In the wake of two US Mark Awards nominations, Lalela Music is ramping up its release schedule in 2016, with four release dates, instead of the bi-annual schedule it has followed in the past.
“Our new releases reflect the strong ‘Kasification’ of local content. Our South African television executives, producers, directors and editors are asking for music with a strong and authentic local flavour, and we are giving it to them,” says Tanya Douman, Lalela’s Executive Manager.
Volume 14 hits the streets in early February. It features strong local kwai-hop and house content from the likes of Gemini Major, Pontsho Moono and Sean Pages, as well as the haunting mbira and vocal meditations of Joshua Maponga in Mbira Magic, Themba Mkhize’s upbeat Mbaqanga cues and custom-designed Afro Drama underscore cues from Papi Moshodi and Lalela CEO, Alan Lazar. There are also Seduction, Edgy Trailers and African Kids albums on the slate.
Volume 15 will be released in April, and in addition to more kwai-hop and house, Tebogo Motlhabi, Geshom Gazi, Thabo Malefane (Mr Joburg) and Sabelo Mtebeni provide upbeat Afropop and Kasi vocal tracks. Themba Mkhize and Joshua Maponga will return with haunting isicathamiya and other unique African vocal tracks. Intense Suspense is also included in the volume, as well as an upbeat selection of Pop Vocal tunes from Randall Jean-Pierre, Adrian Kusambiza and Justin Perrow. Finishing out the volume, Standard Bank Artist of the Year for Jazz, Nduduzo Makhathini provides a unique Afro-Jazz selection.
“Lalela loves getting input from its clients,” says Lazar. “So we encourage all of our users to email us anytime with suggestions for new composers, or future content. We want our world-class production music library to meet the needs of our users.”
Lalela continues to receive solid play from its network of international distributors in 40 countries. “It’s so exciting to receive our statements from our sub-publishers twice a year, and see the thousands of performances our composers are getting on TV networks across the world. Once a net importer of production music, South Africa is on its way to becoming a net exporter,” says Douman.
Volume 14 will be live on www.lalela.com on 1 February 2016.
