5FM’s Saturday afternoon show, (Live)⁵ with Catherine between 5pm and 7pm, is taking a love of live local and international music to a new level. In April 2010 5FM, in association with Jose Cuervo, are launching the first (Live)⁵ album that will feature over 40 live recorded tracks from over two years of live broadcasts from both local and international bands that have been featured on the show.

For 5FM’s Catherine Grenfell, producer and host of the station’s (Live)⁵ show, the CD is a culmination of many years of hard work and unabridged passion. “If you’re a fan of live music and South African music – who could ask for a better job, than hosting and producing a show like (Live)⁵? We have had the most unbelievable bands and experiences on the show. The intimacy of the show for the studio audience and the platform from 5fm for the bands to play to a national audience has made this show such an amazing experience for me. This CD is for the bands, the studio audience and you, the people that buy CD’s and support South African Music.”

Some of the local artists to be included on the new CD include Seether, the Parlotones, HHP, Prime Circle, Goldfish, Gang of Instrumentals, JR and Locnville. International performances who have appeared on (Live)⁵ and who will also be featured in the CD include Joss Stone, Staind, OK Go and The Ataris.

The (Live)⁵ double CD will be on shelf and available to purchase from the first week of May 2010. Watch out for (Live)⁵ album launch events in your city where you can see Catherine and other 5FM DJ’s in action as well as your favourite local music acts. You can buy copies of the very first (Live)⁵ album at the launch events as well as win free merchandise with 5FM and Jose Cuervo.

TRACK LISTING:

CD1:
1. Prime Circle – Consider Me
2. Seether – Fine Again
3. Locnville – Sun in My Pocket
4. Zebra & Giraffe – Arm Yourself
5. OK Go – Here it Goes Again
6. Joss Stone – Super Duper Love (Are You Diggin’ On Me?)
7. Loyiso ft Obita – I Want You
8. Harris Tweed – The Taxi Song
9. Evolver – Go All The Way
10. HHP – Let Me Be (Walk on By)
11. JR – Show Dem
12. Flash Republic – Emergency
13. Farryl Purkiss – A Million Grains of Sand
14. City Bowl Misers – Uh Huh
15. Taxi Violence – Untie Yourself
16. Stealing Love Jones – Out There
17. Sugardrive – Ten Feet High
18. Fire Through The Window – Just Like You Are

CD2:
1. The Parlotones – Giant Mistake
2. Staind – Everything Changes
3. Goldfish – This is How it Goes
4. Louise Carver – Home
5. The Ataris – Boys of Summer
6. Crash Car Burn – Heroes
7. Heroes Wear Red – Beautiful Way
8. Springbok Nude Girls – Wolfmen (Live at the Astoria)
9. Jozi – What’s With The Attitude
10. Gang of Instrumentals – Woza December
11. Koldproduk – You You & You
12. Bang Bang – Two Way
13. Jamali – Knowing Me Knowing You
14. Tasha Baxter – Fade to Black
15. The One Night Stands – Seconds
16. Josie Field – Every Now & Then
17. Voodoo Child – Megalomanic Attack
18. Flat Stanley – Sunset Ribbon Red
19. Jacques – Get Right

You can listen to the interview segment below.

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

In November 2009 Musketeer Records licensed the Native Noise brand for the release of ‘Native Noise Collection Vol.1 – The Seether Sessions’. The first in a series of planned releases to promote South African artists features the country’s most successful rock band. The Native Noise Collection includes acoustic versions of Seether’s biggest hits as well as interviews with the band. The album artwork features a number of my Seether photographs from various South African tours.

I launched a mini-site to promote the album and give fans access to additional content, like photographs, wallpapers and a desktop screensaver. The website is a very simple WordPress system with a custom built theme based on the album artwork.

Head over to www.nativenoisecollection.com/desktop-wallpapers to download your favourites.

Tune into South Africa’s national radio station this Saturday to hear tracks off The Native Noise Collection Vol.1 – The Seether Sessions. (Live)⁵ showcases top quality live recordings and in-studio performances. Your host, Catherine, is 5fm’s biggest supporter of rock music and a true asset to the South African music industry. This Saturday (the 16th January 2010), Catherine will be playing Seether songs from the Native Noise Collection. If you haven’t got your hands on the album yet, then tune in from 5pm to 6pm and hear why it is an integral part of any Seether fan’s collection.

Go to the download page to get your copy of the Native Noise Collection Seether screensaver.
http://www.nativenoisecollection.com/screensaver/

I used Adobe Flash to create an animated swf file and then two great pieces of free software to convert the animation into screensavers.
Instant Storm Screensaver Creator for Windows
SWF Screensaver for Mac

I’m really excited that The Native Noise Collection Vol.1 – The Seether Sessions is now available from all good music stores across South Africa.

You can order the album online from the following retailers:

The album has only been released in South Africa but OneWorld.co.za and Kalahari.net usually do international deliveries.

To celebrate the release I have created a brand new website dedicated to The Native Noise Collection at http://www.nativenoisecollection.com. The website is fairly basic at the moment but keep checking back as I’ll be adding lots of cool stuff in the weeks to come.

I have also created a Native Noise Page on Facebook, become a fan and stay in the loop with all the latest news about The Seether Sessions.

Back in 2002, Paul Seele launched a radio show on the University of Cape Town’s campus station. Native Noise focused on promoting South African music with an ethos of ‘thinking globally by support locally’. During a two year run, Paul interviewed over 165 local artists, promoting the country’s top acts as well as showcasing upcoming talent. The Native Noise radio show ended on a high note with the release of The Native Noise Acoustic Collection, a free MP3 album featuring some of the best songs performed live on the show.

In November 2009 Native Noise partnered with Musketeer Records for the release of ‘Native Noise Collection Vol. 1 – The Seether Sessions’. The album features a collection of rarities by South Africa’s most successful rock band on a 2CD set available exclusively in South Africa.

Disc 1 of ‘The Seether Sessions’ kicks off with the new song, ‘No Shelter’, a b-side from the gold selling hit album ‘Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces’. The disc continues with recordings from the band’s iTunes Originals sessions, previously unavailable in South Africa. Seether discusses their career from 1999 to 2008 alongside rare acoustic versions of songs including the hits ‘Fake It’, ‘Broken’ and ‘Rise Above This’. Fans will also be treated to covers of The Beatles’ ‘Across the Universe’ and Cole Porter’s ’I’ve Got You Under My Skin’ (made famous by Frank Sinatra) performed in Seether’s unique style.

A second disc captures the band’s live acoustic performance at the Grape Street Club, as featured in the 2006 release ‘One Cold Night’. The session includes hit singles ’The Gift’, ‘Truth’ and ‘Gasoline’ as well as a cover of Pearl Jam’s ‘Immortality’, fan favourite ‘Sympathetic’ and the early Saron Gas song, ‘Tied My Hands’.

No band could be more apt for the launch of The Native Noise Collection. Seether redefined the way people perceive South African rock and thanks to local support they went on to achieve global greatness. This exclusively South African release will be a valued asset to any Seether fan’s collection.

Tomorrow will be my last day in the Musketeer office. I am off to London for love, fame and fortune.

The last three years at Musketeer have been an incredible experience. I was able to work with a diverse range of artists from new acts to well established ones.

Here are a few of the highlights:

* Launching the very promising career of our pop-starlet Jessika.
* Receiving a SAMA nomination for our first jazz act; The Dan Wilson Mark Huggett Project.
* Finally signing Heroes Wear Red (even if I’m not here to promote the album).
* Making Fevertree impossible to ignore with incredible press coverage, a UK tour and massive performances at Coke Fest, Fall Out Boy and Ellis Park.
* Passing out in Seether’s dressing room while Metallica was on stage at the first Coke Fest tour in Cape Town.
* Seeing my photos appear in numerous publications (even if I wasn’t always credited for them).
* Getting Ian Henderson playlisted on every regional station without having to beg and pester music managers.
* Hearing the crowd sing along during 12th Avenue’s performance on the Seether tour.
* Working closely with Tuks FM for the awesome launch of Scarlet Box’s second album.
* Abusing my position in the music industry to start a backyard festival called JawFest with my mates.
* Working with the inspiring Verity and creating her limited edition multimedia CD.
* Releasing the greatest hits of one of my all-time favourite bands; Sugardrive.
* Replacing our monstrosity of a website with the sexy new www.musketeer.co.za
* Helping Seether earn their first local gold record, first SAMA, first MAMA and first sold-out arena tour.

It has been an incredible journey.

Thank you to all of you in the media for your support.

My duties will be taken over by David Elstins (a good friend, colleague and professional Englishman) and Gavin Wienand (the new guy that is already a legend in the SA music industry).

I’d like to extent an enormous thank you to Peter Lacey. Always more than a boss, as a mentor he gave me the encouragement and freedom to strive for greatness.

Back in 2005 he was the only man in the music industry willing to invest in the potential of a young campus radio DJ. I will always be grateful for that!

In parting I would like to leave you with a photo of my proudest accomplishment. Here I am grinning like an idiot with the award presented to me for gold certified sales of Seether’s latest album. May Musketeer Records have many more gold and platinum albums in the future.

So long, and thanks for all the fish

Paul Harold Seele
——————————-
Paul Seele
Head of Marketing – Musketeer Records
www.musketeer.co.za

Last night South African music channel MK revealed the nominees for the 2009 MK Awards.

Seether’s No.1 hit single ‘Rise Above This’, is nominated in the category “Campus Hit of the Year”

The winners of the MK Awards will be determined by public votes.

You can vote via the following means:
Website: http://beta.mnet.co.za/fanclub/voteCategoryItem.aspx?ClubID=642&catID=25&pID=41 (limited to 1 vote per day)
SMS: Send “Hit4” to 33676 (R1,50 – limited to 5 votes per day)
Mxit: Login to cast your vote (limited to 1 vote per day)
Voting closes on the 13th February 2009. Go to mktv.co.za for full voting rules

“Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces” has been Seether’s most successful album to date.
Local successes over the past year include:
* Three No.1 singles (‘Fake It’, ‘Rise Above This’ and ‘Breakdown’)
* The first Seether album to be certified Gold in South Africa
* Nominated for 3 South African Music Awards – winning Best Rock: English
* Nominated for 2 Mtv Africa Music Awards – winning Best Alternative
* Sold out arena tour (5,000 people per venue) in June 2008

South Africa’s most successful rock band, Seether, claimed the award for Best Alternative. The broad genre of the category had Seether up against Coldplay, Goldfish, The Parlotones and Buraka Som Sistema but the public vote made Seether the clear winners.

The award could only be expected with music videos for ‘Fake It’ and ‘Rise Above This’ earning Seether extensive television airplay the world over. The band’s latest single, ‘Breakdown’, was unveiled two weeks ago and is already on high rotation.

Seether was also nominated for the MTV Africa Artist of the Year award but lost to Nigerian performer D’banj. Six of the ten awards went to the host nation so Seether was proud to walk away with two nominations and one award.

Seether could not attend the ceremony due to prior US tour commitments with Staind and Papa Roach. The band pre-recorded an acceptance speech thanking all the fans at home for their support.

Bassist Dale Stewart commented; “We’ve been away from home for a very long time, we miss Africa a lot so getting this award is just great… We can’t wait to come home and play for you guys again. Hope to see you all soon.”

The award adds to Seether’s string of accolades in their home territory. The latest album, “Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces”, earned the band their first gold record in Southern Africa as well as their first South African Music Award. Now with the addition of a MAMA it seems that Seether will need to expand the trophy cabinet for many more awards to come.

The MTV Africa Awards will air on MTV Base (DSTV channel 322) on Saturday 29th November 2008 at 19:30 (GMT+2).

Help them win by voting online at: http://www.mama.mtvbase.com

Or vote via SMS
Best Alternative:
SMS “Alternative E” to the number below

Artist of the Year:
SMS “Year E” to the number below

South Africa
34002
R2 per SMS

Rest of the world
+45 609 910 232
Standard International SMS rates apply

Voting closes on Tuesday 18 November 2008

www.seether.com
www.myspace.com/seether

It could definitely be tightened up, but I don’t really have time to spend on that.

12th Avenue has grown from strength to strength since releasing their debut EP “Crazy” in 2005. The band’s first album, “Insane” elevated their status even further. In June 12th Avenue will unveil their third release with “Sober”. The group has undertaken the challenging task of carrying a concept through all three releases. “Sober” is the third and final chapter in the tragic love story of Anjee and 12. The tale adds depth to the music as well as reflecting the band’s growth as musicians over the years.

“’Sober’ reveals a new intensity in our music,” says frontman Mark Haze. “We’ve heard that our fans have been hoping, waiting and ultimately expecting us to get a bit fiercer on this new album, and we think they are really going to like it.”

Radio has embraced 12th Avenue providing two No.1 hit singles off previous releases. “Crazy” and “Living in My Life” both topped national station 5FM’s Hi5@5 chart.

The first single off “Sober” is bound to follow suit. “Time Bomb” has just hit South African airwaves with all the glory of 12th Avenue’s power riffs and an incredibly memorable chorus.

Commenting on the song Haze points out, “The single takes on a bit more of a fast paced and cutting edge style compared to some of our previous material, but still manages to keep the sound and energy of what we’ve done in the past.”

“Sober” will be launched in style as 12th Avenue hits the road on a nationwide tour to promote the album in June. Tour dates include a support slot on Seether’s SA Tour. The band is currently planning a UK Tour for later this year.

Scarlet Box made a lasting impression with their self titled debut album in 2004. They embraced the spotlight with smash hits “Everybody’s God”, “Love Hate” and “Just Be”. The band swiftly grew into an impressive live act with a dedicated fanbase. After four years of focused energy Scarlet Box is back with the powerful sophomore release; “And the Rest of Us Die Out”.

The rise to fame has presented many challenges and obstacles for Scarlet Box. The band’s singer and songwriter, Jenna Phillips, chose to transform these challenges into fuel for the creative fire.

“I’ve written this album to tie up the knots of my life until now” recalls Phillips. “We’ve been through a lot in the past few years, and instead of hampering on about it, I decided to write songs.”

The result is a revealing collection of work that will intrigue and captivate a broad range of listeners. Phillips hopes her songs will provide the same release for listeners as they have for her as a writer and performer. Thrusting these songs into the public domain is the best way to untie the knots that inspired them.

“Let it be the last time I focus on it!” She defiantly proclaims. “It’s all about shedding. Shedding old, unwanted skin. Hence the album title, “And the Rest of Us Die Out”, referring to all our old bygones. ”

The first single, “I Knew”, launched onto the airwaves instantly. The song was voted onto the Tuks FM Listener’s Top 10, entering at No.2. In Johannesburg “I Knew” has already started climbing the UJFM charts.

On the 14th June Tuks FM presents the launch of “And the Rest of Us Die Out”. The event takes place at Boston Tea Party in Menlyn. Entrance is R40 and doors open at 7pm.

Following the launch, Scarlet Box will head down to Port Elizabeth to support Seether on their South African Tour.

On Saturday night Seether claimed their first MTN South African Music Award in the category “Best Rock: English”. Seether’s debut album “Fragile”, and their second international studio album, “Karma and Effect”, were both nominated in previous years but didn’t win the judges over. “Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces”, however, went as far as earning Seether nominations in two of the Big Five categories; “Best Group/Duo” and “MTN Record of the Year”.

Since moving to the USA, Seether has grown into one of the top rock bands in the world. The band’s latest single, ‘Rise Above This’ is currently No.1 on international charts with previous single, ‘Fake It’, still maintaining positions on the Top20 airplay charts. Despite the status as world-wide rock stars the band is still most grateful for support from home.

“Were really happy that people still consider us a part of the South African music scene.” Bassist Dale Stewart reflects, “Were really proud of our roots. There was definitely some animosity from certain people when we set off overseas but I think now people are generally supportive and we’re really grateful.”

The group’s latest album is proving that rock is alive and well in South Africa. The SAMA winning album is earning extensive airplay on stations ranging from campus rock to adult contemporary. “Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces” is on the verge of gold status; a first for Seether’s home territory.

In June 2008, Seether returns to South Africa for a full band tour covering Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

South African fans have been aching to see the full band live since the first My Coke Fest concerts with Metallica in 2006. This past festive season front-man Shaun Morgan Welgemoed performed a few intimate acoustic shows and promised to return with the full band. True to Welgemoed’s word Seether is coming home in all their glory to play four shows across South Africa.

Excited about the tour Welgemoed reveals, “I love coming back to SA to play shows. I always feel so proud walking out onto a stage with SA fans in front of me. It’s a different audience. It’s very powerful. It’s very emotional performing back home. I love it.”

Seether’s South African dates kick off two days after a European tour including Germany’s Rock am Ring Festival and the main stage at England’s Download Festival. White Squall Events has procured the best indoor venues to house as many Seether fans as possible.

15 June 2008, Grand West Arena – Cape Town
16 June 2008, Standard Bank Arena – Johannesburg
20 June 2008, The Wave House – Durban
21 June 2008, UPE Sport Center – Port Elizabeth
Tickets will be available from Computicket from 15th May.

The second single off Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces, “Rise Above This” hit the airwaves while the nation was still singing along to the infectious chart-topper “Fake It”.

“Rise Above This” has already hit No.1 on 94.7′s Homebrew Top 10. The song is flying up campus radio’s local charts to Top 10 positions on TuksFM, UJFM, MFM, PukFM and RMR, with global chart positions in hot pursuit. Nationally “Rise Above This” looks likely to top 5FMs Top 40 where it is currently at No.19.

All the support from radio has seen the song shoot to No.13 on the SA Top 100 airplay charts, receiving over 90 spins last week.

The song is expected to keep moving as the music video hits television screens this week.

On Thursday night the nominees for the 14th Annual MTN South African Music Awards revealed “Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces” in the category “Best Rock: English”.  Seether is no stranger to the category, “Fragile”, the band’s local debut as Saron Gas, was nominated in 2001 while “Karma and Effect”, also earned a nomination in the 2006 awards. Seether is yet to win an award, but in three coveted categories it looks like it’ll be ‘third time’s a charm’ for 2008.

Seether is established as one of the top contemporary rock acts worldwide. With humble roots in South Africa, the band truly values the support from home. The second nomination for “Best Duo/Group” has Seether representing rock alongside heavyweights Freshlyground, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Malaika and Soul Brothers.

The first single, ‘Fake It’, shot to No.1 across the country. The infectiously catchy tune is up for the public vote for “MTN Record of the Year”. The current single gained high rotation instantly. ‘Rise Above This’ has already entered campus radio charts as well as sharing chart space with ‘Fake It’ on 94.7′s Homebrew chart.

Responding to the news from another nationwide American tour, Morgan chose his words carefully, “F#$% YEAH BABY!”

The latest album has broken new ground for Seether locally, outselling earlier albums in a few short months. With chart-topping singles and an album fast approaching gold status the team behind Seether is confident that these SAMA nominations are just the start.

“Rise Above This” is an incredibly personal song that front-man Shaun Morgan wrote about his brother Eugene in advance of his tragic death last year. With it, Seether sounds unexpectedly and ironically optimistic, a key theme throughout the new album.

“I used to think more about what the fans thought, but ultimately I wound up stunting myself creatively,” Morgan explains. “The point of being a musician
and writing music and being in a band is that I can write an optimistic-feeling, accessible song if I want. Even though it wasn’t written about an optimistic experience, I opted to see a positive in the situation. Rather than my usual reaction, which would be to get all piss-y and moan-y about it.”

The incredible success of “Fake It”, the first single off Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces, has certainly set the bar very high for Seether. The song topped every rock chart across the US as well as South Africa. “Fake It” was even embraced by more conservative radio, making it impossible to ignore. As a mainstream cross-over song, “Rise Above
This” is tipped to be an even bigger smash hit.

“The opinion that that song is going to elevate the band to a whole new place is awesome,” confesses Morgan, “but thinking about it I’m getting goosebumps because I don’t know what to expect.”

Fans eager to catch these rare intimate performances scooped up tickets instantly. Five sold-out shows with no sponsors and barely a week of promotion on the first two are certainly achievements that few artists could pull off. Morgan’s popularity and dedication to fans were further emphasized when signing sessions lasted thrice as long as the shows.

The final show of the tour will go down in the history books with over 5000 people rocking in the rain at Kirstenbosch Gardens. Contrary to his claims that he doesn’t do much other than play songs, Morgan knew exactly how to get the crowd going. Reworking the lyrics to the classic ‘Take Me Away’ he sang, “I want you to stay and take the rain away”, before jumping off stage to get wet with the fans.

Morgan has promised to bring the rest of Seether back for a full tour as soon as possible. For these shows he was supported by a few local artists including Simon Perry (The Tornados), Nick Argyros (16 Stittch), Dylan Hunt (Pestroy) and Grant Bez (MyEpic).

The local media love Morgan as much as the fans so he was in high demand. Radio interviews on 5FM, Radio 2000, East Coast Radio, Kfm and TuksFM reached almost every possible listener in the country. Reviews, interviews and features filled the pages of the most powerful press. This weekend interviews with Morgan will be screened on MK’s Studio One as well as The Showbiz Report on ETV.

Morgan is back in America now, filming the music video for the next single before heading on a Canadian tour. After such a phenomenal reception he is eager to play to South African audiences again. Commenting on the Kirstenbosch show he said that he was overwhelmed by the crowd and understood what it must feel like to be one of the Springboks.
Not bad for one guy and his acoustic guitar!

Catch Shaun Morgan hosting his Top 5 rock songs of 2007:
MK – Studio One – Friday 11th January – 19:30
Watch an interview and footage of the Kirstenbosch show:
ETV – The Showbiz Report – Saturday 12th January – 19:30

It is hard to imagine that “Fake It” was initially written as a joke about LA’s superficial lifestyle. It appears that the ever-humble Morgan is the perfect spokesman to deliver the message. On release “Fake It” was the most added song on US Rock radio. It has hit No.1 across American rock charts as well as local campus radio and now national airwaves with 5fm.

Morgan is currently performing a few intimate acoustic shows around South Africa to promote Seether’s new album, “Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces”. On Thursday 20^th Dec he made an appearance on 5fm’s drive-time show with DJ Fresh. Listeners flooded the phone lines and were sure to give Morgan a hero’s welcome home.

Performing without his bandmates seemed intimidating but two sold-out shows have barely required Morgan to sing his songs, thanks to fans helping out. At the Durban show on the 21^st Morgan had to wait for fans to finish singing happy birthday to him before continuing the set. Fans have three more chances to see Morgan performing unplugged in South Africa.

28 Dec – Mercury Live (Cape Town)
31 Dec – Phoenix Rising Festival (Kenton on Sea)
6 Jan – Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts (Cape Town)

Seether’s front-man will be performing at a few key shows around the country this festive season. Despite being on holiday the singer/guitarist of the international chart topping group will play unplugged to his fans back home. Seether has come a long way since their inception as Saron Gas in 2000. Making SA music history, the group was snatched up by Wind-Up Records in America; kickstarting a rise to success in the worldwide market.

Welgemoed’s acoustic shows will be the first opportunity for local fans to experience Seether’s new songs live. The smash-hit album, Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces, has become the fastest selling Seether record in South Africa. The first single, ‘Fake It’, has been ripping up the charts locally and internationally; placing Seether in a whole new league.

The Blues Room performance will be supported by three of the hottest local bands of the moment. Scarlet Box burst onto the scene with their debut album in 2004. Singer and guitarist Jenna Rose has been hard at work on a powerful new album, scheduled for release in early 2008. MyEpic has rocked stages with Seether on previous visits so it comes as no surprise that Welgemoed appreciates the group’s balls-to-the-wall Rock n Roll attitude. Newcomers, Holly and the Woods have kicked up quite a fuss in the last few months. The bands current single, Save Me, has been snatched up by local radio, giving the airwaves a much needed breath of fresh air.

Shaun Morgan Welgemoed of Seether – Full Tour dates:

20 December
The Blues Room (Johannesburg)
http://www.bluesroom.co.za

21 December
Burn Nightclub (Durban)
http://www.burn.co.za

28 December
Mercury Live (Cape Town)
http://www.mercuryl.co.za

31 December
The Phoenix Rising New Years Party (Kenton on Sea)
http://www.thephoenixrising.co.za

06 January
Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts (Cape Town)
http://www.sanbi.org/whatson/sunsetconcerts07.htm