Veterans and young guns vie for Samas

Hip-Hop heavyweights Cassper Nyovest and K.O. lead the nominations for the South African Music Awards (Samas) in its 21st year, with five nods respectively; the same number bagged by Capetonian pop trio Beatenberg.

The nominations for this year’s Samas, were unveiled during a press conference yesterday at The Rand Club in Johannesburg.

Nyovest is in the running for awards in the Best Rap Album, Best Collaboration, Best Album, Best Male Artist and Best Newcomer categories. Fellow rapper K.O., with two nom inations for Best Collaboration, will be competing head to head with him in all these categories except Best Newcomer.

Making matters even more juicy is the fact that AKA and Duncan are also nominated for three major awards each, ensuring that this edition of the South African Music Awards will be a highly competitive affair which TV audiences can tune in to watch broadcast live from Sun City, on SABC1 on April 19 at 8.30pm.

The hip-hop heads have some serious competition; flying the pop music flag high at the awards will be Beatenberg, who are up for gongs in the Best Pop Album, Best Collaboration, Best Album, Best Duo/Group and Best Newcomer categories.

Prime Circle are proving that after 14 years of music making, they still have new tricks up their sleeve with four nominations for Best Rock Album, Best Music Video, Best Producer and Best Engineer for their album Let the Night In.

Hot on their heels with three nods each are fellow industry veterans Ringo Madlingozi, whose long-awaited new release has earned him nominations for Best African Adult Album, Best Male Artist and Album of the Year, and McCoy Mrubata, who is competing for glory in the categories for Best Jazz Album, Best Engineer and Best Duo or Group.

On a poignant note, the late Lulu Dikana, the sister of fellow songbird Zonke Dikana, has received three posthumous nom inations for Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album, Best Producer and Best Female Artist.

The Album of the Year category, always a closely fought battle, will see stalwart Ringo slug it out with young guns Beatenberg, Nyovest, K.O. and The Soil.

Beatenberg and Nyovest will come up against Duncan, as well as Jeremy Loops (also nominated for Best Alternative Album) and Howie Combrink (a contender in the Best Adult Con temporary Album category), in the Best Newcomer category.

South Africa’s newest Grammy Award winner, flautist Wouter Kellerman, is up for accolades in two categories: Best Classical/Instrumental Album and Best Producer.

Last year multiple Grammy Award winners Ladysmith Black Mambazo were honoured with a lifetime achievement award and this year, the South African Music Awards will also be honouring living legends of the local music industry with Lifetime Achievement Awards, announced prior to the awards ceremony.

Things are poised to become even more interesting when the 10 contenders for the KIA Record of the Year (#KiaROTY) are announced later today during a live transmission of Live Amp on SABC1 at 9pm, with members of the public asked to vote for their favourite hit song of 2014. This one will be a zinger of a contest!

“Apart from charting yet another fantastic year of South African music, this year’s South African Music Awards will be a truly memorable affair, coming of age in spectacular fashion as we salute the legacy that our musical forebears bequeathed to us while looking towards the bright new horizons and opportunities that beckon for our industry,” said Mika Chauke, head of communications and stakeholder Relations for this year’s ASouth African Music Awards.

Use the hashtag #SAMAXXI on social media platforms to rewind to when you were 21 as the XXI Annual South African Music Awards looks back and assesses how far the country and the music industry has come in the 21 years since the advent of democracy, and the birth of the awards.

For more information, visit www.samusicawards.co.za and find the nominated albums at iTunes.com/SAMA

Nominees for the XXI Annual South African Music Awards:

• Album of the Year

Beatenberg The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg

Cassper Nyovest Tsholofelo

K.O. Skhanda Republic

Ringo Madlingozi Vulani

The Soil Nostalgic Moments

• Duo or Group of the Year

Beatenberg The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg

Bittereinder Skerm

BlackByrd Home

McCoy Mrubata Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2

The Soil Nostalgic Moments

• Female Artist of the Year

Bucie Princess of House (Easy to Love)

Lulu Dikana I Came to Love

Maleh You Make My Heart Go

Moneoa Ndim Lo

Simphiwe Dana Firebrand

• Male Artist of the Year

AKA Levels

Cassper Nyovest Tsholofelo

Jimmy Nevis The Masses

K.O. Skhanda Republic

Ringo Madlingozi Vulani

• Newcomer of the Year

Beatenberg The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg

Cassper Nyovest Tsholofelo

Duncan Street Government

Howie Combrink Eat it While it’s Hot

Jeremy Loops Trading Change

• Best Rock Album

aKing Morning After

Prime Circle Let the Night In

Reburn Majestic

Taxi Violence Tenfold

Zebra & Giraffe Knuckles

• Best Pop Album

Beatenberg The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg

Jimmy Nevis The Masses

Monark Negatives

The Kiffness KIFF

Toya Delazy Ascension

• Beste Pop Album

Bobby van Jaarsveld Maak ’n Wens

Eden Nooit Oud Raak Nie

Kurt Darren Lied vir die Vrou

Nádine Skildery

Riana Nel Die Regte Tyd

• Best Adult Contemporary Album

Arno Carstens Lightning Prevails

BlackByrd Home

Howie Combrink Eat it While it’s Hot

Josie Field S’bongile

Niemand Back Again

• Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album

Adam Tas Want Jy is Boer

Chris Chameleon & Posduif

Daniella Deysel

Dewald Wasserfall #EkEnJy

Dozi Hande Vol Genade

Pieter Koen Wat die Hart Van Vol Is

• Best African Adult Album

Kelly Khumalo Back to My Roots

Maleh You Make My Heart Go

Max-Hoba Travelling Man

Ringo Mandlingozi Vulani

Simphiwe Dana Firebrand

• Best Alternative Album

Bittereinder Skerm

Bye Beneco Space Elephant

Dassie Mistress

Jeremy Loops Trading Change

Tailor Light

• Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album

Afrotraction For the Lovers

Lulu Dikana I Came to Love

Moneoa Ndim Lo

The Soil Nostalgic Moments

Vusi Nova Did It for Love

• Best Rap Album

AKA Levels

Duncan Street Government

Cassper Nyovest Tsholofelo

K.O. Skhanda Republic

Reason Audio High Definition

• Best Kwaito Album

L’vovo Derrango The Boss

Phi & Ginger Licence to Hustle

Professor University of Kalawa Jazmee Since 1994

Thebe Legend

Trompies Delicious

• Best Dance Album

Black Motion Fortune Teller

Bucie Princess of House (Easy to Love)

Cuebur The Brand New Me: Soul Candi Sessions 2015 (Disc 2)

Da Capo Da Capo

DJ Clock The 4th Tick: A Clockumentary

• Best Traditional Faith Music Album

Andile KaMajola Chapter 6 Ujehova Ungibiyele

Rebecca Malope Ama VIP

Rofhiwa Manyaga Victory in the Blood

S’fiso Ncwane Bayede Baba

Worship House Live Project 11

• Best Contemporary Faith Music Album

Khaya Mthethwa The Uprising (Limited Edition)

Loyiso Bala Power Love Sound

Ndo Dlakadla Rhythm of Worship

Tebello Sukwene He’s Alive

Word and Life Freedom

• Best Traditional Music Album

Botlhale Boikanyo Spoken Word & Music

Brian Finch Living for Yesterday

Imfez’emnyama Palesa

Impumelelo Isiporoporo

Qadasi (David Jenkins) Uhambo Olusha

• Best Maskandi Album

Abakwamnyandu KoMalume

Amawele Ka Mamtshawe Mhla Uphelamandla

Ichwane Lebhaca Ohulumeni

Maqhinga Radebe iFacebook

Thokozani Langa Igema Lami

• Best Jazz Album

Herbie Tsoaeli African Time Quartet in Concert

Kyle Shepherd Trio Dream State

Marcus Wyatt & Maji Maji in the Land of Milk and Honey

Language 12

McCoy Mrubata Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2

Nduduzo Makhathini Mother Tongue

• Best Classical and/or Instrumental Album

CH2 Guitar Duo Soos in die Ou Dae

Charl du Plessis Trio Baroqueswing

Tony Cox Padkos

University of Pretoria Phoenix Camerata

Wouter Kellerman Winds of Samsara

• Best Live DVD

Benjamin Dube Renewal in His Presence (producers: Aubrey Peacock & Benjamin Dube)

Krone Krone Live (producer: Ben Heyns)

Lira First Decade (producer: Robin Kohl)

Spirit of Praise Spirit of Praise Vol. 5 (producers: Aubrey Peacock, Benjamin Dube & Oupa Montshiwagae)

Various Artists Innibos is Groot 2014 ‘Live’ (producer: Barry Pretorius)

• Best Collaboration

AKA ft. K.O. Run Jozi

Cassper Nyovest ft. Gusheshe

OkMalumkoolkat

DJ Clock ft. Beatenberg Pluto

K.O. ft. Kid X Caracara

The Soil ft. Ladysmith Hamba Uyosebenza

Black Mambazo

• Best Music Video of the Year

Alessio Bettocchi (director) Yaya by DJ Dimplez ft. Dream Team & Anatii

Mzi Kumalo (director) Turn You On by Mi Casa

Ryan Kruger (director) Let the Night In by Prime Circle

Kyle Lewis (director) In Defence of My Art by Tumi Molekane

Zakes Bantwini (director) Ghetto by Zakes Bantwini

• Best Producer of the Year

Lulu Dikana & Powella Tiemo I Came to Love by Lulu Dikana

Ewald Jansen van Rensburg Negatives by Monark

Denholm Harding Let the Night In by Prime Circle

David Scott KIFF by The Kiffness

Wouter Kellerman & Winds of Samsara by Wouter Keller man

Ricky Kej

• Best Engineer of the Year

Brian O’Shea, Crighton Johnny Apple by Johnny Apple

Goodwill & Marius Brouwer

Dave Reynolds & Peter The Light of Day by Dave Reynolds

Pearlson

Peter Auret Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2 by McCoy Mrubata

Brendyn ‘Rusti’ Rossouw Let the Night In by Prime Circle

Jürgen von Wechmar, Ascension by Toya Delazy

Rogan Kelsey, Ross Fink

& Jaziel Sommers

• Remix of the Year

DJ Sbu, Robbie Malinga Indlela Yam by DJ Sbu

& Mojalefa Thebe

Select Play Tsiki Tsiki Remix by Duncan

Goldfish Moonwalk Away (Goldfish Moon Landing Mix) Radio Edit by Goldfish

Heavy K Personal Paradise Remix by Heavy K

Riky Rick Amantombazane by Riky Rick

Category winners to be announced at the awards cere mony:

KIA RECORD OF THE YEAR

SPECIAL AWARDS

• International Achievement Awards

• Lifetime Achievement Awards

BEST SELLING MOBILE MUSIC DOWNLOAD

• Best Selling Album

• Best Selling DVD

• Best Selling Mobile Music Download

• Best Selling Ring-Back Tone

• Best Selling Full-Track Download

SAMPRA AWARD

• Highest Airplay of the Year