EP 1: Home & Away – Creating from the Diaspora

This week’s Let’s Touch Base panel dives into the powerful intersection of film, TV and music. We’re joined by filmmaker Mbali Mashaba, executive producer and head writer Sihle Mthembu, music publisher Andile Magwaza, and legendary composer Mjakes Thebe to unpack what it really takes for artists to get their music synced. From building relationships with supervisors and understanding what producers listen for, to creating sync-ready songs and avoiding common missteps, the conversation equips musicians with the practical knowledge they need to break into on-screen opportunities and navigate one of the most valuable revenue streams in today’s industry.Follow Your Weekly Touch Up:InstagramTikTokJoin our CommunitySibusiso Mlondolozi:   / sibusiso_mlondolozi  Lennox the Human:   / lennox.thehuman_  

Fresh off a two-city tour supported by the Concerts SA Mobility Fund, ByLwansta offers a grounded, transparent breakdown of what touring actually looks like in a South African context. This session unpacks the full journey, from being tax compliant before funding is released, to budgeting for transport, accommodation, venue hire, band fees, and producing a complete live show.Less about glamour and more about systems, planning, and sustainability, this conversation demystifies touring and equips artists with the practical knowledge needed to move their music beyond their home city.

In this special edition of Let’s Touch Base, we turned the spotlight onto our very own patrons. Instead of hosting an external guest, we invited the audience to share their perspectives on what makes a performance memorable, what they look for in an artist’s brand, and why they keep coming back every Wednesday to Your Weekly Touch Up. Through their honest reflections, artists gain rare insight into how their work is received, what resonates beyond the stage, and what small details make a lasting impression. This episode is a practical guide for performers who want to connect more deeply with their audiences and grow sustainably in the live music scene.

As the lines between music, media, and brand continue to blur, artists today are required not only to create, but to curate, position, and partner. This conversation with Keneilwe Mohapi, Music Manager at Primedia and Bradley Williams, Brand Partnerships & Music Executive delves into the mechanics of music in formal and corporate contexts, asking what today’s creators can learn from radio, DSPs, music marketing, brand partnerships, and strategy. How do industry professionals influence what gets heard, seen, and spotlighted? And what does it mean for artists to present themselves in boardrooms as powerfully as they do in studios?

The landscape of music is shifting, and so are the roles that guide it. This week’s conversation brings together seasoned professionals, Wendy Verwey Bekker and Thokozile Dlamini, who’ve worked within major labels, independent powerhouses, and innovative distribution platforms. Together, we’ll explore what sustainability looks like for the alternative artist today, what development and support truly mean in our context, and how to build the kind of career, scene, and infrastructure you wish existed.Whether you’re self-managed, just starting out, or in your pivot era, this is a chance to get clarity on the terrain, and the tools it takes to walk it.

As lines between corporate and creative continue to blur, how do we bridge the worlds of artist branding and brand strategy? In this session, we’ll explore the synergy between managing artists and managing brands, from humanizing corporate messaging to bringing clarity, consistency, and vision to independent artists. Whether you’re building an artist from the ground up or managing a multinational product portfolio, this conversation reveals how the same principles apply, just with different textures.Amira Shariff and Katekane Baloyi offer insightful takeaways on staying authentic, scaling sustainably, and building cultural currency , without losing soul.

A conversation on culture, creativity, and connection across borders.In our first episode of Let’s Touch Base, we explore the creative push and pull between home and abroad. What does it mean to build from the continent, and what does it take to sustain presence in multiple places at once?Featuring Anita Makgetla, cultural producer and founding member of Strictly Soul, Africa’s biggest R&B event series, and MPHO the GVN, South African-born singer-songwriter making waves in the UK, this panel offers insight into:Building a music or events career rooted in AfricaDemystifying the idea that success must start in the US or EuropeThe importance of cultural context in curating events and musicNavigating identity and audience when working across continentsThe infrastructure and support needed for artists living in the diasporaLessons in longevity, community-building, and creative intentionWhether you’re building locally or living globally, this conversation offers practical takeaways, real talk, and a few grounding reminders.