Arts writer
POPULAR Cape Town band, Coda, has been nominated for an All Africa Music Award (AFRIMA) for ‘Most Promising Artiste in Africa 2014’.
Coda recently released their new album titled Disclosure, which is a collection of songs based on stories divulged by members of the band.
Their single Fat Boy has been play-listed on radio, including Good Hope FM and Heart FM, achieving a spot on the SA’s Top Ten Chart for over a month.
Coda’s music video of Go Insane, their dub step single, has featured on Channel O and M Net.
The new record is available on iTunes.
“We wanted to tell our secrets and share the many experiences we’ve had together in the years we’ve travelled and performed as Coda”, says front singer, Zami Mdingi. “One had to be careful what you confessed to band members in the last year – there was always a strong possibility it would become a song on the new album!”
The band worked with producers Kevin Ribbans and Jonathan Arnold (Mix n Blend), Ross and Myles McDonald (Hey Papa Legend Studios) and Andrew Ford (The Nuthouse).
Coda has collaborated with various artists on this project: Baby Mama Drama features rapper Whosane, DJ Cleo co-wrote Just to Hear Your Voice and Uyabizwa features The Ruffest.
“We are excited about this release because although we’ve retained the signature Coda sound and ensemble, we are exploring new music territory and are thrilled with the result. This is Coda as you’ve never heard us before’ adds cellist Carol Thorns.
Fronted by powerful vocalist Zami Mdingi, the band combines electric strings (violin and cello by Galina Juritz and Carol Thorns) with saxophone (Judy Brown) and DJ (DJ LuvChild). Their music traverses different genres from classically-inspired ballads to electro-swing, dub step, reggae and hip hop. Upcoming performances include Cafe Des Arts in Franshchhoek on December 14, V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre on December 18 and Cafe Roux, Noordhoek on January 16, 2015.
who’s who?
Zami Mdingi is a rare talent with a powerful voice. Following a career with the Barnyard Theatre, she was signed by EMI to record her debut Shades of Me in 2006. This recording showcases her as a versatile vocalist excelling in jazz, Afro pop, hip hop and house. She’s collaborated with various artists and travelled to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain She joined the band in 2009.
A Cum Laude graduate from Rhodes University, South Africa’s leading electric cellist, Carol Thorns has been performing locally and internationally for over a decade. Armed with a striking red cello, she has won fans in India, Dubai and the UK. She was awarded a 4-star rating for her audio-visual show Red Cello Electrified at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world. Her popular solo cello album F ireflies In The Rain was nominated for Best Instrumental Album 2010 at the South African Music Awards. Her latest venture is The Cellosphere- a giant transparent bubble that presents her in a magical context. This new, innovative concept has taken the corporate entertainment market by storm in SA and abroad.
Dj Luvchild is a Cape Town based DJ resident at numerous venues across the city. As one of the few cross-over club DJ’s, Luvchild has opened for many of local and international bands and acts ranging from Afro house, dancehall, funk, rock, reggae, dub step to hip-hop. Dj Luvchild joined Coda in 2012 and is often enlisted to keep the party going after Coda ’s show.
Judy Brown is a graduate of UCT Music College with a degree in Jazz Arrangement and Composition. She has featured at numerous high-profile events, as a soloist and in collaboration with some of the country’s most esteemed performers. Her new album, Liquid Sax, is a fusion of mid-tempo funk and nu disco beats overlaid with velvet saxophone melodies.
Galina Juritz studied violin under Professor Farida Bacharova and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Performance from UCT. During her professional career she has performed with numerous orchestras, chamber ensembles, fusion bands, dance productions and guested with some of the country’s top solo artists. In 2010 she started working with Neo Muyanga, performing on his Memory of How it Feels and T he Flower of Shembe productions. She has composed music for bands, chamber ensembles and short films, and often works as a session recording artist
l 082 480 3964, Sound Cloud / You Tube / Face Book: Coda Africa