The LED Online - Biography

You have to be hot to make it in a town where some of South Africa's best musical talent lives, and "making it" is exactly what The LED, Stellenbosch's favorite student band seems to be doing.

Since the release of their debut EP "Last Evenings Dreams", The LED has been on a roll. The EP has been every bit as popular as their first hit single, "The boy from Apricot Spells". Only six weeks after it's release, the new EP broke sales records at CD stores in their home town Stellenbosch. Apart from the sales success of their debut EP, songs released of the EP reached number one positions on various radio charts across South Africa, and songs appeared on various compilations released locally. Two of the songs of the EP were also included in the top 10 National Campus Hits and the top 20 South African songs for 1997. The EP also sold out at Oppikoppi 97 being the second best seller of the festival.

The LED's second EP, "2 am", released late 1998, came with a different sound and also opened new doors for them. The EP had a slightly heavier, and more mature sound than "Last Evenings Dreams". The albums hit releases "Come On" and "Four Men Four Women" did extremely well on radio charts nationwide and appeared on various compilations. The LED also did a video for "Come On" which has seen national and international airplay.

Work on The LED's debut full length album has started in 1999 and promises to be a ground breaking album for South African alternative rock. The LED's first two EPs were produced with the help of Trippy Grape Records and distributed by Polygram South Africa, but The LED is currently looking for a partner for the debut full length album.

The band consists of Skye Stevenson on vocals, Bruce Watermeyer on lead guitar, Johan VerLoren on keyboards and backing vocals, Michael Lyster on bass and Peter Benz on drums. Skye writes most of the lyrics and melodies, while she, Bruce and Johan work on the music, and the whole band work on the arranges the final product. Various of the songs for the new album have however been written by other members of the band.

The LED's started in '94 while it's current members have been together since 1997 and they've done gigs all over South Africa. Their easy-listening songs are hard to define, with a predominant pop-rock sound, punctuated by moments of folk, jazz-rock and alternative, which appeals to a broad market between the ages of 16 and 30. The band's music influences range from Bush to Pink Floyd, from Skunk Anansie to Metallica, from Pearl Jam to Soundgarden, with a good dose of acid jazz for good measure.

The LED's rise in popularity has not gone unnoticed in the media, and they've been very busy doing interviews and promoting the last EP. They featured on various magazine covers , appeared on various TV shows, are busy with their second music video and on their forthcoming debut full length CD. Some of the material of the forthcoming album can already be heard at their gigs around Stellenbosch and Cape Town.

Asked how they view the future of the local music industry, they are confident that it's possible to make it in South Africa. The local music scene gives The LED enough opportunity to develop their potential, especially with sponsors like Martell and Sennheiser supporting new bands. Although their main aim is to entertain, they are aware of the importance of image building and are always conscious of their on stage appearance and the show that they put on. Judging by the smiling fans they leave behind, their shows are something they are doing extremely well.

www.theled.co.za