Music
Press
“aKING is going to be big. Like really big. Dutch Courage has more hooks than Dennis Rodman`s face. 'Guilty as Sin' is a brave chest-slapper that U2 wouldn`t have the cajones to write.”
Zane Henry, The Argus Tonight - The Argus Tonight
“It`s unlike anything local we`ve heard before: A highly addictive mix of pop-rock sensibilities, alternative catchy vibes and cynically sing-along lyrics. How many good tracks? All of them!”
Donnay Torr, Heat magazine
(5/5 star review) - Heat Magazine
“Their music is of international standard.”
Bryone Mc Cormick
Saltwater Girl magazine - Saltwater Girl Magazine
“It may just take some Dutch Courage to change the face of the SA Music Industry. Outstanding!”
Natalie Egling, People Magazine (5/5 star review) - People Magazine
“I would highly recommend that you add this to your CD collection, maybe even having it signed because if this isn’t their breakout album, the next one will be.”
Heanel Oosthuizen
Jacarandafm.com - Jacarandafm.com
“aKING, through their intricately spun stories of suburban survivalism, give profundity to blue collar life in a South African context. It doesn't hurt that they're brilliant at it.”
Xavier vd Sandt
Cape Town Independent Newspapers - Cape Town Independent Newspapers
“aKING is a band that has single-handedly changed the way in which rock music is ingested, digested and ultimately celebrated.”
Jason Curtis
Judge
South African Music Awards (SAMA) - South African Music Awards (SAMA)
Discography
Dutch Courage (2008)
Against All Odds (2009)
Photos
Bio
“aKING is a band that has single-handedly changed the way in which rock music is ingested, digested and ultimately celebrated.” Jason Curtis, Judge - South African Music Awards (SAMA)
Expect uncompromising, focused energy. Sing-along alternative country-inspired songs and Classic Rock anthems are at the order of the day. The tongue-in-cheek and cynical, yet sometimes sentimental lyrics are mixed with an infectious, positive energy to accurately describe the strange contrast of their unique socio-political situation. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, aKING is a band with unlimited aspirations, but totally aware and in-tune with where they come from. Their music is an audio diary of life and survival in the suburbs of South Africa while the band’s influences originate from an international mix of artists such as Foo Fighters, Thin Lizzy, Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon.
aKING`s debut album “Dutch Courage” (all the band members are Afrikaans) has been hailed as one of the best rock releases in Africa. It was released in February 2008 and contains 11 original English rock tracks. The album reached No.3 position Best Albums of 2008 by FHM magazine in March 2009, only topped by international albums of Metallica and AC/DC…
“It`s unlike anything local we`ve heard before: A highly addictive mix of pop-rock sensibilities, alternative catchy vibes and cynically sing-along lyrics. How many good tracks? All of them!” Donnay Torr, Heat magazine (5/5 star review.)
With ‘The Dance’, ‘Safe As Houses’ and ‘Guilty As Sin’, the album delivered 3 No.1 hit singles, all reaching Top 10 chart positions on South Africa’s major national radio station 5FM as well as several No.1 chart positions on South Africa’s leading campus radio stations Tuks FM, UJFM, RMR, MFM, PukFM, just to mention a few…
The video for the single ‘The Dance’ rotated on MK, SABC 2, MTV Base and MNET and reached and maintained No.1 position on MK Top 10 for seven weeks in row. The video ‘Safe as Houses’ was on rotation on MK and selected DSTV channels and reached No.1 on MK Top 10 Chart on Sat 12 July.
aKING are known for their legendary live performances and have performed at many of South Africa’s largest Rock festivals such as Oppikoppi, Witchfest and Ramfest just to name a few, and have also performed at the Cuervo Tequila National Festival as well as the MTV Campus Tour. In March 2009 aKING performed at the Coke Zero Festival in Cape Town and Johannesburg where they shared the stage with international acts like Oasis, Snow Patrol and Panic At The Disco.
Since the launch of “Dutch Courage”, aKING has been receiving rave reviews and extensive coverage in national newspapers and magazines. They have been invited for guest appearances on various television shows including Pasella SABC 2, Nicky Greenwall`s Showbiz Report on ETV, Artcha SABC 2, KADA SABC 2, Glitterati, kykNET and Noted, SABC 3.
“aKING is going to be big. Like really big. Dutch Courage has more hooks than Dennis Rodman`s face. “Guilty as Sin” is a brave chest-slapper that U2 wouldn`t have the cajones to write.” Zane Henry, Argus Tonight.
Following the runaway success of their first full length album “Dutch Courage”, aKING present “Against all Odds”, their next delivery of chart-topping power tunes.
Produced by multiple award winning producer Theo Crous, “Against all Odds” introduces marked progression and a new edge to aKING`s pop rock identity.
The eleven new tracks offer a variety of melodic moods, for example the punchy pop rock title track “Against all Odds”, classical rock arrangements like “The heart of a Fool”, and an anthemic ballad “You and I”. The melodical sing along acoustic arrangement of “Know your Bones” showcases aKing’s brilliant song writing abilities. The track “Facebrick Constellations” provides you with a lush indulgence in Southern Mississippi dark swampy guitar sounds.
aKING manages yet again to capture the strange contrast of their unique socio-political situation. Whereas “Dutch Courage” had a more tongue in the cheek ring to it, “Against all Odds” is more direct, cutting to the bone. It is still driven with the infectious, sing along positive energy that currently distinguishes aKING as one of SA`s most significant bands.
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