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Sludge Underground Podcast

Episodes

327
Dec. 26, 2023

Paul Gioia On ATFN, The SA Music Scene Then vs Now, MySpace And MTV Days, Skyrim, Singles vs Albums

EP327: Paul Gioia of Joburg band All This For Nothing joins Marcel Smuts on this episode. In this super chilled interview, Paul discusses the band forming in 1998 and how his hand injury triggered a 10 year hiatus. He and Marcel also reminisce on the MTV and MySpace days, and listening to CDs in-store before purchasing them. From funny stories about countless hours of smithing in Skyrim to Paul overcoming his gaming addiction, the boys candidly reflect on Paul and his band's journey in a vibrant...
Guest: ATFN
326
Dec. 19, 2023

PosterBoy On What It Takes To Play Splashy Fen, The Misconception About Durban, Why Their Original Drummer Left

EP326: PosterBoy's bassist Keagan joins us on #SludgeUnderground and dives into the band's origins, what it takes to play at Splashy Fen, and the misconception about the Durban music scene. Hear about why their original drummer Josh left, and the dynamics of cycling different drummers until they settled on David Kerr. He also shares some band etiquette that helps you land consistent gigs, addresses the haters, and zones in on the dynamics of running an events company [Reverberate] in conjunction...
Guest: PosterBoy
325
Dec. 13, 2023

Crash And The Void's Marius Schutte on making the tools you have available work for you

EP325: Join in on a discussion about everything ranging from music theory, film scoring and A.I and how to make the best of the tools out there. Listen Here https://open.spotify.com/artist/32sIYcqIVAbg6nV8ARSGHo Support the show Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://www.sludgeunderground.com/store Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sludgeunderground TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sludgeunderground YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxyLW9b_W81ETvby7J4wmwA Twitter htt...
324
Dec. 5, 2023

South African Drummer Josh On Cape Town vs Durban, Leaving PosterBoy, And His Top SA Bands

EP324: Join Marcel as he welcomes South African drummer Josh to #SludgeUnderground. In this episode, Josh dives deep into his run in Durban, from his time playing drums in PosterBoy to playing in projects like PWP and Houseplants. Josh opens up about Durban's struggles and how they've driven him to leaving the city for Cape Town. Reflecting on the amount of talented bands SA has as a country, he gives us his list of top local bands to look out for, some of which are surprising to say the least. ...
Guest: Josh
323
Nov. 29, 2023

How To Successfully Navigate The South African Music Industry with The Color Blew

EP323: The Color Blew drop some absolute gems of information on navigating the industry and releasing music. Join in as we chat about the importance of lyric videos, single releases, and the importance of a publisher Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/track/1OXQqXkx0Nz3lheIrL5YWP Support the show Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://www.sludgeunderground.com/store Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sludgeunderground TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sludgeunderground YouT...
322
Nov. 21, 2023

Alpha V Mr031 On What Went Wrong At Maleningi Records, Life After Prison, And What Durban Is Missing

EP322: In this uncensored Sludge Underground interview, #AlphaVMr031 opens up about what went down behind the scenes at Maleningi Records, shares his stance on Durban artists and their lack of professionalism. He also candidly discusses his stint in prison, growing up in the LA inspired, narcotic engulfed hood of Sydenham, in Durban, the power and importance of carrying yourself as a brand, Sydenham crips & bloods, and more. With Lunathi and Nasiphi's hard-hitting questions, Alpha provides rare ...
Guest: Alpha V Mr031
231
Nov. 15, 2023

Lefokolodi: The Newest Lads On The Block Making Waves

EP321: Join in as the boys chat about how the band started, coming out of their shells and making a name for themselves throughout the SA music scene. Listen Here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2AZChLWU9RDlSkGGszB271 Support the show Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://www.sludgeunderground.com/store Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sludgeunderground TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sludgeunderground YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxyLW9b_W81ETvby7J4wmwA Twit...
Guest: Lefokolodi
320
Nov. 7, 2023

Mandé on the Disconnect between Event Promoters and Artists in Durban

EP320: Durban musician and choreographer; Mandé chats about the Durban music scene, his latest single, collaborators & more Support the show Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://www.sludgeunderground.com/store Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sludgeunderground TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sludgeunderground YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxyLW9b_W81ETvby7J4wmwA Twitter https://twitter.com/Sludge031 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SludgeUnderground
Guest: Mandé
319
Nov. 1, 2023

Tian Nienaber On The Struggles Of Balancing Various Aspects Of Being A Solo Musician

EP319: Tian Nienaber returns for his second appearance on the show. Join in as he chats about his journey since his last visit and the struggles artist go through in the music industry. Listen Here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3nVhBs9i3aMlljbb6pOUpf Support the show Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://www.sludgeunderground.com/store Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sludgeunderground TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sludgeunderground YouTube https://www.youtube.com/ch...
Guest: Tian Nienaber
317
Oct. 17, 2023

Music Success Tips For South African Artists with Andrew Jed

EP317: American artist living in South Africa, Andrew Jed, chats about how he has gone about getting listeners to keep coming back to his music, how he has amassed 75k Spotify streams, releasing singles vs full length albums, getting his music on movies and series, and more. We're also looking at his collab with Dan Patlansky, working with a publicist, and his upcoming music. Support the show Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://www.sludgeunderground.com/store Instagram htt...
Guest: Andrew Jed
316
Oct. 10, 2023

Alex Muller On We Kill Cowboys, The Cape Town Music Scene, Mongrel Records, Getting Consistent Streams, And More

EP316: We're chopping it up with We Kill Cowboys' frontwoman, Alex Muller this week. We're touching on her band and their upcoming EP called The Rage, their experience working with a label (Mongrel Records), what the Cape Town music scene could improve on, figuring out social media as artists, getting consistent streams, and more. Check out their latest single 'Earth Demon' here Support the show Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://www.sludgeunderground.com/store Instagram ht...
315
Oct. 4, 2023

Stephen Gawking: An inspiration In Never Letting Your Circumstances Hold You Back

EP315: Marcel has a chat with Lyricist, Producer, and conceptualist, Stephen Gawking about his journey into making music. Support the show Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://www.sludgeunderground.com/store Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sludgeunderground TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sludgeunderground YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxyLW9b_W81ETvby7J4wmwA Twitter https://twitter.com/Sludge031 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SludgeUnderground
314
Sept. 26, 2023

Exploring South African Hip-Hop Culture and Personal Resilience with Durban Artist Lex LaFoy

EP314: From the welcoming arms of Durban, South Africa, we were thrilled to sit down with the first lady of Durban Hip-Hop, Lex LaFoy. We kicked off the session reflecting on Lex’s intriguing childhood, growing up with a pastor grandfather and a mother with a deep love for Hip-Hop. Her early exposure to this contrasting mix of influences laid the groundwork for her unique artistic persona. As she recounts dancing and rapping to Lauryn Hill and Jay-Z, you can't help but admire her journey from an...
Guest: Lex LaFoy
313
Sept. 20, 2023

21, 2023 Unveiling Aphi Tenza: A Rising South African Star in NYC

EP313: Meet Aphi Tenza, a Durban artist that Marcel stumbled into. Join in as she talks about the move to New York, her beginnings in music, and managing expectations of a large social media audience. Her Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2rflLAMeq3JIO70e6D4ldg Support the show Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://www.sludgeunderground.com/store Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sludgeunderground TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sludgeunderground YouTube https://www.y...
Guest: Aphi Tenza
312
Sept. 12, 2023

UK Band, Paint Me In Colour, On Unlocking 17K Streams, Tough Crowds, And Never Giving Up

EP312: Every once in a while we get submissions from abroad and use them as opportunities to put you onto something sick from outside of SA, this is one of those instances. Join us in a candid chat with Paint Me in Colour, an independent band from Liverpool, England. We're pulling back the curtain on their journey, starting with their impressive streaming stats, followed by their surprising insights on how online success doesn't necessarily equate to a live audience. We'll laugh, cringe, and ...
311
Sept. 7, 2023

Scrubs: The New Wave Of Durban Punk

EP311: Marcel has a chat with one of the newest bands to join the Durban scene. From humble origins to discovering their sound the Punk rock lads are here to make a statement and do it loud. Be sure to listen to their debut single dropping on the 15th of sept. Support the show Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://www.sludgeunderground.com/store Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sludgeunderground TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sludgeunderground YouTube https://www.youtube...
Guest: SCRUBS
310
Aug. 30, 2023

The South African Music Scene And The Trials Of Being A Solo Artist with Nicola Mcleod

EP310: Nicola touches on parting ways with her label, having to take down her music on all DSP’s, being a solo artist, investing in her own sound, being a music teacher and more Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://www.sludgeunderground.com/store Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sludgeunderground TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sludgeunderground YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxyLW9b_W81ETvby7J4wmwA Twitter https://twitter.com/Sludge031 Facebook https://www.face...
Guest: Nicola Mcleod
309
Aug. 27, 2023

Ramfest Special: Enter Shikari On Returning To South Africa After A Decade

EP309: Marcel has a chat with heavyweights Enter Shikari on their long awaited return to South Africa, Join in as we chat about some of the bands history, The struggles of being a live driven band during Covid, and some Local recommendations. Listen Here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/31jvzuB4ikftPQZJwrYfCF Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EnterShikariOfficial Support the show Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://www.sludgeunderground.com/store Instagram https://www.in...
Guest: Enter Shikari
308
Aug. 22, 2023

Sonder The Africanime's Unique Outlook On Music, Art, and Identity

EP308: This inspiring conversation with Sonder the Africanime, a successful independent artist and graphic designer, brings to light a unique perspective on music, art, and identity. Thriving in the realm of music, not through streaming numbers but by creating impactful and meaningful compositions, Sonder's journey is both enlightening and thought-provoking. We discuss their venture into marketing and the importance it has in amplifying an artist's reach. As a non-binary artist, Sonder brings f...
307
Aug. 20, 2023

Ramfest Special: The Ocean And Their First Time Playing In South Africa

EP307: Marcel had the chance to catch Robin from The Ocean before their First show in South Africa for Ramfest. Join in as the prog heavy hitters talk about their tour and experiences as a band with 20+ years of experience. Listen to their music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6fuALtryzj4cq7vkglKLxq YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spaYcNCuHqQ Support the show Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://www.sludgeunderground.com/store Instagram https://www.instagram.com...
Guest: The Ocean
306
Aug. 15, 2023

Queen Of The Misfits | Exploring The Musical Kingdom Of Alanna Joy

EP306: Join us on a melodious trip as we sit with the enchanting Alanna Joy, affectionately known as the Queen of the Misfits. Be privy to the whimsical tale of how a milkshake and rainbow biscuits became instrumental in gathering her band, Lost//Youth, together. Alanna Joy spills the beans on how she and her guitarist hit the perfect chord and how she almost had her cousin slapping bass for them. The conversation resonates with the unique camaraderie within the band and a shared passion for mus...
Guest: Alanna Joy
305
Aug. 9, 2023

3’s and 7’s | Creating A Demand For Your Music And Performances

EP305: Join in as the 3's and 7's boys make their second appearance on Sludge Underground! Talking about the journey so far of releasing music, dealing with a member overseas and their first tour! Listen to 3’s and 7’s here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1kVg5h8vTlaeO6BG4Tpf5H Support the show Website https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://www.sludgeunderground.com/store Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sludgeunderground TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sludgeunderground YouTube ...
Guest: 3's and 7's
304
Aug. 1, 2023

The Dirty Skirts on the struggles of dealing with Pay-to-win platforms and reconnecting with an audience after an extended hiatus

EP304: Local legends and veterans of the SA music scene are back in full force! Join in as they chat about reconnecting with their Audience, signing with Just Music and chat about the history of the band up until this point. https://open.spotify.com/track/67nacmEwDyw7AQTotoI80M Support the showWebsite https://www.sludgeunderground.com Merch https://www.sludgeunderground.com/store Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sludgeunderground TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sludgeunderground YouTube http...
303
July 25, 2023

kyabo | Thriving As An Alternative Artist In South Africa

EP303: Cue the applause! We have kyabo, a contemporary songwriter who uniquely fuses pop with other genres, sharing their journey with us on the podcast. Known for their debut album 'EGO', this episode unveils the experiences that have shaped kyabo's music and how these influences are reflected in their songs. Get ready to be engrossed as we decipher the creative process behind 'WINGS', an intriguing track that marries frustration with hope, and the empowering line 'I'm more than I ever could be...