Not all academic for Abbey Grange
DURBAN artists, Yuri Govender, 23, and his sister Cara, 25, known as Abbey Grange, will be jetting to Los Angeles on a musical adventure next week.
The duo won first place in the Lindt singing competition last year, bagging the trip and R10 000 prize money for their blues rock offerings.
With help from their producer, Greg Harver, the singing siblings will get to show off their ability at some of LA’s top entertainment hotspots.
Having secured several gigs already, they have extended their US stay by six months.
Since their emergence in 2013, Abbey Grange has had huge success online with songs like Reset Button, Run, and The Gates. Reset Button reached top slot on Tuks FM charts.
Abbey Grange is“one of South Africa’s 10 best new bands”, says Team Rock, an international rock music organisation.
The academically inclined siblings never planned a career in music, but after receiving positive reviews for a few impromptu performances, music has become their life.
Yuri has honours in mechanical engineering, and Cara has a BSc in maths and statistics, and honours in applied maths.
Her interest in music began a few years ago when their parents bought her a guitar.
She said the transition from hobby to professional singing, was “a natural process”.
Yuri has always had an interest in music and hearing his sister sing turned things around for both of them. Although he had no formal training, his skill with electric guitar, piano, violin and “a bit of percussion” moved them further towards music.
Inspired by The Beatles recording at Abbey Road Studios and Led Zepplin, apparently recording at a place called Hedley Grange, is how the band got its name. They are influenced by Coldplay and Mumford and Sons.