Our First trip to America 1996 Part 1
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Our first trip to America started with Arista Records. Before Qkumba Zoo signed any recording deal, the label needed assurance that we were genuine. Why? For those of us old enough to recall Milli Vanilli and the scandal that erupted when it was revealed that the faces of Milli Vanilli didn’t match their voices, it’s noteworthy that they were signed to Arista. This scandal left many with egg on their faces, an outcome Arista was keen to avoid repeating.
This led to a trip to New York, where the band met the record label staff, and showcased their talents in a short gig, confirming that Levannah sang, I played guitar, and Tziki danced. More on that adventure later.
For now, let’s rewind to the beginning of the trip, using some photos to introduce the key players in our journey at that time.
In this first photo above are three pivotal figures in our first trip to America. Candie, the marketing manager at David Gresham Records, our South African label, played a crucial role in our early success. She tirelessly promoted the band in South Africa, persuading radio stations to play “The Child (Inside),” arranging press interviews and photo shoots, and orchestrating a memorable launch event at the Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton. The details of that event merit an article of their own.
Here’s a little side story: Candie crossed paths with Peter “Reggie” Bowman, a visiting Australian musician from the band Southern Sons, during his time in South Africa producing the local band Sugardrive with Brian (see next paragraph). They fell in love, tied the knot, and now reside in Melbourne, Australia—this pic a premonition of a future journeys to come.
Brian O’Shea co-produced “Wake Up & Dream” alongside Alan Goldswain.
More about Brian’s role will be revealed when I delve into the recording process for “Wake Up & Dream”.
The crux, however, is that he, along with Alan, played a vital role in crafting the sound of the album. Their significance was such that both joined us on our New York trip to finalize the project.
Arista sought to re-do the mixes for “The Child (Inside)”, “Cloud Eyes (I’m Scared so You’re Scared)”, “Big”, and “Weeping” using Tony Maserati, an emerging mix engineer, and a high-end studio equipped with an SSL desk and other top-notch gear. Prior to our trip, we had digitized the audio on Tascam tapes and sent them to Tony. Tony’s expertise lay in R&B, and so he initially struggled to capture the style or sound Qkumba Zoo desired. Thus, Brian and Alan accompanied us on the journey, collaborating with Tony in the studio to steer the tonality of the four mixes.
Levannah is exceptionally gifted with her hands, as evidenced by the shirt I am wearing. She painted an Owl on it. Loved that shirt.
…and their close friends at Johannesburg Airport captures a memorable moment.
Credit for photos from that era goes to Nez. Working at a photo print shop, she not only snapped numerous pictures but also processed them in an era predating iPhones and Androids. We were fortunate that she eagerly captured everyday moments as well engaged in creative photo-shoots. Nez’s passion extended beyond photography to the printing process itself. She experimented with cross-processing, adding a unique touch to our creative shots. Ah, the days before digital photography, where experimenting with photo-color required an understanding of chemical processes. While technology makes such tasks easier today, there’s still an organic appeal to film photography.
I love this pic showing the exuberance of Levannah and Tziki, and the quiet joy from Brian. We really were good friends. While Levannah and I were somewhat seasoned travellers, this journey marked Tziki’s maiden voyage abroad.
We took on the role of “guides” to Tziki’s youthful spirit on this trip. Both her and Levannah’s creativity shone through in their attire, setting them apart from the crowd. I admired their joy in crafting their apparrel, brightening our surroundings wherever we went.
And that brings us to the end of our first trip to America part 1. Part 2 sees Qkumba Zoo land in New York.
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