Future Afro beats emerge from Cape Town

We featured a review of TheCITY's self-titled debut EP in Supernova vol. 4.6. In the interim, we caught up with the band's bassist, Ryan McArthur.

Why ‘TheCITY’? What is the significance of your band’s name?

People sometimes ask how such 'different' individuals meet, and if you look at a cosmopolitan city, you'll find very different people with common interests, which is what we are, a meeting point, a focus of a concept - TheCITY of Future Afro music.

Do you think the city in which one lives has any influence on the kind of music people make or listen to? If so, has Cape Town influenced you in anyway?

Of course. Reuben and Clem are Cape Coloured so the music of Cape Town, Goema, is part of their heritage and they grew up listening to Abdullah Ibrahim, Winston Mankunku and Errol Dyers, and hearing the minstrels rehearsing on warm summer afternoons, preparing for New Year celebrations. We fuse our heritage into the music we make. We feel it's very important.

You describe your sound as ‘Future Afro’. Can you describe the genre in a bit more detail?

It's a fusion of hip hop, electronica, afrobeats and soul.

You’re a group of people from very different backgrounds and musical styles. How did you decide on the genre of music you’d like to create as TheCITY?

We all share a love for jazz, so that is a common musical thread, and probably a subconscious understanding we share.

Who is your greatest influence and why?

Wow, it’s really hard for musicians to boil it down to one influence, especially if you’re trying something different, which is more of a hybrid of styles. Top 3: Little Dragon, J Dilla, and Abdullah Ibrahim.

Your self-titled album is free on Facebook and Bozza. Why free?

That is our 1^st album done in 2010. Back then, it was only a duo with Clem and Bonj. We’ve just finished a five track self-titled EP, which is our first official release as a band and is available on iTUNES, Deezer, Google Play, Shazaam and all the other online purchase sites.

What is the secret ingredient to success in the music industry?

There is no secret ingredient for success in any career path, except to be passionate about what you do and to plug at it constantly no matter what. It can get rough juggling gig management, PR, admin, rehearsal schedules, etc., so it's important to know your priorities and to strive for balance in everything.

Interview by Andrea Vermaak

Press images by Deidre Hewitson

Win tickets to see George Ezra live!

Win one of three double tickets to see George Ezra live in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg!

Send your name, age, location and contact details (email and phone number), along with your answer to the question below to competition@bkpublishing.co.za.

Question: Name one of the supporting acts at the George Ezra shows.

Competition closes 26 August 2015. Only one double ticket available per venue. Terms and Conditions apply.

Terms and Conditions for Supernova competitions

1. Competition ends, Wednesday 26 August 2015 . 2. All entries must include name and surname, age, date of birth and contact details. 3. Persons entering the competition must be 18 years or under.  4. Competition is open to anyone except the employees  (or members of their immediate families) of Supernova magazine or advertisers or prize sponsors. 5. The closing date specified for the competition is final and no late entries will be allowed. 6. If you win a competition you will be notified via telephone or email.  7. The judges’ decision is final. 8. The prize will not be redeemable for cash and is non-transferable. 9.Supernova magazine is not responsible for delayed or lost entries. 10. Supernova magazine is not responsible for the loss or damage of a prize after it has been sent to the winner. 11. Incorrect entries will be disqualified. 12. Supernova magazine may use the information given in the entry for BK Publishing's internal database. All the information will be kept confidential. 13. If the competition requires the entrant to provide illustrations, photographs or any original artwork by the entrant, the submission of the work will constitute a consensual release and will allow Supernova and the competition organiser to publish your artwork in the magazine and online. 14. If you enter this competition we will assume that you have read trough the Terms and Conditions, and that you understand and agree with them. 

BK Publishing at the South African Book Fair

Meet the BK Publishing team and get copies of all your favourite books and magazines 

at the South African Book Fair 2015.  See you there!

Win 'The Magic Mat and its little secret'!

Read Supernova's review of The Magic Mat and its little secret 

below and answer the question to win! 

It's that easy! All the best!

*Click on the image to enlarge.

Terms and Conditions for Supernova competitions

1. Competition ends, Wednesday 16 December 2015. 2. All entries must include name and surname, age, date of birth and contact details. 3. Persons entering the competition must be 18 years or under. 4. Competition is open to anyone except the employees (or members of their immediate families) of Supernova magazine or advertisers or prize sponsors. 5. The closing date specified for the competition is final and no late entries will be allowed. 6. If you win a competition you will be notified via telephone or email. 7. The judges’ decision is final. 8. The prize will not be redeemable for cash and is non-transferable. 9.Supernova magazine is not responsible for delayed or lost entries. 10. Supernova magazine is not responsible for the loss or damage of a prize after it has been sent to the winner. 11. Incorrect entries will be disqualified. 12. Supernova magazine may use the information given in the entry for BK Publishing's internal database. All the information will be kept confidential. 13. If the competition requires the entrant to provide illustrations, photographs or any original artwork by the entrant, the submission of the work will constitute a consensual release and will allow Supernova and the competition organiser to publish your artwork in the magazine and online. 14. If you enter this competition we will assume that you have read trough the Terms and Conditions, and that you understand and agree with them.

Supernova goes to ancient Rome

Supernova vol. 4.5

This winter, Supernova takes a colossal step back in time to meet the important men who founded, built and destroyed the Roman Empire. Shake hands with (or run away from!) Julius Caesar and Octavian Augustus, among other emperors, while you learn about their conquests and defeats, and life in ancient Rome.

When you're done conquering most of Europe with the Romans, learn more about viruses and how to conquer them too! The air is drier in winter, so you're more likely to catch something funky in the air. It helps to understand what viruses are so we can keep ourselves safe from them.

On the bright side, 2015 is the International Year of Light, so we also explore the world of light and colour to find out exactly what they are and how we experience them.

All this and so much more in Supernova vol. 4.5! Subscribe today!

Supernova's 4th birthday promotion!

To celebrate Supernova's 4th birthday, we are running a special offer for all 

businesses that have a message to share with the children of South Africa.

Offer ends 1 August 2015.

14 Ways to green the classroom

Go eco-friendly on World Environment Day - 5 June

Children are often more aware than adults about the importance of being planet-friendly, and the need to conserve scarce and precious natural resources. Many, however, don’t know which steps to take. Here are some practical and easy ideas from JoJo Tanks to take to school for a greener classroom:

1. Start recycling of paper, plastic and metal in the classroom, and motivate the entire school to participate.

2. Choose reusable packaging and a reusable BPA free water bottle for your lunch box, rather than throwaway plastic bottles.

3. Arrange a recycling day on World Environment Day at your school and encourage everyone to bring their recyclable waste from home.

4. Ask the science teacher to dedicate time on World Environment Day to show everyone how to make your own eco-friendly cleaners from vinegar and water.

5. Plant an indigenous tree outside the classroom for nature on your doorstep and a much cooler classroom.  (A great activity for World Environment Day on June 5.)

6. Grow a few indoor plants in your classroom. They’re not only nature's air filters; they also absorb computer radiation and airborne pollutants, and provide oxygen and cooler air. Winter is a great time to add a few plants because research indicates that indoor plants significantly reduce fatigue and incidences of cold-related ailments like sore throats and coughs.

7. Start a wormbin in your classroom for all the lunch waste.

8. Create a school veggie garden – a fun and educational way to learn about the pleasures of growing and eating fresh, local, organic food.

9. Get rid of disposable pens and pencils, and opt for refillable pens made from recycled plastic or biodegradable plastic, and select pencils made from sustainably harvested wood.

10. When printing, make sure it is double-sided, and use the ‘less ink’ options for all but the most important printing.

11. Use the energy saving settings on your computer.

12. Check for leaks in taps and report to the school management. It’s an easy way to reduce water wastage. One leaking tap can waste more than 2000 litres a month.

13. Put plastic bottles filled with pebbles or sand in the toilet tanks to reduce flushing water.

14. Lobby school management to have a JoJo rainwater-harvesting tank installed at your school.

Press release by Riana Greenblo Communications on behalf of JoJo Tanks.