Wikipedia

Yogin Sullaphen

Yogin Rajoo Sullaphen (born 8 January 1986) is a South African composer, music producer, live-looper and multi-instrumentalist. He is a member of the musical duo uKhoiKhoi, where his live-looping practices are a feature of their stage performances. Sullaphen is also known for composing and performing as part of theatre productions and performance art projects, which has earned him two nominations for Naledi Theatre Awards, which recognize excellence in South African theatre.[1]

Yogin Sullaphen
Background information
Born8 January 1986
Durban, South Africa
Genres
Occupations
  • musician
  • composer
  • sound designer
  • music producer
  • live-looper
  • guitar teacher
Instruments
  • guitar
  • bass
  • flute
  • drums
  • keyboard
  • African percussion instruments
Years active2012–present
Member ofuKhoiKhoi

Early life

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Sullaphen was born in Durban, South Africa, and relocated to Johannesburg during his teenage years. He comes from a mixed-heritage background, with a South African Indian father and a Coloured mother. His diverse background exposed him to a wide range of musical influences, ranging from popular music of the 1970s and 1990s to Indian classical music and avant-garde jazz rock. Sullaphen did not receive formal music training until after high school when he decided to pursue a career in music and went on to complete a Bachelor of Music (BMus) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, majoring in composition.[2]

Career

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Sullaphen began his career as a guitar teacher in a private school in Johannesburg before transitioning to freelance work in music, primarily focusing on composition and production. His work in music composition has earned him two nominations for Naledi Theatre Awards. He was nominated in the "best original score" category for the production "Jungfrau" in 2019,[3] and for "best sound design/soundscape" for "Strange Land" in 2020, both directed by award-winning South African theatre director Jade Bowers.[4][5]

Sullaphen's work with acclaimed South African director and choreographer Robyn Orlin has been performed internationally. Between 2012 and 2017 his composition for "Beauty remained for just a moment…" travelled extensively in France and throughout Europe.[6] From 2021 to 2024, Sullaphen, as part of uKhoiKhoi, toured across Europe with Orlin’s stage production titled “We wear our wheels with pride…”;[7] and in mid-2024, uKhoiKhoi performed in several shows in France with “How in salts desert is it possible to blossom...”, Orlin’s latest production.[8][9][10] Sullaphen has also composed for and performed in shows internationally with choreographer and performer Kieron Jina.[11]

In 2019, Sullaphen, along with vocalist and performing artist Anelisa "Annalyzer" Stuurman, founded the live-looping band uKhoiKhoi. This duo blends indigenous and electronic music to honour their ancestors and address societal injustices.[12] uKhoiKhoi released a self-titled 3-track EP in 2020 and their second EP "Nongqawuse" was released in 2022.[13] In addition to the international tours with Robyn Orlin, uKhoiKhoi has performed across South Africa at festivals, such as Mieliepop[14] and Fête de la Musique,[15] and other live events.

Works and performances

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Works for theatre and film

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Title Date Event / Venue, City, Country Role
Beauty remained for just a moment before returning gently to her starting position (by Robyn Orlin with Moving into Dance Mophatong)[16] Sep 2012 Biennale de la danse de Lyon, Lyon, France Composer
Down To Earth (by Kieron Jina & Marc Philipp Gabriel)[17][18] Feb 2017 Tanzfabrik Berlin, Germany Composer, performer
May 2017 Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Berlin, Germany
Jul 2017 National Arts Festival, Makhanda, South Africa (SA)
Jungfrau (by Jade Bowers) Jun 2018 National Arts Festival,[19] Makhanda, SA Composer, performer
Festival Theaterformen,[20] Braunschweig, Germany
Between Horizons (by Kieron Jina & Marc Philipp Gabriel)[21] Jul 2018 National Arts Festival, Makhanda, SA Composer, performer
Emoyeni (by Umlilo and Sean K)[22] Aug 2018 Song production (funded by Pro Helvetia) Producer
Rise of the African Queer (by Kieron Jina)[23] Apr 2019 South African State Theatre, Pretoria, SA Composer, performer
Strange Land (by Jade Bowers)[24] Jun 2019 Market Theatre, Johannesburg, SA Composer
Shhh! The Musical (by Jade Bowers & University of Johannesburg (UJ) Arts Academy)[25] Oct 2019 University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, SA Composer, performer, song writer, arrangement, music director
Pause (by Kieron Jina)[26] Feb 2020 Centre for the Less Good Idea, Johannesburg, SA Composer
Darkie (by Katlego Letsholonyane)[27] Mar 2020 POPArt Theatre, Johannesburg, SA Composer, performer, sound design
Chameleon Home (by Kieron Jina & Mathias Becker)[28] Jul 2020 Die Irritierte Stadt Online Festival, Germany Composer, sound design
Mothers Grimm (by Jade Bowers & UJ Arts Academy) Jul 2020 Virtual National Arts Festival,[29] Makhanda, SA Film composer
Oct 2022 Vrystaat Arts Festival,[30] Bloemfontein, SA Composer, performer
Zebras Crossing Video Series (by The Zebras Crossing Collective)[31] 2021 Online videos (funded by British Council) Concept design, producer, composer
Pusha Pressa Phanda (by Dick d’vLz Reubin)[32][33] Released May 2021 Film (produced by Layla Swart)[34] Film composer
The Empire Builders (by Dintshitile Mashile & Kwasha! Theatre Company)[35][36] Feb 2021 Online (binaural audio play) Composer, recording, music & sound director
We wear our wheels with pride, we slap your streets with color…we say ‘bonjour’ to satan in 1820 (by Robyn Orlin with Moving into Dance Mophatong & uKhoiKhoi) Jun 2021 Chaillot National Theatre,[37] Paris, France Composer, performer
Aug 2022 Tanzforum Berlin,[38] Germany
Nov–Dec 2022 Romaeuropa Festival,[39] Rome, Italy
Paris Autumn Festival,[7] Paris, France
Le Théâtre Garonne,[40] Toulouse, France
Le Volcan,[41] Le Havre, France
Kinneksbond,[42] Luxembourg
tanzhaus nrw,[43] Dusseldorf, Germany
Mar 2023 Dansens Hus,[44] Oslo, Norway
International Theatre Amsterdam,[45] Netherlands
Amare,[46] The Hague, Netherlands
Aug 2023 Zürcher Theater Spektakel,[47] Zürich, Switzerland
Dec 2023 Concertgebouw Brugge,[48] Bruges, Belgium
Sep 2024[49] Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, Durban, SA
Market Theatre, Johannesburg, SA
Oct 2024 Théâtre Equilibre, Fribourg, Switzerland[50]
Les Halles De Schaerbeek, Brussels, Belgium[51]
Les Quinconces, Le Mans, France[52]
Breaking Down Walls (by Kieron Jina)[53] Jun 2022 TalentLab, Théâtres de la ville de Luxembourg, Luxembourg Composer, performer
Skeletons (by Jade Bowers & UJ Arts Academy)[54][55] Premiered Jul 2022 2022 Durban International Film Festival, Durban, SA Film composer
African Exodus / Surplus Circus (by Sbusiso Shozi & Nhalnhla Mahlangu with the Centre for the Less Good Idea)[56] Feb 2023 Komische Oper Berlin, Germany Performer
The Paper Double-Bill (by Jade Bowers & UJ Arts Academy)[57] Feb 2023 UJ Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre, Johannesburg, SA Composer, performer
Dante and Mashudu (by Johannesburg School of Mask and Movement Theatre)[58] Mar 2023 Atterbury Theatre, Pretoria, SA Composer, sound design, music director
UJ Arts and Culture, Johannesburg, SA
Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, Durban, SA
Magnet Theatre, Cape Town, SA
Breaths of Joburg (by Jade Bowers, Alex Halligey & UJ Arts Academy)[59] Apr 2023 Hillbrow, Johannesburg, SA Composer, performer
Hybrid (by The Zebras Crossing Collective)[60] Jun 2023 TalentLab, Théâtres de la ville de Luxembourg, Luxembourg Concept design, producer, composer, performer
I Release You (by Kieron Jina)[61] Aug 2023 Zürcher Theater Spektakel, Zürich, Switzerland Composer
The Rise (by Kieron Jina)[62] Oct 2023 Tramway, Glasgow, Scotland Composer
Spatial Fabrications: An Uninhabitable World (by PreEmpt Group Collective)[63] Oct–Nov 2023 Fak’ugesi Creators Online Exhibition Composer
How in salts desert is it possible to blossom... (by Robyn Orlin with Garage Dance Ensemble & uKhoiKhoi) Jun 2024 Festival de Marseille,[8] Marseille, France Composer, performer
Festival Montpellier Danse 2024,[9] Montpellier, France
Le Théâtre Garonne,[10] Toulouse, France

Performances with uKhoiKhoi

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Event Date Venue
Social Distancing Festival[64][65] 24 Mar 2020 Online performance streamed from Toronto, Canada
Credo-Memoration[66] 25 Jul 2020 Online performance streamed from Johannesburg, SA
Planet Afropunk[67] 22 Oct 2020 Online performance streamed from the USA
Pendoring Advertising Awards 13 Nov 2020[68] Online performances streamed from Johannesburg, SA
4 Nov 2021[69]
Sol.i.dar.i.ty[70] 8 Apr 2021 Online performance streamed from Switzerland
Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival[71] Dec 2021 Online performance streamed from United Kingdom
2nd World Sound Concert[72] 27 Aug 2022 Joburg Theatre, Johannesburg, SA
Queertopia[73] 10 Dec 2022 Victoria Yards, Johannesburg, SA
Mieliepop Festival[14] 2–4 Mar 2023 Lothair, Mpumalanga, SA
Fashion Forward: A Sonic Experience with Thebe Magugu and Spotify[74] 15 Apr 2023 Nirox Sculpture Park, Johannesburg, SA
Fête de la Musique[15] 24 Jun 2023 Newtown Junction, Johannesburg, SA
The Reimagining Heritage, Archives and Museums: Today/Tomorrow Convention[75] 13 Feb 2024 Iziko South African National Museum, Cape Town
2024 SoCreative Summit[76] 10 May 2024 Victoria Yards, Johannesburg

References

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  2. ^ "Yogin Sullaphen". Fak'ugesi 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
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