I was born and raised in Mozambique, ( unfortunately not self-raising but not sourdough either ) my influences are Brazilian ( it's not just a nationality you know!) , African, Portuguese, Spanish and pop/rock ( all very prevalent in Mozambiques' desire to distance themselves from the colonialists in Europe): What is now 5FM used to be L.M Radio and was transmitted throughout and Southern Africa as pop was thought to be too dangerous for young people in the region ( die "ROOI GEVAAR" ) or ( COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA MACHINE )so you had an English speaking radio station playing all the hits which was quite amazing and Southern Africa's version of Radio Luxemburg in Europe in the 70s and 80s.
My father loved/s jazz, be bop and the crooners and my mother loves classical as well as the Fado and as teenagers we listened to loads of Brazilian singers young and old as well as Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, Deep Purple etc and then LM radio playing Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Bread, the Bee Gees, The Stones, James Taylor, CCR so it was this mesh of influences that makes my albums a little eclectic adn my mind a little left of left of centre.
LIONEL BASTOS is a multiple award-nominated and award winning artist/singer/songwriter and producer who has written songs and produced albums for some of the top artists in South Africa and abroad including VICKY SAMPSON, WENDY OLDFIELD, COLESKE, ED JORDAN, LITTLE SISTER, CAROL LEIGH, ANDRE SCHWARTZ, YVONNE CHAKA-CHAKA ( The Princess of Africa ), DAVID ABATTE ( for the Miss World pageant ), CLOUT, BERNIE WILLIAMS, JIMMY WAGNER ( Luxemburg ) , LEIGH MATTY ( UK), TRIO RIO. THE REESPECT ( Germany ), JAMES STEWART, KARIN NORTJE ( POP IDOL ) and JEREMY MANSFIELD to name a few.
He is one of the most recorded ( pop, rock, folk rock, world, jazz, blues, R&B, kwaito, country rock ) songwriters in South Africa. Many of his songs have been radio singles. In Luxemburg he had 3 successive number 1's with songs he wrote and produced for Jimmy Wagner, 1 of which was later on a BMG worldwide released compilation " We Two Are One" on which he worked with ALAIN NAU,( who used to drum for CHAKA KAHN ) KAI HORSTHEMKE ( http://www.bassplayers.co.za/kaihorsthemkebio.html ) and SIPHO MABOYA ( ex- JOHNNY CLEGG and REBECCA MOLOPE ). (www.jimmy-wagner.com )
The press called him a "musical and lyrical genius" after the release of his first solo album " Be like water....um" and as a result was even interviewed and featured in the Italian VOGUE.
He also co-wrote and co-produced 6 tracks on the official S.A.F.A. CD for the F.I.F.A world cup in 1998 and was the represented S.A artist on the “Africa Alive” CD made especially for the INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE held in Durban in 2000, with a song he wrote and produced which featured top artistes such as KREESAN, P.J. POWERS, VICKY SAMPSON, KHANYO, SIBONGILE NGEMA, ED JORDAN, IAN VON MEMERTY, GLORIA BOSMAN, MAX NTHAMBO and FEMME BELLING.
As a result of that song and production he was asked by IAN VON MEMERTY to produce the CD for the musical " FIELA SE KIND" ( FIELA"S CHILD ) for which IAN wrote all the music and which toured South Africa to massive critical acclaim.
He has released 3 CDs, all of which were nominated for SAMA’s (South African Music Awards). The first album “Be like water” was 1 of 3 nominees in 1997, which was eventually won by Coleske. One of the songs on “Be like water” was voted by listeners at ..57 in the Highveld 94.7 TOP100 and “ I smaak you stukkend” which he wrote for Jeremy Mansfield, came in at .. 2. ..1 was Bohemian Rhapsody, so he was only 1 of 2 local artists to feature twice on that top 100.
The first and 2nd singles “ Don’t go on” and “ More than just a passing phrase” both went to ..2 on the 5fm charts. The album featured REUBEN SAMUELS on drums, KAI HORSTHEMKE on bass, GODFREY NCINGA and JOHN HASSAN on percussion and LOUIS MHLANGA on guitar.
ED JORDAN won a " Best Adult Contemporary Album" SAMA AWARD for his album "HEAR ME HOWLING" for which LIONEL wrote the title track and co-wrote another on the album. Lionel also wrote/co-wrote 5 songs on ED's next album " CRAZY" and the only new original track " GODESS" on ED's next album.
The 2nd album, “SIMPLE” won BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM at the S.A.M.A awards in 1999 and he was up against an album he produced ( and wrote 6 songs on) by CAROL LEIGH who was nominated for 3 awards, Best R & B album, Best single and Best Adult Contemporary album. His 3rd album, even though ignored by all but 2 radio stations as it was partly produced by SAfm still got nominated for Best Adult Contemporary album in 2001.
He was one of 12 songwriters invited to write songs with other international songwriters ( 1 of them, TOM LITTLEFIELD, has songs on 2 SHAWN COLVIN Grammy award winning albums ) in Devon in July 1999 and is recognised as one of South Africa’s most versatile and covered songwriters.
He was the opening act for THE BEE GEES only concert in Africa in 1999 at the LOFTUS VERSFELDT Stadium in Pretoria, and he was joined on stage by ROBIN WALSH, KREESAN, CONCORD NKABINDE and MAURITZ LOTZ.
He has worked with the top musicians in South Africa ( BARRY VAN ZYL. DEBBIE AND JENNI LONMON, KEVIN KRUGER, JUST JINGER, DENNY LALOUETTE, ANDRE ABRAHAMSE, KAI HORSTHEMKE, REUBEN SAMUELS, GRAEME CURRIE, ROBIN AULD )and Europe and was a featured artist on the first two 94.7 Highveld TOP 100 concerts as well as ( along with KREESAN and VICKY SAMPSON ) the CLASSICS in the PARK with the JOHANNESBURG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA.
He is also known to be a hugely entertaining performer and was voted Best Live act along with VUSI MAHLASELA in 1997 by MUSIC AFRICA magazine, the local press and record executives.
MAURITZ LOTZ ( http://www.mauritzlotz.com ) played guitar on stage and in the studio with Lionel, on the albums "SIMPLE" and "RISING ABOVE THE MADNESS" and wrote all the string parts for both albums and along with them on stage more often than not, were TONIA SELLEY ( percussion) from the all girl band" THE PRESSURE COOKIES" and MARIUS BROUWER (keyboards) a well known producer and engineer who runs POP PLANET Studios in Johannesburg.
He has appeared twice at the LEVIS ORIGINAL SUNDAYS held every year at THE GREEN DOLPHIN in Cape Town.
The larger part of this upcoming album "FOUR" was recorded at STREET LEVEL STUDIOS in Cape Town and engineered by CHRIS TAIT of tAIT fame. One of the other songs was recorded in a pantry ( "Not enough") 2 are live recordings and 2 were recorded at Studio 5 at the SABC in Johannesburg. The big track to raies funds for AIDS patients featuring all the artists (see above) was recorded at CSR STUDIOS in Johannesburg and engineered by JASPER WILLIAMS.
dude, god knows i am a real blonde and born blonde, been a blonde most of my life, and now i am having blonde moments.. i can't seem to figure out how to listen to your bits... great lyrics however.
Been sitting here listening to your tunes and I just had to say that they are awesome! I think my favourite is "I'm alright" even though it's hard to pick a favourite.. I think that's one of my life soundtracks now :) I'm alright :)
Sending you sun-kissed skies and lots of hugs Giulz
Just been sitting here listening to your tracks and they are really great. So pleased to hear you having good reviews. Let me know how to order a copy on the net or is it available on itunes? Big hug x
Hi Lionel Either you have a virus or my widger is really little, please tell me it's the former! Hope you're well my friend and having a great festive!
Welcome to my "Big Toe World". This the beginning of a continental friendship. You are in South Africa, Big Toe is in America, I am in Europe! Pretty Cool! Uschi
Hey Lionel! Found you through another side and wanted you to add - then I realized I already did! - Funny! You see, I really like your music a lot! Hope, "you're still alright"! Big smile for you! Audrey
So nice to have your comments on my blog :) I always enjoy hearing your thoughts and I'm glad you liked it :) It just came out of nowhere, that poem, on Saturday morning when i got up. Or maybe it came from everywhere, maybe it was there for a reason and i just had to unlock the door to discover it... How have you been doing? Howz your week so far? Chat soon Giulia
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