DHLA
presents to you, the talented Tshenolo Morobane aka "Staffroom
Maniacs, presented to you by Mr Shane himself. Lets....
DHLA: Please introduce yourself to the #DHLA
community.
Tshenolo: Well my name is Tshenolo Morobane-Phora,
I’m from a Kasi called Meadowlands in Soweto. I am a music collector/Dj and an
upcoming producer.
DHLA: When exactly did you fall in love with
house music?
Tshenolo: Yoh, I was in grade 6 in higher primary
when I heard a Salome Di Bahia tune called "Outro Lugar".... I was
stunned... The Latin sounds killed me... I think Bob Sinclair did the remix...
It was an amazing tune... I had heard house before but this tune I think was
the one that made me fall in love with the genre.
DHLA: What really draw your attention to house
music?
Tshenolo: Even though House music like any other new
age genres, was influenced and derived from Jazz and Motown sounds.. So my Mom
is a big fan of these genres, automatically I fell in love with the
genre, so when I heard tracks like "Outro Lugae" twisted in to a fast
paced tune, it intrigued me.. Got drawn into the genre to find out more I
guess...
Tshenolo: Wow, I really don’t see myself in that
highest regard (lol)... But thanks.
Well, I became a dj first before producing... So learning more
about house music was a big deal to me, that was more important.. I collected
music for years before I could learn how to Dj.... But in 2003/4 I witnessed Dj
Fresh play live, and that’s where I took the decision to learn how to play...
Naturally I am shy guy, but what I saw Fresh do, the confidence, the power he
had, the energy he gave out, it told me that this could be a platform to
express myself as well.. So when I play, its important that I leave a mark and
give out that electrifying energy to the crowd.. The same applies to my
production... I give people a window into my soul through my music.
DHLA: Tell us more about the name Staffroom
Maniacs, and how did it come about?
Tshenolo: Staffroom, well we have been friends for
over a decade now.. We met in 2002 in high school... We started making music in
2007 as a collective, well we were just messing around with Fruity Loops
really... Until we took it seriously in mid 2008, when the response in gigs to
our trax was good and we just chose the name as we were naughty at school and
we were regulars in the teachers Staffroom... Thus the name.. And we are mad,
so thus the Maniacs....
DHLA: Afrodesia mp3 provided a great platform
for you guys to sell your records, what effects did the shutdown have on
Staffroom Maniacs as an evolving brand at that time and you as a producer?
Tshenolo: It was a huge blow honestly... But a huge
wake up call for me personally.. You see our music did so well on that platform
that we became too comfortable to try the Traxsource.com route... I mean I had
icons like Ralf Gum, Jihad Muhammad, Pablo Stelar, Osunlade, Timmy Regisford
buying and playing my music already, so that was enough for me.. So when
Afrodesiamp3 closed we were left behind already.. We had to start from
scretch... To resell ourselves to the world, and it meant changing our sound
with times, I was not comfortable with that and I ended up taking a break from
production... A move that was both good and bad.... Lost the momentum we had
built, which affected our brand badly.. But it meant improving these Afro that
we like and love....
DHLA: How did Cultured Minds the project come
about?
Tshenolo: Hahaha funny story... Mid 2009, I had a
big tune out called "Spiritual Dance", the tune brought us closer to
a lot of huge cats at the time... So one day I was sleeping in a taxi and had a
dream being interviewed by Oskido at Yfm about a collab I did with AudioPyper,
Crystal Vinyl, Infinite Boys, Darque, Mz, King Thabs and Episode.... It was so
real that I had to post a status about it.. I did and the hype was just too
big.. To that extent that the very same day, we got offers to make it a
reality.. Well we did and that interview with Oskido did happen.. Talk about a
dream come true. I remember when AudioPyper and Infinite boys were with Oskido
with regards to the Ep, the phone calls and emails were flying.. (Lol) Episode
even got stalkers and calls from record labels wanting to sign him after they
heard his track.. That project was a huge success.. It put all of us on the
map... I think 3 weeks after its release, Infinite boys got a deal from Kalawa
Jazmee Records... AudioPyper exploded too; they did some projects with
Afrotainment and had some licensing deals... Darque exploded too.. (lol) we
even got a deal to release an album... but unfortunately the label guy was not
serious.....
DHLA: There’s a growing movement on the line,
“Headlines Of My Soul”. What inspired it?
Tshenolo: It’s a platform I created for myself to
express myself on since I had stopped producing... So I created a podcast
series called "Headlines of My Soul".... It’s still a baby brand but
its growing.. I have recently started to host Sunday sessions under this umbrella,
which I invite close friends of mine to play good music for a good course... Me
and a close friend of mine David from Crystal Vinyl, started sponsoring less
fortunate kids with school shoes... So the proceeds of the sessions goes to
that course.... So far 5 kids have benefited from this... We plan to grow this
to benefit more kids...
DHLA: Few people know that you are
entrepreneurship crazy, a great analyst and that you greatly look up to Brian
Joffe (Bidvest CEO). What are you currently working on?
Tshenolo: Hahaha, ya that’s my undercover persona...
Joffe is a genius man.. He is a very aggresive business man for an accountant
(lol)... He is a great strategist and analyst... and yes I look up to him..
Well currently I’m still in the drawing board phases, building a
couple of business models to take on this year... I’m interested in the
property market and share capital building.. And I do some ad hoc operations
optimisation consulting for small entities in my spare time.. That is where my
head space is at now...
DHLA: We have seen pictures on your Facebook
page, whereby you had received a donation of school uniforms and school shoes
from Homebrewed Entertainment. What initiated the drive?
Tshenolo: As mentioned above, I have decided to use
my love for music to help kids from poor backgrounds with basic necessities,
like school shoes.. So the Headlines Of My Soul Sundays was initiated for that
purpose.. So every month we going to host these sessions and the proceeds will
be used to supply as many kids as possible with school shoes.. The first one
was hosted on the 31st of January at Meadowlands Zone 2.... It was my first
event, did not go as I had planned but was enough to buy 5 kids shoes..
February and March we have personal obligation me and David, so
the next one will be hosted end of April, gives us time to better plan and
prepare the gig so it can be a better success than the first one.
And big thanks to Homebrewed Entertainment for their pledge, for
every event; they pledge a pair, that’s good... So thanks to the guys... They
power the event with quality sound equipment...
And The Djs: Noxious, Episode, Infinity, Ohk Ost, Linda from
AudioPyper and Menzi from Mushroom Boys for supporting the 1st gig with their
presence..
Many thanks to Pitch Poets too.....
DHLA: Apart from music, you are highly focused
and value education. What are you studying?
Tshenolo: I’m doing my final year in Accounting Sciences.. (lol) my music
life delayed me a bit back in the day.. But my focus now is on my studies..
Tshenolo:
(Lol), Code1852 is my solo persona, my imaginary friend.. He is named after my
kasi's postal code which is "1852"... I’m using this Alias to
represent my area and to put it on the map... So expect a lot from me under
this Alias musically in 2016...
DHLA: You have worked with a lot of great guys
from Josi Chave to Linda Ginya (Linda Ginya Music, YFM, AudioPyper) to Kabelo
Episode (DHC). What knowledge have they imparted on you?
Tshenolo: I have worked with a lot of guys who are
big names currently... But yes, these 3 are amongst them.. Josi Chave released
our first ever release "Spiritual Dance"... He gave us a chance and
platform... I learnt alot from him before he became as big as he is now.. A
very humble guy... Linda is a cool dude, a brand architect of note... This
ninja can build a brand out of anything he wants to... He gets a lot of hate
because he is deemed arrogant and stuff, but its because he kicks doors open
when some of us are scared to... Kabelo is a brother to me (lol)... A musical
genius, his taste in music is seamless... What I take from him is to be humble
at all times..
DHLA: Musically, who would you like to work
with?
Tshenolo: Locally, Xtetiqsoul, Infected Soul, Punk ,
Vencer Cafe, Bright Breeze and Vandal M...
DHLA: What inspires Tshenolo Marobane?
Tshenolo: God, Family, Love and Art. :)
DHLA: Its 2016, what should the world expect
from you?
Tshenolo: More music and more positive energy... I
have a remix coming out on FOMP (UK) soon..... And more business ideas
hopefully.....
You can get hold of me on these:
Podomatic Page: http://headlines-of-my-soul.podomatic.com
Soundcloud Page: https://m.soundcloud.com/staffroommaniacs
Instagram: Tsheno_Code1852
Facebook: Tshenolo Morobane Phora
#ThatsAwrap
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