper’s sonorous voice sits well on the damp basslines and the leading 8-bit synth. This can be big, SABC, trust us.
Kanyi “Andizenzi”
Kanyi Mavi’s also another missing voice in mainstream radio. Her streetwise textbook Xhosa lyrics always carry insightful messages you don’t always catch on the first listen. Which is why her catchy “Andizenzi” would be a fit for the heavy rotation percentile.
Read out interview with Kanyi about “Andizenzi”
Scelo Gowane “Wenzani”
This smoothie by Durban singer Scelo Gowane is another one that belongs on that Sunday afternoon playlist. The singer and producer is not a novice. “Wenzani” has soul, and Scelo has the vocal ability to give Frank Ocean a run for his money. Mad potential here, SABC.
Moonchild Sanelly feat. Maramza “Fox With That”
Moonchild is not appreciated enough, in general. Her collaboration with Cape Town DJ and electronic producer Maramza, blends old school kwaito, house and electro. Try to picture Abashante making music with today’s technology and the influences of the dance music we are exposed to because of the internet. What’s a Friday night mix without a song like “Fox With That”?
Read: Moonchild shares her 5 favourite albums of all time
Skinny Gibbz “Uyajola (Oyi Oyi)”
Skinny Gibbz re-imagines Arthur’s classic “Oyi Oyi” with modern sinewy synths and 808s. “Uyajola (Oyi Oyi)” is catchy, which is good for radio, and a guaranteed party-starter. Kwaito is not dead. It has evolved. This song is one of the many examples that the whole of South Africa needs to hear, through the SABC’s radio channels.
What other new local songs would you like to hear on the radio? Let us know in the comments section below, or on Facebook and Twitter.
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