Farryl Purkiss is a South African born singer-songwriter. Farryl first picked up the guitar when he was fifteen years old and began writing songs shortly after his sixteenth birthday. He self released an EP in 2005 that created waves in Durban and later that year began talks with 2Feet Music. He was signed to 2Feet Music soon after and started performing heavily outside of South Africa leading up to the release of his full length debut album, released in South Africa in 2007, to high acclaim, chart success and award nominations. He has since spent most of his time touring the world with over 140 gigs in 2007 and early 2008 .
“Fruitbats & Crows” (2009) is the long awaited follow up to Farryl Purkiss’s 2006 internationally critically acclaimed self titled album. In the past three years, Purkiss has toured Australia three times, Europe, USA and of course, South Africa. He’s had radio success in all of the above territories including Japan and a #1 in France with “La-Di-Da”. His songs have been used in campaigns by Nissan (Greece), Audi (UK), MTN (South Africa) as well as placement in the international film “Adopted” (featuring Pauly Shore). In 2007 he was voted the most popular musician by Heat Magazine (South Africa) and has been featured by every major newspaper, magazine, TV show and radio station in South Africa as well as an ambassador for Woolworths.
This album was produced by one of South Africa’s most successful producers, Brian O’Shea, who is responsible for albums by Watershed, Arno Carstens, Saron Gas, Sugardrive and Jesse Clegg, to mention a few. The album contains 12 brand new tracks and feature international guest musicians such as Ash Grunwald (Australia) and John Ellis (Tree 63).
Over 5000 units sold in South Africa (Debut album)
SOUTH AFRICAN CHARTING –
5FM - Top 40 with “Better days”, peaked at #3 with “Ducking and Diving”. (Approx 1.4 Million listeners)
Highveld 94.7 - Top 10 with “Ducking and Diving” and “Better Days” (Approx 1.1 Million Listeners)
“Playlisted on Key AC station, Jacaranda FM (Approx 1.5 Million listeners)
All key Campus Stations - Top 10 on TuksFM, UJFM, PUK FM, MFM, UCT Radio
“A Million Grains Of Sand” currently playlisted on stations such as Highveld Stereo, RSG, Campus Stations nationally (combined listenership of approx 4 million)
#1 hit on French national radio (FIP) with “La-Di-Da” and OUI FM (Paris)
Used for Audi TT’s Remastered (UK ) advertising campaign in 2007 with his cover of Bob Dylan’s “Positively Fourth Street”. His cover was personally approved by Dylan.
“Sticks & Stones” placed in popular ABC television show “Private Practice” (USA) in 2009
Toured Australia, UK, France and Germany in 2007 and USA in 2008
Performed at Musexpo in 2008 at House Of Blues on Sunset Boulevard
Played at Hofstra University’s Spring Day Festival to over 10 000 people
Supported Amy Speace at The Living Room (NYC) and Goldhawk (New Jersey)
Video playlisted on MTV Pulse (France)
Playlisted on national and regional stations in Australia including NOVA
Performed atBig Day Out in Perth, and Blues and Roots in Byron bay in 2007
Play listing on 82 radio stations in Germany
Charted on Tokyo FM in Japan
Featured artist on Tokyo FM in Japan
Reviewed in Q, Uncut, Huck, Mojo, Hit Sheet, Rock n Reel and TNT in the UK
CD of the month in Live Magazin Saar (Germany)
5 movie placements and 3 sync’s for TV advertising campaigns
“La Di Da” used in a TV advertising campaign for MTN (South Africa’s second biggestmobile phone service providers).
Nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Album at the South African Music Awards
Heat Magazine (South Africa’s biggest celebrity magazine) Hot 100 #19 most popular celebrity and #1 most popular musician (as voted for by the public)
Toured with Donovan Frankenreiter, Ben Lee , Bob Evans (in Australia) and South African dates with Missy Higgins
HeadlinedHighveld Stereo’s Homebrew gig (Sold Out – over 1000 people)
Invited to support Joe Jackson on South African tour in 2008
Performing at the Goldcoast Festival (Devon, UK) alongside Donovan Frankenreiter
Headlined South African Festival, Woodstock 9 (2007). Played to over 10 000 people.
Played 23 gigs in 30 days on Australian tour with Bob Evans. The pair performed in major and surrounding cities, including Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Tasmania, to more than 7 000 people collectively.
"He’s hailed as SA’s big singer-songwriter hope, and you’ll see why from song one... thoughtful and unpretentious lyrics and unaffected but expressive vocals complete a near-perfect package." - Jean Barker, www.24.com
"Purkiss is an extremely talented guitarist, and there is enough complexity throughout the album to keep you engaged. And he’s not all sweet sunshine lyrics either. Check out ’Before You Go’ to see just how truthful he can be. This is an album that gets better the more you listen to it, it’s a real treat." - Rebecca Khan / SL Magazine
"...there is a real musicality here that sets this album apart from the surfboard toting imitators. Solo acoustic instrumental "Speechless" is one of the albums highlights. "Please Stay" is uplifting and heartbreaking all at once, showing off this singer-songwriter’ s ability to make a deep impression with just a light touch of the guitar frets." - Laura MacIntyre, www.mediasearch.com.au
"...a charmingly open, friendly stage presence that pulls you in as his songs caress you with their easy melodies" - Michael Smith, Drum Media, Sydney, Australia
"...a great start from a promising songwriter with a voice of his own, and I can’t wait to see what the future yields. Get this album, in a few years you’ll be saying "Oh yeah, I remember listening to Farryl ages ago." He’s the kind of artist who you’ll want to build a long-term audio relationship with through the collection of every single album. Start yours now." - Matthew Christensen (4 out of 5)
"Farryl Purkiss is better than damn good, combining inventive guitar play with introspective wordplay on an album that’s delves deep in to the heart’s emotions. An absolute stunner! ... the best debut of the year." - Craig Canavan (4 out of 5)
"Purkiss gave a brilliant performance, apparently unfazed, despite the problems the crew encountered. The crowd also warmed up towards him and when he told a story about how he played with Jack Johnson in 2003 and how Johnson inspired him to finish his song Deja Vu, with which he’d been struggling, everyone became a fan before he stepped off stage just before 23h00." - Henri’l Veldtmann, Oppikoppi Festival 2006
