“The video was really cool to shoot, we were not too sure what to expect when Dougal pointed out the mountain top from the road below and said, “up there” but we trusted him and made the journey to the top.  Most of the video is filmed from behind the band or to the side, so you get to see what we are playing to, which is basically the Atlantic ocean!  There are some killer shots that he got as the sun was setting, where the band is playing to this wide open vista of sea and sky, a fitting location for a ‘Beautiful Life’”, comments guitarist, Graham Lowndes, on the making of the video.

“Beautiful Life” is the 2nd single from their self-titled debut album, released late in 2011 through 2 Feet Music. The album has already produced the hit single “I Did It For You“, and the latest single “Beautiful Life” is already making its way onto the playlist of some of SA’s top radio stations.

On writing the song, Graham Lowndes had this to say: “This was the first song we recorded for the album, it sums up one of our core beliefs as a band which is to live a life that’s beautiful.  We are optimistic for the future of our country and the world we inhabit and this song is an encouragement to live life to the full. It’s a song that cheers on a life of no regrets even if all the decisions made weren’t perfect.”

The band is not only filled with musical talent, but drummer Brendyn “Rusti” Rossouw, who recorded and co-produced The Rescu’s debut album, also recorded and co-produced The Dirty Skirts 2012 SAMA-winning album “Lost In The Fall” at his Heritage Sound studio.

On recording The Rescu‘s album compared to working with The Dirty Skirts, Rusti comments, “The process was similar in the fact that we had time to properly craft the songs and spend time away from the songs before committing to the final parts. We gave our album the same treatment technically that I would to The Skirts, but with a different atmosphere, because often we would slip a quick 2 hour bass session in amongst our busy schedules or Mike and Gray would be punching me in on a vocal part or Drum fill When doing The Skirts I was in that headspace solidly for 3 months. Mike’s songs translate so well in studio so it wasn’t very hard to make them happen.”

Watch The Rescu’s music video for “Beautiful Life” here:

“Working with someone of this caliber is like taking the master class you’ve always wanted but never had access to and now it is really happening. Its an absolutely amazing feeling!” said Graeme Watkins.

Graeme Watkins Project, often known simply as GWP, released their debut album Corridors of the Mind in 2011 and so far, it has spawned no fewer than 5 radio singles. The band is made up of Graeme Watkins (vocals), Rudo Pieterse (bass), Matthew Marinus (drums) and Ryno Zielie (guitar). A new album is currently in the making.

For more press information, contact Tim Hill, Tuned In Publicity on tim@tunedinpublicity.co.za or +27 82 888 5945 or Melissa Conradie, Sheer on melissa@sheer.co.za or +27 83 601 0487.

The band will be available for interviews on 12 May 2012.

About Graeme Watkins Project

It’s not often that the South African music scene sees a band explode the way The Graeme Watkins Project have in 2011, merely 4 months after the release of their debut album “Corridors of The Mind” in March 2011. In this short space of time they’ve already produced  2 Top 10 hits singles from the album, including a single which has had the crowds screaming for a band to “C’mon And Dance With Me” as the popular hook from their massive hit “Music Affair” hypnotizes the wave of fans at all their shows.

GWP brings a dirty, edgy, rough approach to a medley of pop, indie, rock and electronic genres.

“A Masterpiece is a stroke of genius in a moment of madness… So live life like a madman” is Graeme’s motto, and there is definitely madness incorporated into his music. When listening to the first three recorded demo’s, it’s hard to believe these songs were written and recorded over a 2 week period!

Channeling influences such as “The Springbok Nude girls”, “Boo!”, “The Killers” and even a hint of “Depeche Mode”, this unique sound is bound to inject a splice of energy into every listener. With the ADHD inspired beat, the music is designed to get the crowd into the mad-capped mindset of the band members, to break out of their comfort zone and rock out to the all-encompassing movement of the melody.

“Corridors Of The Mind” embodies 18 months of hard work and a track listing that showcases their impressive song writing talent, with songs such as “Music Affair”, which is already climbing the charts on SA’s top radio stations, the energetic opening track “I Gotta Know” (which they performed live on the ‘Gary The ToothFairy’s Royal Variety Show’), “Bloodshot Eyes” with its powerful chorus, the emotional ballad “The Last Night” and feel-good song “Holding On”.

The Graeme Watkins Project (GWP) is not just about Graeme, it’s made up of phenomenal musicians who can stand proud in their own musical right: Ryno Zeelie plays Lead Guitar, Rudo Pieterse on Bass and Matthew Marinus on drums.

This unit has managed to break the “cookie-cutter” mould of the stereotypical SA Pop-Rock sound by producing a fresh sounding album, with each of the original songs lined with raw, pure emotion … pretty much exactly what everyone, not only the SA Music scene, needs right now.

About Jeff Blue

Jeff Blue is a multi-platinum music producer, A&R executive, BMI award-winning songwriter, and musician. He has dedicated his entire career to artist development resulting in more than 130 Million record sales worldwide.

As Sr. VP A&R/Staff Producer for Warner Bros. Records, Interscope Records, Virgin/Capitol Music Group, Sony/BMG/Jive Records, and RCA/J Records, Blue has helped shape popular culture for the last 15 years. He is responsible for discovering and developing Linkin Park, Macy Gray, Daniel Powter, and The Last Goodnight. In addition to signing Limp Bizkit and Korn, writing hit singles for artists such as Hoobastank, Macy Gray, and TLG, he has produced numerous platinum movie soundtracks & major label albums.

Blue graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. After passing the Bar, Blue worked as a music journalist for Billboard, HITS and Entertainment Weekly, and eventually published his own magazine, Crossroads, which focused on discovering unsigned artists. He simultaneously managed, produced, and played drums in two signed Major label bands while also working as an attorney for the law offices of Ross Schwartz.

While teaching “Songwriting” and “Artist Development” classes at UCLA , Blue hired guitarist Brad Delson as his intern and signed his band, Xero to a publishing deal on the night of their first performance. After developing Xero for two years, and changing the band name to Hybrid Theory, Blue met Chester Bennington, a singer from Arizona. Blue arranged for Bennington to become a member of the band, which later changed its name to Linkin Park. Blue shopped the band for three years and showcased them forty-four times. Unable to get them a deal, Blue negotiated his employment contract with Warner Bros. Records to include the signing of Linkin Park. Months later, they released their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which has since sold over 60 million albums worldwide.

Blue is currently signed as a songwriter to Universal Music Publishing where he co-wrote the 2009 hit single “So Close, So Far” for multi-Platinum artist Hoobastank. He additionally co-wrote, produced, and performed on the platinum 2009 BMI pop award winnerand 2008 Australian #1 song of the year, “Pictures of You”, and “Stay Beautiful” for The Last Goodnight.

His company Rock Shop Music Group, launched December 2009, focuses on writing and producing for major artists as well as artist development and management. Rock Shop has already yielded three major label signings. Emphatic to Atlantic Records, Shoreline’s End to Island Def Jam, and Syndicate to Sony. In addition, Blue Developed Shawn Hlookoff (EMI), Jared Lee (Universal).

“We slaved over ‘Lost in the fall’ and are thrilled that the effort has been recognised with a SAMA.” replies an overwhelmed David Moffatt, from The Dirty Skirts, when asked about their SAMA win.

The Dirty Skirts have also just released their brand new single “Don’t Throw Away Your Dancing Shoes” taken from the SAMA winning album “Lost In The Fall” and the music video for the single is due for release later in May. Listen to the single here: http://soundcloud.com/thedirtyskirts/dont-throw-away-your-dancing

An elated Gareth Lee from The Plain Truth responds, “Congrats to all the nominees and winners of the SAMA’s this year. It was an awesome production! The stakes were high and the competition was fierce, but at the end of the day, the real winner is South African music! We are so excited to have won the SAMA – it’s a real honor! Well done to the other bands in our category as well. We’ll see you again next year!”

“Taking It Higher” is the current single from The Plain Truth’s SAMA winning album “We Are The Shining Ones” and can be heard on this video from The Christian Family Church in Johannesburg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6K0Q8sxrUA.

The Plain Truth are also currently writing for their new album, which is set to be recorded early in October and released for Christmas 2012.

The Plain Truth can be seen live at the following events:

God Rocks Hatfield Square – 5 May@19h00 (Hatfield Square, Pretoria)

Rhema South Family Church – 15 June@19h00

Director: Jason Fialkov (Egg Films)

Editor: Lucian Barnard
Distributed by:  2 Feet Music, an imprint of Sheer Sound cc (www.2feetmusic.com)

View the uncensored music video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmYfCVy9I44

Watch the behind-the-scenes video, courtesy of Boom FM: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdJ7jGbQ9UU

More information:
SAMA 2012 nominees in the categories for Best Rock Album and Best Duo or Group of the Year, Taxi Violence, has just released their music video for Unholy.  These rockers are bringing an offering sure to melt TV and computer screens country-wide.

Unholy is a stylish performance piece by Taxi Violence and features sizzling snippets of model and actress, Tanit Phoenix.  The music video was shot and directed by Jason Fialkov from Egg Films.

Jason, a well-known former Sports Illustrated videographer, has directed advertisements for MTN, Engen /Wimpy.  He says: “it was amazing experience shooting with the guys from Taxi, they are a great performing group, we had lots of fun and laughs working on this project.  A big thank you to Lucian Barnard (Editor) from Aces UP post production, who did an amazing job with the edit.”

“The song is really just about people getting up to no good and doing things that are regarded as wicked or ‘naughty’ but instead of feeling guilty about it, they embrace it. Whilst shooting with director Jason Fialkov on a closed set (for obvious reasons) Tanit Phoenix embraces those elements and made sure to a turn up the heat when she suggested a ‘friend ‘ join her for a performance that was already quite risqué by nature. Her performance, our music and the director’s great understanding of the music, in our opinion, was captured perfectly in true rock ‘n roll bliss and embodies everything the song stands for and is about!”  George van der Spuy, lead singer of Taxi Violence.

Unholy is a stylish performance piece by Taxi Violence and features sizzling snippets of model and actress, Tanit Phoenix.  The music video was shot and directed by Jason Fialkov from Egg Films.

Jason, a well-known former Sports Illustrated photographer, has directed advertisements for MTN, Engen and Wimpy.  He says: “it was amazing experience shooting with the guys from Taxi, they are a great performing group,  we had lots of fun and laughs working on this project.  A big thank you to Lucian Barnard (Editor) from Aces UP post production, who did an amazing job with the edit.”

Watch the behind-the-scenes video, courtesy of Boom FM: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdJ7jGbQ9UU

“The song is really just about people getting up to no good and doing things that are regarded as wicked or ‘naughty’ but instead of feeling guilty about it, they embrace it. Whilst shooting with director Jason Fialkov on a closed set (for obvious reasons) Tanit Phoenix embraces those elements and made sure to a turn up the heat when she suggested a ‘friend ‘ join her for a performance that was already quite risqué by nature. Her performance, our music and the director’s great understanding of the music, in our opinion, was captured perfectly in true rock ‘n roll bliss and embodies everything the song stands for and is about!”  George van der Spuy, lead singer of Taxi Violence.