Wednesday, November 14, 2012

JASON STAGGIE ON THE MORNING CRUISE


  

Jason Staggie joins The Morning Cruise to discuss

 'Hard Livings'


  



Director's Statement

I've always respected directors that attempt to make personal films...Hard Livings is a personal film. It's a personal film with far reaching tentacles.

I was 12 years old when I witnessed my uncle, Rashaad Staggie's death on T.V. I was 14 when my father was sentenced to twenty three years in prison. Needless to say, my life has been affected by gangsterism. I've seen its destruction at a very, very personal level.

I've always wanted to make films - I wrote my first full feature screenplay when I was 15. I was the first person in my family to graduate from university. I dabbled with the idea of studying law but instead I settled on Psychology and Film Studies, figuring that the Psychology aspect would enable me to create better characters in my future films.

I left South Africa after graduation...In  the end I was awarded a scholarship to go to Prague Film School in the Czech Republic.



As the years have progressed and my experiences have grown, I have been able to look at the whole gangster situation in Cape Town very objectively. Whenever I returned home it seemed like the problem just escalated as gang war after gang war took place. This upset me enormously because my family has paid dearly for their transgressions. I asked myself, why should future generations do the same?


At its core this documentary deals with South African issues, but it can easily be set in any poverty stricken or gang infested city in the world. Although to be fair, it would be difficult to find such a compelling story and such vibrant, charismatic characters such as my twin uncles

 

Gangs are a worldwide problem that many claim will never cease. As an extreme optimist I will do my share by making this film. I have seen enough death and I have seen enough struggle, thus I'm fully committed to make sure that this film's mission does indeed reach fruition. Jason Staggie - Director


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Wednesday, November 07, 2012

INTRODUCING 5 LEVELS UP





5 Levels Up:

A Cape Town-based band that plays a mixture of R&B, jazz, dance music, ballads and soft rock.



Meet The Band:

M9 - Vocals

M9 is no stranger to the spotlight. She started her singing career in her high school choir and was often selected to do solo parts. Since then her passion for singing grew stronger and she joined team 5 Levels Up as their leading lady. She captivates audiences with her sultry voice and stage presence.


Mark Samules - Drums

Mark started drumming at a young age playing in his father's gospel band. He has years of experience playing as a session drummer for various bands. Mark has a serious affinity for making noise so being a drummer suits him just fine.


Paul Papenfus - Guitar

Paul is a keen songwriter with an interest in unusual chord structures, uneven time signatures and lyrics about people, life and its mysteries. His influences include mainstream acts such as Tears for Fears, Queen, Queensryche, Midnight Oil, Tool, Muse and Dream Theater but also lesser-known projects like Spock's Beard, Symphony X, The Dregs, Kamelot, Circus Maximus, Pain of Salvation, Bizali and Show of Hands.


Wesley Dwyer - Synths

Wes is the dark horse on synths. He comes from a musical family where music is a part of their daily lives. He was trained in classic piano at school.


Sergio Trout - Piano

Upon graduating from Cape Music Institute Sergio entered the local music scene playing gigs with established and rising acts. He had a growing desire to enhance his craft and enrolled at City Varsity in 2011 for a course in sound engineering. It was at this stage that his hunger for performing resurfaced and joined 5 Levels Up.


Rudi Abrahams - Bass

Rudi started his musical career playing bass in a church youth band. Since then he moved on to play in the senior church band. After a few years he decided to broaden his horizons and joined a hip hop band called STEREOTYPES. After years of performing with them he joined the 5Levels Up crew and never looked back.


Carl Adams - Sax

Since making his home in Cape Town, Carl has performed live with several gifted musicians, including great artists like Jimmy Dludlu, Camillo Lombard, Jonathan Rubain, Cameron Ward, Don Veno Prins and many others.





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Thursday, October 25, 2012

KATHERINE TRAUT IN STUDIO

KATHERINE TRAUT

Singer, songwriter, guitarist, professional photographer and sometimes a dancer....born and raised in Grassy Park, Cape Town, Katherine was always seen as the artistic type. If she wasnt humming a tune, she was writing a poem or attending her dance rehearsals. She has always had a creative flair for photography and writing, and this is where her love for photography and music stemmed from. She picked up a guitar in 2001 and never really put it down. 

Her skills developed over the years and now she writes and performs her own music (when she's not too busy being the photographer). She prides herself in her good work ethics, and her strong values for a positive life. She strives to make today better than yesterday, knowing that tomorrow will hold great opportunities. She always says, keep it simple and dont stop smiling!


TH1RTY

 Katherine joins The Morning Cruise to share her latest philanthropic venture 'TH1RTY'.

On the eve of her 30th Birthday she decides not to spend her savings on the conventional blow out birthday bash, but to sponsor the highschool career of one young learner from a disadvantaged area.

The aim is to give what you can, and in the process provide a deserving child with an education that he or she may not have had access to before.

Katherine adds that the decision making process has been gut wrenching because all of the learners who have made it through to the final round are deserving, and after meeting with them in person she has bonded with each of them.

On the morning of 3 May, I contacted a few individuals for guidance. The seed was planted and now it grows beneath the soil to become a TREE of knowledge.Project TH1RTY started with me making a simple choice for 1 learner, but this is only the beginning. The initiative's mission is to DO ONE THING at a time, step by step make a difference in many young lives! 

Learn more:







Thursday, October 11, 2012

TIYA JOY IN STUDIO

TIYA JOY 

... is a fresh and dynamic upcoming female performer. She began singing from a very young age, and has been training at a professional singing school for three years.

This 23-year-old vocalist exudes charisma and versatility, embracing genres from jazz to soul, RnB, pop and Gospel. She has a degree in Film and Television Studies and Drama and was born to be on the stage.

A vocalist in one of Cape Town leading Gospel Jazz bands, Tiya has also performed as a soloist at various corporate entertainment showcases,and community events for the past five years in her hometown of Cape Town.

 “I’ve ALWAYS been singing. I eat it, breath it, live it,”

In addition to sharing a birthday with the late Whitney Houston, Tiya is inspired by Mariah Carey. A dancer and choreographer, she also enjoys creative writing, including poetry and song writing. Audiences respond to Tiya’s optimistic, fun personality and her obvious love for performing, but she also has a deeper side.


“I appreciate all the sad and bad that I’ve been through, because it’s brought me to where I am today - and where’s that? SUPER Strong!”


This versatile young performer believes that music is her way to reach other people, and make a difference. Her goal is to show the world what South Africa is made of.




FUTURE CAREER PLANS


I would like to start my own singing school, as to up lift and assist those who have been blessed with the gift of music to take their talent to a different level, a level where they can financially provide for their families. I have also joined a Network called Kingdom network where we will provide a stage / platform where Cape Town, South Africa will be able to witness their talent, the talent we hold in our country. I am also busy with my own album which will be released next year.

     


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Thursday, September 06, 2012

DEVON PETERSON IN STUDIO



 

Devon Peterson

He is the young darts star carrying the hopes of a nation...


And Devon Petersen is determined that he won’t let South Africa down, as he embarks on a career that he hopes will bring success on the big darts stages around the world.

The young man from Cape Town has moved to the UK to live the dream and many in the ranks of the PDC are tipping the 24-year-old to become the best player to come out of Africa.
 


He was introduced to darts

by his father George


as a teenager and soon become an accomplished player, rocketing up the South African rankings and winning several junior competitions…not bad, when you consider he only started playing competitively when he was 17. But Petersen nearly quit the sport all together, when he qualified to represent South Africa in the World Cup, but it turned out that he was too young. For a while, he became disillusioned with darts and stopped playing. Nevertheless, his father and mother Lucille persuaded him to persevere and Petersen is starting to get the rewards for his hard work.


“My parents and my coach Russel Mains
believed in me and encouraged me
and I can never thank them enough”




It has certainly been a rollercoaster ride for young Devon Petersen, but he is enjoying every minute of the experience. His life changed completely in September 2010, when he won the South African Open in Johannesburg. His triumph guaranteed him a prized place at the World Championship and from the moment he stepped on the Ally Pally, Petersen knew that his darting destiny has been sealed!

  The Spartan


With a new nickname – The Spartan – and a new start with a new career in the top echelons of darts, the future certainly looks rosy for Petersen.


“It was a tough decision to leave home,
but I didn’t ever want to think
‘what if’ in the future”




the weapons of ‘The Power’!


Devon takes up the story:


“I was standing at the back of the arena, waiting to play my match against John Part. I remember being very nervous and I was chatting to Phil asking for advice on playing on the stage for the time. He was very kind and I felt great going up there to play John...I lost the match 4-1 to Part,” he continued. "But after the match, Phil opened his darts case and just gave me his darts" And the Phil Taylor Phase 5 darts have certainly done the trick for Petersen.

 
“I couldn’t believe it – Phil Taylor giving me HIS darts! Anyway, I cherish them and I have played with them ever since.”



learn more:





 











Tuesday, September 04, 2012

NICK STODEL IN STUDIO




STODELS CELEBRATE 50 YEARS



August 2012 marks the 50th birthday of the Cape’s biggest garden centre group, where service, quality and great prices remain the cornerstone of their success.



From humble beginnings...The company was started by Mr Robert Stodel, in August 1962, when he started selling flower bulbs door to door and from the Parade in Cape Town. A mail order bulb catalogue soon followed and within a few years, Stodels Flower Bulbs became the biggest flower bulb retailer in South Africa, posting nearly 600 000 bulb catalogues to Cape households and importing up to 20 million bulbs from Holland every year.


 The first Stodels Garden Centre opened in Kenilworth in 1968, followed by Stodels Bellville (where the company’s Head Office is still situated today) in 1973. The next few years were spent consolidating the Stodels brand and focusing on delivering the best service and quality, and the lowest prices possible. In 2005 the company expanded again when Stodels Milnerton opened in Racecourse Road, opposite the Paddocks Centre. The Milnerton Garden Centre was a huge success and warmly welcomed by the surrounding community.


Nick Stodel

In 2006 Nick Stodel took over the reins from his father, Robert, as Managing Director of Stodels Garden Centres.


Under Nick’s guidance the three garden centres blossomed and his leadership and ambition were soon recognised when he was appointed as President of the South African Nursery Association in May 2010.

A further accolade followed in September 2011 when Nick was elected as President of the International Garden Centre Association (IGCA), becoming the first IGCA President from the African continent and the Southern Hemisphere.







Stodels celebrates 50 by giving one lucky listener a R500 gift voucher!



The winner was announced on The Morning Cruise today


 "I'm ecstatic!"


she exclaims, she loves gardening and looks forward to spending her prize.

 


 


Learn More about Stodels:







Thursday, August 30, 2012

FRANKI MALLUM IN STUDIO TODAY

FRANKI M


DEBUTS

 'COLOURS OF YOU'

ON

THE MORNING CRUISE!



Francois "Franki" Mallum has been hailed as a guitar maestro, a gifted vocalist, and an enigmatic performer. Franki is no stranger to industry insiders, having worked with some of Cape Town’s leading artists and producers, lending his vocal production, song writing or guitar skills to the likes of SAMA nominated artists Byron Clarke and Chad Saaiman, international DJ and beat maker Leo Large, SA production whiz Ameen and hit maker Eclipse.




Franki picked up a guitar at the age of 15, taught himself to play and never looked back.  His ability to smoothly transition between mesmerizing acoustic artist and sexy, sophisticated entertainer has never failed to enthrall his audiences.


 

His popular Single


'Feel Good'


Is currently topping the Charts!  


 

LEARN MORE


 



Wednesday, August 29, 2012

JEEZ LOUISE IN STUDIO


LYNN JACOBS ON THE MORNING CRUISE


Jeez Louise was born out of a love for unusual and fun fabrics and cushions!

Lots of cushions!




Jeez Louise makes cushions and lampshades which are fun, quirky and full of style - the perfect addition to any retro style home.



 


We source our fabric from overseas and are always keeping an eye out for the unusual and unique so "like" our page to keep updated with news and new products, you never know what treasures you may discover!








If you are interested in stocking any of our products we do offer wholesale prices to retailers

 

- please contact us for more information.

 





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DAY OF THE DEAD