2020-03-01 Woolworths Taste

TABLE TALK

TASTE MARCH 2020 37

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ANNETTE KLINGER

Native Rebels

For owners Relebogile Kgoadi

and his partner Mmasechaba

Nonyane, the music that plays at their

Soweto-based bar and grill is as much

a part of its DNA as its gourmet burgers

and killer cocktails. “The music is carefully

selected to create a chilled space – samba,

Afro-Latin, neo-soul, bossa nova, jazz and

world music,” says Mmasechaba. “We’re

trying to give people an experience

through our music, food and location

that’s different from the norm in Soweto

restaurants, where commercial music

usually dominates.”

If you step into Native Rebels during

the week, you’re most likely to enjoy your

chicken wings to a backdrop of jazz and

neo-soul – think Isaac Hayes, Carl Allen and

Rodney Whitaker, and Mandisi Dyantyis

• while on the weekend you’ll be raising
  your glass to more upbeat funk, pop,
  electro, hip-hop and lounge. “You know
  that feeling when you’re biting into a good
  burger and you start nodding your head
  because you’re loving the combination
  of the amazing patty and Fela Kuti in the
  background?” says Mmasechaba. “That’s
  the vibe we’re trying to create.” native-rebels.
  business.site

The House of Machines

Musician and general manager Farryl Purkiss is in charge of compiling

the playlists for this Mother City spot that chameleons from cool coffee

shop by day to hipster bar at night. “The playlists really depend on the vibe of

the specific day,” he says. “On Monday mornings, for example, I’ll generally keep

the music upbeat to get everyone motivated for the week.” The music also varies

according to the time of day, he adds. When folks start tucking into their Reubens

around midday, Farryl lines up mostly chilled tunes by the likes of Tame Impala and

Sufjan Stevens; later in the afternoon, he breaks out retro favourites by The Doors,

Nick Cave and Ernest Ranglin; by the time the first orders for old-fashioneds come

in, uptempo alternative oldies by T-Rex and Pixies set the tone. In the wee hours, it

could be anything from high-energy hip-hop such as Cypress Hill, to loud rock like

TV on the Radio. thehouseofmachines.com

Tjing Tjing

This three-in-one dining destination in Cape Town’s City Bowl takes its music

very seriously. So much so that each level of the establishment – the rooftop

bar, the fine-dining kaiseki restaurant Tjing Tjing Momiji below it, and the Japanese-

streetfood inspired Tjing Tjing Torii on the ground floor – has its own curated playlist.

While the music for the rooftop bar and Torii has a strong indie-electronica bent, from

retro classics such as Kraftwerk and Lou Reed to contemporary tunes by Chromatics

and Tycho, Momiji’s soundtrack is more down-tempo. “The most important attribute

of a dinner playlist is to know its place – it should never intrude and demand

attention,” explains owner Ilze Koekemoer. “What works well in Momiji is music

that’s mostly beat-free, yet highly melodic, from genres such as dream pop and

neo-psychedelia, to synth-pop and no wave.” tjingtjing.co.za