 |
Blog |
10.05.2010
Press release: The Sick-Leaves album Last Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
The Sick-Leaves: Last Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy
Independent | TSLCD003 For immediate release
The Sick-Leaves release third album Last Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Twice SAMA nominated artist The Sick-Leaves independently release highly anticipated third album Last Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy on 8th March 2010.
Johannesburg, South Africa. 8th March 2010 -- Renowned Grammy Award winning producer, Darryl Torr produced this album from The Sick-Leaves that was recorded in November 2009 at SABC?s M5 studio. The album follows from the critically acclaimed SAMA nominated first & second albums Tunnel Vision & Stone the Crow (2007 & 2009 respectively), with Stone the Crow also having been released independently. Bruce Dennill, editor of CitiVibe has said of the album: ?The Sick-Leaves continue to build one of South Africa's most intriguing musical brands with shorter, sharper, more accessible songs - including the blistering "Coz You Like It" - on new album "Last Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy".
Last Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy consists of eleven original songs as composed by singer/songwriter/guitarist Eksteen Jacobsz, with all instrumentation except for drums, tracked by him. These songs are punchy and catchy featuring epic guitar solos and new themes with a total album length being twenty minutes less than that of Tunnel Vision or Stone the Crow. The album is guitar driven rock, yet its sound differs quite considerably from that of the first two albums due to the influence of producer, Darryl Torr, the experience gained since the release of Stone the Crow in 2008 and a new direction in song writing. The album has already been well received in the media following the media launch held on Wednesday 24th February in association with Jose Cuervo at Narina Trogon, Johannesburg. Photographer Sean Brand designed all the album artwork using infrared photographs taken in Namibia to fit with the concept of the album.
Recent accolades for The Sick-Leaves include a 2010 MK Award nomination for the animated music video ?All These Foolish Things (I?ve said)? and a (Live)5 performance on national radio station 5FM?s live performance show at the end of January. The first single ?Coz you like it? is currently on rotation on regional & campus radio stations countrywide with previous singles off Tunnel Vision and Stone the Crow having reached the number one position on a number of SA campus charts. ?Such a Waster? & ?All These Foolish Things (I?ve said)? were play listed on 5FM. The Sick-Leaves performed at Ramfest Jo?burg, held on 6th March at Emmarentia Botanical Gardens and are on the line-up for Splashy Fen in April.
Upcoming and current media coverage of The Sick-Leaves includes a feature interview on ETV Showbiz Report, Vuzu V-Entertainment interview & performance footage from the launch, MK Live interview, MK Studio 1 interview, MK Extra interview from media launch, Speakerbox feature & photo gallery, Zoopy interview, MIO interview, Entertainment Africa event review Super 5 media interview, as well as extensive print, online & radio interviews to promote the album. The artist, Eksteen Jacobsz is excited for the release as saying: ?The album signals a new direction for The Sick-Leaves & yet it still contains all The Sick-Leaves elements that were put in place by the first two albums. I can?t wait to play these songs live and take it to new ears all around the country?.
High profile performances of 2009 included: Friday night main stage performance at Oppikoppi: Smoorverlief, Rocking the Daisies, Synergy Live, Pinkie Fest, Vrede Fest III, St Stithians College Arts festival, MK?s Studio 1 as well as many club gigs around the country in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Durban, Bloemfontein, Potchefstroom, Nelspruit and Polokwane. ?All These Foolish Things (I?ve said)? off Tunnel Vision was used as the soundtrack for the 2009 Rocking the Daisies tv & radio ad on 5FM, MK & Vuzu with the music video being on rotation on MTV Europe.
The Sick-Leaves are endorsed by Music Connection and are brand ambassadors for Springleap.
The Sick-Leaves is the solo project of Eksteen Jacobsz. The Sick-Leaves albums are available in stores nationally, internationally through CDBaby, Amazon and digitally through iTunes and other online sites with Last Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy to be available from 8th March.
Contact Linda Thompson for more information on The Sick-Leaves, interview requests or performance bookings.
###
Issued by:
Linda Thompson: One Minute Trolley Dash Productions
Email: Linda@omtd.co.za
Cell: 072 240 9433 / Office: 011 783 8732
www.facebook.com/thesickleaves
www.myspace.com/thesickleaves
www.twitter.com/thesickleaves
http://www.youtube.com/user/ejacobszuk
10.05.2010
Press release: The Sick-Leaves album Last Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
The Sick-Leaves: Last Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy
Independent | TSLCD003 For immediate release
The Sick-Leaves release third album Last Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Twice SAMA nominated artist The Sick-Leaves independently release highly anticipated third album Last Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy on 8th March 2010.
Johannesburg, South Africa. 8th March 2010 -- Renowned Grammy Award winning producer, Darryl Torr produced this album from The Sick-Leaves that was recorded in November 2009 at SABC?s M5 studio. The album follows from the critically acclaimed SAMA nominated first & second albums Tunnel Vision & Stone the Crow (2007 & 2009 respectively), with Stone the Crow also having been released independently. Bruce Dennill, editor of CitiVibe has said of the album: ?The Sick-Leaves continue to build one of South Africa's most intriguing musical brands with shorter, sharper, more accessible songs - including the blistering "Coz You Like It" - on new album "Last Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy".
Last Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy consists of eleven original songs as composed by singer/songwriter/guitarist Eksteen Jacobsz, with all instrumentation except for drums, tracked by him. These songs are punchy and catchy featuring epic guitar solos and new themes with a total album length being twenty minutes less than that of Tunnel Vision or Stone the Crow. The album is guitar driven rock, yet its sound differs quite considerably from that of the first two albums due to the influence of producer, Darryl Torr, the experience gained since the release of Stone the Crow in 2008 and a new direction in song writing. The album has already been well received in the media following the media launch held on Wednesday 24th February in association with Jose Cuervo at Narina Trogon, Johannesburg. Photographer Sean Brand designed all the album artwork using infrared photographs taken in Namibia to fit with the concept of the album.
Recent accolades for The Sick-Leaves include a 2010 MK Award nomination for the animated music video ?All These Foolish Things (I?ve said)? and a (Live)5 performance on national radio station 5FM?s live performance show at the end of January. The first single ?Coz you like it? is currently on rotation on regional & campus radio stations countrywide with previous singles off Tunnel Vision and Stone the Crow having reached the number one position on a number of SA campus charts. ?Such a Waster? & ?All These Foolish Things (I?ve said)? were play listed on 5FM. The Sick-Leaves performed at Ramfest Jo?burg, held on 6th March at Emmarentia Botanical Gardens and are on the line-up for Splashy Fen in April.
Upcoming and current media coverage of The Sick-Leaves includes a feature interview on ETV Showbiz Report, Vuzu V-Entertainment interview & performance footage from the launch, MK Live interview, MK Studio 1 interview, MK Extra interview from media launch, Speakerbox feature & photo gallery, Zoopy interview, MIO interview, Entertainment Africa event review Super 5 media interview, as well as extensive print, online & radio interviews to promote the album. The artist, Eksteen Jacobsz is excited for the release as saying: ?The album signals a new direction for The Sick-Leaves & yet it still contains all The Sick-Leaves elements that were put in place by the first two albums. I can?t wait to play these songs live and take it to new ears all around the country?.
High profile performances of 2009 included: Friday night main stage performance at Oppikoppi: Smoorverlief, Rocking the Daisies, Synergy Live, Pinkie Fest, Vrede Fest III, St Stithians College Arts festival, MK?s Studio 1 as well as many club gigs around the country in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Durban, Bloemfontein, Potchefstroom, Nelspruit and Polokwane. ?All These Foolish Things (I?ve said)? off Tunnel Vision was used as the soundtrack for the 2009 Rocking the Daisies tv & radio ad on 5FM, MK & Vuzu with the music video being on rotation on MTV Europe.
The Sick-Leaves are endorsed by Music Connection and are brand ambassadors for Springleap.
The Sick-Leaves is the solo project of Eksteen Jacobsz. The Sick-Leaves albums are available in stores nationally, internationally through CDBaby, Amazon and digitally through iTunes and other online sites with Last Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy to be available from 8th March.
Contact Linda Thompson for more information on The Sick-Leaves, interview requests or performance bookings.
###
Issued by:
Linda Thompson: One Minute Trolley Dash Productions
Email: Linda@omtd.co.za
Cell: 072 240 9433 / Office: 011 783 8732
www.facebook.com/thesickleaves
www.myspace.com/thesickleaves
www.twitter.com/thesickleaves
http://www.youtube.com/user/ejacobszuk
19.10.2009
Photos from The Sick-Leaves live performances
One Minute Trolley Dash Productions has been very busy over the past few months promoting and booking gigs for The Sick-Leaves.
The Sick-Leaves currently perform live as a two piece with Eksteen Jacobsz on guitar & vocals and Wayne Pictor on drums.
See The Sick-Leaves facebook fan page for photos from the gigs:
We've traveled to Cape Town, Durban, Polokwane, Nelspruit, Witbank, Pretoria, Potch, Bloem, twice to Durban...
Recent high profile gigs include a main stage performance at Opppikoppi, Rocking the Daisies, Vrede Fest & Pinkie Fest as well as the St Stithians College Arts Festival.
I have also booked a tour to Cape Town for the end of November when The Sick-Leaves perform at the Synergy Live festival.
Here are some live photos.
Photos by Sean Brand & Linda Thompson
10.03.2009
The Sick-Leaves release new music video: Missing
For immediate release
THE SICK-LEAVES RELEASE MUSIC VIDEO FOR RENDITION OF ?MISSING? BY EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL
Johannesburg, South Africa, February 11th 2009. --Johannesburg based artist The Sick-Leaves release the music video for his rendition of Everything but the Girl?s ?90s classic ?Missing?. The track went to number one on the KFM/Highveld Homebrew SA Top Ten with the video for Missing premiering on MKTV in December 2008.
Eksteen Jacobsz is the singer, songwriter and guitarist behind his solo project The Sick-Leaves, who have released two albums of original material with the first music video being a cover of British duo Everything but the girl?s 1994 hit ?Missing?.
The music video is currently on high rotation on MK and MTV Base and has been play listed on campus stations. The KFM/Highveld Homebrew chart consists solely of South African material that is voted for by the listeners. The Sick-Leaves remained on the chart for six weeks including their number one slot, which indicates an interest and liking of the song by the listening public. Despite this success, Highveld stereo has not play listed the song, maintaining that it is left of centre and therefore not applicable to their listeners. ?Missing? has not been play listed on 5 FM due to the original still being on their playlist.
The Sick-Leaves rendition of ?Missing? embodies the alternative/rock style of The Sick-Leaves sound that is characterised by intense multi-layered guitar work upon solid bass and drum rhythms with the striking high-pitched vocals of Eksteen Jacobsz as was captured on The Sick-Leaves? two albums.
Although both Sick-Leaves albums, Tunnel Vision (2006) and Stone the Crow (2008), were well received in the media, The Sick-Leaves have been unable to garner national radio play with the singles released off the second album, Stone the Crow. This prompted Jacobsz to pursue the option of recording a cover version. Stone the Crow has been described by Bruce Dennill of The Citizen newspaper (October 2008) as: ?Glowing with energy and capable of delivering on all its promises, Stone The Crow is one of the more exhilarating releases of the year so far.?
The music video was produced by Cape Town production company, West Fort Productions and shot on location in Scarborough on the 29th of September 2008 with the studio shots at JamSync studios, Cape Town on the 21st of September 2008. Jacques de Villiers edited the video with special effects by Adrian Burger to seamlessly combine the studio footage with the scenes and characters from the deserted wilderness of Scarborough.
The overall tone and direction for the music video was conceptualised by the director, Jenna Bass of West Fort Productions. The tone is post-apocalyptic and dreamlike resulting from the chosen landscape of Scarborough appearing as a sparse Karoo-like desert as well being due to it being shot at night in black and white which all convey the desperation of the characters.
The video features Eksteen Jacobsz peering down to Earth from outer space at the girl (starring Sara de Beer) below with whom he is unable to reach while she in turn searches in vain for him. A number of interesting characters in the video that add interest and heightens the desperate ominous mood.
Both Sick-Leaves albums are available in stores nationally, internationally through CDBaby and digitally through iTunes. The Sick-Leaves have recently completed their second music video for ?All these foolish things (I?ve said) off the SAMA nominated debut album, Tunnel Vision. The music video for ?The Black Disciples?, off Stone the Crow, is currently being finished for release in June 2009.
Both music videos are on the artist?s Youtube profile (http://www.youtube.com:80/user/ejacobszuk), myspace (www.myspace.com) and facebook fan page (The Sick-Leaves).
Contact Linda Thompson (details below) for more information on The Sick-Leaves, gig bookings or interview requests.
###
Issued by:
Linda Thompson
Email: Linda@omtd.co.za
www.myspace.com/thesickleaves
http://www.youtube.com/user/ejacobszuk
Facebook fan page: The Sick-Leaves.
Tel: 072 240 9433
011 783 8732
04.07.2008
The Wild Eyes played on 5 FM.
The Wild Eyes track 'Disko Inferno' was just played this evening on 5 FM!
The national commercial radio station!
It was played on live at 5, hosted by Catherine Strydom.
It was so exciting hearing The Wild Eyes on radio (besides Radio 2000 and Evan's show on FMR).
I couldn't believe it! I really enjoyed the mix, there was a lot of variety as well as an interview with Marc.
Marc was interviewed during the show, when he was asked for his favourite live bands, he said 'The Wild Eyes' and "Jim Neversink".
Great!
I've actually recently heard the master for the second Jim Neversink album titled 'Shakey is good'.
It is brilliant. I'm very impressed! Well done to them. They are doing a launch of it on the 15th of June at the Woodpecker Bowling club, Bez Valley Johannesburg.
Check out their myspace for details.
Marc has been of great support to the label and of the band. Looking forward to more shows and events that he is part of.
08.04.2008
Changes in the SA media - The Muso
A few much delayed postings regarding changes in the SA music industry and the associated areas.
The South African blog The Muso has been discontinued (possibly temporarily), which is unfortunate but I can understand The Muso & The Don's reasonings.
The Muso is a terrific independent site which focuses upon South African music as well as reviews and sample tracks of great indie artists internationally.
The blog developed a community of regular commenters from Johannesburg, Cape Town and arounds. I used to check back upon the site a few times a day to read the comments and updates from the likes of: pessimistic realist DJF, The enigmatic and cynical En's retorts, Rory, amongst others as well as themuso & the Don's devotion to Unit-r.
The blog successful generated a forum for discussions on the South African music industry and developments internationally. I particularly enjoyed the active discourse on the starting time of gigs in Cape Town which was initiated by DJF in 2006.
The Muso underwent a few visual changes but remained faithful to its independant noncommercial start which is to be respected.
I still check back regularly in the hope that the site has been revived, particularly after a loss of other music media platforms in South Africa (more on that later). There have been a few postings such as on the recent Unit-r album launch and My Coke Fest.
The site is worth a read, check back through the postings and comments that developed.
I appreciate the time and effort the guys took with the development and maintaining of the site. Respect!
The Muso is a terrific independent site which focuses upon South African music as well as reviews and sample tracks of great indie artists internationally.
The blog developed a community of regular commenters from Johannesburg, Cape Town and arounds. I used to check back upon the site a few times a day to read the comments and updates from the likes of: pessimistic realist DJF, The enigmatic and cynical En's retorts, Rory, amongst others as well as themuso & the Don's devotion to Unit-r.
The blog successful generated a forum for discussions on the South African music industry and developments internationally. I particularly enjoyed the active discourse on the starting time of gigs in Cape Town which was initiated by DJF in 2006.
The Muso underwent a few visual changes but remained faithful to its independant noncommercial start which is to be respected.
I still check back regularly in the hope that the site has been revived, particularly after a loss of other music media platforms in South Africa (more on that later). There have been a few postings such as on the recent Unit-r album launch and My Coke Fest.
The site is worth a read, check back through the postings and comments that developed.
I appreciate the time and effort the guys took with the development and maintaining of the site. Respect!
27.03.2008
C-mon Kypski tour to SA!
The C-mon and Kypski tour to South Africa is finally taking shape and getting formalised after much back and forth emailing, skypes and analysing of possible dates.
CK are a very busy band, currently touring the US in a campervan after playing South by South West. They will also be performing at the North Sea Jazz festival in July, after which it is planned for the band to fly to South Africa for a week long tour here.
I can't wait to be able to see the band perform again soon.
I am finalising which bands and venues C-mon and Kypski will be performing with when in South Africa.
We are looking at: Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg and hopefully Durban or possibly Bloemfontein as well.
Check back to the OMTD website soon for full tour details!
20.03.2008
Current listening
A quick post of what I am currently enjoying listening to:
Bishop Allen -
a two piece band from New York. I love their track: News from your bed. Off their second release: Broken String.
I heard about them after I brought back Bowerbirds from the US for Jordan last year with Bishop Allen being on the same Dead Oceans label. I then ordered the cd which is beautifully packaged, one of the best packaging I've seen and
Bishop Allen are wonderful catchy original pop tracks.
Duke Special -
His real name is Peter Wilson who is based in Belfast. He is piano based songwriter ith a warm and distinctive accented voice. His appearance is unique with long patchy dreadlocks and eyeliner. I first heard Duke Special through an SL magazine track.
10.01.2008
C-mon & Kypski review in January Blunt magazine
A belated welcome to 2008 and best wishes to everyone for an exciting and creative 2008!
C-mon & Kypski's album Where The Wild Things Are was reviewed in the December issues of both the SL magazine & Y mag.
There was also a review by Matt Fortune in the January issue of Blunt magazine.
The always magazine is well worth checking out.
After having seen the band live and hearing the album - I can definitely agree with Matt's remark that many CD store employees will be confused as to which section to place the album!
C-mon & Kypski's South African tour dates for 2008 are in the process of being confirmed and will be posted as soon as they are.
Have a brilliant 2008!
27.11.2007
C-mon & Kypski album review in December SL
Check out the latest SL magazine for the album review by Daniel Friedman of C-mon & Kypski's album Where The Wild Things are.
Limited copies of the album are available at stores countrywide. Buy one before they sell out!
