What Myles' is up to...

[mylesgm]

I'll be setting up a bandcamp page for them so that hopefully they can make a little cash. You wouldn't believe how little they live on each day...

[mylesgm]

new blogpost up at www.mylesinswaziland.tumblr.com

[Lee Cardan]

damn now I'm totally jealous of your adventure Myles
can't wait to hear what you ended up with!

[Drumstruck]

great reading Myles

[mylesgm]

New blog update and a very busy period indeed.

www.mylesinswaziland.tumblr.com

[mylesgm]

So just had to share... The studio, whilst not finished is currently doing it's first recording session which is making an album which will be a taster of community radio funded by the US Embassy amongst others. Pretty good feeling sitting in a room I designed and listening to some playback... Plenty of frustrations along the way and we're not finished yet but those who've built studios before are probably thinking that you never really "finish" anyway. And to show some of the challenges the entire studio has been built with the most basic tools, 1 handheld circular saw, 1 electric drill, a pair of scissors and a razor, a level, a measuring tape and a set square! I'll put some photos up soon but feeling pretty chuffed...

[Chinagraf]

Building a studio/room can send you mental for sure but it is really rewarding when you start to hear music made in there come out of a pair of speakers, even more so with the hurdles you've had to work with over there Myles. When I come home from travelling to less developed countries I always hope I've left some sort of positive impression on someone somewhere. I think you'll be pretty safe in that regard....
What's that saying about reaping what you sow..? Good work.

[mylesgm]

So the bandcamp page for the Siteki hut recordings is now live and you can listen (and hopefully) purchase the album here: http://lubombocommunityradio.bandcamp.com

Can you imagine not having community radio (or even local radio)? No radio for local content, locally made music or local issues not controlled by the government? Well that's the case in Swaziland and this project will be assisting in the funding of the first community radio in Swaziland. It's a nationwide initiative with 4 different stations proposed across the four regions of Swaziland. They've been campaigning for the last 13 years and finally the government has passed laws allowing for the regulation and licensing of non-government radio and so their goal is on the horizon. Now they need funding for equipment and training...

[mylesgm]

Studio is finished and recording is filling our studio schedule!

new blog post... www.mylesinswaziland.tumblr.com

[Manning]

Hi Myles - I just bought and downloaded the album.

Very enjoyable - I recommend other T-rockers give it a listen

[mylesgm]

Thanks Manning! I've sold 18 copies so far with a number of them donating above the cost of the album so we've raised over $220us in about a week which is about E2000 of the local currency. To put that into perspective lunch costs me between 20 and 50 emalangeni so it's big injection in some ways though other costs such as petrol or radio equipment (which is what we'll be spending the money on) is very expensive in the local currency...swings and roundabouts as they say.

On the upside the studio is on fire, I've already had a number of sessions in the last week since we started recording last friday and next week is completely full during the day and most nights too with some really wonderful music and poetry! It's going to be really hard to leave in 2 months as it feels like I'm just getting in to the best bit so far...

[The Tasmanian]

Great to read your travel stories Myles.
Whats the beer like?

[mylesgm]

well there are only two localish beers that I like, the rest are not that great. Upside though is that around the corner there is a bar that was set up by an English expat back in the 70s that has both Guinness and Kilkenny on tap for when I feel homesick...

[mylesgm]

and another album released online for your listening and purchasing pleasure... http://gonerural.bandcamp.com

This is an album of rural women who are artisans working for a local weaving company that sell their products internationally. Gone Rural has an NGO arm called Gone Rural boMake (bomake means mothers) and this NGO does income management, health development and a variety of other social programs with the women of Gone Rural. This album raises funds for their NGO programs.

[The Tasmanian]

Mate - you are nothing short of a legend!!!
...what you are doing will have ramifications way into the future.

[wez]

Hey Myles, did you get my most recent email?

Just bought the Lubombo album - I really love the unique, strong characters in the different voices, really cool. Actually I've just had a quick listen to a couple of the Gone Rural tracks... this is Alan Lomax territory Myles, really great work. Also I don't know if the Garland Encyclopedia is still being updated but I wouldn't be surprised if they were to get in touch with you.

Well done.

[mylesgm]

Another AVI talking about the Gone Rural recording, The Song of The Weaver.

http://rosscorants.wordpress.com/2013/0 ... he-weaver/

[mylesgm]

Hi all, another little write up about the work I've been doing here.

http://www.australianvolunteers.com/vol ... iland.aspx

[mylesgm]

HAven't got around to my final blog post but will soon, in the meantime there's this.

My final project in Swaziland is this album "Sitawuphumelela - Songs of Hope". An album I'm incredibly proud of featuring a fantastic group of Swazi artists creating art that addresses social issues and raises funds for the work of Lusweti. Recorded in our new studio funded by the Australian High Commission to Southern Africa and by NERCHA with support from Federal Audio and Prosound. Sitawuphumelela means we will overcome and with this album these artists are encouraging their fellow Swazis to overcome their social issues with positive behaviour change.

The music on this album is a variety featuring hiphop and country, alongside world fusion and afrojazz in both English and Siswati. A bargain at $10 I hope you'll join us in supporting positive social change in Swaziland!

http://lusweti.bandcamp.com/album/sitaw ... gs-of-hope

And of course a big thank you to all those who've supported the other project I put up on Bandcamp, the Lubombo Community Radio Fundraiser which has raised over $550us for the first community radio network in Swaziland!

[mylesgm]

Final blog post up (for now) and just got word this morning that one of the songs I produced in Swaziland is currently sitting at number on the Swazi charts...