On the Couch with MEX – Détails, épisodes et analyse

We had the brilliant Tim Parr in conversation with me on CapeTalk on Thursday, 15th January at 9 pm, chatting about his musical journey.

Tim Parr first came to national prominence in the southern-rock blues band Baxtop, where he shared guitar duties with Larry Amos in the Joburg club scene of 1976. Rising quickly to the top of the national circuit and winning the SABC battle of the bands, they recorded “Work it Out” for Warner Brothers in 1979, which remains an enduring SA classic.

Parr then formed Ella Mental with Heather Mac, which was one of the iconic 80’s bands to have a string of radio hits in South Africa, playing many of the country's top festivals.

The common thread throughout all these projects has been Tim Parr’s expressive and soulful guitar playing, and unlike many guitarists, his rhythm and textural playing is as distinctive as his unmistakable voice.

We have the brilliant Tim Parr in conversation, chatting about his musical journey with me.

Tim Parr first came to national prominence in the southern-rock blues band Baxtop, where he shared guitar duties with Larry Amos in the Joburg club scene of 1976.

Rising quickly to the top of the national circuit and winning the SABC battle of the bands, they recorded “Work it Out” for Warner Brothers in 1979, which remains an enduring SA classic.

Parr then formed Ella Mental with Heather Mac, which was one of the iconic 80’s bands to have a string of radio hits in South Africa, playing many of the country's top festivals.

What a stunning exclusive interview on Cape Talk with Robin S. She is  The Queen of Club Anthems.

Hailing from Queens, New York, Robin Stone, better known as Robin S, burst onto the global stage in the early 1990s with her house anthem “Show Me Love”.  

Special thanks to Paris Toon and Andy Heynes for making this  conversation happen. 

This interview, made up of three parts, was recorded at the home of Sipho Mabuse, back in 2019. Please give it a listen and celebrate this giant of music's contribution to our collective entertainment economy. RIP, Tony.

A love of all things creative and a passion for music and sport and live events.

Over 20 years experience planning and directing activities for large scale projects and campaigns at home in South Africa and cities around the globe.

Events are about bringing people together and creating powerful experiences .

Amazing things happen when people meet; they learn, inspire one another, come up with new ideas and sometimes theyeven change the world.

I feel privileged to work on projects, both home and abroad, visit stunning venues and meet truly inspiring people from across the world.

A love of all things creative and a passion for music
and sport and live events.

Over 20 years experience planning and
directing activities for large scale projects and
campaigns at home in South Africa and cities
around the globe.

Events are about bringing people together and
creating powerful experiences .

Amazing things happen when people meet; they learn, inspire one
another, come up with new ideas and sometimes they
even change the world.

I feel privileged to work on projects, both home and
abroad, visit stunning venues and meet truly
inspiring people from across the world.

Do enjoy episode 2 with  Karen Schofield-Nel, the UCT Choir Conductor and Artistic Director who was on the Business of Entertainment on Cape Talk.  

As Music Director, Artistic Director, Music Lecturer, Choral Clinician, Adjudicator, Scholar, Karen Schofield-Nel’s work spans over a wide variety of ages, abilities, genres.

Karen holds a double Degree in both Music and Education (Thayer Conservatory, AUC - USA), M.Mus in Choral Conducting (Stellenbosch University), which has been transferred into a PhD in Music, which she is currently pursuing.

Her experience as an active Provincial Adjudicator, Choral Clinician, and Choral Pedagogue is vast.

She conducts professional choirs as well as works extensively with Adult and Children’s Community Choirs, of whom many are impoverished and disadvantaged, yet their determination and zeal to sing and develop their abilities in the face of adversity surmounts all challenges.

In her spare time, Karen is a culinary artisan. She has her own International Cooking show where she creates and cooks vegetarian and Plant based recipes. This show is aired in Russia, USA, Australia, Germany, throughout Africa.

Karen is the Founder and CEO of a Whole Plant Based Program called A New Dawn. Karen is the  first Person of Colour and First Woman to conduct The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra.

Meet Wayne McKay - Mc /comedian and funny man from Cape Town.

We sat down and chewed the fat on what's funny, and what's a joke, enjoy.

Meet Karen Schofield-Nel, UCT Choir Conductor and Artistic Director. 

As Music Director, Artistic Director, Music Lecturer, Choral Clinician, Adjudicator, Scholar, Karen Schofield - Nel’s work spans over a wide variety of ages, abilities, genres.

Her experience as an active Provincial Adjudicator, Choral Clinician, and Choral Pedagogue is vast.

She conducts professional choirs as well as works extensively with Adult and Children’s Community Choirs, of whom many are impoverished and disadvantaged, yet their determination and zeal to sing and develop their abilities in the face of adversity surmounts all challenges.

Karen has conducted The Symphonic Choir.

The University of Stellenbosch Academic Choir - Schola Cantorum.

The Cape Town Soloist Choir.

The Nelson Mandela University Choir; 

The 200 voice Festival of Hope Choir.

The 300 voice Johannesburg Choir.

She is currently the Founder and Music Director of The Peninsula Tabernacle Chorale in Cape Town.

Karen is the  first Person of Colour and First Woman to conduct The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra.

 Karen holds a Double Degree in both Music and Education (Thayer Conservatory, AUC - USA), M.Mus in Choral Conducting (Stellenbosch University), which has been transferred into a PhD in Music, which she is currently pursuing.

In her spare time, Karen is a culinary artisan. She has her own International cooking show where she creates and cooks vegetarian and plant-based recipes. The show is aired in Russia, USA, Australia, Germany, throughout Africa.

Karen is the Founder and CEO of a Whole Plant Based Program called A New Dawn.

Billy Monama is a guitarist, author, composer, arranger, producer, and educator. He’s also the founder and the Managing Director of The Grazroots Project. 

This is the second part of the interview conducted in December 2023.

In 1997, Monama began his journey with the guitar, inspired by the music of his childhood, which combined traditional ethnic sounds, African gospel and jazz. 

In 2016, Billy and Andy Innes released their album Brothers, a collection of original pieces written and arranged for the acoustic guitar in traditional styles.

In October 2017, he released his debut album Rebounce. 

Three years later, he released tutorial videos about South African guitar styles, all why accepting multiple invitations to guest on other artists projects.