Zebra & Giraffe

Zebra & Giraffe (abbreviated to Z & G) is an alternative electronic rock band in South Africa. The band's debut album, "Collected Memories", was released on 5 May 2008 to much hype. The band's founder and lead singer is Greg Carlin, a JHB-based instrumentalist who played almost all of the instruments on "Collected Memories".

Later in May 2008, Z&G's first music video for the album's lead single "The Knife", was released, followed by the release of the second single of the album, "Arm Yourself" and a music video of "Arm Yourself" in August 2008.

History

Greg Carlin

Carlin grew up in Midrand where he attended Irene Primary before progressing to high school at Midrand High, which he graduated in 1999. Carlin first realised his passion for music after receiving a drum kit as a gift at the age of twelve.cite web |url=http://entertainment.iafrica.com/music/interviews/1054241.htm |title=What's in a name? |accessdate=2008-09-18 |last=van der Linden |first=Nils |date=July 30, 2008 |work=iafrica.com |publisher=Primedia Online] While at school, Carlin played in a short-lived band called MSG (1997-1999) – the name of an additive found in food products they took off a chip packet. After school, he went on to study Fine Arts at TUKS from 2001-2004, and also completed his honours degree, though he did not pursue fine art further.

During his time at university, Carlin took singing lessons for several months and also bought tutorial CDs from the US. While at university, Carlin was the bassist and vocalist for the band White Lie (2004-2005), a side project of the punk band Remedy. In spite of a radio hit called "Runaway", the band’s run was brief and they broke up because the other band members wanted to focus on varsity. After varsity, Carlin decided to travel and on his return worked intermittently as a contractor at Standard Bank during 2005 to 2007. He taught himself the guitar (his favourite instrument), as well as piano/keyboard, bass and drums (the only instrument he was ever trained in).

Carlin is an employee of record label Just Music where he handles the digital side of the business. He approached the head of the label, Karl Anderson, with a demo of his work and was offered a record deal.

"Collected Memories"

Carlin produced the band's debut album, "Collected Memories", with Darryl Torr from Harris Tweed. Carlin decided to play all the instruments on the album himself: “I had already recorded all the demos by myself so I knew all the parts and how I wanted them played. I just thought it would make much more sense for me to play it all than to get someone else.”citequote The album was released on May 5, 2008. Nils van der Linden of Iafrica.com described the album as "the kind of slick but dark electro rock you'd expect a fan of New Order and Joy Division to make".

"The Knife" was chosen as the album's first single, and Carlin enlisted South African cinematographer Rob Malpage and producer Warwick Allan to make the music video. Warwick had a concept for the video, but had not heard the song; they soon got together and adapted the concept to suit the song. The Knife was #1 for 3 weeks on the Hi5@5 on 5FM and was also #1 for 5 weeks on the PUKFM charts.cn|date=September 2008 It went to #1 on other South African campus stations. The video was #1 for a couple of weeks on the MK Top10 music videos in South Africa.fact|date=September 2008 The release of the album and the national success of "The Knife" meant the band were "causing quite a stir" according to Music Industry Online.cite web |url=http://www.pcmusic.co.za/newsitem.php?id=3241 |title=Harris Tweed and Zebra & Giraffe on national tour! |accessdate=2008-09-18 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date=August 13, 2008 |work=Music Industry Online |publisher=]

At this point, Carlin needed to find additional members in order to enable the band to perform live. Though he was reluctant to assemble a touring group, he recruited Alan Shenton (guitar), Andrew Maskell (bass), Rob Davidson (keyboards) and Darren Leader (drums). "Arm Yourself", the second single from "Collected Memories", as well as its music video (again directed by Allan) was released in August 2008.

Live performances

In August and September 2008, Z&G played with pop folk band Dear Reader (formerly known as Harris Tweed) on a nationwide tour, "O’ The Places You’ll Go".cite web |url=http://www.tonight.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4581745&fSectionId=431&fSetId=251 |title=Locals get many musical choices |accessdate=2008-09-18 |last=Milton |first=Evan |date=August 28, 2008 |work=Tonight |publisher=Independent News and Media] The tour encompassed performances in Tshwane, Johannesburg, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, George, Knysna, Port Elizabeth, East London and Durban. The band are confirmed to play Virgin Festival by Virgin Mobile, an international music festival taking place in Johannesburg on the December 13, in Durban on December 14 and in Cape Town on December 16. [cite web |url=http://www.andpop.com/article/12416 |title= Virgin Festival Goes To South Africa |accessdate=2008-09-18 |last=Lam |first=Eva |date=September 19, 2008 |work=andPOP |publisher=]

References

External links

* [http://www.zebraandgiraffe.co.za Zebra & Giraffe official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/zebraandgiraffe Z&G MySpace page]
* [http://www.youtube.com/zebraandgiraffe Z&G YouTube page]

Reviews

* [http://www.sonicbids.com/zebraandgiraffe Zebra & Giraffe] at Sonicbids.com
* [http://modernoptimist.co.za/zebra-and-giraffe-collected-memories-review Review of "Collected Memories"] at Modern Optimist
* [http://www.speakerbox.co.za/content/review.aspx?cat=Rock&id=77 Review of "Collected Memories"] at Speakerbox
* [http://www.samusicblog.co.za/index.php/2008/09/16/zebra-and-giraffe-klein-libertas-teater/ "Zebra and Giraffe @ Klein Libertas Teater"] , SA Music Blog, September 16, 2008.
* [http://www.samusicblog.co.za/index.php/2008/08/21/zebra-and-giraffe-interview-about-well-zebras-giraffes-and-being-kicked-out-of-a-zoo/ "Zebra and Giraffe Interview about, well, zebras, giraffe’s and being kicked out of a zoo"] , SA Music Blog, August 21, 2008.