Band Biography 2009
Cassette were nominated for 3 x MTN SAMA’s (South African Music Awards) in 2007 including that for Best Group, and ended up taking the award for Best Rock Album with their debut album, Welcome Back To Earth. They have collaborated with local South African legends such as the Mahotella Queens, Zubzand Vusi Mahlasela and have supported international artists such as Pink, Eagle Eye Cherry, Blof and many more. At the request of Nelson Mandela, they also opened the 46664 Concert in December last year.
They have had 6 major national hits in South Africa so far from their first album including Tracy, Beautiful Smile, Sometimes (featuring the Mahotella Queens) and AI. They have also had a national hit with an unplanned leaked B-side from their first album which is the cover of Boomtown Rats hit, I Don’t Like Mondays. They have produced three music videos in the past year, two of which have occupied the number one spot on MK89’s music video charts, while the video for ‘Sometimes’ reached the number one spot on MTV Base.
Their internet viral adverts for their music (and for the Cassette brand) have had more than 2 million international viewings online with three of these having been licensed by the BBC and German national TV for flighting in the UK and Europe.
They have toured Europe extensively in the past 2 years and in Jan 2008, became the first SA rock band ever to tour Japan. Cassette has been signed to record companies in 30 countries. Locally, they are recently signed to major record label, EMI and have been labelled by Elle Magazine as “The most exciting rock band in South African by far.”
In November, 2008 Cassette were nominated for an MTV Award for the BEST LIVE ACT in the world and played at the ceremony along with Kelly Rowland in Nigeria on November 22, 2008.
Cassette is known for their often-outrageous live performances and their dedication to entertainment, making news in South Africa on numerous occasions such as their recent protest against Zimbabwean dictator, Robert Mugabe during their headline slot at Oppikoppi Festival (see pic below) and their Guns N Roses spoof (after the band had cancelled their SA tour for the third time – see “Cassette do Guns N Roses” on YouTube CLICK HERE to watch), among others.
They are currently working on their second album with indie producer, Darry Torr (who won a Grammy last year) and Mark Needham who has worked with the Killers, Bloc Party, My Chemical Romance and many more.
Their first single from the new album, Who Do You Trust, is newly released and the album will be inSouth African shops in March 09.
