The Artist Maveriq Birth Name Mavo Jokazi Genre African music Website www.mvrq.co.za Email maveriqmusic@gmail.com Facebook page Maveriq Mavo
Musical Background: Started composing my own songs from primary school days. Later high school years got me involved with MAPP music academy registered as a lead guitar player but graduated as a bassist solely because the first instrumental lines that rang in my head were bass lines.
Freelancing: Early 90’s I played with various jazz orientated ensembles as a bass player. And later I player immensely with reggae groups around Cape Town. The period of late 1990’s- early 2000’s I then venture into playing with various groups regardless of genre viz: bubble-gum, pop, rock n’ roll, African music, contemporary jazz, reggae, gospel etc. Anything that could build my musical ability worked just fine for me as a freelancing bass player, instrumentally and vocals.
COMPOSING: Composed various reggae songs of the artist Vuyani Qali (of Joint Effort fame) from the album Africa Wake Up (Sony-BMG). The most popular song that I co-composed with the artist is “Cape Town 2004”, which led us to perform at the Cape Town Olympic Bid concert in 1997. Early 2000’s I started writing my own songs regardless of language barrier, ever since at first I thought I should write in English but now I just compose lyrics as they comes to mind, vernacular- English-Afrikaans-totsi taal etc.
STAGE-SHARE: shared the stage with the likes of Abashante, Amampondo, Caiphus Semenya and Letta Mbulu, Hugh Masekela, Benjamin Zephaniah, etc. Ps there are lots of unknown names but I thought of writing ones that can be easily remembered.
SOLO-CAREER: Maveriq (the solo artist) was born in 9 August 2004 at a womens day event organized by Pentech (now CPUT/ Cape Peninsula University of Technology) after spotting a potential audience when performing 3 own compositions which led the audience to applaud for more.
ALBUMS: the first album, “Igubu” (the drum) by Maveriq was released in April 2006 and it features the legendary saxophone player, McCoy Mrubata and was launched at Mzoli’s place at Gugulethu. It was and its still being sold independently in different music shops around Cape Town. - the success of the Igubu album and its ups and downs led to the recording of its successor, “Tshuz Mazikhethele” (Pick your choice) due for release mid July 2010. The single “Le Ngubo” from this album is produced by Mxolisi Mayekane of the group Peto, Ringo Madlingozi’s initial band.
PERFORMANCE AND COLLABORATIONS: South Africa music week Festival Cape Town 2007,sharing the platform with Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Hilda Ndude’s 50th birthday in Cape Town, Shivava Café (Johannesburg), Spier Summer Festival 2007 (sharing the stage with Salif Keita, Freshly Ground’s Kolo Novo etc). Mannenberg’s Jazz Café (with guest artist’ Dorothy Masuku). Producing of the song, “Millions and Dollars” with the Japanese group, Funkist, and local group, Alanfunk (2009).
ARTISTS: playing instruments behind Maveriq are a collective of freelance musicians from around the vicinity of Cape Town, professionals and locals.
BROADCASTING: - SABC 1’s popular comedy Nomzamo features “Dali”, a song from the album, Igubu. - The whole album, Igubu, is also sound tracking the documentary “Joburg Rising” via Encounters film and documentary festivals. - Off-stage the artist is hosting “Cape Soundz”, a series of video interviews with artist around Cape Town. For more on the series view http://youtube/capesoundz. - Clips from the album, “Igubu” are being played regularly from the local Cape Town television station, Cape TV
Not bad for an independent artist, not bad at all…..
Vukani. Album launch story