Indie rock band Sunways formed in 1998 in Kwa-Zulu-Natal, South Africa. The band released their first EP called No More Heavy at the end of the same year. Both album and single, Venus in her Eyes, received widespread critical acclaim. First single, Venus in her Eyes received nationwide airplay and charted on both regional and campus stations. The band shot and directed their first video for the single and this video can be found on most recent CD release, Three. No More Heavy received two South African Music Award nominations in the categories Best Rock Album and Best Duo or Group the following year.
After extensive touring around South including clubs and festivals, the band released their second CD, full-length album The Moon is a Spoon, which in 2002 won the band the prestigious Best Rock Album at the SAMAs. First single, Style, charted on national, regional and campus stations, and second single Colour Me In charted around the country and was a national top Ten hit. Music videos for both Style and Colour Me In were released (Colour Me In was again shot and directed by the band and is included as a bonus visual on the album The Moon is a Spoon).
The band recently recorded their third album, Three, which includes unplugged tracks, brand new material as well as three music videos. In addition, the band filmed the music video for first single, Always say the Words, which has received massive television coverage on all the national televison stations throughout South Africa.
Known for their powerful live perfomances and hard working ethic, Sunways have toured all over South Africa including all the major festivals (Woodstock, Oppikoppi, Easter Rock Festival, State of the Nation, Awesome Africa Festival, Southern Cross and Splashy Fen, etc.) and have also performed live on radion stations and television programmes.
Sunways embarked on their first international tour at the end of 2001, the tour comprising dates all over Northern Ireland and a performance in Leeds as well as an unplugged set on Channel 9 TV, Derry.
In May 2003, the band returned to the UK to continue touring abroad and are currently based in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Sunways songs are published by Sony SA.
See below for quotations from South African publications:
"Armed with . . . their instruments, passion, talent and that undefinable 'other' quality . . . Sunways are on a long-term mission to be a world force." Sunday Times Magazine SA
"Remarkable...there really never has been a band like this to come out of South Africa." (Personality Magazine)
"...it was left to the international contingent of Belgians and French - along with the fiery melodic rock trio Sunways to bring some gloss and class to the first day." Craig Canavan & Diane de Beer (Pretoria News) on Oppikoppi Festival 2001
"Sunways create dark, sexy pop that'll send your planet into orbit." Michelle Constant (Oppikoppi supplement - SL Magazine)
"The musical variety was awesome... With music fans spoilt for choice, for this hack the festival highlight was the awesome performance by Sunways." Christina Kennedy (The Citizen) on Woodstock Festival 2001
"The band have chalked up massive popularity in their short existence, and have a profound knack for fusing soaring pop songs with squalling punk intensity." (Mail & Guardian)
"Sunways are a polished rock band who hail from South Africa and have been winning fans over there since the release of their debut album 'The Moon is a Spoon' in April of this year. They've come over to Ireland this month to play some gigs and make some new friends. (Sunways play) strong, melodic, rock music with finely crafted songs." BBC United Kingdom
"Based on the familiar formula of downbeat verse/monster chorus, there is such a detonation of energy when front-man Robbie Boake hits the overdrive pedal and crashes into the chorus, that he makes it feel like the first time all over again." (SL Magazine)
"Looking lean and mean and sounding jaggedly beautiful, Sunways reminded me again why the three-piece remains rock's Magic Formula. (SL Magazine)
"Their long awaited debut album set tongues a wagging and even some charts alight with its delicious mix of pop and rock." www.sasounds.com Best Album of 2001 & Best Video of 2001 for Colour Me In
ALBUMS
NO MORE HEAVY (5 song EP)
THE MOON IS A SPOON (10 song album enhanced with COLOUR ME IN video)
THREE (8 song album - enhanced with videos ROCKETSHIP, LIVE AT THE EMPIRE MUSIC HALL, BELFAST and VENUS IN HER EYES)
COMPILATIONS
TDK MUSIC EXPLOSION
SWERVE 11
WICKED ROCK
SL COMPILATION
VIDEOS
VENUS IN HER EYES
COLOUR ME IN
ROCKETSHIP
STYLE
LIVE AT THE EMPIRE MUSIC HALL, BELFAST
ALWAYS SAY THE WORDS
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.sunwayslive.com
Track List:
1. The Moon is a Spoon
2. Style
3. Hands
4. The Magic
5. Burning Blockade
6. Rocketship
7. New Animal
8. Colour Me In
9. Felt the Same
10. Daylight
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
After extensive touring around South including clubs and festivals, the band released their second CD, full-length album The Moon is a Spoon, which in 2002 won the band the prestigious Best Rock Album at the SAMAs. First single, Style, charted on national, regional and campus stations, and second single Colour Me In charted around the country and was a national top Ten hit. Music videos for both Style and Colour Me In were released (Colour Me In was again shot and directed by the band and is included as a bonus visual on the album The Moon is a Spoon).
The band recently recorded their third album, Three, which includes unplugged tracks, brand new material as well as three music videos. In addition, the band filmed the music video for first single, Always say the Words, which has received massive television coverage on all the national televison stations throughout South Africa.
Known for their powerful live perfomances and hard working ethic, Sunways have toured all over South Africa including all the major festivals (Woodstock, Oppikoppi, Easter Rock Festival, State of the Nation, Awesome Africa Festival, Southern Cross and Splashy Fen, etc.) and have also performed live on radion stations and television programmes.
Sunways embarked on their first international tour at the end of 2001, the tour comprising dates all over Northern Ireland and a performance in Leeds as well as an unplugged set on Channel 9 TV, Derry.
In May 2003, the band returned to the UK to continue touring abroad and are currently based in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Sunways songs are published by Sony SA.
See below for quotations from South African publications:
"Armed with . . . their instruments, passion, talent and that undefinable 'other' quality . . . Sunways are on a long-term mission to be a world force." Sunday Times Magazine SA
"Remarkable...there really never has been a band like this to come out of South Africa." (Personality Magazine)
"...it was left to the international contingent of Belgians and French - along with the fiery melodic rock trio Sunways to bring some gloss and class to the first day." Craig Canavan & Diane de Beer (Pretoria News) on Oppikoppi Festival 2001
"Sunways create dark, sexy pop that'll send your planet into orbit." Michelle Constant (Oppikoppi supplement - SL Magazine)
"The musical variety was awesome... With music fans spoilt for choice, for this hack the festival highlight was the awesome performance by Sunways." Christina Kennedy (The Citizen) on Woodstock Festival 2001
"The band have chalked up massive popularity in their short existence, and have a profound knack for fusing soaring pop songs with squalling punk intensity." (Mail & Guardian)
"Sunways are a polished rock band who hail from South Africa and have been winning fans over there since the release of their debut album 'The Moon is a Spoon' in April of this year. They've come over to Ireland this month to play some gigs and make some new friends. (Sunways play) strong, melodic, rock music with finely crafted songs." BBC United Kingdom
"Based on the familiar formula of downbeat verse/monster chorus, there is such a detonation of energy when front-man Robbie Boake hits the overdrive pedal and crashes into the chorus, that he makes it feel like the first time all over again." (SL Magazine)
"Looking lean and mean and sounding jaggedly beautiful, Sunways reminded me again why the three-piece remains rock's Magic Formula. (SL Magazine)
"Their long awaited debut album set tongues a wagging and even some charts alight with its delicious mix of pop and rock." www.sasounds.com Best Album of 2001 & Best Video of 2001 for Colour Me In
ALBUMS
NO MORE HEAVY (5 song EP)
THE MOON IS A SPOON (10 song album enhanced with COLOUR ME IN video)
THREE (8 song album - enhanced with videos ROCKETSHIP, LIVE AT THE EMPIRE MUSIC HALL, BELFAST and VENUS IN HER EYES)
COMPILATIONS
TDK MUSIC EXPLOSION
SWERVE 11
WICKED ROCK
SL COMPILATION
VIDEOS
VENUS IN HER EYES
COLOUR ME IN
ROCKETSHIP
STYLE
LIVE AT THE EMPIRE MUSIC HALL, BELFAST
ALWAYS SAY THE WORDS
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.sunwayslive.com
Track List:
1. The Moon is a Spoon
2. Style
3. Hands
4. The Magic
5. Burning Blockade
6. Rocketship
7. New Animal
8. Colour Me In
9. Felt the Same
10. Daylight
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- ROCK: Modern Rock
- ROCK: Hard Rock
- TYPE: EXPERIMENTAL