On The Couch

Fashion designer and owner of fashion label Senorita By Travis Richards  SS: What made you want to enter the world of fashion design? ND: I am passionate about design and very passionate about clothing. I love looking beautiful and making women look beautiful so fashion design is what I was meant to do. SS: Did you find it difficult at first, when dealing with the pressures of the industry? ND: It is very difficult and I don't think it will ever get easier, especially when talking about South African fashion. Even with the experience that I have, there are still many difficulties that I face. SS: Did you have any role models in the industry? If so, who are they? ND: Firstly, my brother, Andre Martin, who controls the Life brand, as well as other South African designers like Stone Cherry, who have made it in the industry. SS: What do you make of the South African fashion industry? ND: It is very hard to make your mark on the South African fas...

Following national radio play of their hit, Cancun, the release of eight music videos and a touring schedule that has taken the group across the country and beyond, Durban-based five-piece band, The City Bowl Mizers is set to release its new EP, entitled No Big Deal, this weekend. WWG:  How did it all begin for you guys as individual musicians? AH:  Wow, well for me, I remember watching this surfing video when I was about 11-years old.  There was this song on it, Nervous Breakdown, by a punk rock band called Black Flag, and I was just mesmerised by this guy screaming and shouting behind a mic.  That song is probably the reason why I am the guy I am today.  Kurt, his dad used to play for the first punk rock band in Durban, Wild Youth, in the 70's and he still listens to Slayer; Matt loved Michael Jackson when he was a kid. He still does... like a lot! Steve has always just been an angry little punk kid and Marty is hispanic so predictably, he got into the Gy...

SS: What is your history in the rally world? CT: Through a long standing friend of mine. He was actually one of the medics on this same event way back in I think 1982 and he befriended one of the competitors which then resulted in him building a car. I started as his navigator/co-driver from 1983-85. SS: You will be participating in the 2012 Total Rally, taking place on 23 and 24 March. What are your thoughts, ambitions and feelings for this event? CT : With this being the first event of the year, I have approached it fairly cautiously. Generally there are new cars and new crews and one has to try and judge the opposition as to their speed. The South Coast sugar cane stages are extremely slippery, like no other roads in the country, so it takes a while to settle down, but unfortunately one can't take too long or else before you know it, you're on the back foot trying to make-up time. One thing that is important above all else and that is to come away with a finish and so...

Durban born singing sensation Melanie Lowe,  says singing is her first love as she continues to captivate South African audiences with her talented voice. The Durban North News caught up with the singer to ask her about her life thus far.   DNN : You grew up in Durban, what was your fondest childhood memory? ML : I loved living in Durban. We lived in a neighbourhood that consisted of a big park in the middle and then the road, and all the houses around the park. It was a very quiet road and all the kids used to converge in the middle and ride bikes, play cricket, skateboard and generally play up a storm from the time we got home from school until bathtime! Spending so many years in one house makes you grow very attached to it, and to the neighbourhood. I have so many happy memories it's hard to give just one! I remember having a lot of fun as a child. We hardly watched any tv. Our days were spent playing outside in the road, or at friend's houses. It was a place  that...

By Bernadette Wolhuter Hailing from Cape Town, PieterDirk Uys is a writer and entertainer.  He has staged plays across the continent and beyond, in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has written a number of books, plays, films and videos. Best known his association with the quickwit and satire of South Africa's darling, Evita Bezuidenhout and PieterDirk Uys will be performing his latest offering, Adapt or Fly, at the Elizabeth Sneddon theatre from to 6 to 18 March. The Weekly GazetteGlenwood caught up with this many of many talents to find out more about him. GWG : Was performing always what you wanted to do? PDU : No, I had dreams of being a train driver, then of a dominee because you were assured of going to Heaven and you got a free car and then of  a teacher.  I actually still think that a teacher, a good one at least,  is the most valuable friend that anyone can have. Everyone is where they are because a teacher helped them to get there...