Habit To

“For something new from Durban that isn’t a Creed-clone or a bunch of puerile power-rock anthemeers don’t miss this breath of fresh air.” Mail & Guardian

Three musos from Durban, South Africa come together in one harmonious blend of Rock / Jazz / Classical / Pop. This recipe cooks up mouth watering vocals and guitar solo’s from Michelle “Chillie” Stent the leading lady. Dale “Dang” Wardell exists as the backbone and chief of the kit, delivering the beats for an army to march to. Not forgetting the foundation laid down by Andy Stent who uses his bass to bring the trio down to earth and then dishes up the full course meal of musical madness.

Having studied music at tertiary level, Chillie and Dang synchronise a thought process that digs deeper than the basics of song writing. These ideals are further reinforced, and the music visually complimented, by projected video images displayed during the band’s live performances. This is owed to Andy’s qualifications in Fine art and Animation. With the help of Richard “Dickie-B” Burgess who works behind the scenes, Habit To encapsulates an audio visual experience.

Livin’ it up since 2000 this family of two siblings and co have toured the country and continue to toi-toi for the rights of true music. Their engagement into meaning is equally balanced with accessibility providing enough for kids of all ages.

It’s a Habit. It’s addictive. It’s rock ‘n roll!

Key Achievements and Performances
- Splashy Fen (2004 – 2009)
- Winners of the Burn the Bands Competition (2006)
- RP Studios Emerging Sounds Competition National Finals in Gauteng (2004)
- The Royal Show (2007)
- Flux (2004)
- The Playhouse
- Kula Khaya (2003 – 2005)
- Port Shepstone High School (with the KZN Youth Choir)

www.habittoband.com

Stealing Love Jones

“The sound of celebrity, scandal, glamour and sophistication… Esjay’s
voice burns leftfield rock hardness into their ingeniously arranged,
super stadium-rock ballads.”
SA MUSIC TABLOID

STEALING LOVE JONES:  Born from and fronted by the tall and talented opinion leader, “Miss Jones” (aka esjay), an established personality, brand and band within the South African music, surf, fashion and celebrity circles.

“Miss Jones” is proof of the proverbial pudding. Stealing Love Jones embarked on a 3-month tour of North America at the beginning of 2008 self-financed by esjay. This 25 year old artistic business woman was not afraid to approach investors and banks for loans and after just a few passionate attempts, a prominent company saw her vision and loaned her the finances. The tour included performances in New York City, showcases for Major Labels at The Viper Room in Los Angeles and an adventure that consisted of a 2600 mile drive, sleeping and eating in a Ford E350!

“Miss Jones” is the ultimate package deal. Not only is her image strong, but so is her band and her songs: a killer brand! Stealing Love Jones has so far enjoyed 5 top ten hits in South Africa off their first studio album!

2008 was the year for Stealing Love Jones to record their second studio album and esjay (singer, guitarist and songwriter) caught the attention of world renowned producer, Mr Bjorn Thorsrud. Thorsrud, a legend in the music industry for the past twenty-five years, has worked with artists and bands to the likes of The Smashing Pumpkins, Shania Twain, White Snake, Toad the wet sprocket, Dandy Warhols and Bruce Dickinson (from Iron
Maiden), just to name a few. Bjorn believes that “Miss Jones” and her band Stealing Love Jones have the “it” factor that is required to “make it” in the global industry.

Esjay is recently back in South Africa after spending three months in Chicago with Bjorn mixing the album which was released in South Africa on the 14th November 2008 and internationally in February 2009.

Esjay was chosen as South Africa’s favourite celebrity to be apart of the National reality television show running on satellite called “Do Band Up” which began in November. Being in the house with the contestants generated R1.2million worth of publicity for Esjay and her band over the five weeks.

Dubbed as one of the most exciting and hard working bands to come out of South Africa in the last decade, Stealing Love Jones driven by the dynamic “Miss Jones”, has managed to make their mark on the SA music, fashion and surf scene in the short space of just 4 years.

They are South Africa’s most promising pop-rock act since forever, “Miss Jones” is a sought after celebrity figure, and with sales climbing fast, an ubiquitous radio presence, a successful international tour under their belts and a lead singer possessed of a cracking voice, good looks and the business savvy of a CEO, Miss Jones and her band Stealing Love Jones are poised to become enormous.

“I want to build an empire,” says ‘Miss Jones’, Stealing Love Jones 25-year old lead singer. “I’m not afraid of hard work… in fact, challenges drive me! I have absolutely no life aside from Stealing Love Jones . And the honest truth is that Stealing Love Jones is my first love. Everything goes into it.”

They have become one of the most popular bands in South Africa, with the key promoters such as BIG CONCERTS and OPPIKOPPI booking them for
International shows and festivals (MY COKE FEST, FALL OUT BOY, AMPLI-5, OPPIKOPPI, AARDKLOP, MAROON5, ONE REPUBLIC etc.).

Gloucester Blues Project

Gloucester Blues Project is a blend of very different personalities and musical styles.  John Goodall, prolific songwriter and old-style blues aficionado is on rhythm guitar and vocals.  Robyn Tompkins, who is back singing after a 7-year absence from the microphone (ex-Blue Label and occasional appearances with Highway Jam), and who joined the band in January 2008, fronts the band on vocals.  Brothers, Ian and Andrew Dickinson, from a hard rock background, are on drums and lead guitar.  

The band is happy to include, on occasion, the guitar genius of Nux Schwartz, long-time contributor to the richness of South African music.  Nux has been deeply involved in the SA music scene for many years, and is best remembered as a leading member of Scooters Union, who had a break-out hit with the song ‘Brave Heart’ in the 1990s.  Nux has played with such greats as Syd Kitchen, Madala Kunene and many others over the years.

With these varied backgrounds and ages, Gloucester Blues Projects brings a new focus to the traditional blues structure.  The blend of young and not-so-young musicians, each bringing their own perspectives to new and classic blues rhythms, makes for an interesting mix, both for the music and for the show, whilst appealing to a wide-ranging audience.

Influences range from metal, through rock, and across the spectrum of the blues, to folk. These translate into a show which is an interesting blend of “blues-flavoured” (in the inimitable words of John Goodall) styles. 

The band play regularly around Durban and Pietermaritzburg, having both headlined gigs as well as opened shows for the likes of Southern Gypsey Queen and Dan Patlansky.  They have even visited the Twilight Zone….but that’s another story!

Splayed Ferrets

Huyton Watts   Vocals, Blues Harp
Jimmy Florence Hammond, Keyboards
Barry Meintjies Bass
Chris Pelframan Drums, vocals
Paul de Fleuriot Guitar, vocals 

Splayed Ferrets is a Rock band. The sound is based on music we grew up with; namely from the 60 and 70′s. The repertoire includes songs of Deep Purple, Golden Earring, JJ Cale, Bad Company, Santana and other Blues artists.

This music was built on the Hammond organ, electric guitar and vocalists with a powerful voice. The bass and drum combo set a solid platform that allowed musicians to explore and express their instruments creatively. Musicians by large, nowadays, are unable to creatively jam at a professional level because music has become so commercial.

Huyton, the vocalist, is a regular face on Maritzburg stages and is considered one of the premier singers and harmonists in this country.  The keyboard player, Jimmy Florence, is well known for tutoring with the talented band The Dynamics. Barry Meintjes has been playing bass in and around Maritzburg since the 60′s and runs a recording studio. Drummer Chris has a pedigree also dating to the heyday of Maritzburg music. Paul, the guitarist, runs Marshall Music, a musical instrument shop in the Cascades Mall. 
 
Splayed Ferrets are good fun, good music, and party orientated. This attitude is exemplified in the music they play.

Tracing Sunday

Tracing Sunday is from the small town of Hilton. The band combines varied influences to create a fresh, dancy, raw rock sound.

The band was born in 2006 and began playing locally in Pietermaritzburg at many different venues. They began touring in 2007. The band is attacking 2009 with vigor, aiming to release their debut CD, Fall from Grace mid-year.

Tracing Sunday is Tyron Ivins on guitar and vocals, Ski Vurovecz on Drums and David Black on Bass.

The Hairy Legged Lentil Eaters

Maritzburg institution, the Hairy Legged lentil Eaters consists of:

HUYTON WATTS  (vocals, harmonica)
BRIAN BEDINGFIELD  (guitar, banjo, vocals)
CHRIS BESTER  (dobro, guitar, keyboards, recorder)
MARK SCHÖNAU  (violin)
BARRY MEINTJES  (bass)
ROBBIE MARAIS  (drums)
ANGUS BURNS (guitar)

Finding a label for this band can prove difficult, as Dave Marks once alluded to: “This mixed match music act from Sleepy Hollow…put on a magic show that doesn’t only include songs about Hobbits, Goblins and vegetarian leather workers. They are the most eclectic folk band this side of the Limpopo.”  Best described as a collective multiple personality disorder, the Hairies have been legging it around the Folk Club/Festival circuit since 1991.  Consider what these guys do for day jobs:  from green men to grey men; weavers to wiremen; buskers to bean counters; science masters to masters of all trades. The glue that keeps this bunch together is a profound sense of enjoyment in the music and the performance.

Reflecting the different characters in the band, the Hairies’ original music is a strange hybrid. Rooted in acoustic folk/rock with a particular emphasis on vocal harmonies, songwriting happens collectively and organically. Humour is never far from the surface, and songs often take a satirical slant eg. “Nevirapine Girl”, “Winnie’s in the Pooh”, “Die Krokodil Rok”, “King Louis the Ape” and “The Ozone-Friendly, Non-Carcinogenic, Chlorofluorocarbon-free, Hug-a-Tree Melody”.

Check out their CD called “RELEASED … AT LAST”, their first studio recording, which took nearly ten years to complete, and contains songs written by the band during the first fifteen years of their existence.