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The Awakening (band)

Biography

The Awakening is a South African gothic rock band founded in Johannesburg in 1995 by vocalist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Ashton Nyte. Guitarist-vocalist Ashton Nyte began his musical career as frontman for the South African rock band Martyr’s Image, formed in early 1994. In 1995, Nyte asked Martyr’s Image bassist Jenni Hazell and guitarist Philip Booyens to join him in his new project, which was tentatively titled “Children of the Torch” but later changed to “The Awakening” just prior to their first show in February 1996. Immediately following The Awakening’s first performance, Nyte began production of his first studio album, Risen. The album was recorded at Mega Music Studios in Johannesburg with producer Leon Erasmus. More concerts followed, and amidst a steady schedule of shows Nyte returned to the studio to record his cover of the Simon and Garfunkel song “The Sounds of Silence.” The single went to No. 1 on South Africa’s rock charts and became a cult classic for South African rock. The Awakening became both immediately famous throughout South Africa and the focal point of much controversy due to the dark stylings and sound. The Awakening’s second album, Request, embraced the electronic and industrial sounds of 1980s new romantic movement. The Awakening began to achieve even more notice in the mainstream radio and media with the singles “Maree”, “Rain” and “Before I Leap.” Maree as a single sold over 5,000 copies in its first year without major label support and also went to #1 on the South African rock charts.[4] The Awakening’s first music video was shot for “Rain” by director Katinka Harrod. The video was shot in the middle of winter, which posed a unique and potentially dangerous challenge for Nyte, who performed under icy water during filming, was painted black in body paint, and hosed clean for other scenes. The video brought more public exposure and was aired on several music shows throughout Africa. In November 1998, Ashton Nyte launched his own independent record label, Intervention Arts, and reissued the two previous Awakening albums as remastered editions with bonus tracks and new layouts. The albums were picked up by US and German distributors, and as a result, The Awakening quickly built an international fan base. The hit single Rain was picked up in the US and featured on various radio stations and cd compilations. The Awakening’s music has evolved since its early years. While Risen strongly emphasizes an older school of guitar-driven gothic rock, Request embraced electronics and the 1980s new romantic movement. “Ethereal Menace” started the age of “dark-future-rock”—which is, as Nyte describes, “a hybrid of hard electronics and chunky guitars, with a strong dance floor undercurrent.” Nyte himself states David Bowie and Kate Bush as his “personal heroes” yet points out that his musical taste is “very broad”. Like many other artists who prefer to create under a band name, The Awakening is “the creative brainchild of Ashton Nyte.” Since its inception, the band has had a different live lineup for each tour but no permanent band members. Unless otherwise indicated, all album instrumentation, vocals and lyrics are written and performed by Nyte, who describes his goals of live performance as “a ritual-type experience based on theatrical on-stage appearance and performance.” He further describes the “elements of passion, beauty, poetry and theatrics” as the cornerstones of live shows.

News / Ranking / Titbits / Awards

The Awakening is credited in the press as “South Africa’s most successful gothic rock act and one of the top bands in the far broader alternative scene.”[2] The Awakening has had top charting radio singles and club rotation throughout South Africa, Europe, and the US and became the first gothic rock band to ever headline major national festivals throughout South Africa, including Oppikoppi and RAMfest,[3] and has performed to crowds of over 30,000. The sound has been described as a hybrid of gothic rock, darkwave, gothic metal, industrial rock, and new wave – a combination that was loosely described by Nyte in 1999 as “dark future rock.” The Awakening has released eleven studio albums, several singles, EPs, and two greatest hits compilations in total. As of 2009, The Awakening has been based in the United States.

Talent

The Awakening (band)

Biography

News / Ranking / Titbits / Awards

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