High on Fire by DeadAlphabet

Having started out in 2009, Dead Alphabet has evolved a dirty rock sound with a hint of garage and punk, and throbbing riffs and prodigious lyrics; they have climbed steadily in popularity and swelled their fan base. The band credits electronic music for re-shaping the way they see rock music and pushing the walls out with regards to what instruments they use to create their sound. Most recently they were nominated in the 2012 MK Awards under Best Rock Video category for the ‘Eat You Alive’ music video.

The Kill by DeadAlphabet

When asked how they felt about the nomination, Adam Edwards the vocalist and visual creator of the video explained, ‘It actually feels really great, we were selected as a defining video and song in a calendar year full of bands and artists trying their mightiest to be rock ’n roll. We would also like to have the opportunity to win something other than a beer drinking competition or the genetic lottery.’

So how did the actual video come about? ‘I went to the band with an idea and we all piled our cash together on a bed. After we were done throwing it in the air and slipping 10’s into Phil’s jockstrap we hired a forest and some rather fancy looking equipment and started shooting us playing a show in the dark.’ The cinematography was done by still photographers, Paul Shiakalis and Huw Morris, and Adam along with a colleague, Philip Davies, approached the visuals with trippy animation and kaleidoscopic effects in mind. I had to enquire about the inspiration for the lyrics. ‘It’s a story of dangerous courting and the promise of even more dangerous sex.’ The end result was a video focused on a live performance which engaged, entertained and used visuals to tie into the lyrics. Adam added, ‘This is no revolutionary idea, hopefully people think it looks cool and they listen to the song long enough for the subliminal messaging to do its work.’

Even though 2012 is not even at the teething stage, the band has not been resting on their laurels or recovering from any New Year’s benders, they are in the final stages of editing a music video for a song recorded late last year entitled ‘Blood on My Fist,’ due to be released as a single on radio and television with the video featuring footage of their recent European Tour. They are also currently booking a tour in the United States in June, ‘The U.S. is an exciting prospect because it is such a massive market with plenty of venues and a hunger for rock ’n roll.’ Accompanying them will be the shows unofficial extra band member and their very own paparazzo, Hanro Havenga, who was responsible for filming and photographing their European tour. Adam describes how his photographic work really captures the nuances of being on a tour and gives people a sense of what it’s like to live with them day to day.

The band is completely D.I.Y, with Adam on visuals and Philip controlling the engineering and mixing the recordings and the logistics and organization. ‘Phil likes to think he‘s in charge so he is quite good at that. Hugh and Justin buy the beer. This cannot be underestimated.’ Adam is quick to add that on a more serious note everyone contributes to the music. I had to ask if he could ask any musician a question, who would it be and what would he ask? ‘Lady Gaga. You show me yours, I’ll show you mine?’  Follow the band on their Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/#!/DEADALPHABET
Lick Yourself Clean by DeadAlphabet

Produced by Dead Alphabet, recorded live at the SABC. Co-engineered by Graham Klawansky and Kyle Sutcliffe. Featured in South African horror film Rancid

Rancid preview

Rancid First Look from Kamikaze Motion Pictures on Vimeo.

Words: Angelique Redmond

Photography: Mr Hanro Havenga

The Umuzi Photography club in conjunction with David Westhead and John Cole from Wilton Pictures recently exhibited the works of eight talented young photographers at the Oxo Tower on London’s Southbank. The exhibition named Wembley to Soweto is a collage of life for these eight young adults interspersed with photos from the 2010 Fifa World cup. The exhibition stands as a terse reminder that service delivery in many parts of Africa is still a pipedream.

While the images speak for themselves I had the chance to interview three of the photographers who are emerging as a talent to be reckoned with. First was Thapelo Motsumi, he stands nervously with hands in his pockets, a camera slung over his shoulder, Thapelo graduated high school last year and is currently on a gap year doing freelance photography for places such as Marie Claire and Vice. His philosophy on photography is simple, ‘I like pictures that have an impact, pictures that show peoples lives.’ His pictures at the exhibition sold out within hours and it’s not hard to see why, the simplicity and beauty in the still images stands in contrast to the subject matter, life in the township.

Shonnez Cassim knows what she wants and is on her way to getting it, a 19 year old student at the University of Johannesburg, Shonnez small frame may fool you but her personality and enthusiasm dwarf her pint size physique. She would like to integrate photography into child psychology and create a learning program for children who in turn would teach other children in the community. As she explains, ‘I’d just like to make a difference.’ For Shonnez there is something powerful in photography that highlights how little things people take for granted can have such a powerful impact on others.

Last up due to her shyness is Patience Ndhlovu, even though her hands flutter nervously and her voice comes out just louder than a whisper her photography speaks volumes, she explains that, ‘ If I want to tell people something I always know that it doesn’t have to be verbal, I can do it with pictures.’ A sixteen year old student with ambition, Patience is not just happy doing photography but also wants to be an accountant whilst continuing with her photographic work.

The Umuzi Photography club started with disposable cameras and a handful of students in 2009 to the present where they run courses from introduction to photography to advanced photography. Their successful model of teaching young disadvantaged children to show their world in photos is one that is going to see photography changing. With Wilton pictures involved in projects in other countries with similar backgrounds such as Brazil, with children from the favellas against the backdrop of the 2014 Fifa World Cup, this mode of photography could effect change that governments have failed to.

Umuzi in the meanwhile is set to expand their current model within South Africa, having already had over 150 students in Johannesburg pass through their learning centre in Bramfontein they are now looking towards expansion in Cape Town. One thing is for certain, the photographers from the Umuzi Photography club have taken a subject bled dry by the media and introduced a fresh new perspective into it. For more information on the exhibition check out their homepage www.umuziphotoclub.blogspot.com or go to www.wiltonpictures.com