Label Focus – Matsuli Music
South African gems unearthed and brought to your table
WHAT’S THE NAME OF YOUR LABEL, AND WHO RUNS IT?
Matsuli Music. It’s run by Chris Albertyn in South Africa and myself, Matt Temple in the UK.
WHEN & WHY DID THE LABEL START?
We started in 2010 to bring back into print (and on vinyl) classic South African jazz from the late 1960s and 1970s. We have also released some selected contemporary artists.
GIVE US A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT YOU’VE RELEASED SINCE THEN….
Since then we’ve issued 25 releases from the likes of Batsumi, Pops Mohamed, Ibrahim Khalil Shihab, Hugh Masekela, Dudu Pukwana, Johnny Dyani and others.
WHAT QUALITIES ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THE MUSIC YOU RELEASE?
The primary thing we look for is how compelling the music is – does it sound like it had to be made?
WHAT KIND OF VISUAL IDENTITY DOES THE LABEL HAVE (ARTWORK, VIDEOS, ETC)?
The visual identity is derived from an old South African label, Motella. But our identity is pretty much in the background, we try to let the music speak.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SELLING RELEASE TO DATE? TELL US A BIT ABOUT IT AND WHY YOU THINK IT WAS SO POPULAR.
Our biggest seller has been the 1974 debut album by the Sowetan Afro-Jazz group, Batsumi. Just five tracks of perfect spiritual jazz with a very African feel.
NAME ONE RELEASE THAT YOU THINK DESERVED TO GET MORE ATTENTION THAN IT DID
One that could do with more attention is an album by Joburg avant-garde collective, The Brother Moves On – Toliki Mtoliki.
IF YOU COULD SIGN ANY ARTIST, ALIVE OR DEAD, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
We’d sign Prince first and foremost so we can make some proper money.
WHICH OTHER LABELS DO YOU ADMIRE AND WHY?
We love Analog Africa, Numero Group, Mississippi Records. They all take care with production values, quality music and lovely research.
WHAT CAN WE LOOK TO FROM YOUR LABEL NEXT?
Next up for us is a journey to bring 78 shellac recordings back into print via a series of compilations.
Noah Sparkes