Get to know somethingNaive

Get to know the somethingNaive crew by their fav songs at the moment and the past.

Thanda, Mongezi, Guide Fari, and Mashaya

Feb 16, 2025

Guide

Dub techno

DNB

Reminiscent of that 90s electro, would recommend this whole album.

Hip hop

MIKE was my most listened to artists last year. The vibes haven’t changed thus far👀

Ambient

There’s a slow texture to this track, & it really starts to unwrap and warm up about halfway through the track. Found it in a DJ set by Charlie 3000 a few weeks ago and it’s snuck into so many moments since

Wildcard

I don’t remember how I bumped into this one, but I love the bright synths accent the main sounds in this track.

Early 2000s pick

I discovered this one fairly recently, around covid times - and it’s been a staple in my library ever since. Coming in from Warp records in 2001, it’s inevitable to bump into this album after years of listening to techno

Thanda

Going full nostalgia with it

1. Le Ngoma – Big Nuz

An absolute banger! I swear, this song was playing everywhere when I was a kid. That bassline? Unmatched. The Durban Kwaito sound? Pure perfection. One of those tracks that just takes over your body—you have to move when this is playing

2. Khe’omthandayo – Lira

My dad was a huge (and I mean huge) Lira fan, so the Feel Good album was basically the soundtrack of my childhood. I think he has the album on CD, songs like Feel Good, Crush and Ixesha, played all the time. Khe’omthandayo has grown on me even more as I’ve gotten older. The band? Insanely good. The songwriting? Sweet and soulful. Just a perfect song.

3. Uthini Ngo Pro – Pro Kid

What a Rapper. I can go on and on about MF DOOM, Freddie Gibbs, and Chance the Rapper as these are some of my favorite rappers, but this is the guy who actually got me into rap. He rapped in my language—I understood everything, and that changed the game for me. RIP to a legend.

4. Of Love & Kwaito – Mzambiya

This man was 16 when this song dropped. Sixteen! I discovered it later, but it’s been on repeat ever since. Whoever played the bass was basically showing off, and Percy? His voice still had that youthful tone, but he delivered. I don’t know how old he was exactly, but for a kid to pull off a song like this? Wild.

5. Uzongilinda - Qness, UPZ

To this day, this song never leaves my rotation. Ever. Everything about it is just… chef’s kiss. The drums? Crispy, clean, and electronic. The bassline? Perfection. The guitar solo at the end? Unreal. And that vocalist? Singing her entire soul out. Pure magic.

Mashaya

A journey through 5 era’s of my life.

Early Childhood

This reminds me of weekends spent at my gran’s house. Midday after eating amasi.

Primary School

At home we listened to a lot of blues, soul, jazz music and isiCathamiya.

A Teenager

My love for the arts began in this period. With a confused music pallet ranging from rock, Eletro, House and Hip-hop, mostly South African.

University

A time of exploration by design. New environments and ways of life emerge, new people, more friends and the passion of youth burning with endless possibility. During this time I founded a love for alternate sounds, all things different. A search for uniqueness, authenticness and identity.

Now

Lately I have been into jazz, maskhandi, house and kwaito. Will admit that jazz has been in the forefront. I think it is the mesmerizing chaos that has been drawing me to it. Almost as an analogy to adulthood.

Mongezi

1. Black Coffee - Superman

I can still hear this song blasting in the speakers in the living room, the speakers had a problem though if the DVD volume went past 38 it would switch off. I was always yearning to hear it in its full glory.