It’s hello Cape Town for genre-busting Bye Beneco band
BLUES, folk, psychedelia... Jozi band Bye Beneco find it difficult to pinpoint the genre their music falls into, and so have the critics so far. But that’s okay with the band.
“It means it’s something new and fresh,” says guitarist and vocalist LennyDee Doucha.
Bye Beneco will let Cape Town audience decide at a series of gigs this week as part of their Cosmic Ocean Tour.
Catch them at Music Experience in Gold Street, Paarden Eiland, tonight; at The Manila Bar in Longmarket Street on Friday; and at Yours Truly in Kloof Street on Saturday.
The four-piece, multi-genre band signed with Just Music a year ago.
“We had enough material to make an LP,” says drummer and guitarist Bergen Nielson. “We did a live recording demo with them, then pretty much went straight into full length.”
The result, after a month of working through the nights, was the album Space
Elephant, which they put together with the help of producer Matthew Fink.
“We had full creative control, but with his experience and influence where we needed it,” says Nielson.
Doucha says that while the band had most of their material organised ahead of time, the process of putting the album together involved a good deal of work-
‘Fans can expect something different to the album because our live performances are always unique’
shopping. “The whole experience turned out to be quite a free collaboration between all of us,” she says.
Drummer, percussionist and guitarist Matthew Watson says they went into the studio with material that was ready, they “finished the songs while in studio”.
Nielson agrees, adding that at times they didn’t really know where they were going. “It was our first time... and we got a great album out of it.”
One of the things they’re hoping to give fans who attend Cosmic Ocean gigs is great sound. “We’ve been jamming a lot and we’re well prepared,” says Nielson.
They will be joined on stage by flautist Ying-Poi De Lacy, who featured on Space
Elephant.
“Fans can expect something different to the album, because our live performances are always unique,” says Doucha, adding that incorporating the flute into some of their songs for the live shows adds a special element. “It’s intriguing and beautiful.”
Once they’ve wrapped up the tour, Bye Beneco will turn their attention to their next music video.
“It’s been in pre-production for three weeks already and it’s going to be pretty insane. The sets are looking crazy. It’s going to be very mentally stimulating.” says Doucha.
“It’s not a performance video or story video,” adds Nielson. “It’s a worked up mash-up of cool footage, dreamed up by the band. Visuals for visuals sake.”
Cape Town fans can look forward to seeing them again in September. And until then they will be hard at work. “We’ve got a lot of new material we’re working on, an album’s worth,” says Doucha.
“What’s cool is that whenever we practise or have a jam we come up with something new,” says vocalist and percussionist Jenny Dison. “We’re always inspired. And I still don’t think we can pin the genre down, even with the new stuff. It’s just happening naturally.”
Bye Beneco is grateful to Music Experience which has helped to make the tour a reality by sponsoring equipment, from drum sets to amps. “They’ve been awesome,” says Watson.