SA: Boiler Room announces True Music Fund recipients

The two projects will receive financial backing worth R375 000 ($22 000) and dedicated support from Boiler Room’s in-house programming team and industry network. They will also get advice on how to produce new event formats, recommendations on their club night promotion, production support, and the investment to make it happen.

Capetonian youth culture platform Ebumnandini was founded by local electronic music duo Stiff Pap to support creative innovation in South Africa.

“We believe South Africa has some of the brightest talent in the world and we want to give those people the platform to shine,” Ebumnandini's Jakinda Mshindi Boya said. “Unfortunately, our music industry has experienced the loss of key venues and events over the years. We want to create a way forward. With the help of the True Music Fund, which is even more crucial in the wake of COVID-19, we can begin to start new networks from the ground up.”

Prime founder Alex Michelsen said: “Prime strives to add to the Cape Town community and beyond through music and more. Now more than ever, given the impact COVID-19 has had on local music communities, Prime aims to improve its current work in growing talent and encouraging diversity through increased inclusion.”

Prime is an event series that started off as a one-off gig in Cape Town in 2016. The event seeks to create free and safe space for all attendees, artists and crew to enjoy quality music.

Ballantine’s head of music, Tom Elton, said the True Music Fund was part of an exciting evolution in the company’s long-standing partnership with Boiler Room.

“With our True Music events, we aim to spotlight emerging scenes that are redefining the current music landscape. The fund allows us to go one step further to support those communities we have visited over the years,” he said.

Boiler Room chief business development officer Steven Appleyard said the fund recipients were instrumental in redefining modern club culture at home. 

“The winners really resonated with Boiler Room – all self-starters plugged into their communities and pushing them forward with credible programming and new party ideas. This is the stuff that makes our scene tick, and we're really honoured to be supporting them and, in turn, their local community."

The True Music Fund was first launched in Spain and backs projects run by the local music community for the local community. It was launched in South Africa in November and is intended for artists, creative promoters and independent programmers.