Sol Phenduka

Sol Phenduka
Birth name Solomzi Thandubuntu Phenduka
Born February 18, 1987
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Origin Vosloorus
Genres Deep house, electro house, Tribal House , Afro Beat , Nu Jazz , Afro dub
Occupation(s) DJ , Remixer , Radio Presenter , Record producer, Music Composer, Reality tv star
Instruments music sequencer, synthesizers, keyboard , Piano
Years active 2008 –present
Labels Native Rhythms , Sony Music , Chalk N Cheese Music

Sol Phenduka is a South African radio personality, DJ, music producer,reality TV star, composer and song writer.

Background

Solomzi Thandubuntu Phenduka was born in Johannesburg 18 February 1987 .He has been a music producer since the age of 16. He started his music journey as a rapper, but after realising he wasn’t happy as a teenager rapping under the name Savage in Vosloorus, his single mother got him a computer and he began making hip hop beats, later he switched over to house beats. He attended St Francis College in Benoni, matriculating in 2006. He received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Johannesburg in 2011.[1][2][3]

Radio

Sol joined Yfm as an intern through the Y academy internship program and after the 6 month program joined the newly formed "Flava In Da Mornin" breakfast show as a cohost to Mo flava in 2010.[4][5]

Sol Phenduka remained on the YFM breakfast show for four years till February 2014. Upon his return from Big Brother Mzansi 3 (South Africa) , Sol Phenduka left YFM and joined 5FM on its new breakfast show "Fresh at 5" with DJ Fresh .[6]

Sol Phenduka was suspended by 5FM for 3 days in January 2015 leading to the cancelation of the show "Fresh or Vrot", following inappropriate comments in the air nationwide of a 16 year old axe attack victim survivor of the van Breda family, who were hacked to death in Stellenbosch. Sol took to Twitter to apologise for his comments, saying it wasn’t “the intention to offend” when he said on air that she is “gorgeous” and he would “like to axe her out,” but that he “wouldn’t X her”. [7]

Music

He released his first single Mount Zion 2010,[8] which will be on his eponymous debut album releasing in 2012.[3][4] He released his third single Uhuru in 2011, the song that put him on the South African map. The song featured on various radio charts across South Africa.[9][10]

Debut Album (2012)

Forget those prêt à passer plugin presets that so many Mzansi house producers rely on to toss off their one-hit clubbing wonders. Sol Phenduka has. A more polymorphous, “organic” Afropolitan groove experience is what he wants to give his listeners. Translated? Whether it’s Swahiliscatted, minimalist-maskandi accordion and mbira-toned calls onto the dance floor (“Uhuru”), or chic Latin cocktail lounge come-ons cut from Don Laka’s kwaai jazzy cloth (“Moon Cry”), featuring saxophonist Mpumi Dhlamini), Phenduka’s debut is a sublimely soulful Pan-African house soundtrack. The DNA circuiting beneath his trippy tribal house invitations (“Home Coming”) and sexy shamanic soul seances (“Isolomzi”, featuring Cama Gwini)? All that jazz, of course. It’s the spirit of jazz that frames the brassy bounce of “Easier” (featuring Qairo) and the Mi Casa-Goldfish-tailored grooves of “All I Know” (featuring Soul Jock) and “All You Ever Need” (featuring Phindi). And it’s jazz that completes the seduction on Deep Cartel’s super-chilled remix of “Winter Sun”

Sol Phenduka released his 12 track debut album with Native Rhythms, the album featured several Vocalists, notably Camagwini, Sol Phenduka's then stable mate at Native Rhythms. The Album included Sol Phenduka's most successful works- Uhuru and Isolomzi.[12]

Big Brother Mzansi

On 2 February 2014, the third season of Big Brother Mzansi 3 (South Africa) premiered. Sol Phenduka was one of the 18 contestants ( Housemates and chamber mates).[13]

Sol Phenduka's charisma and charm won him the hearts of enough viewers to see him survive all evictions up until the last week of the show where he was one of the 6 finalist to remain in the house.However his best friend in the house Mandla won the grand prize of R1 Million.[14]

Sol Phenduka was voted by the viewers as the season's best HoH (Head Of House) .[15]

References