CODA
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CODA – (Say ko-da) noun
Music: section of a movement added at the end to clinch matters or where all significant themes come together.
Coda is Zami Mdingi (vocals), Galina Juritz (electric violin), Carol Thorns (electric cello), Judy Brown (sax) and DJ LuvChild. Fronted by powerful vocalist Zami Mdingi, CODA combines electric strings (violin and cello) with saxophone and DJ. Their signature ensemble traverses different genres from Classically-inspired ballads to Electro-Swing, Dub Step, Reggae and Hip Hop. Their unusual ensemble is a talking point in the media and countries the world over have enjoyed their dynamic and varied performances. This year the band is releasing their eagerly-anticipated new album which was produced by the talented boys from electro-duo Mix n Blend, and Hey Papa Legend Studios in Cape Town.
Their new music video ‘Go Insane’ was featured on Channel O within a week of its release. CODA’s singles such as ‘It’s Still The Music’ and ‘Go Insane’ have featured regularly on South African radio stations.
In 2012 they collaborated with one of SA’s biggest names in Kwaito, DJ Cleo, in a crossover track called ‘Just to Hear Your Voice’.
CODA has entertained some of the country’s most eminent celebrities, business people and politicians, and their music has been known to get some of South Africa’s leading figures on the dance floor. CODA performed at FW de Klerk’s 70th birthday and was requested, personally, by Desmond Tutu to perform at his own 75th birthday event. CODA were invited to perform at the 2013 Unite4Mandela event where they delivered a stirring and powerful rendition of the national anthem. During the 2010 World Cup their soccer song ‘Blow Your Vuvuzela’ was celebrated as the unofficial anthem of the 2010 World Cup and CODA’s dancers were taught thousands of fans the Diski Dance.
CODA rocked 30 000 guests at the SABC New Year party 2007 and has featured at South Africa’s premier events including Women of The Year, J & B Met, Durban July, Amphi 5, Best of Cape Town Awards, Miss South Africa etc. CODA was a finalist in the 2008 Best of Cape Town Awards under the category ‘Performing Artists’ alongside FreshlyGround, and was nominated as one of the country’s top five bands in the 2006 Top Billing/Lifestyle Awards.
The group has performed at numerous high profile events and international events, including concerts (Miss SA, Jazzathon, Jazz on the Rocks, Home For All, Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Woman of the Year, Nederburg Concert Series, Paul Cluver Forest Amphitheatre), fashion shows (Cape Town Fashion Week, Durban Fashion Week), sports events (J&B; Met, Durban July) launch parties and government events.
Internationally CODA has performed in the Seychelles, Zimbabwe Victoria Falls, Dubai Luanda Angola, Zambia and Botswana.
RIKE – SAXOPHONIST
Rike started her music education at age six, playing the piano and later the oboe and performed in various youth orchestras during her school years. At the age of nineteen she was introduced to the alto saxophone and decided to make it her main instrument. She played first at the Centurion Lake Hotel as resident musician and did some freelance work with various pop bands; Avalanche, Scandal, Worx, Big Bands; Bonzai Big Band, SAAF Big Band, and saxophone quartets. Her repertoire ranges from classical to pop and jazz.
Rike regularly performed with Afrikaans singer Mathys Roets at music festivals Aardklop, KKNK and Grahamstown and recorded the live album Hy’s ons man with songs of Leonard Cohen and Koos du Plessis. She did studio work for Mathys’s other albums and for “Drie van die Bestes”. She played at the launch of Angolan singer Tony N’Guxi’s album Kazeze.
In 2001 she was a semi-finalist for the Crescendo Music Competition for one of her own compositions. In 2002 she joined the Cape Town band Southern Glow and performed at the famous “Jazz Bar” at the Hilton Abu Dhabi in the UAE for two years. She also performed with the band “The Worx” at the Royal Mirage Hotel in Dubai.
In 2004 she joined the Barnyard Theatre circuit and has toured with shows like Roll over Beethoven, The Piano Boys, Boogie Wonderland, Forever Young, Tonight’s the Night, Rock around the Clock and Bloubloed en Biltong.
Rike plays on a Selmer alto saxophone and has recently started playing soprano saxophone. She was fortunate enough to meet the famous sax player David Sanborn in person at the JVC Jazz festival in New York.
You may have seen Rike perform in shows like Roll over Beethoven Rock me Amadeus or Piano Boys at the Barnyard theatres. Or maybe some years ago with Afrikaans singer Mathys Roets at the Oudtshoorn festival and Aardklop. Maybe you have been to the famous Jazz Bar, Hilton Hotel in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi and caught her playing with Southern Glow, or at the Royal Mirage hotel in Dubai.
In 2001 she was the residential musician at the Centurion lake Hotel, playing solo saxophone with backing tracks. Part of her experience has been working with many different groups, from pop bands to string quartets and big bands. Bands like Avalanche, Velocity, The Worx, and Cape Town band, Southern Glow.
Currently, a favorite for functions is a duo with saxophone and violin. It forms a dynamic duo: two female instrumentalists performing classics hits like In the mood. The repertoire ranges from classical music to light jazz and contemporary music. The unique blend of saxophone and violin promises a delightful and highly entertaining feature to any function.
Rike recorded her own album, which features some of her own instrumental compositions and arrangements of songs. Some of the musicians showcased on the album include guitarist Mauritz Lotz. The album is available at request and at performances.
Classically trained, Rike studied the oboe and also had piano training since the age of six. During her school years, she played in the Wits and TED youth orchestra. She joined the Air Force Band as a musician and was introduced to the alto saxophone. She played with the SAAF Glenn Miller big band and also a saxophone quartet. Qualifications include Music theory Gr VI, Oboe Gr VIII, and Chief Musician (Military teachers licentiate) on both oboe and saxophone at the Air Force Band
Rike gave saxophone lessons part time at various high schools and is still available for saxophone lessons in the Johannesburg area. In 2001 she was a finalist in the crescendo music competition.
KRISTEL BIRKHOLTZ ELECTRIC VIOLINIST
Kristel is an accomplished musician, having undergone extensive formal training from age 6, which culminated in a BMus degree from Wits (1999), where she majored in performance. She also received numerous awards and prizes during her studies. Besides being a highly experienced violinist, she is also proficient in piano, flute and singing.
The highlights of her performance career include performing in the Subaru car advert in 2007, playing the lead violin role in various Barnyard Theatre productions including: Beethoven Rocks Again (2003/4), Harvest Moon (2006), Rock Me Amadeus (2006/2008) and Natural Women (2007). She has made guest appearances on e-TV’s Backstage (2005), with Watershed on KykNet (2000) and recently appeared as a violinist on Egoli (2006/7). She does frequent session work for various recording studios and has had the opportunity to perform overseas in Dubai, Botswana and Zambia.
She also has extensive experience in performing for large corporate events and is proficient playing in different musical genres, from classical to jazz, Celtic to rock and funky dance to local African styles. Music combinations can include: solo violin, violin and backtracks, violin and piano, violin and guitar, or even two violins. Her instruments include acoustic violin, electric violin and a custom-made tin-can electric violin crafted by AfriCan in Cape Town.
CAROL THORNS
Armed with her striking red cello, Carol Thorns has built up a following throughout SA and abroad. Having designed and launched brand such as Muse SQ and Sterling EQ, Carol is well known in the industry as a pioneer in the electric string genre. Her acclaimed production, Red Cello Electrified, was awarded a 4 star rating at the Edinburgh Fringe (the largest arts festival in the world). Carol’s debut solo cello album ‘Fireflies In The Rain’ was nominated for Best Instrumental Album in the 2010 South African Music Awards. Carol is in the process of recording her second album which further pushes the boundaries of electric cello with original works using effects and Loop Station.
Armed with her striking red cello, Carol Thorns has built up a following throughout SA and abroad. Having designed and launched brand such as Muse SQ and Sterling EQ, Carol is well known in the industry as a pioneer in the electric string genre. Her acclaimed production, Red Cello Electrified, was awarded a 4 star rating at the Edinburgh Fringe (the largest arts festival in the world). Carol’s debut solo cello album ‘Fireflies In The Rain’ was nominated for Best Instrumental Album in the 2010 South African Music Awards. Carol is in the process of recording her second album which further pushes the boundaries of electric cello with original works using effects and Loop Station.
Thorns has immense talent The Star
Mesmerising! The Citizen
OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS FOR CODA TV APPEARANCES
- Artcha (15 October 2008)
- Showbiz Report (20 July 2008)
- SABC New Year’s Party (31 Dec 2007)
- Red Carpet Show (DSTV) – 3 November 2007
- Showbiz Report (SABC 3) – 3 March 2007
- Weekend Live (SABC 2) – 24 February 2007
- Top Billing Interview – 10 August 2006
- Noted! Interview (SABC 3) – 29 September 2006
PRINT MEDIA COVERAGE
- Sawubona Magazine
- Marie Claire – ‘Yolanda Yawa’
- O Magazine – ‘My number 1 defining moment’
- Glamour Magazine – ‘Hot events’
- Absolute Cape Town – ‘CODA Cool’
- Cape Etc – ‘Pulling Strings’ / ‘CODA Kudos’
- Elle Magazine – ‘Hot 40’
- Top Billing Magazine – Momentum Lifestyle Awards / Desmond Tutu’s 75th Birthday
- Big Issue – ‘Call of the wild’
- GQ Magazine – ‘The Music Issue’
- Cape Times – Lifestyle features incl. “Impressive resume from new band”
- Cape Argus – Cover feature + multiple articles incl. “CODA clamour and stick-thin glamour”
- Beeld – ‘n Smakie van ryk Africa-klanke
- Varsity – ‘Dancing to a Brand New Style’
- Winelands Living – ‘Strings Attached’
- Odyssey Magazine – CD Review
- Get It Magazine – ‘Code Red’
- Atlantic Sun – Cover feature
- The Good Weekend – ‘Finding inspiration in the mix’
- AboutTime – ‘CODA rocking the suburbs’
RADIO – INTERVIEWS & PLAYLISTING
- KFM – Home Brew with Zane Derbyshire (Sept 2008)
- UCT Radio – Zimfest Interview (Sept 2008)
- SAFM – Thabiso Sikwane Interview (Dec 2006)
- FMR – Evan Milton Interviews (Dec 2006 & Oct 2007)
- 5FM – World Chart Show Interview (May 2007)
- Radio Sonder Grense – Winter Love playlisted (May 2007)
- Radio 2000 – P’ayeye playlisted (May 2007)
- East Coast Radio – P’ayeye playlisted (May 2007)
- KFM – Yiyizela / Brand New Style playlisted (Jan–Mar 2007)
- Heart 104.9 – Top 40 + Song of the Week (P’ayeye)
- Metro FM – P’ayeye (Afternoon Drive playlisting)
- MFM – Ubuhle Bendoda playlisted
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