Chocolate Strings

"Chocolate Strings owned the title for main support act, and boy did Ofa and the band bring the skanky funk home to roost, the dance floor resembling a heaving, sweaty beast..." July 17 - Scene Magazine

"...adding her deep croon to Nia Felekakala’s power vocals and Nikkie McWalters’ raspy sweetness to Jill Scott’s A Long Walk, and this perfect vocal blend carries the cover which they switch up to ragga. With thanks, the ladies walk off stage letting the boys jam out to end their set with a bang." March 22 - Time Off Magazine

After forming a band in May 2006 for a charity benefit for the West End Community House, Chocolate Stings have been doing the rounds of the local Brisbane music scene, going from playing small intimate gigs in underground bars to gaining a huge local following, radio play on Triple J, and regular spots at the Woodford Folk Festival. The heart and soul of the band is lead singer Ofa Fanaika.

She greets me with a smile and a wave and upon sitting down there is an immediate sense of relaxation. She chats away with genuine interest about the goings on around the highly eclectic and unique environment of West End, and it become clear that not only does she live here, work here and perform here; she also loves being a part of the closer-than-average community that is the modern West End.

“West End is more than a suburb, a place to eat or go out. It’s a thriving community in the heart of an ever expanding and commercialised city,” she says.

“People really care about each other around here, and that promotes a positive environment that will naturally attract the open minded, the creative, and the generally ‘out-there’ people of Brisbane.

“It’s a great place to live,” she says with a beaming smile.

She appears as the epitome of the modern creative artist, sitting relaxed with a cup of tea, cigarette in hand, a colourful ensemble of vintage clothes, and a cool relaxed persona. I ask her what her name means, and she tells me it is the word for “love” in her native Tongan. In her calm and friendly manner, her interactions with her band mates, and by the way that the crowd reacted to her the previous night, I am sure that there is truly an abundance of it in her life.

After witnessing a fresh mix of inspired reggae, deep southern blue grass roots, and what could only be described as James Brown influenced funk, along with a number solo acoustic numbers that left the entire crowd in silent awe until the roar of applause after the final note, I was left highly impressed, but just a little unsure of exactly what genre the Chocolate Strings were aiming for.

“Coming from a Polynesian background, I grew up listening to a lot of chilled-out reggae as a kid.”

“I bring a lot of that kind of sound to the grooves we work on in our music. Then, growing up in San Francisco and moving to Brisbane allowed me to gain other influences such as soul, jazz, and hip-hop, so our music is a wide blend of genres.”

While her bands chilled-out tunes radiate with the laid-back vibe of a summer’s day, Ofa and her band mates also actively use their music to support social and environmental awareness.

“I wouldn't say that we really have much of a social or environmental theme to our music,” Fanaika says, “but that's where we are at as people.”

“We'll use the music for this purpose, like helping to organise and play at tree-planting festivals and charity gigs like the Black and White Unite fundraiser for West End Community House that we formed the band for.”

As well a long list of originals that span many genres, Chocolate Strings have been known to throw some unexpected covers into their live sets, including Nirvana's ‘Heart Shaped Box’, a classic heavy grunge anthem that is totally reworked to a soulful ballad.

“I used to play a lot of pub-type gigs playing covers,” Fanaika explains. “The covers I would play were never exactly the way the artist intentionally wrote them.

“I would always try and add a spin to it. We normally play our originals but we have a couple of covers that we really enjoy playing so if the mood's right we'll throw them in.”

When asked about the future, she states that the band does not seek fame and fortune, just to be able to create inspiring and uplifting music for their fans, and to make a difference where they can.

“So many people get into music for superficial reasons these days.”

“While we want to sell records, and be able to make a decent living as professional musicians, there is so much more to life than the bottom line or the dollar,” and by the way she says it, you just know that she believes this with all her heart.
- Newsfix

To finish the night off was the all so talented Chocolate Strings. More reggae compared to the other two groups who went before them, but still very good. The smallest girl who I believe was “Jungles” also had the biggest voice that I had heard in quite some time. Leaving a gap of about 40cm between her mouth and the microphone and she was still clearer. Nia, the other Vocalist who still had an amazing voice, also had more thrust than a space shuttle launch getting down to the tunes and connecting with crowd. I noticed that on the sax was Josh Appleby, also from the previous group Cheap Fakes, so he had his work cut out for him but was still thriving with the melodic solos from his sax. I enjoyed the guitar work on the track Carnival which was also the name of their Album. Vocals performed by Altecious Groove, also on the acoustic guitar. This track felt like it had a sort of deep meaning to it just by the way it was performed. Well done Chocolate Strings! A great band to end what was an enjoyable night. - The Point Sunshine Coast

The days are getting longer, and warmer, and the festival vibe is un-curling from its winter hidey-hole. Those of us who care enough scratch together what its worth to get out of the rat race and head for the hills.


While you’re there, keep your ears to the ground for Chocolate Strings, who are planning to run amok all over this season’s festival circuit. “We are definitely staying in the dancing vibe,” reassures drummer Kasper Skou, aka K-Pops. “We are still reggae based, I wouldn’t say we are straight reggae, far from it, but it’s reggae-based tunes. It’s a bit gypsy, there are some ska numbers, more dub.”

The Strings are reshaping their sound now they’re back in the studio and dealing with a reshuffling of members.

”We are getting ready to go back into the studio. We got a bunch of new songs that we are working on, and lots of out of town gigs, really, that’s what we have been focusing on. We have had a couple of new additions and changes in the band. We have some more songwriters as well.”

The follow-up to their debut album, ‘Carnival’, will be a reflection of the changing face of the band, with newcomers and the old guard melding well together for a fresh sound. Long time face and voice of the band, Ofa Fanaika, has welcomed her cousin Nia (The Warrior Princess) to the fold to add to the vocal power of the group.

The newish lineup are busying themselves to play all summer long, including a stop off at south east Queensland’s latest festival shin dig, BAM! Festival.

“We do like those kinds of festivals, there seems to be more and more coming these days, which is great,” Kasper says. “I think the 24-hour concept is great, especially with these kinds of festivals, not just doofs and stuff like that. The lineup is pretty interesting. We are always happy playing alongside Barons of Tang, they are good bunch of kids. Anarchist Duck are playing, Truth Serum, the Winnie Coopers, and I’m keen to see Dallas Frasca again.”

The music at Bam! is set to run from 3pm Friday October 8 until 2.30am Monday October 11 non-stop, with circus performers and other sonic and visual treats to keep even the hardiest festival-goer appeased. Chocolate Strings will be representing a very diverse, and quite distinct, reggae sound alongside gypsy deathcore, old time blues and straight-up punk.

But Pacific Island culture has a huge influence on the Chocolate Strings sound, which can be see seen most obviously through the heritage of the vocal lineup. Ofa and Nia are from Tonga, and Nikkie McWalters hails from Papua New Guinea.

“It just comes through. We all love it. Especially the voice, it’s the three voices that drive the band in my opinion. It’s pretty hard being drummer at the back, and listening to those voices and trying to concentrate at the same time.

“We were down in Nimbin on the weekend, and we didn’t leave the pub for three days. All we did was sit up on the balcony and write songs. It was Nikkie, Nia and Ofa just using their voices, just the range of different songs and genres. It’s just in their blood I guess.”

These roots have led the band to explore the idea of sharing their music with remote and indigenous communities.

“We are in talks with Zennith; we are thinking about getting us and them, and Iwantja Band from Alice Springs and doing a touring circuit in regional areas and all through the Northern Territory. Jeremy from Iwantja has been talking to us about heading out there, because they love reggae out there, and just music in general. It would be great to get out there to introduce them to a different style of music.”

When they are at home, the band is in West End, a mecca for the strange-yet-wonderful folks of Brisbane. The band will often be found, in one incarnation or another, doing their thing at any number of the local haunts.

“West End is just amazing, it’s a really good arts hub, it lets you be free to do what you want. The bands and the venues and the people that are there, we wouldn’t be here without the help from Paul Watson, Dubmarine, Upsteppers, Morgs (Morgyn Quinn) from Rudekat - they took us in under their wings when we were a three-piece. The support from the venues too: Lock N Load, the Joynt. Tongue n Groove back in the day. It’s just a great place.”

Catch Chocolate Strings at BAM! Festival at Ivory’s Rock (45-minute trip out of Brisbane) October 8-10. - Scene Magazine

The days are getting longer, and warmer, and the festival vibe is un-curling from its winter hidey-hole. Those of us who care enough scratch together what its worth to get out of the rat race and head for the hills.


While you’re there, keep your ears to the ground for Chocolate Strings, who are planning to run amok all over this season’s festival circuit. “We are definitely staying in the dancing vibe,” reassures drummer Kasper Skou, aka K-Pops. “We are still reggae based, I wouldn’t say we are straight reggae, far from it, but it’s reggae-based tunes. It’s a bit gypsy, there are some ska numbers, more dub.”

The Strings are reshaping their sound now they’re back in the studio and dealing with a reshuffling of members.

”We are getting ready to go back into the studio. We got a bunch of new songs that we are working on, and lots of out of town gigs, really, that’s what we have been focusing on. We have had a couple of new additions and changes in the band. We have some more songwriters as well.”

The follow-up to their debut album, ‘Carnival’, will be a reflection of the changing face of the band, with newcomers and the old guard melding well together for a fresh sound. Long time face and voice of the band, Ofa Fanaika, has welcomed her cousin Nia (The Warrior Princess) to the fold to add to the vocal power of the group.

The newish lineup are busying themselves to play all summer long, including a stop off at south east Queensland’s latest festival shin dig, BAM! Festival.

“We do like those kinds of festivals, there seems to be more and more coming these days, which is great,” Kasper says. “I think the 24-hour concept is great, especially with these kinds of festivals, not just doofs and stuff like that. The lineup is pretty interesting. We are always happy playing alongside Barons of Tang, they are good bunch of kids. Anarchist Duck are playing, Truth Serum, the Winnie Coopers, and I’m keen to see Dallas Frasca again.”

The music at Bam! is set to run from 3pm Friday October 8 until 2.30am Monday October 11 non-stop, with circus performers and other sonic and visual treats to keep even the hardiest festival-goer appeased. Chocolate Strings will be representing a very diverse, and quite distinct, reggae sound alongside gypsy deathcore, old time blues and straight-up punk.

But Pacific Island culture has a huge influence on the Chocolate Strings sound, which can be see seen most obviously through the heritage of the vocal lineup. Ofa and Nia are from Tonga, and Nikkie McWalters hails from Papua New Guinea.

“It just comes through. We all love it. Especially the voice, it’s the three voices that drive the band in my opinion. It’s pretty hard being drummer at the back, and listening to those voices and trying to concentrate at the same time.

“We were down in Nimbin on the weekend, and we didn’t leave the pub for three days. All we did was sit up on the balcony and write songs. It was Nikkie, Nia and Ofa just using their voices, just the range of different songs and genres. It’s just in their blood I guess.”

These roots have led the band to explore the idea of sharing their music with remote and indigenous communities.

“We are in talks with Zennith; we are thinking about getting us and them, and Iwantja Band from Alice Springs and doing a touring circuit in regional areas and all through the Northern Territory. Jeremy from Iwantja has been talking to us about heading out there, because they love reggae out there, and just music in general. It would be great to get out there to introduce them to a different style of music.”

When they are at home, the band is in West End, a mecca for the strange-yet-wonderful folks of Brisbane. The band will often be found, in one incarnation or another, doing their thing at any number of the local haunts.

“West End is just amazing, it’s a really good arts hub, it lets you be free to do what you want. The bands and the venues and the people that are there, we wouldn’t be here without the help from Paul Watson, Dubmarine, Upsteppers, Morgs (Morgyn Quinn) from Rudekat - they took us in under their wings when we were a three-piece. The support from the venues too: Lock N Load, the Joynt. Tongue n Groove back in the day. It’s just a great place.”

Catch Chocolate Strings at BAM! Festival at Ivory’s Rock (45-minute trip out of Brisbane) October 8-10.
- Scene Magazine

Feeling Good
Calling in from Cairns, a world away from the relative winter chill of Brisbane, Chocolate Strings vocalist/guitarist Ofa Fanaika has settled into a bright patch of sun - a great way to spend a morning.

“We've come up to Cairns to play Kuranda Roots and it's lovely up here,” Ofa says. The Brisbane collective - Ofa, Alex Skinner (guitar/vocals), Kasper Skou (drums), Dave Gofton (bass), Matty C (percussion), Nikkie McJungles (backing vocals), Nia Falekakale (backing vocals) and Josh Appleby (saxophone) - will be heading back to Brisbane soon, just in time to headline a gig at the Globe Theatre.
Along for the ride on the night will be friends of the band, hip hoppers Omni Anti, Melbourne's Sol Nation and trip-hop stylists The Ark Room.
“There will be a lot of different music on show,” Ofa says. “We decided to have the show and ask our friends to get on and have a show that was different - a real variety show with music for all tastes.”
The group released their debut album, 'Carnival', late last year, and while it has only been a few months since it came out into the world, writing and recording has begun on a follow-up.
One track that is already getting a spin on radio is 'Blood On The Drum', featuring fellow Brisbane artist Sunny Dread on vocals, with production by Paulie B, of The Beautiful Girls fame.
While not all of the new tracks have been completed in the studio, Ofa says people who go to the show can expect quite a few new songs on the bill.
“For this set we will play a lot of songs from 'Carnival', but we have written a lot of new songs,” she says. “We have an EP coming out in a few months. We have a lot of new songs in the pipeline, so we will be playing a few new tracks as well as the old favourites.”
While they are similar to many bands in that playing live is the highlight, Ofa reveals that they are quite unique for the simple fact that there is usually no set list taken on to the stage.
“We love playing; we are better live - different to the records. We get there to the show and then decide what we are going to play. We go off the crowd and what's feeling good.”

Chocolate Strings play the Globe Theatre on July 25 with Omni Anti, Sol Nation and the Ark Room. Their album 'Carnival' is available through MusicPlug.

written by Colleen Edwards (July 2009) - Scene Magazine

Minjerribah, North Stradbroke Island - Fri Oct 30 – Sun Nov 1
Friday October 30
A music and sunshine-filled weekend on a subtropical island across Moreton Bay? It doesn’t get any better than this, my friends. A manic packing procedure and a ferry ride later, we set up camp near the festival site and get amongst it.
Ah, the sweet, molasses-thick bass pulse, got to love thee. Once we’re inside, it’s only a short walk to the Jandaiwal Big Top where Brisbane’s Chocolate Strings are presiding over a funky reggae party. Rich on harmonies and silky sax, the octet’s infectious set reaches an apex with a sped-up rhumba workout. Sporting wicked Erykah Badu-style headgear, roots & soul diva Saritah gets the chilled vibe going near the Biki (aka the Sunshine Stage). Conscious numbers like Blessings and The Journey Is Mine gradually get interspersed with Latin, ska and dancehall flavours until it becomes impossible not to shuffle along. Up next, ex-Idol contestant Ngaiire spreads her conscious soul/R&B message, however as a remarkable singer she could have benefited more from phatter live backing. Coincidentally, Melbourne’s Mista Savona can’t be faulted on any level – opening with a groovalicious instrumental, the powerhouse 12-piece (featuring a ranking MC who grinds in a true Kingston fashion) turn the Jandaiwal tent into a reggae-thon site. The boiling point arrives mid-set, when a guest female dancer steals the show with contest-worthy hip-shaking to an ecstatic African drum solo. Taking the night with them, the collective bow out with lilting recent single By The Way. Last to grace the Sunshine Stage, The Nomad cook up what can be best put as sticky roots-techno-D&B for those not yet depleted of energy; we’re completely danced out by then and head back to the tent. Groovy Friday night – over.
Saturday October 31
…starts with a morning swim in the ocean and a cruise around the breathtakingly beautiful area before we return to the fest.
Enchanted by the island’s scenic splendour, we almost completely miss the sensational Georgia Potter and her band – sorry Georgia, I owe you a proper story! – and walk over to the Big Top for some more Saritah). At the Biki, tribal groove merchants Oka impress with their didgeridoo, flute and percussion skills, but I don’t want to miss a minute of Byron Bay’s incendiary Fyah Walk and hurry us back to the Jandaiwal. Northern NSW’s roots reggae represent, the natty dreads’ patented three-part harmonies bring to mind The Abyssinians on smokin’ staples Blazing Fire, Once Again and call-and-response Outta Fire, generating prime rastaman vibration and a loud ovation at the end. The perspiration worked up calls for a sunset dip; cooled off, we head-nod to Kingfisha’s honest (if a bit plateau-ing) Aussie reggae and rocksteady, livened up the Augustus Pablo-like melodica and festival MC D-Kazman’s (of Dubmarine notoriety) guest ragga toasting. Tonight’s biggest attraction, NZ legends House Of Shem command the tent with their melodious reggae stylings, sweet vocals to the fore. The Steinberger guitars are a visual nod to the ‘80s, however the positive message-laden cuts like We Are The Children are cheese-free. Over at the Biki, Brisbane’s worldbeat specialists Afro Dizzi Act and Senegalese singer/kora wizard Jali Buba Kuyateh stir up all kinds of coastal music and Afro-funk styles, culminating with a delectable m’balax epic (replete with a skittering guitar/kora duel). Opting out of the traditional Spankinhide Procession To The Beach, we watch Gold Coasters A French Butler Called Smith send the Minjerribah Jungle Bar crazy with their manic Latin fusion stompers for a bit and call it a night. Pre-sleep admission: quite possibly the best Saturday I’ve had in a while.
Sunday November 1
Previously hot and sunny, the weather changes with the early morning shower and the ominous clouds keep hanging, opening up again during Bonjah’s Big Top set. The most ‘clean-cut’ act on the festival bill, the Melbourne-through-NZ combo gradually assemble a sizeable crowd as the wanderers run for cover. Given an apt Jamaican dressing, the quintet’s rootsy soul-pop gives room to funky jams and echo-drenched guitar solos. The skies clear in time for Brazil’s mighty Natiruts, who make sure the language barrier doesn’t get in the way of spreading the message of love. The elated Brazilian contingent chanting along to familiar anthems, it becomes really hard for me to take notes as the South American reggae legends inject blistering samba jams and resonating wah leads into their melody-dripping tunes. A rabid ska closer and a deafening crowd noise necessitate an African music encore – wow. The atmosphere becomes even more electrified when grinning Chali 2na and crew surface and get the swinging hip hop party started. Moved by the oceanic reaction, the Jurassic 5/Ozomatli stalwart utters “Woah, that was overwhelming – chill out, yo!” We don’t, he doesn’t and goes way overtime.
Announcing their arrival w - Rave Magazine

The Upsteppers were an act most festival goers were familiar with it seemed; Upstepper shirts were getting around left, right and centre. Unfortunately for these guys they had the unfortunate task of competing with the high energy performance that is the Chocolate Strings. These guys literally blew the socks off of the Island Vibe crowd; mixing soul, funk and reggae into one amazingly memorable performance. There wasn’t a still body in the crowd; all were taken over by the Chocolate Strings fever!

written by Cody Alexander (7 November 2009) - LifeMusicMedia

Tonight, the Valley’s Zoo nightclub was graced with the presence of Brisbane residential reggae infused dub funk-stars, The Chocolate Strings.
The eight-piece have been rocking out the joints of Brisbane and reggae festivals for years and tonight was definitely no exception.

The night began with fellow local artists Jack and the Giant Killers and Oka kick-starting with their tribal vibes, sending a warm and fuzzy sensation resonating about the room.

With the stage nice and warm, Chocolate Strings opened with one of their tracks from their debut album Carnival. Then in typical Chocolate Strings style the night was quickly transformed into a dread-whipping, feet stomping, bodies sweating, dance fest. The night had several highlights including a semi-strip off from guitarist Alex aka Altectious Groove, revealing his love-heart shaved chest, and a number of saxophone solos by a Mr Saxy Appleby which got the crowed whooping and howling for more.

Chocolate strings grooved for the rest of the set with numerous up-beat funk and dubbed infused jams from what could be their next release to follow, in which case I’m looking forward to it’s arrival! Lets hope they keep the good vibes coming!

Until then you can catch Chocolate Strings doing their thing at the up-coming Southern Oracle Festival mid May and the annual Woodford dreaming festival in June.

http://newsunlimited.com.au/2010/04/

written by Kate Scantleton (14 April 2010) - News Unlimited