about the band
The crowd is skanking in unison, bouncing up and down like an irie earthquake of rhythm. The maestro with the guitar stops blowing his harmonica and leans into the microphone and shouts: 'Original Music! For Original People!' The crowd screams back in togetherness. The maestro smiles and hits them with another song.
Tidal Waves are widely regarded as the hardest working reggae band in South Africa, playing gigs from Oppikoppi to Pretoria, Cape Town to Potchefstroom. Originally from Klerksdorp, a small dustbowl gold mining town about two hours South of Jozi, the band is now based in Yeoville, Johannesburg. The band is made up of four very gifted musicians, the core of the group being held together by Jacob 'Zakes' Wulana alternating on keyboards and guitar, as well as vocals harmonica and vuvuzela and Sam 'Drumbo' Shoai on vocals and drum kit. Shadrack “Charlie” Mathopa is on the bass, while Jaco “Mr.” Mans wields the lead guitar.
Tidal Waves write and perform original reggae music with traditional African music influences like Maskandi and Mbaqanga. The sound is original roots reggae with strong rock, ska and blues influences. They are renowned for performing music in English, Afrikaans, Setswana and Tshivhenda. Like all good reggae, their lyrics are socially conscious and uplifting, imploring their fans to stand up for integration and One Love. Other songs have deeply rooted anti war sentiments, while others lament the sad tales of urban South African poverty and the struggle to survive as musicians.
The cultural and racial diversity represented in the band conveys the greater vision of South Africa as a Rainbow Nation where every person, no matter the race or cultural background, is considered equal. This serves to bridge any racial and cultural divide in a positive and uplifting manner and because of their versatility, their music appeals to South African’s from all walks of life. In many ways, Tidal Waves is the creative embodiment and voice of South Africa’s dream and are uniquely positioned within it's melting pot of cultures and people to offer a very genuine and down to earth insight on what life in South Africa is like.
A Tidal Waves performance is always high energy and the band plays regularly in Johannesburg and Pretoria as well as touring and gigging nationwide, especially the mother city of Cape Town. Tidal Waves have taken their original music tours to Mozambique, Swaziland and as far abroad as New Zealand and the Seychelles. They also have several successful tours of Europe under their belts, where they performed at the Pukkelpop festival in Belgium and the Mano Mundo festival in the Netherlands, as well as a packed schedule of medium size venues across Belgium and Italy.
Tidal Waves are widely respected in South African music circles as an honest, hard working band with an original sound and irie vibes. Because of this they have some of the most ardent, die-hard fans and supporters in the SA music industry.
Tidal Waves recently featured in the local documentary South Africa Live – a Musical Affair (aired on MTV Base in September ‘09) alongside artists such as Freshlyground, Simphiwe Dana and the Parlotones. The band has also been approached for an interview on BBC Radio.
2009 marked the 10-year anniversary of Tidal Waves – a decade 'heart reggae' and spellbinding performances! The band launched their latest album entitled 'Manifesto' and completed a successful nationwide album launch tour throughout December 2009.
In January 2010, Tidal Waves performed at MIDEM in Cannes, France as part of exclusive artist collaboration entitled “South Africa at MIDEM 2010 – Celebrating Africa’s Music” where Tidal Waves shared the stage with leading African artists such as Jozi, The Parlotones, Zulu Boy, Nothembi, Thandiswa, Lira and Kurt Darren. Tidal Waves have been confirmed to perform at the International Africa Festival, taking place in Wuerzburg, Germany during May 2010, and also received interest from the SXSW Festival and Music Conference in Texas, USA.
Discography
1999 - Hard Work (Jozi Vibes / BMG)
2002 - Harmonijah (Independent Release)
2005 - Muzik an da Method (Independent Release)
2007 – Afrika (Sheer Sound with Oppikoppi Productions)
2009 – Manifesto (Independent Release with Southern Pulse)
"The performance of “Tidal Waves” was one of the best performances I have seen in thirty one years of attending MIDEM…"
Johnny Lappin, Iiffey Music
"The most striking thing about the new Tidal Waves album, Manifesto, is the sheer range of musical styles they manage to incorporate into their reggae groove. From kwela to boeremusiek to old 1950s style Jamaican ska via Sophiatown swing, mbaqanga, goema and rock - all fleshing out a reggae backbone. Manifesto is an original and distinctly African contemporary reggae soundtrack that is fast becoming my favourite release of 2009. They’re steeped in South African music, creating relevant tunes, with a conscious message, and the most exciting and original sound around. Their roots are buried firmly in our culture. And their fruit is one of our sweetest."
Andy Davis, Mahala Magazine
"Tidal Waves' fifth album, Manifesto, is a powerhouse album from South Africa's finest reggae band – arguably their best yet. The stand-out track, Mo'Faya, is sure to be the soundtrack to many a 2010 World Cup memory. Tidal Waves are also big with the Afrikaans rock crowd, and new offerings from Manifesto, such as Vastrap and Alles Is Bevok, are sure to join the ranks of Lekker Lekker Dans as the Oppikoppi crowd favourites. No surprise, really, that Tidal Waves have been strutting their stuff for a while -- 13 years to be precise. The hardest-working band in South Africa, some people call them."
Lloyd Gedeye, Mail & Gaurdian
"Just as one has not lived the full gamut of South African music until you've heard, say, Natascha Roth perform Busi Mhlongo's Yisa Wabant'a Bami, so too, it is an Mzansi must to catch Tidal Waves playing Lekker Dans, their take on sakkie-sakkie, to a predominantly white Afrikaans audience at an Oppikoppi Festival main stage."
Evan Milton, Cape Argus
"This band should raise the South African reggae flag worldwide. They will surely follow in the late South African Reggae father Lucky Dube’s footsteps with their uniquely African Reggae sound."
Kwelagobe Sekele, Music Industry Online
"Tidal Waves played a steaming and catching reggae set at the 2005 Pukkelpop festival in Belgium. It was amazing to see how they pulled a fully crowded tent at an alternative festival at the same time as Nick Cave was playing, and got all the people to dance. They really represented the good and bad sides of South Africa with their warm and sunny - but also political - music. Off stage we also greatly appreciated these 100% pure people."
Chokri Mahassine, Pukkelpop
"I've seen Tidal Waves play in a lot of different places already. From a youth house to a casino, from a pub to the famous Pukkelpop festival and I must say, they impress every audience. Definitely one of the best live bands that I have had the pleasure to work with."
Hans De Reydt, Blafhik Productions
"Though reggae, especially in South Africa, is seen by many as a somewhat limited genre with a loyal but relatively small following, Tidal Waves long ago transcended such stylistic limitations, appealing to all sorts with their clarion call of “original music for original people.” And it’s not just a catchy phrase but a philosophy they follow rigorously, garlanding their basic reggae vibes with a polyglot of influences, creating in the process a sound unlike that of any other reggae band on the planet."
JHB Live
"Jo’burg based global travellers, Tidal Waves, are a different kind of reggae band. From drummer Sam’s progressive, spiced up beats and guitarist Jaco’s blitzy expressions, to front man Jacob’s atmospheric keys and the band’s collective RX Bandits moments, there’s nothing “standard reggae” about Tidal Waves’ sound.
Before tonight, I’d only ever seen them on big festival stages, and Tidal Waves made the transition to small stage at Chain & Sprocket in Durban perfectly – intensity and stage presence intact. Tidal Waves were incredible, and the crazy thing is, it was a show wrought with technical difficulties that the audience will never know about."
Yusuf Laher, Speakerbox
"Tidal Waves are possibly South Africa’s most fearless reggae band. They consistently produce some of the bravest and most hard hitting social commentary in their music. They have found the perfect balance between getting your groove on, and making valid and inspiring social commentary. And music with a message just seems so much more valuable. The music off their new album, Africa, refuses to step back from that incisive cutting social commentary and innovative blending of sounds."
Andy Davis, Levi’s Original Music Magazine
"Tidal Waves are so accessible. They are always the first band that comes to mind when we discuss bands with a truly and purely South African vibe who aren't the African tribal cliché. I have never left a Tidal Waves show disappointed. It's just not possible to criticise a band that can make you sing along in more than three languages. What other band do you know that can do that? Especially so when you consider how many of their songs are about political and social issues."
Mique van der Merwe – Rock Out Radio
"Tidal Waves. Epic name. And it suits their sound – a swell and crash of roots rock reggae with a slow, seductive undertow and a spray of intense energy. They’re humble, hard working, and happy souls. They’ve made challenging life choices and they carry their message with pride. Songs of global domination, the evils of an economy out of balance, spiritual insights and lekker lekker dans are run through with energy and positive intention. And with years of experience, they are equally enthusiastic about emerging talent trailing the country and what it means to the morale of the motherland."
Jess Henson, Levi's Original Music Magazine
