South Africa's Apiwe Bubu Making Waves in Los Angeles
NEW ORLEANS - Apiwe Bubu, now a California resident in Los Angeles, is "pursuing a path of relentless and rigorous music making consisting of songwriting, music production, mixing and dj'ing." as he puts it in a recent interview. Apiwe Bubu was born and raised in South Africa. In high school, he began classical piano training at St Barnabas College in Johannesburg. Apiwe Bubu went on to graduate (cum laude) from Berklee College of Music in Boston where he earned a dual major bachelor's degree in Contemporary Music Writing , Music Production and Engineering, with a minor in Writing Music for TV and New Media. "Berklee College of Music has put him in a unique position with a command of professional and creative techniques key to the success of any business in the entertainment field", says noted Grammy Award winning record producer/engineer Tony Maserati (Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Robin Thicke) Apiwe Bubu has worked in television media as a junior music composer and has written for music libraries such as the Urban Rhythm Factory(SA). His first original theme song was viewed on the popular TV show How To (Wenza Kanji) on SABC1 in 2004 his first TV theme song sync. In addition he has worked in radio sound design and production at Sonovision Studios as a sound engineer/designer focusing on the creation of radio jingles/adverts. Apiwe Bubu also wrote and produced music for the SAMA (South African Music Award) 2011 winning (Best Adult Alternative African) album "Nomisupasta" by Nomsa Mazwai, and has traveled and performed with various theatrical and musical groups in countries such as Spain, Norway, the US, Ethiopia and Mozambique. He's also recently worked as music producer and audio engineer under the renowned mix engineer/producer Tony Maserati under his umbrella production company Mirrorball Entertainment in which he was a critical component of Maserati's mixing work on Grammy winning/nominated albums such as Beyonce's Lemonade, Keith Urban's Ripcord and Gallant's Ology. One thing that makes Apiwe Bubu's skills,style and taste unique also is the jazz piano tutelage he received for four years whilst in South Africa from the respected and award winning South African jazz pianist Andile Yenana who has made an indelible mark on many South African and international artists, including hip hop star Joey Badass who has sampled his work. Apiwe Bubu is currently working on a few projects, mixing and/or producing music for Bridgit Mendler, Adam Friedman, Kate Fay, and Taz Zavala. Of these he says "working on these projects is exciting as some are nearing completion for release or released already, seeing and being a part of their development is great." "I am also constantly DJ'ing in and around LA at private events/parties, such as Snoop Dogg's thanksgiving celebration in his home, to venues in Hollywood like St Felix, Mama Shelter, and Silverlake's Tenants of the Trees." said Apiwe Bubu. Apiwe Bubu performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival headlined by Stevie Wonder, this past April 28, on keyboard with the musically renowned Batiste Fathers and Sons on the Acura Main Stage. That show was followed by a featured performance on the Creole Queen Paddlewheeler in along with his sisters, international folk soul and jazz singers Pilani Bubu and Ezile Bubu under the theme 'South Africa Meets New Orleans on the Mississippi'. When Apiwe Bubu isn't booked for a DJ gig, he's in his music studio songwriting, recording, producing and/or mixing. Sounds like he has a lot on his plate and a lot to offer.