Exposed Vocals Interviews MusiQWorks
MusiQWorks is a house-music production team of talented underground Dj’s, Songwriter and Producers, which is making its waves in the music industry. Our role is not only to produce music but to identify and/or promote other underground artists as well.
MusiQWorks journey began with the release of Far Away EP, featuring Tebza. The EP was well received by the underground movement and rocked the streets of Johannesburg and South Africa. It was then followed by the much acclaimed singles Cold Days ft. Soul Swissy and Afrika ft. Mababa, taken from Cold Days EP and The Journey EP respectively. The team also produced for Soul Swissy much talked about EP ‘My Soul’.
Our tracks have been included in numerous compilations including, South Africa Underground Volume 8 (deep and soulful house music), World Beat Café 1, Dance Mania 2, Techno Soul 8 and Afro House Retrospective, Electronic Journey 3, and Soul of Africa 6 just name a few
As MusiQWorks, we are passionate about music, and strive to elevate the South African music industry through networking and adding our personal touch to it. Despite our many different styles, with each production, we always fuse different elements of sounds, which make us unique. The only thing that limits us is our imagination
All of our music including Cold Days Remix Edition EP, My Soul Remix Edition EP, The Journey EP (Compilation), ‘Silence’ single track in collaboration with Real Musica, ‘African Dream’ ft. Mababa and Lisa Brown, and MusiQWorks – ‘Prayer’, is available at all popular digital stores.
Apart from producing music, we also host a house music podcast called The Ultimate MusiQatWork (#TheUltimateMusiQatWork), featuring live mixes by MusiQWorks and other guests DJ’s around the world. Last year the podcast was streamed live at BegRadio in New York. The podcast is available for download at ITunes, Podomatic, Mixcloud and other hosting site.
At the moment, we busy working on new singles featuring some of the underground vocalists in South Africa, which will be released later this year.
Our Official Website
http://about.me/musiqworks.music
Our social networks
Face book : https://www.facebook.com/musiq.works
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/musiqworks
YouTube channel : https://www.youtube.com/user/KhavhuMusicClips/videos
Listen to our tracks
https://soundcloud.com/musiq-works
https://soundcloud.com/khavhumusic
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/musiqworks/id611108669
Checkout our music video of MusiQWorks ft Mababa – Afrika
Youtube Link
Download Link (For mobile phones only)
http://bozza.mobi/MusiQWorks/videos/MusiQWorks%20ft%20Mababa%20-%20Afrika
Listen and Download our Podcast
http://musiqatwork.podomatic.com
http://www.mixcloud.com/musiqworks
https://itunes.apple.com/za/podcast/theultimatemusiqatwork-26/id979841060
BegRadio Profile
http://www.begradio.com/#!the-ultimate-musiq-work/c1ynp
For Bookings/Remix or General info
Contact Thabo 078 430 3636 or 061 830 0840
[email protected]
For Licensing
[email protected]
http://about.me/khavhuEntertainment
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
MusiQWorks:
MusiQWorks is production team from South Africa, Johannesburg and was officially formed in 2011 as a hobby among friends. In 2015, we took everything seriously and pursue music as a career. It has been a wonderful journey, with its up and downs. 2014 was the worst memorable year because some of our studio equipment were stolen, including all hard drive with our upcoming releases, whilst. 2015 was our best year in terms of getting gigs and getting our music out there. Besides making music we also host house mix podcast TheUltimateMusiQatWork, featuring live mix from MusiQWorks and other DJ.s around the world. The Love of music in general is the reason that made us to pursue music as a career.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
MusiQWorks:
To this day it is still a mystery. We were looking for a name that can be catchy, easy to remember and most of all, a name that people can relate to. MusiQWorks is derived from the phrase or quote “when everything fails, music is the answer”. If you happy or sad music will always be there.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
MusiQWorks:
Firstly we must understand that back in the days, sharing your music across the world was near impossible. You were required to get a record deal with big labels for that to happen. Music sharing apps or platforms has revolutionised music sharing capabilities. Music can now travel all over the world without a hustle. It is a good way of promoting your music to the rest of the world.
Yes we do give away free music from time to time. It is our way of giving back to our fans, the people that have and continue to support our music career. A thank you gesture if we may put it that way.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
MusiQWorks:
Sure, that’s the most talked about topics in the music industry.
Our advice in terms of getting gigs is to host/organize your own events if you can. It is an opportunity to promote yourself and hopefully someone will book you. Secondly, try to network with other fellow professionals in the music industry. And lastly, perform for free at some gigs just to promote yourself.
In terms of airplay, you need to target small radio stations in your community first than larger radio stations. Secondly, when submitting music, make sure it is presentable (cd cover, titles typed correctly, etc.) You might not get airplay but it will leave a good impression. And lastly, be patient and don’t get yourself overwhelmed by rejection (been there).
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
MusiQWorks:
Our song writing inspiration comes from everyday life events. For example, challenges affecting the community we live in (drugs, child abuse, etc.), relationships, current events, etc. Music is the best way to convey any message.
Our song writing process differ from time to time, but mostly we start with the hook/ chorus, pre chorus and work our way back to verse(s). But sometimes we will start with verse(s) and work our way up.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
MusiQWorks:
Yes we do.
Link : http://about.me/musiqworks.music
We mostly use soundcloud platform and Bebozza (Emerging South African based platform for mobile phones). As for our live house mix podcast TheUltimateMusiQatWork, we use mixcloud, podomatic and ITunes platforms.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
MusiQWorks:
That’s something I wish I would happen right now. Firstly, we would take $250k and build a high tech home recording studio, and the rest we would book a “around the world” trip collecting musical instruments at each and every country we visit.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
MusiQWorks:
Music sharing platforms like soundcloud are effective because they popular around the world, and mostly are mobile friendly. Social media such as twitter and facebook are other tools which are also effective but have their own challenges. The most effective medium for us is when we performing at events, because we are in control.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
MusiQWorks:
Yeah. We very excited with new music that will be coming out later this year. We just finished recording our next single titled “Journey to Africa”, a deephouse /chillout track which will be released soon. MusiQWorks will also be working with talented Lisa Brown (from African Dream EP) once again on two projects still to be titled. Apart from that, we will be collaborating with South African based producers, Mystic Nature and Dela BlagueSGApart, and talented vocalist EdaWest. For other releases, stay tuned.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
MusiQWorks:
It is hard to say, probably a career in sales & marketing
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
MusiQWorks:
It is very tough, given that our some of our society still view music as a hobby not as a career. But nevertheless, if you love what you do, you will create time for it. It’s all about managing your time properly.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
MusiQWorks:
They should look out for MusiQWorks music, events, and merchandise launch.