A pop band from the northern suburbs is making waves in the music industry, having won Song of the Year for its single, Out of Here, at the 2016 Bokkie Awards and its latest single, Canopies, receiving airplay.
The four-piece band, The Vanilla, was nominated in three categories, including Newcomer of the Year and Group of the Year, at the Bok Radio awards at GrandWest’s Grand Arena on Saturday October 2.
The band members thought their chances of winning the Song of the Year category were slim, as they were up against the likes of Elvis Blue, Heinz Winckler and Jeremy Loops.
“It was quite overwhelming when they called out our name. We are so grateful and humbled to have won the award,” said vocalist Tyan Odendal.
The band has only been together for a year and a half. Tyan, says the idea came to him and bassist Jaen-Pierre Dowling when they were at Rocking the Daisies two years ago.
“We joked about starting an indie band since girls love it and thought we would be able to play at the festival. And here we are today, already one and a half year’s down the road and we couldn’t be happier.”
The band consists of Tyan on guitar and lead vocals, Jaen-Pierre on bass, Francois Keyser on drums (all from Kuils River) and Barthlo Visagie from Boston on lead guitar and synth.
Since the bands launch in March 2015, The Vanilla has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in Cape Town, with various artists and music festivals including OppiKoppi, Up The Creek and River Republic.
Tyan says the song, Out of Here, is about a guy who is very popular with the girls. He moves around from girl to girl, but in the end it all gets too much for him and he simply wants to “get out of here”. The Vanilla will be performing at Aandklas in Stellenbosch alongside Francois van Coke on Wednesday October 19, at 8pm.
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