Determined London-born producer, Barney Rattle, has spent the past twenty years working with musicians from South Africa and across the globe to change the face of black musical history – helping 100’s of musicians living in poverty, whilst building equality by introducing South African music to the western world. To celebrate two decades of progress, Rattle has now released an iconic six-album song collection, featuring all the artists he has recorded and worked with throughout his journey.

Flashback to 1994 – Apartheid ends but inequality remains. With South African music constantly being blocked by the major record companies, and with around 90% of music played on National Radio Stations coming from the west, it was enormously difficult for local musicians to have their work heard. This also meant that the majority of airplay money was leaving the country. Additionally, with a lack of free schooling, formal musical education was still a huge privilege.

Enter British producer and club runner Barney Rattle, who is sickened by the disparity between the poor and rich white areas of South Africa. In 1996 Barney arrives in Cape Town and discovers a group of local musicians teaching kids to play instruments. Feeling compelled to help the musicians, Barney gets them involved with a local production company.

Barney soon met South African musician, Lennox Tom, and from 1996 to 2001, the pair lived and breathed township music. Whilst living in the ghettos of Cape Town, Rattle and Tom started multiple campaigns to bring tourism to the area and helped arrange over 100 live concerts in Cape Town and its downtown district. They built two studios and three rehearsal rooms and worked with 100’s of township musicians to record over 300 songs, release eleven albums and make four music videos. A number of Rattle and Tom’s groups even performed for Nelson Mandela on his birthday! They also launched ‘Intholo Skolo’ – a music school for youngsters in the townships; giving them the benefit of musical education for the first time. 

Once establishing South African musical culture in its home country, Barney’s next steps were to introduce the music to the rest of the world. By remixing his collaborations to fit into western culture, Barney believed the South African musicians could find acceptance within the elite group of wealthy partygoers hailing in Ibiza. This was a natural route into market and a great way to increase awareness of the music. 

Barney comments: “Since the colonisation of the Europeans there has been overwhelming injustice in the Cape Town region. Music is a powerful thing, and our work has helped inspire countless South Africans living in poverty and brought industry to the townships, all whilst introducing South African music to the rest of the world. We still have a long way to go, but whether it is by hosting a concert, or through the release of a song, every small step is important in the fight towards equality.”

One of the artists involved in Barney’s work is Don Laka, a South African musician, producer and activist who recently helped lead a campaign to reverse the quota of airplay on South African radios. In May 2016, South Africa's national broadcaster SABC brought in a new quota system, requiring 90% of the music played on its 18 radio stations to be homegrown. This is a major turning point which will promote South African culture and heritage, whilst ensuring the billions of rand generated through music play stays firmly in the country.

Barney Rattle is now releasing ‘African Storybook of Songs’ – six genre-spanning albums made up of 70 of the best songs produced throughout the 20-year journey. The compilation includes collaborations with Lennox Tom, Don Laka, marimba and brass afrojazz ensemble Abavuki and many more musicians championing numerous variations of South African music – from jazz and reggae through to electronica and funk.

With the help of funds raised by the album, Barney and his team will continue their mission to bring South African music to western society. They are planning a series of live shows in the UK early next year, and Barney has also recently been working on a number of film and TV projects about the great music and history of South Africa, including the soon to launch ‘Love Music Show’. 

Social Media Links:

Website: www.africanstorybookofsongs.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/africanstorybookofsongs
https://VA.lnk.to/AfricanTownshipFunk
https://VA.lnk.to/AfricanChillOut
https://Township.lnk.to/AfricanRootsReggae
https://VA.lnk.to/AfricanStorybook
https://VA.lnk.to/AfricanHustle
https://VA.lnk.to/AfricaHouse