One of the country’s most loved house bands over the last decade, Mi Casa will mesmerise audiences at RMB Starlight Classics at Vergelegen Estate this March.
In 2011, at a rooftop pool party in the heart of Sandton, three strangers joined on stage for an impromptu jam session, and so Mi Casa was born. The chemistry between J’Something (singer/songwriter Joao da Fonseca), Mo-T (trumpeter Moshe Kgasoane) and Dr Duda (producer, DJ and keyboardist Sipho Philemon Mphahlaza) was immediate and success came virtually overnight.
‘I heard this DJ playing along with a trumpeter and I was mesmerised,’ says J’Something. ‘Imagine some vocals over all of this, I thought. Well, I walked straight up to the DJ (Dr Duda, that is) and asked if I could share the microphone with the trumpet dude, Mo-T. He said, “yeah, why not.” That’s how our band Mi Casa started. We didn’t know each other from a bar of soap. Three months later we recorded “These Streets”, which went on to become the Record of the Year at the 2012 South African Music Awards (SAMAs) and my career in the music industry took flight.’
Their debut album Mi Casa (which included the hit ‘These Streets’) also earned them Best Dance Album and Group of the Year at the 2012 SAMAs. The trio has since released multiple platinum-selling records, won numerous awards, performed all over the world, and created record-breaking songs on the African continent.
Prior to forming Mi Casa, Dr Duda, Mo-T and J’Something were all exploring their passion for music. Dr Duda was already a well-known and highly respected DJ and music producer. He has been making music since the age of 8, when he began playing the keyboard in a gospel band at his church.
Mi Casa’s soulful house music transcends boundaries, from generational through to cultural – and across borders. They even performed at one of former US President Barack Obama’s inaugural balls. Last year, the band signed an international publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. ‘I think it’s every artist’s dream to be out there globally and have your stuff known worldwide. We’re ready to go. We want to travel the whole world,’ says Dr Duda.
To read more about Mi Casa and the line-up at this year’s RMB Starlight Classics, purchase the March 2019 issue of Creative Feel or continue supporting our role in the South African arts and culture industry by subscribing to our monthly magazine from only R180.00 per year!
