aKing
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Music
Press
This band has no press
Discography
aKING DISCOGRAPHY
The Red Blooded Years - 2011
Against all Odds – 2009
In the Twilight Sessions – 2008
Dutch Courage – 2008
THE RED BLOODED YEARS (2011)
“The Red Blooded Years” was recorded & produced Theo Crous, who also recorded & produced Against All Odds, at Bellville Studios. “It was an intense but fantastic experience,” says Hennie. “For those weeks of recording, there was another member in our band, which brought a whole new dynamic to the way we create music.” “Also, having more time to record, all the shared experiences, and the luxury of time to live through them, had a major impact on how we wrote and recorded this album,” adds Laudo.
AGAINST ALL ODDS (2009)
“Against all Odds is an anthem waiting for an audience.”
Andy Davis, www.mahala.co.za
“The boys from Belville are suburban poets. Lead singer Laudo Liebenberg and guitarist Hunter Kennedy’s stirring lyrics will kick you in the gut and leave you breathless.”
Yvonne Beyers, Huisgenoot/YOU Magazine
“As a full-length follow-up, Against All Odds is about as accomplished as they come.”
Thomas Oakes, Spin Earth
2009 saw aKING releasing their second full-length album “Against all Odds”. The album was enthusiastically received by fans as well as critics, and the first single, title track “Against All Odds” was playlisted on 5FM, Highveld Stereo, KFM, OFM, East Coast Radio, JacarandaFM, Red Cap Radio and campus radio stations nationwide, reaching various # 1 positions on national charts.
Towards the end of 2008, aKING recorded three songs as a project in collaboration with Cape Town-based production company Ghetto Vibrations, Khayelitsha United Mambaso and the Thokozani Brothers.
Downloadable track “Love your Neighbour” was playlisted on national campus radio stations in February 2009 and reached the # 1 position on the SA Top 10 at TuksFM, KovsieFM and UJFM. The video of “In the Twilight” reached the # 1 position on the MK Top 10 and is also screening on MTV Base.
IN THE TWILIGHT PROJECT (2009)
Towards the end of 2008 aKING recorded three songs as a project in collaboration with Cape Town-based production company Ghetto Vibrations, Khayelitsha United Mambaso and the Thokozani Brothers. The project resulted in In The Twilight, the three songs from which are available to be downloaded exclusively from www.rhythmonline.co.za.
Downloadable track “Love your Neighbour” was playlisted on national campus radio stations in February 2009 and reached the # 1 position on the SA Top 10 at TuksFM, KovsieFM and UJFM. The video of “In The Twilight” reached the # 1 position on the MK Top 10 and is also screening on MTV Base.
The album artwork for this online, 3-track EP can be downloaded from www.aKING.co.za
DUTCH COURAGE (2008)
“aKING is going to be big. Like really big. Dutch Courage has more hooks than Dennis Rodman’s face. “
Zane Henry, Argus Tonight
“It’s unlike anything local we’ve heard before... How many good tracks? All of them!”
Donnay Torr, Heat Magazine
“It may just take some Dutch Courage to change the face of the SA Music Industry.”
Natalie Egling, People Magazine
aKING’s debut album, “Dutch Courage”, was released in 2008. Yielding three # 1 hit singles, the album has been hailed as one of the best South African rock releases of 2008.
The first single “The Dance” was playlisted on national radio station 5FM and reached the #1 chart position on various national radio charts as well as a number of campus radio stations. A video of “The Dance” rotated on MK, SABC2, MTV Base and MNET. The video reached and maintained the #1 position on music channel MK’s Top 10 for seven weeks in a row.
The second single “Safe As Houses” was playlisted on radio stations 5FM, Highveld Stereo, JacarandaFM and OFM. “Safe As Houses” followed in the chart-topping footsteps of “The Dance” by also reaching the #2 position on the 5FM Hi 5 at 5 chart, as well as the #1 position on various campus radio stations.
A video of “Safe As Houses” was on rotation on MK and selected DSTV channels. The video reached the #1 position on music channel MK’s Top 10 Chart.
Photos
Bio
BIOGRAPHY
“aKING, through their intricately-spun stories of suburban survival, 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
aKING is currently one of South Africa’s top rock acts, drawing capacity crowds at venues and festivals across the country. Over three years, their energetic live sets and articulate, intelligent lyrics have won them scores of loyal fans across generational boundaries.
aKING is Laudo Liebenberg (lead vocals and lead guitar, Andrew Davenport – (rhythm guitar and backing vocals), Hennie van Halen (bass guitar) and Jaco “Snakehead” Venter (drums).
BACKGROUND
aKING is a melodic, alternative pop-rock band based in Cape Town, South Africa. The band was formed when Hunter Kennedy and Jaco Venter from Fokofpolisiekar joined musical forces with friends Laudo Liebenberg and Hennie van Halen in making music that expresses their shared experience of growing up in Cape Town’s northern suburbs, and a poetic take on South African life as a whole.
Laudo Liebenberg writes most of aKING’s lyrics, with Hunter Kennedy co-writing occasionally. As members of Fokofpolisiekar, Hunter Kennedy and Jaco Venter need no introduction to the South African music scene. Fokofpolisiekar has, since 2003, revolutionized the Afrikaans music scene by challenging and shifting rigid Afrikaans mindsets. Recently Hunter Kennedy's involvement with Die Heuwels Fantasties and Indie label Supra Familias filled up his schedule, Thieve frontman and guitarist Andrew Davenport joined the group filling the shoes of Hunter Kennedy.
Bassist Hennie van Halen is a high-school friend who studied for two years after school and worked in the sound industry before setting off to travel across China while teaching English. On his return he lived in the Fokofpolisiekar house while the band was away on tour – and it was in this time that he and Laudo started jamming and writing songs together.
AWARD NOMINATIONS
2010
aKING is nominated for a 2010 SAMA Award in the category Best Rock Album: English
aKING is nominated for a 2010 SAMA Award in the category Best Group
aKING is nominated for an MK Video Award for Best Music Video for the song "In The Twilight" .
aKING is nominated for an MK Video Award for Best Collaboration for the song "In The Twilight" .
2009
aKING is nominated for an MK Video Award for Best Video
aKING is nominated for Best Alternative Act at the MTV Africa (MAMA) Awards.
FESTIVALS AND TOURS
aKING has headlined at all major South African music festivals and venues. Performances include Oppikoppi Music Festival, KKNK National Arts Festival, Oppiaarde Festival, Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts as well as events such as Coke Zero Fest 2009 where the band shared the stage with international acts Oasis, Snow Patrol, Bullet for my Valentine, Panic at the Disco and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.
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