About Me
Cape town native Levi Pon The Mic has released his solo recording. Heavy Mind is a collection of indescribable afrodub reggae sounds.Heavy mind is a Mr. Chi-Bangs and G-Dub production. Levi says dub music in South Africa is not common so they are trying to bring it into the market. They want this very experimental type of music to express South Africa’s rainbow nation and explore the differences in everyone has.
The Album is about black conscious and to make everyone understand where he is coming from. It’s the new age Rasta that’s about consciousness and about the history of life and talking about it.
Levi started out as vocalist and bass player in a cape town. It was a small group and he really was and still not that good at the bass, “it was an occasional thing and I really am not good at it,’ he says. He moved on to performing at festivals in the cape and eventually decided it was time to make a big move in his career.He moved up to the big city of gold in the late 90’s. Following the mantra of many that move alone, up he was out to make gold from his verses and Rasta style.
Levi had to first survive the big city by making clothes and bead works. He sold hand made pieces and made some money on the side to pay rent and eat. That money also helped him get around to do impromptu gigs at Le club and Tandor's or any other place where he could have a chance to perform.A year after he moved to the city, Levi met Jah crucial. Jah crucial got Levi to do the track on the compilation cd released by Cool Runnings. He recorded "Only Love" with his friend Bongo Riot. The cd was releasead in 2002 and was a success on the streets with his track getting a lot attention.That same year at a performance at Cool Runnings in Melville Levi met Paulo, the drummer from 340ml, who were also featured on the same cd. Levi stepped up to the band and told them he wanted to be a musician. During that time Levi was with another band and they use play in East Rand.Nothing happened with that until 2004 when Levi called Paulo aka mr chi bangs the producer and they decided to work on a new project together the levi pon themic "heavy mind album,the recording ended in 2006 and it was impossible without Gavan eckhart aka G-dub sound boy,and co- producer of the album,G -dub as worked on many albums from Miriam makeba to Ladysmith black mambazo both grammy albums and many more,that makes him the number1 in is game sound,for Mr chi-bangs drummer, co founder and leader of bands like 340ml, tumi and the volume toured almost everywhere in the world shared stages from 50 cent, The Roots,knaan to coldplay and manymore ,and played with groups like HHP,Wanda Baloy and others, this was just a big chance to take it to the next level producing music for other people, the end result "heavy mind"album a must have album specially for dubheads and music lovers check the track "Champion of Dub" realeased in the Dub vaults compillation, it is the anthem for the heads.
The album as 12 hot tracks all diferent original songs with one common ground black consciousness and the love for dub music,it took 2 years and you can hear it in this production,"a learning curve for everyone"says chi bangs,there is some collaborations in the album,MXO in "Make u feel irie"and Paulo Alves in"Final judgement also there is some well known musicians like Joel Klein playing all guitars and some keys,there is also Siya Makuzeni playing all trombones and backing vocals,Matlase Riba from Kwani Experience playing most of the keyboards,the album was recorded at soul fire studios by G dub and programing and additional recording at 18 avalanche st.studios by mr chi bangs.
Levi pon the mic "heavy mind"is dubloansharks 340ml music first artist and album release and it is distributed by Boomerang music, produced by mr chi bangs,co produced by Gdub
We hope it is going to be a people's favorite.ENJOY ITLevi Pon The Mic Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4 Get Your Own! | View Slideshow
