Nando’s has never tasted so generous… Last month, 39 emerging musicians from South Africa and the UK were guided by global mentors over five days of collaborative music-making at London’s famous Roundhouse.
It was all part of the Nando’s Global Music Exchange (MX) program, which saw Australia’s own Kwame, UK rapper and MOBO award winner Nadia Rose, and South African vocalist, producer and founder of independent label ‘Albino Black’ Nonku Phiri proffer their expertise to impart knowledge and help make music.
The weeklong workshop at the Roundhouse in Camden saw participants split up into seven groups for intense songwriting sessions. The goal: To produce seven radio-ready tracks.
The seven hand-picked artists representing Australia were Hannah Wilson (VIC), Oliver Northam (VIC), Nicolas Duquemin (VIC), Aidan McDonald (VIC), Hunter Iceton (NSW) and Charlotte Rochecouste (NSW).
Nando’s MX program is now in its fifth year – but it has the same ambition, to support the next generation of artists. 2019 marks the third year running where an Australian artist has been selected to head to London to take part in the workshop as a mentor to the promising talent.
As this year’s Australian mentor, Kwame has been defining Australia’s new hip hop scene. In 2016, Kwame was releasing his early singles when he went viral with a chance cameo at A$AP Ferg’s Sydney concert. In 2017, he released his debut EP. Then last year, he released the critically acclaimed Endless Conversations, and recently, offered up new tune ‘STOP KNOCKIN’ @ MY DOOR’, from his upcoming 2020 EP.
The 22-year-old knows first-hand what it’s like to have non-artists offer feedback on your work, so felt it was of the utmost importance to head into the mentoring process from the standpoint of a peer.
“I used my first day by listening to the ideas of each group,” recalled Kwame. “As an artist I understand the feeling of being somewhat ‘judged’ when you have literally just created something, so I wanted the artists to breathe.
“Over the next few days I was popping in and out of the studios giving my feedback and tips on their creative efforts,” he continued. “When giving feedback I always, always, always come from a valid point of reasoning, you can never look at things one sided. At the end of my reasoning I leave with ‘please feel free to do exactly as you wish’. Who am I to say someone’s creation is right or wrong when they are the author of the story?”
Kwame said it was important for him personally to take part in the Nando’s Music Exchange this year.
“I felt like I was representing ‘the people’. These artists need someone who is real, who is willing to call out all the bullshit within the industry and to keep things black and white,” he said.
Also contributing to the program were tutors Spider J, Rahel Debebe-Dessalegne, James Yarde and Alley Lloyd, and youth support worker Lara. The event was hosted by BBC 1xtra’s Sian Anderson, who also lead panel discussions, and an interactive Q&A session with leading industry figures.
“Nando’s Music Exchange provides a really unique opportunity for artists to work with people from different cultural backgrounds, influences and experiences,” said Sian Anderson.
The 2019 Nando’s Global Music Exchange (MX) program delivered on its promise to deliver seven unique radio-ready singles. Now available for the world to listen to via SoundCloud below, they are ‘Yello’, ‘Yebo’, ‘Wave Formation’, ‘The Main Event’, ‘Soul Crystal’, ‘Salacious’, and ‘Penta’.
Stream the 2019 Nando’s Global Music Exchange tracks below:
We’re certain this isn’t the last we’ll hear from the seven talented Aussie participants; for Nando’s though, it’s focus has already turned to 2020 where it will continue its long-term commitment to fuelling emerging talent with another Global Music Exchange program.
More on Nando’s Global Music Exchange (MX) program can be found here.
