African rhythms head to Europe

Two years ago, “kasi pop” band Native Young were born in a garage in Gugulethu.

They were formed in the garage of a marimba maker and today the band produces a sound somewhere between psychedelic electro and alternative pop, making use of a variety of instruments from saxophone to the marimba.

Later this month, Native Young will release their mini album Kings, recorded with the Muizenberg-based studio Rootspring.

Before heading to Europe to promote Kings, Native Young will close their South African season with a Cafe Roux Session at the restaurant in Noordhoek on May 19 and an album launch in at the Marcus Garvey Rastafari Community in Philippi on May 21.

Band frontman Yannick Meyer, said playing in Noordhoek before they leave is very apt.

“Cafe Roux is really cool. We will be closing off the South African leg of this project. I wrote some of the music while living in a house in Noordhoek and we’ve never played there before.”

In 2014, Meyer met a seven-piece marimba band and was invited to “jam” with them in Gugulethu. A week before, he had met electric guitarist and percussionist Alejandro Serra from Spain, who was couch surfing in Cape Town. Meyer invited Serra along to the jam.

From there, Meyer started using the marimba in an electric context. Native Young then set to work rehearsing in Philippi before attempting “pop-up performances”.

“When we had nine or 10 songs ready, we decided to go play on the street. It was incredible. In October 2014, we did First Thursday with a full Marimba set. We had about 100 people jamming for us in the street.”

Since then, Native Young has scaled down to a four-piece with Mark Sikele on marimbas and Vuyani Dyoli on drums and electric drums completing the outfit.

Kings will be released digitally at the end of the month while there are plans to release an independent electronic EP AM Waves and a live acoustic album later this year.

“We finished the album at the end of February and will be releasing to iTunes and Bandcamp. We are also planning a music video for the single Crystal Lion.”

Meyer feels the band has a different live sound when compared to that on their album.

“Our instruments are all unique. It’s very unusual sounds and combinations. We have a very vocal presence, everyone sings.”

The plan is to experiment with languages and bring in the Xhosa skills of Sikele and Dyoli.

“For the next album we want to flip things on their head. Now we have pop lyrics with African instrumentation. For the next album we want to try African lyrics over a pop sound.”

Lindi Green of Cafe Roux said the Cafe Roux Sessions had been on for three years. The artists receive the full proceeds of the tickets.

The sessions have a dinner theatre-style format and Cafe Roux offers a small menu.

l Tickets for the Native Young at the Cafe Roux Sessions are at Webtickets. See caferouxsessions. co.za or follow @caferoux1 on Twitter.

For Native Young, follow @iamnativeyoung on Twitter, nativeyoung on Instagram and listen to their tracks at soundcloud.com/iamnativeyoung.