BPM MAGAZINE 2008
I love Jo’burg. There I said it. And I’m not going to water it down by defending its crime statistics, peak hour traffic jams due to badly planned road systems and lest we forget; that little electricity issue that picks on the Northern Suburbs. No, I’m not. I’ve come to terms of late, with the fact that I am a city girl- and a Jo’burg city girl at that. Sure I appreciate the wind in my hair and the sand on my towel as much as the next coastal creative; I might as well admit I was born in good old Durban an ‘all- I’m even a Shark supporter when the occasion calls- but my years in the city have long washed away any fantasies of being a Roxy surfing champion and I’m okay with that.
Driving around the City of Gold is my ultimate in ‘Hometown Appreciation’. The equivalent of sitting on the rocks and paying homage to the roar of the ocean; that mixture of warm summer night, blinking lights, unrelenting energy and perfectly timed reverb from the cars speakers as you cruise, quickens my blood and gives me that ‘Wow, I’m alive and life is beautiful!” feeling (Rare, but most commonly found at Psy-trance parties in the bush). In fact, I could drive around in wonder all night; see the art in rusty pipes, rubbish strewn roads, and abandoned warehouses; peeking through broken windows in ‘Old’ Newtown and picturing the disheveled spaces as our hot new dance den in the concrete jungle! (See how I wasn’t kidding about the city girl thing?).
Okay, I may be slightly obsessed; in fact, I’m told my city crawl craving is just bizarre… I think it’s just ‘car bar’, good company and a rock-solid playlist- the perfect set for the perfect city surf! After all what would it be without that background beat?
Whether it’s mood music for a road trip or to take you to the party ‘round the corner, there’s much to be said about the music you drive to. In general, music speaks volumes about you’re personality- and remember, that we’ve all had some epiphany the ‘rockers’ haven’t (-although we don’t tell them this, they’d hate to realise they’re not as intelligent as their emo lyrics have them believe). While driving, the music that moves you is that same personal expression fused with your streetwise instinct and self awareness- a very powerful combination indeed, and on that level, a good reason to get you’re travel tunage to a T!
Some say there is nothing worse than arriving somewhere and realising the mix you listened to in the car on the way over is better than the music being played live. Ouch. Recent experience, however, made me decide there’s nothing worse than being in the ‘wrong music’ car- no matter the location situation!
See, mostly I’m a ‘can do it all’ kind of Dance loving city girl. I don’t passenger DJ- or drive for that matter- you could say I’m an easy rider! But then there’s that occasion where you’re made to listen to that music and every beat infiltrating your ears makes you’re soul cringe so desperately you need to hug yourself and promise it will be okay. I don’t exaggerate: A two hour drive to aforementioned Psy-trance bush party with an Alberton Hardstyle head of note (Please! Even 5fm with its three Rock, two Pop and one Kwaito rotation would be more driving than this repetitive drivel!). A polite reminder why sometimes it pays to be your own designated driver!
I like to ease into the road with sounds akin to that of the destination; be it house, techno or anything in between. Maybe a little lighter or a dash deeper- nothing too ‘hit the pedal to the metal’ mad- I’m told Dance lovers have a tendency to speed? (I know! What? Place dramatically shocked expression here!) But the music is a great way to up the ante; a test drive to wrap your head around the sound- indulge in a total temperament tune-in- and be immersed into and more appreciative of the music when I get wherever we’re going. It’s simply a headspace thing!
Yes. I’m told girls from Jo’burg are a wee bit complicated, but to make up for it, the intelligent ones (without that ridiculous Grayston Drive drawl) are a mighty adventurous bunch. We can dig a bit of dirt and appreciate nature’s natural dancefloors; lap up the anxious anticipation of a ‘we-own-the-night’ mission into the pulsating darkness of City Deep (that is not an electricity joke) and find solace in a road trip that strays outside norm- just add the rhythm to compliment the ride!
Think about it- and consciously choose the soundtrack to you life… As someone wise and once youthful and crazy once said; it’s as much about the journey as it is about the destination.
Robin Rhode is one of my favourite artists, a South African; born and artfully skilled in Johannesburg, he now lives in Berlin, Germany. First came across his Who Saw Who exhibit displayed next door to Andy Warhol’s lifetime collection at The Hayward Gallery in London and google his name every now and then to see what he’s been up to. He’s into live conceptual installations; mixing street and performance art with photography and film, simulating movement with coal and chalk, filming and cutting it to represent his vision. His stuff reminds me of a Banksy-meets-Andy Warhol vibe with his social commentary in urban settings and Pop Art style representation. Most of his work is photographed and seems to get jammed into this gallery in New York. Fancy! http://www.perryrubenstein.com/artists/robin-rhode/ and some wiki wiki info can be found here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Rhode
