Latest news with #RedBullSymphonic
IOL News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Thato' is here! Kelvin Momo drops new album just before Red Bull Symphonic confirmation
Kelvin Momo's highly anticipated album 'Thato' has finally arrived. Image: X The people's favourite Amapiano DJ and music producer, Kelvin Momo, released his highly anticipated album, 'Thato', on Friday, May 30. Like most of his body of work, 'Thato' is a masterful blend of Amapiano and jazz, which creates a deeply emotional and evocative sound that resonates with his fans. The opening track, titled 'Buya', features the late vocal powerhouse, Yallunder, with whom Momo has worked on previous albums. The 29-track album features an array of talented vocalists, each bringing their unique style and energy to the table. With its rich instrumentation and heartfelt lyrics, the album has already won the hearts of many. This is the 'Emaphupheni' hitmaker's seventh solo studio album; it comes after 'Ntsako', which he released in December 2024. His albums are always anticipated by his fans, who stay up until midnight to experience his artistry. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Given Momo's track record of producing chart-topping hits and songs, the album is already climbing up the charts, surpassing track records that were held by his previous albums 'Ntsako', 'Sewe', 'Kurhula' and 'Amukelani'. The album's release comes at an interesting time, with speculation swirling about Momo's involvement in the upcoming Red Bull Symphonic event. The event is scheduled to take place on June 6, 7, and 8. He was announced as the headliner in April. However, before the release of 'Thato', Momo archived all mentions of the Red Bull Symphonic event from his Instagram feed, including the link to purchase tickets from his bio. This was picked up by a fan who took to X to share the news. Kelvin removed the Symphonic posts alongside the link to the event? 😭😭😭😭😭🤣 — Island gworl🏝️ (@ndzalyy_) May 28, 2025 This move has sparked rumours that he might not perform at the event as previously announced. However, all is well, as it turned out that he was just archiving posts in preparation for the release of 'Thato'. The scepticism from fans comes after the Amapiano sensation missed three gigs, citing health issues. Last week, he was booked to play at Cafe 69, Piano Hub and Makubenjalo but later released a statement explaining why he could not make it. Concerns about his reliability have been growing among his fans as they questioned if he will show up at the scheduled Red Bull Symphonic event. Rightfully so, since there have been more incidents of him missing performances he had been booked for. In May, it was reported that the 31-year-old DJ is facing a financial threat after Australian firm Ace Events filed court documents seeking the liquidation of his company, 'Kelvin Momo Productions'. The claim alleges that his company owes up to R2.8 million in refunds and damages due to his failure to perform at two scheduled shows in Australia last year.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Kelvin Momo releases album amid speculation about his involvement at this year's Redbull Symphonic
Momo removed all Red Bull Symphonic-related content from his social media. Kelvin Momo has released a new album, this after speculation of him no longer performing at the Redbull Symphonic Ochestra. Picture: Kelvin Momo/Facebook Music producer Kelvin Momo has released a new album after a tumultuous week in the media, which led to speculation about his involvement at this year's Red Bull Symphonic. 'It's not just an album for me, this one hits home,' wrote Momo on his Instagram stories. Real name Thato Ledwaba, on Friday, Momo released the 29-track album titled Thato. 'This is the only way I can express my emotions and feelings,' Momo wrote in his Instagram stories. This week, Momo's team released an apologetic statement after the amapiano producer missed two shows he was scheduled for the weekend before. Earlier this month, reports emerged about an Australian promoter filing a liquidation application against Momo's company, Kelvin Momo Production, in the Johannesburg High Court. This was after he failed to honour his performance commitments in Melbourne and Perth, where he was booked to play 60-minute sets on two consecutive nights in November 2024. The Citizen reached out to the producer and his team for comment. However, no response was received at the time of publishing. ALSO READ: Kelvin Momo a no-show – again Speculation over Redbull Symphonic participation Amid the negative media reports surrounding him, Momo removed all Red Bull Symphonic-related content from his social media. This led to speculation and concern that he might no longer perform at the concert, together with music director and conductor Adam Howard and the Egoli Symphonic Orchestra. Kelvin removed the Symphonic posts alongside the link to the event? 😭😭😭😭😭🤣 May 28, 2025 The Citizen reached out to Red Bull for comment following the removal of the content from Momo's social media. No response was received. However, on Friday morning, following The Citizen's enquiry, which was shared with Momo and Red Bull, the producer reinstated all the Red Bull Symphonic posts that had been removed a few days earlier. What Momo did was archive his Instagram posts. This is a tool on Instagram that allows a person to remove a post from the public's view temporarily. Yet, the account holder can still see the archived posts and even unarchive them to make them visible on their Instagram feed again. Before this, Momo had posted a cryptic message on his Instagram about choosing himself. ALSO READ: WATCH: Kelvin Momo on 'private school' Amapiano and Red Bull Symphonic hype Momo's long album Some have joked that his albums are so long that one can drive from Joburg to Limpopo just listening to one of Momo's albums until they reach their destination. His latest release runs for just under four hours. 'You know when you're in studio and you do a song and the song becomes nicer as you add more elements like the bass guitar. I just decide there that the song is getting stretched and made longer because it shouldn't be this short,' Momo told The Citizen earlier this year. NOW READ: Adam Howard: SA's adopted son who fell in love with the music and never looked back
The Citizen
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Adam Howard: SA's adopted son who fell in love with the music and never looked back
Howard is originally from the UK. He arrived in South Africa as a 23-year-old in 1997 and has called South Africa home since. TKzee's hit song We Love This Place from their 1998 album Halloween best describes Adam Howard's affection for South Africa. On the chorus, Zwai Bala sings: The music is playing and that's why we're saying We really love this place Howard is originally from the UK. He arrived in South Africa as a 23-year-old, a year before Halloween was released in 1997, and has called Mzansi home since. '…I actually realised that I've actually been in South Africa longer than I ever was in the UK,' the 51-year-old Howard tells The Citizen. He originally came to South Africa to take the position of principal trumpet player of the New Arts Philharmonic Orchestra of Pretoria. He, music producer and DJ Kelvin Momo, will headline this year's Red Bull Symphonic. ALSO READ: WATCH: Kelvin Momo on 'private school' Amapiano and Red Bull Symphonic hype Howard, the music director Howard is the music director and conductor of this year's Red Bull Symphonic. Last year, he was the principal trumpet player in the orchestra. 'This year I was approached by Red Bull to conduct a bespoke orchestra, formed especially for this gig,' he says. Howard will share the stage with the Egoli Symphonic Orchestra and Momo. 'This year my role is twofold; it's the musical director and overseeing the creative vision of Red Bull and Kelvin, turning that into music. But then conducting the orchestra, as myself and Kelvin to try give the audience a few nights not to forget.' Howard says this is one of his biggest gigs as a musical director. 'I don't say that lightly,' he says. As a music director, Howard has worked with the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra and the Johannesburg Big Band, which hosts some of the country's top session musicians. He directed music for cultural milestones like William Kentridge's Refuse The Hour and works with brands on campaigns. Howard has shared the stage with the likes of Luciano Pavarotti, Mstislav Rostropovich, Hakan Hardenberger, Lebo M, PJ Morton (Maroon 5), Lira and Freshly Ground. ALSO READ: Langa Mavuso on holding the fort for R&B and being awarded for it An orchestra reimagined During the first Red Bull Symphonic event last year, which featured Kabza De Small, Ofentse Pitse, and the Symphonic Orchestra, Howard got up from the orchestra with a trumpet in hand, walked past Kabza, and the conductor went to the front of the stage to blow his horn. Many were pleasantly surprised to see a middle-aged white man take such initiative. 'It was to show the audience that an orchestra can be reimagined. Why can't a player get up and do a solo?' Howard says nonchalantly. Ironically, Howard began working with Bala, and then he was naturally embedded into South Africa's pop culture. 'One of the first gigs I did was with Zwai Bala, and [I] slowly became the musical director of the Bala Brothers,' he shares. Howard worked extensively with artists from Kalawa Jazmee, particularly the kwaito duo of Oskido and Bruce 'Dope' Sebitlo, who were known as Brothers of Peace (B.O.P). He has worked with other Kwaito artists between the 90s and the mid-2000s. 'Actually, Kwaito turned me into a session musician. Because through playing with Brothers Of Peace, Kabelo Mabalane saw me play, and then Themba Mkhize saw me play…' Beyond Kwaito, he has shared the stage with Hugh Masekela and Joyous Celebration. ALSO READ: Makhadzi weighs in on Scotts Maphuma fiasco, fans respond: 'Try again, sis!' Collaborative Howard Collaboration is at the core of the Red Bull Symphonic, and it's evident from Howard's career that he is able to work with different kinds of people. 'I think my career has been so long and so fruitful because of my collaboration. Having one foot in a very classical world – I come from a classical upbringing,' he says. After studying in England at the renowned Chetham's School of Music and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Howard was immediately appointed Principal Trumpet of the Philharmonie der Nationen in Germany at the age of 23. He then took up the Principal Trumpet position of Pretoria's New Arts Philharmonic Orchestra. Howard later took on the same role with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, establishing himself as one of South Africa's most respected musicians. He has since played with every orchestra in South Africa. '…but then, you know, literally 25 years ago I went from playing with an orchestra, and a few hours later I'm in a club with Brother Of Peace somewhere – it could've been anywhere; I can't really remember those days well,' shares Howard. He epitomises the role of a musical director who is able to bring different elements together. The Symphonic is due to take place over two nights – 06 and 07 June – at The Teatro, Montecasino, where Momo's private school Amapiano and Howard's classical orchestration come together. NOW READ: VIDEO: Musician and actor Sjava on the accuracy of 'Shaka ilembe'
CairoScene
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Marwan Pablo to Perform at AUC Tahrir April 10th
This marks Pablo's first performance at the American University in Cairo's Tahrir campus. Mar 24, 2025 Egyptian rap icon Marwan Pablo is set to perform live for the first time at the American University in Cairo's Tahrir campus on April 10th. Since his emergence in the region's rap scene, Pablo has quickly built a name for himself with his signature punchy songwriting, sharp bars and commanding delivery, where he effortlessly switches flows with a dynamic range that balances assertiveness with vulnerability. The show marks Pablo's return to the stage following his epic performance at the Red Bull Symphonic last year, where he was joined by an orchestra led by Egyptian maestro Nayer Nagy. Tickets are now available for purchase via TicketsMarche.
