Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Running Wolf's Rant
    Latest News
    • Britney Meistre heads to Hollywood to record “By My Side”
    • Artists Announced for MTN Bushfire Festival 2022
    • David Kramer Reik Liedjie Uit Vir Eseltjiesrus se Donkies
    • Nomadic Orchestra release flavourful album: “Out & About”
    • Emerger Prepares For Take-Off With “Aeroplane Park”
    • Amy Lilley releases new single: “Video Games”
    • Jeremy Loops Colabs With Ed Sheeran on “Better Together”
    • Nibs Van Der Spuy releases “Maiden of the river”
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube RSS TikTok
    Home
    • Categories
      • Entertainment
      • Facts
      • General News
      • Hacks
      • Opinion
      • Photography
      • Quotes
      • Technology
    • Pages
      • Interesting Music Facts
      • Music Events
      • South African Artists & Bands
      • South African Live Music Events, Venues & Festivals
      • Submit Music Facts
      • Submit Music Festival Stories
    • Featured
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    Subscribe
    Running Wolf's Rant
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube RSS
    Home»Entertainment»Music»A discussion about the SA Music Industry with Jean-Michel Wickli

    A discussion about the SA Music Industry with Jean-Michel Wickli

    Gary PeacockBy Gary PeacockApr 25, 2018 Music Featured 6 Mins Read25 Views
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Email Telegram WhatsApp

    Today I’m chatting to Jean-Michel Wickli. It’s a fact that the SA music industry is overwhelmingly considered somewhat of a tough cookie to crack, in the effort to cut through the shroud of confusion and misperception, it is important to take the time out to ask the questions that emerging artists can use to formulate an a view point of the current standing on the South African music scene.

    We have posed several questions to several industry professionals to help isolate some key points to consider when pursuing a career in this beautiful industry.

    For the first part of this series we had a chat with Jean-Michel Wickli on his opinion on the best aspects when working with artists in South Africa, why they are important, how they relate to his experiences and some advice to for bands to consider.

    Jean-Michel Wickli

    Jean-Michel’s career started at the age of 17 and since then he has made a prominent mark in the music industry. Apart from his amazing work with Johnny Cradle and BCUC,  he is also a booking agent, festival booker, venue curator and hobbyist DJ. This is what he had to say…

    What is the best aspect when working with musicians in SA at the moment?

    Working with any creative and their creative practice is always exciting. Seeing a project come to fruition and the joy it brings the artist and the people that the art affects is truly a special. Naturally thing don’t always go right and coming up with creative solutions to problems is always an adventure, but that being said, seeing someone so steadfast in their creative vision is amazing and to be part of that journey is what I really enjoy. Creating once in a lifetime moments for people and the experiences that will be remembered for a lifetime.

    Why? Pick a particular point that motivates above. (Quality of music? Genre? Stage Production / Presence? General attitude and professionalism? Crowd Drawer? Exceptional Marketing, etc.)

    The coalescing for performer, performance, sound, production and audience is the closest thing to magic I can find. When everything gels, it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. It’s the drug that musicians really chase.

    That moment where everything works. And then to try and recreate that, time and time again. I’ve personally seen it when I watched Taxi Violence at Oppikoppi in 2009. Seeing Sawagi in Tokyo, not knowing who they were and instantly being hit with that “What the fuck is this and where has it been my whole life?” moment and most recently watching Femi Koya for the first time.

    Why it’s important to Jean-Michel Wickli?

    These shared moments are fast becoming the only real, tangible moments we share as a community. This escapism for the day-to-day, the finding of communities of likeminded individuals with similar interests/ shared passions. In a social media world where it’s easy to stay in and not engage with the real world, music and a live performance is the last bastion of this ideal.

    What acts in SA currently share these aspects best according to Jean-Michel Wickli?

    Artists are slowly leaning towards putting on a show rather than simply playing songs. My argument is not to go full pop with dancers etc, but as a rock or hip hop act to watch, learn and steal elements of this to adapt and appropriate in ones own way to suit their objectives.

    Sol Gems do it really well with the considered stage look and the curation of the stage / visuals. Josh Kempen and Shortstraw did it with Punchbowl and Boosh respectively. Mafikizolo do it with their outfits and choreography. As DIY and punk as fuck as some of these may be, they work.

    Does Jean-Michel Wickli  have any advice or suggestions about your point to SA acts?

    1. Consider your audience: South Africans are complacent. We live in a country where if you’re slightly well off, you live comfortably, have a pool (or access to one), can stream music and have a speaker. So you have an instant party fairly quickly. Sun is shining most weekends so it’s easy to chill at home. As an artist trying to coax these consumers to a a club or a day festival you need to give them value. That bang for their buck. Consider what they are going to be experiencing at your show. If it’s just the music, they might as well stay home and stream it while they chill in the pool.

    2. Know your worth: The economics of live shows are tricky. You can’t make shows too expensive, because your audience is likely majority student based and they are not flush and want to spend at the bar. Concurrently you’re trying to pay for your time and the product you’ve produced. If you’re able to show that your product is valuable people will pay for it. They will part with their hard earned cash as they feel like they are getting a finished product and sharing in a communal experience that is more than just four dudes playing songs on a stage.

    3. Don’t rush: You’ve started a band with friends. This does not mean you need to instantly play gigs. The level of entry is too low currently and you need to be sure in the product your putting forward is as good as it possibly can be. Workshop the material. Only release something you are proud of and will at to the discourse of your respective scene.

    4. Get your admin together: If you have your admin sorted from the get-go, life becomes substantially easier. Things like invoicing, tech riders, passport scans, tour schedules, SAMRO registrations, the list goes on…The internet affords us a cloud based solution to house all of these documents, so there really isn’t an excuse not to have your shit together.

    5. Fuck the gate keepers: There will always be gate keepers. As much as the industry is who you know from time to time, numbers speak. A promoter might not like your band, but if you’re putting on your own DIY shows, galvanising your friends/fanbase to come out and support you, then they are forced to book you because they will want access to the market that you’ve cultivated. This takes time but it pays off. At it’s core the music is the most important and it’s the entry point, but it’s not paramount.

    I’d like to thank Jean-Michel Wickli for this interview and providing us with this insight and advice. I wish him all of the best with his future endeavors.

    Watch this space for regular updates in the Music category on Running Wolf’s Rant.

    Get updates via email
    Interviews Jean-Michel Wickli Johannesburg Music Industry South Africa
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Telegram WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleThe Importance of New Security Methods
    Next Article Review: Dirty Rotten Tequila Festival 2018
    Gary Peacock
    • Facebook

    Vocalist and harpist for the funk 'n roll outfit, The Lectric Monks. Involved in many upliftment projects like Good Guy Vibes, The Jam Shelf and Bandustry.

    Related Posts

    Support the South African Entertainment Industry Relief Fund

    Apr 21, 20202 Mins Read43 Views

    The Possible Impact of Brexit on the Music Industry

    Sep 23, 20193 Mins Read5 Views

    Female Artists: Changing the landscape of the music industry

    Sep 6, 20193 Mins Read15 Views

    How Is the #MeToo Movement Affecting the Music Industry?

    Jul 31, 20195 Mins Read17 Views

    Jean Zenan Releases Eclectic Debut Album

    May 29, 20183 Mins Read17 Views

    An Audio Interview with Norma Jean

    Sep 5, 20162 Mins Read9 Views

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You Might Like

    An Interview with Andi Cappo of Caution Boy

    Jun 8, 201810 Views

    An Interview with Richard from Retro Dizzy

    May 22, 201825 Views

    My 2 cents on the Hoot ‘n Anny Weekend in the Lowveld

    Feb 6, 2017

    Photo Album: Asking Alexandria in Johannesburg

    May 5, 201418 Views

    A quick pre GRIETfest chat with Danalog

    Aug 1, 2016
    Subscribe
    Get updates via email
    You Might Also Like

    Gene Synthesis: 5 Interesting Know Myths And Facts

    Sep 16, 2021

    My 2 cents on the Oscar Pistorius trial so far

    Apr 11, 201416 Views

    You know you’re a Hatfield regular when…

    Oct 5, 201081 Views

    5 Reasons To Order Content from Writing Services

    Jun 3, 201920 Views

    My recipe for a quick braai for under R200 for 4 people

    May 7, 201553 Views
    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    About Running Wolf’s Rant
    About Running Wolf's Rant

    Running Wolf's Rant has been covering the South African Music Scene and featuring interesting, funny and engaging content since 2008.

    Feel free to explore the various sections and categories. We hope that you find something howling good while you're exploring. Please share posts that you find interesting with your friends on Social Media. Share buttons are provided.

    Featured Posts

    3 Reasons Why You Should Invest With Easy Equities

    Jun 14, 2021

    Review: Park Acoustics – 2 September 2018

    Sep 20, 201817 Views

    Review: 1 July 2018 edition of Park Acoustics

    Jul 12, 201812 Views
    Recent Posts

    Disney+ Makes Smooth Arrival in South Africa

    May 19, 202229 Views

    Britney Meistre heads to Hollywood to record “By My Side”

    May 17, 202245 Views

    The Best Time For A Deep Sea Fishing Trip In Australia

    May 14, 202212 Views
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube RSS
    © 2022 Running Wolf's Rant. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.