User:Ashmademedoit/sandbox


 * 1) Ashmademedoit is an artist formerly known as Koela. He was born Ashley Graham Williams on 1 January 1980 in a small suburb called Ravensmead in Cape Town, South Aftica.


 * 1) Ashmademedoit is 1 of 3 children born to his mother Veronica Brandt (Williams). He didn't know his father and grew up with a stepfather when his mother married when he was only 2 years old. David Brandt would become the only father he knew his entire life. Providing for him and his 2 siblings Natashia and Denzil.

Life was challenging in the then Apartheid South Africa as a "coloured" child. Whites were opressive towards the other races in South Africa. During the 1980's his walk to school were always surroubded with Graffiti of STAY AWAYS as the different races would boycott the Apartheid system in the fight for equality in South Africa.


 * 1) Ashmademedoit grew up in a family that was very musical and religous. The home was filled with Christian music from all over the world. Mainly influenced by black music from the West. Artists like Andrae and Sandra Crouch, The Truthettes, Lionel Richie, Commisioned, Shirley Ceasar were daiky played on the wireless (a battery operated Radio playing programmes filled with music). His late grandmother, Mina Vlok (Williams) playes a big role in his musical upbringing. As kids they were forced to go to church everyday to pray, learn about God and sing. The family was big so the worship team and band would consist of brothers, sisters, cousins, uncles, aunts, family friends and more. This the musicians in church were also the ones at home. Music was their life. Late Great grandmother Sophia Williams was a strict person. She ensured her children and their children grew up in God's house, the church. So #Ashmademedoit and his mother faithfully attended church where she sang in the worship team with her great Soprano voice. This talent that later would grow in this boy as he spent time with her.


 * 1) Ashmademedoit grew up between his grandmother's home and his stepfather's home which was a mere 100m from each other. The Brandt family was so called "white coloureds". A small 3 bedroomed house that also served as home for 9 people.


 * 1) Ashmademedoit went to school at Webner Primart School. It was an Afrikaans medium school where he excelled each year achieving first place in every standard (grade). Ravensmead is an area plagued by gangsterism, drug abuse, unemployment and other social ills. This didn't deter him from becoming something in life.

In standard 5 (grade 7) the musicbug bit properly. His cousin, André Galant used to teach him harmonising as they walked from their home to grandma's. So this was his vocal training school everyday. Little did he know that this foundation would lead to what he does today.

He formed a few singing groups in school during tbe Boy band ear of the 90s where Boyz2Men, Silk, Blackstreet and those ruled the everyday charts. These were his musical influences that shaped the style of music #Ashmademedoit does today.

The group Attraction was a group he formed with childhood friends Henry Davids, Dustin Weavers, John Adams and Carlos Sofat. Their speciality was A'capella and turning normal song into A'capella. The group won singing comoetitions in Westgate Mall Mitchells Plain, Parow Centre (then Sanlam Centre) and performed regularly in and around their community in an array of concerts, birthdays, church services and more.

They recorded 2 song ons an album with CJ Reid with covers of songs by the group Chorale, called Reign in Me and Jesus we enthrone You. This then became their signature, Gospel A'capella as the group's influences now included Commissioned, Take Six and more.


 * 1) Ashmademedoit was the High Tenor and sang falsetto in the group with a more natural tone. He started writing songs at the age of 16.

1993 when he started high school, his musical influences grew with the likes of the RnB and Hip Hop explosion in artists like Busta Rhymes, Lauren Hill, The Fugees, Kriss Kross and more. He joined a Community Cultural organisation called People's Education And Community Entertainment Incorporated (PEACE Inc). This is here where he had opportunities to further explore his musical talents.

The Williams family lived in then Mossienes, a place from Khoe-Khoe descent in northern part of the area now known as Parow. The Group Areas Act forced them out of Mossienes to Ravensmead (formerly known as Tiervlei). It is here where the family all lived on one property in a corrugated steel house (sinkhokkie). 3 bedrooms served sleeping space for this huge family where 5-8 would sleep per room.

Life revolved around church and music, but as kids there was always plenty of time to play. The older kids would look after the younger ones as the grownups would go to work to help support the home.

The house was filled with the musical instruments of church, as the home also served as the Worship Team rehearsal venue. This is where the gospel group New Devotion was born from the older children of the Williams/ Fortuin/ Vlok children. Musicians like Neville Nash, Walter Brown used to hang out here. Michael Williams was a lead guitarist and singer with the likes on Nashand Brown. Francois "Guitar Prophet" Vlok also came from this family.