ArtistInfo

Radio 123

Pop
A.k.a. Nyameko Nkondlwane & Simangaliso Mfula

Radio 123 is a duo comprised of Nyameko Nkondlwane & Simangaliso Mfula; both well versed musicians with extensive live performance experience in the South African music scene. The two got their start in 2007 as part of the township ensemble Impande Core, a band known for their complex chord progressions and lyrical influence on kasi slang. In 2015 lead vocalist Simangaliso and trumpeter Nyamako left the collective to create a more progressive sound as Radio 123. The sound they would develop is the funk infused “Mandela Pop” which they describe as a sound that reflects the rainbow spectrum that South Africa has become. This new sound sees Radio123 telling township stories in the many dialects that Smanga hops and skits through; sometimes rapping, most times singing, switching between the two with the ease of a seasoned entertainer. They flawlessly weave highjink tales to the swing of Nyameko’s trumpet & whip audiences into a call and response frenzy with a mix of surrendipitously honest lyrics delivered in Afro-funk melodies. Radio 123's objective is to share and preserve stories of everyday people through music. And so far they’ve done that on stages that include Africa’s biggest hip hop festival Back to the City, Yfm Rewired, Live in Colour, Africa’s biggest alternative music festival Oppikoppi, Primavera Pro in Barcelona and AfroPunk Johannesburg. As musicians, Smangaliso and Nyameko are multi instrumental; they include voice, trumpet, keys, bass and guitar in their musical arsenal. This holistic understanding of music has allowed the duo to collaborate with a variety of musicians including progressive electronic producers TRST the DJ (Tshepang Ramoba, BLK JKS drummer) and Dejot (Daniel Jakob- Mouthwatering Records, Switzerland).