Bassline Live at The Lyric Theatre last Friday is said to be one for the Bassline’s history books. The show, featured a collaboration between award winning hit making DJ and producer Sun-El Musician and South Africa’s first black woman conductor Ofentse Pitse.
Plus, her Anchored Sound 10 piece orchestra and female vocal quartet, and guest artists including Msaki, Ami Faku, Simmy and many others. On this night the talent and technical production took the series to totally new heights.
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Sun-El Musician and Ofentse had never collaborated on a project of this nature before. Thus, they were as thrilled with the results as the audience were. Who spent the entire night on their feet.
“This was a showcase of two worlds coming together, ” says Pitse. Who had been immediately sold when Bassline Live approached her with “this grand idea of a show, juxtaposing the two worlds of symphony and house and pop. Energy never lies and it was time…this was the perfect timing, and the musicians on stage were the perfect pairing.”
It was an exciting challenge for Sun-El too who thought the show was quite strange because he was going to play his set alone.
“It was a very strange show for me as usually I just prepare my set alone and go play alone, with this there were rehearsals and lots of people to consider! It was challenging but we managed. It really was team work,” he said.
He continues, “For me it was different because I’d never worked with an orchestra before so they were new to me, but the vocalists are my people, I’ve been in studio with them before…I encouraged them to relax and have fun.”
Ofentse on the other end:
“It stretched me as a creative and a conductor, the style of conducting in pop is way different than what we have in classical music, so I had to stretch myself and dance for the longest time too!”
The concept had been birthed from a need to satisfy The Music In Africa Foundation grant funding. Specifications of employing people in the live music sector and innovation in the space.
Bassline Creative Director Paige Holmes envisaged the juxtaposing of house and classical. The Sun-El Musician and Friends with the Anchored Sound Orchestra, conducted by Ofentse Pitse had been formed.
“Platoon Artist Service Company came on board in a great way by ensuring that eight of Sun-El Musician’s “friends” collaborators joined him and the orchestra to completely set the stage alight. The friends included Msaki, Simmy, Ami Faku, Umzulu Phaqa, LaliBoi, Just Bheki, Bholoja & Moremo (Violinist).” Holmes expressed.
The magical evening opened with South African Venda Folk singer Muneyi. Just after releasing his first official body of work called Makhulu. Inspired by the gods, his grandmother and a personal healing experience, his performance was truly spiritual.
The repertoire featured some of Sun-El’s most loved and celebrated compositions. Such as “Qamata, Sonini”, “ubomi abumanga”, as well as “Into ingawe”. All orchestrated to showcase the magic and versatility of South African music and mastery.