The Dogwood Daily

Roll a few joints, get yourself comfortable, set up your sound system and let’s listen to some underground South African Hip Hop, let’s cut through all that capitalist noise, hi-fidelity fast-fashion, let’s bask in a sound both dusty and dubbed out, space-aged and funky, let’s listen to words from the land of the world’s old soul, let’s roll with the chill vibes and some live poetry, shall we? Something in the way that sound was catching on the breeze, the roars of my neighbours lawn mowers and chainsaws had a certain warble to it, a novel sonic signature of the Evergreen hillside. I was always trying to sleep in while the whole suburb went after its lawn regime with extreme prejudice. Back in 2022, around this time I would listen to the epic single KAY’S WAY on loop for hours, learning the lyrics and getting to know the cadence, flow, and tone of the TPG RECORDS artist who goes by the name of DIABXLIKAL KAY.  This week TPG (based in WELKOM 057) dropped his latest release BRING BAC...

In late June of 2022 I quit my job at a local pub due to growing frustrations with management, my co-workers, and with, perhaps, life in general.  I remember rocking some tunes that morning, shlepping my way up Dogwood towards home.  Walking off the job, whether you’ve quit or been fired, is a moment with a special piquancy. What is it that keeps us putting one foot in front of the other thru the tough times?  How do we know when we’ve failed, or when we’re passing the test? The straw tipping the scales was the fact that for the first time I had an opportunity to perform outdoors in downtown Campbell Tiver for the big Canada Day show . It made my decision a no brainer, really, also a no brainer was asking Dizzy to share the stage with me.  I can’t exactly remember how we met to tell you the truth but after this show Dizzy hooked me up with a stopgap gig, cooking in the JJs strip club for a couple weekends until I found  another full time kitc...

This latest offering finds EYEDA SOPHIA in fine form, rhymes right and riddim tight, handling verses hooks and choruses, rappin’ and singing with equal facility, every beat dropped  demonstrating vivacious vibes, and versatility.  EYEDA SOPHIA throwing darts like bad boots stomping all over the six, sashay n’ slide down city subways and patios, thru spring winter summer fall, slinging soul singing pop, rocking the blues in those same damn shoes.  The music puts one hand on its heart, the other on your shoulder, it’s with you when the sun goes down and the streets get empty. MUCH LOVE PART THREE is here to chill with you, stoned as the sun comes up and the city goes to work, this album will have your back when you’re late night buzzed, or day-drunk grabbing some more from the jar store, navigating transit and trying to act normal in public, trying to restrain and maintain without dancing looking based bopping to that beat BUT It’s hard to NOT catch a groove off the ne...

​ RAVEN DUCHESS is a veteran of the Zimbabwe festival and corporate event circuit. Her music is a blend of Afro-folk and jazz, her lyrics address issues that affect people around the world. FOLKLORE, her latest offering, continues the organic synthesis of previous release ETHNO VIBES with an all-star crew of supporting musicians, crisp production and memorable tunes. We discuss the album track by track, peeling back the layers of intertwined influence that make up FOLKLORE. Who are the percussionist and guitarists on RWENDO? Sergio Marciano Pereda (is) featured. He is the awesome guitarist and percussionist . Do you do all of your own backup vocals? I do all my backup vocals . As a mezzo- soprano I have a wide vocal range. ZVICHANAKA is buoyed by a piano vamp, keyboard brass sounds and traditional percussion figures. Who played this funky baseline? It has a catchy bassline by the talented South African bassist Gally Ngoveni. Is this a typical African drum pulse? What would you call it?...

​ Max moon unit NO ROAD MAPS single released April 26, 2023 Lyrics by MAX MOON Produced by 555 Original music by TELECOLOR  She bit down hard and  sucked the soul right out my neck  Spit it back and refreshed  a little poison on her    Breath Body’s decompressed  in a twisted sculpture of flesh My brain on buzz My tip glowing like a cigarette  She sang to me songs of joy  but like the Jackson five  you could hear that it was pain in her voice The phenylethylamine buzz  cut through the noise We were feeling like gods children’s toys Yeah Yeah Floating in the sandbox  of the universal hourglass Cloud of smoke from the sour gas And sips from the silver flask It is what it is just live and let it pass Got caught up for a minute  In the thought that it might last But it crashed Yeah Death proof Mad max  hot sex road rash These are the lifestyles  of young people with no road maps Chased her apparition Beneath fields o...

​ UGGGY in conversation with DOG DADDY Why are you releasing TINY LITTLE CAPSULES on tape cassette? Tape is for the people, and the younger me. You can control time and even rewrite aural history.  Why is the lyric sheet included in the form of a scroll? The lyrics are the prescribed dopeness. They may vary in shape but we assure (you) it is the same medication you’ve been taking. How does presentation figure into your full artistic vision?  does the visual element relate to your experience as a cook and chef? The industry is heading towards jingles and hooks more than ever. Like processing music down to nugget form. I wanted to get away from the single and give a more blossoming approach.I  used to chop it up on the line. Watching your hands create a little bit of beauty on the plate for each diner, (to make them) feel cared for. You don’t forget that lesson in humility. I think. Why beats on the b side? This project was very much about what I do alone in the room, set i...