Publications
Partners
Cape Town - They all started somewhere and now these local musicians are doing their best to give back to upcoming artists who want to be exactly where they are.
Red Bull Music and Tall Racks Records have joined forces to form Lift As You Rise – a music project aimed at uplifting artists across South Africa and subsequently catapulting them into success.
The project brings together some of SA’s heavyweights in the industry, including Nasty C, Tellaman, Gemini Major, Rowlene, Lastee and Zino D, to give musicians that extra boost they need to make it in the industry.
We caught up with some of South Africa’s hottest artists to find out what big break paved the way for them in the industry and what they’d be doing if they didn’t make it.
NASTY C
What big break paved the way for you?
The Juice Back track in 2015 – the reception of that song in South Africa made me do a remix that gave me further recognition throughout Africa. This gave me the idea to do an album. But I decided to do another song before the album – which I didn’t think would be that big of a track – and it turned out to be big. That gave me more confidence to do Bad Hair which was released in 2016.
Which profession would you be in if you didn’t make it in the industry?
If it weren’t for my big break, I’d still be chasing the dream.
TELLAMAN
What big break paved the way for you?
The song Mayo with DJ Speedsta in 2016. The track was produced in May 2016 and released later in August. Once the track was released, I got a lot of attention and opportunities to do more songs and I decided to drop a mixtape that very year. I went on to feature on Nasty C’s album Bad Hair which was also released in 2016.
Which profession would you be in if you didn’t make it in the industry?
There has never been another option except music. I feel as if music found me and by the time I started to really consider a career in music, I was already producing and singing. Had I not gotten this break I’d be the person everyone is going crazy about on the Lift As You Rise challenge.
GEMINI MAJOR
What big break paved the way for you?
My big break happened when producing the song Juice Back in 2015. I think it showed my ability as a music producer. I got calls to work with countless artists. I then got a second chance to show my ability as an artist with Ragga released in 2016, which was a hit.
Which profession would you be in if you didn’t make it in the industry?
If it weren’t for my big break, I’d still be chasing the dream, doing the Lift As You Rise challenge. Music has always been my dream.
LASTEE
What big break paved the way for you?
My break came after I was asked to produce a 30-second soundtrack for a show called Ring of Lies on DStv. I did the vocals which was a shock to people as they only knew me as a producer, and after its great reception I did a full song for Ring of Lies. I then went on to do songs with Tellaman on his mixtape and dropped my own work after my break.
Which profession would you be in if you didn’t make it in the industry?
If it weren’t for my big break, I’d be still chasing the dream. I’ve always loved music.
ROWLENE
What big break paved the way for you?
My big break was when I featured on Nasty C’s Bad Hair album in 2016. This motivated me to start work on my EP which was released in 2017.
Which profession would you be in if you didn’t make it in the industry?
If it weren’t for my big break, I’d still be chasing the dream but also would’ve loved to do something in events planning.
