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There are certain
elements that are essential for an emcee to be recognized and
appreciated – experience of what the world has to offer, an
appreciation for the workings of language and a captivating
storytelling technique. Tumi Molekame has all three, combined
with a desire to make his voice heard. He has shared the stage
with South Africa’s premier talent, such as Blk Sonshine, Bra
Willie Kgositsile, Max Normal, Lesego Rampolokeng, and
international talent such as Saul Williams, Sarah Jones and
Mutaburuka. Tumi’s voice and lyrics command attention from the
audience, and The Volume make sure that people are in a space
where they are receptive to the words. The end product is as
versatile as it is compelling, with each artist using their
skills to create a listening experience that is way greater
than the sum of its parts.
South African hip hop is not as surprising a concept as it may
seem – the music has its origins in the storytelling rhythms
of African griots. While globalization has returned hip hop to
its roots in a roundabout way, a contemporary African flavor
has been added to the genre. But if you’re expecting ethnic
sounds, forget it – this is hip hop’s essence. The emphasis is
on content, and the appeal of Tumi and the Volume is in the
power of the message. None of this is more obvious than in the
make-up of Tumi and the Volume. The band, which formed in
2002, is representative of a post-apartheid South Africa with
black, white and brown mixed together with Jewish and Muslim
faiths. Tiago (guitar), Dave (bass) and Paulo (drums) form the
constituents of The Volume. All talented musicians in their
own right, and with their own musical careers well on the way,
it might have been coincidence that brought these artists
together, but those who hear Tumi and the Volume perform are
more likely to consider it fate. Their talent has led to them
performing throughout Africa and Europe and sharing a stage
with the likes of The Roots, The Cardigans, Coldplay and
Massive Attack. In their first year together Tumi and the
Volume performed at the elite jazz venue Bassline in
Johannesburg and other venues in Cape Town, Pretoria and
Durban. They were also asked to perform at the 2002 Metro
Music Awards. 2003 has seen them perform at the Tuks Rag Show,
The Metro FM New World Music Festival and supporting
international acts Relax (Holland), Positive Black Soul
(Senegal) and Blackalicious (USA). At The Bassline, their
first album, is recorded live at the venue. It represents the
voice of South Africa’s youth and documents a South African
mentality, complete with its ups and downs highlighting both
the humanity and brutality and the emotions that cross the
boundaries of human experience.
Website:
www.thevolume.co.za
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