Rocking with the kings

aKing

aKing

Published Sep 17, 2014

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FOUR studio albums, seven years later and it’s evident that alternative rock band, aKing (pictured) have certainly made a name for themselves on the South African music circuit. And the impressive part is that the Cape Town group have done this on their own, without a production team, for the past few years.

So how did their story begin? Back in 2007, former member Hunter Kennedy and Jaco “Snakehead” Venter of Fokopolisiekar teamed up with two friends, Laudo Liebenberg and Hennie van Halen, and called themselves aKing. Kennedy was replaced on guitar in early 2010 by vocalist/ bassist Andrew Davenport and, as they say, the rest is history.

At the moment, the guys are promoting their latest album, Morning After.

Tonight caught up with aKing at their sound check at Durban’s Live – The Venue. They were performing there later that evening as part of their national tour.

It’s Venter who greets me first with a cheerful smile. Next up is Liebenberg, who is a genuine guy. Photographer Sibonelo Ncgobo and I watch as the guys set up for the sound check. It’s interesting to note the relationship they have with each another. They are friends and you can feel the energy between them.

After the sound check, we chat about their latest album, their relationship and what makes aKing click as a band.

Liebenberg takes the floor: “We spent enough time together. But with the first two albums, Hunter Kennedy was still in the band so that was a different dynamic. Then Andrew joined and we also needed to learn how to work together. I think now… we really understand each other on a creative level and we can be honest without hurting anyone’s feelings or being too precious about ideas.”

Having watched the Afrikaner rockers play in Durban early last year, I have been a fan ever since. Their sound is centred on melodic rock and is powerfully electric.

“It has varied in styles of rock but it always comes down to melody. So we have different genres sometimes but it will always fall under alternative rock,” says Liebenberg.

On recently signing with Just Music, he shares: “We were looking for a distribution channel. We were independent for a while and we funded the album ourselves and produced it ourselves and we were looking for a good channel to put our music out there and still leave the creative side to us and help us on the physical and digital side.”

Steering the conversation to their latest collection, Morning After, Van Halen says they didn’t set out to write an album with a specific message: “You kind of put your head down and write the things that matter to you or speak to you. In the end, you leave so much open to interpretation that you can’t really say definitively this is what the album is about. You know, each person has to kind of decide for themselves.”

Liebenberg adds: “Yeah… A lot of it is kind of about departure, or moving along, growth and progression and looking back at what we’ve done. That kinda subconsciously came into play.

“We’ve put a lot more effort into this album, especially on the production side and post-production, actually having the luxury of time to finish it off the way we wanted to…. So I think this one sort of captures the sound of all three albums… and it’s a nice exciting journey.”

So what can fans expect? “At the moment, just rolling out this album and getting people to listen to it. But once this year is done and we’ve released a couple of singles and videos, we’ll look at doing a bigger tour next year and see if our music can go other places. And we’re ready to get back to the drawing board again. Why stop the momentum… Now that we’ve done it by ourselves, we know it’s possible,” says Liebenberg.

 

 

GETTING TO THE HEART OF aKING

Valencia Govindasamy chatted to the rockers about their highs and lows.

 

HENNIE VAN HALEN

 

What do you like about yourself?

I get lost in stuff very easily, so if I take up a new hobby, I like do it full on. I’m meticulous about stuff and picky and I like that about myself. I’m a perfectionist. A lot of people see being a perfectionist as a bad thing, but I think it’s actually a great thing. A lot of times, I get

angry because things aren’t perfect.

 

What do you dislike about yourself?

I’m the serious one in the band. I can be unapproachable and people always think I’m angry.

 

What’s your best memory of aKing?

The Argentina trip was rad. Also, in 2010 or 2009, we played the Aardklop National Arts Festival in Potchefstroom as part of OppiAarde. It was basically all our friends from Cape Town and we played the same show. And also every time we play Kirstenbosch, it feels like a highlight. It’s a beautiful venue and you play there in front of all your friends.

 

What’s your worst experience in aKing?

We played in Pretoria where this girl organised this whole “festival” and she made us believe that there was gonna be eight or nine live bands and that it was a two-day event and stuff. And we made an agreement for a certain fee. And then on the day when we rocked up, we realised it was actually a glorified birthday party. And I mean we have no problem playing birthday parties, but we were under the impression that there was gonna be like a lot of people and there was only about 20 people there. And a bunch of bands did play but we never made the amount that she promised.

 

LAUDO LIEBENBERG

 

What do you like about yourself?

I like that I can interact with people. That I find it easy to adapt to different sorts of personalities and that I can fit in, in that sense. I like the fact that I enjoy communicating with people and actually hanging out and learning from others.

 

What do you dislike about yourself?

I don’t like the fact that I bite my nails, that I lose my temper, that I drink too much, that I can always maybe do more and be more productive. The list can go on. I think I should focus on being happier more.

 

What’s your best memory of aKing?

We went to Argentina once. I think it was 2009 – to shoot a music video and we were there for a week. We just had a blast. It was my first time overseas and it was awesome to know it was because of the band, and that feeling of going somewhere with your friends because of the music. Plus, opening for Mango Groove last year.

 

What’s your worst experience in aKing?

I got very slaughtered one night and ruined a show. In a way, I’m glad it happened because it kind of shook me by the neck. It’s not all fun and games always. That was my worst experience, the feeling of regret and letting my friends and partners down.

 

ANDREW DAVENPORT

 

What do you like about yourself?

I’ve got some really cool people in my life, people who love me. I seem to be quite caring and friendly most times, I don’t take life too seriously.

 

What do you dislike about yourself?

I’m not as proactive or productive as I’d like to be, not as wealthy as I’d like to be. I might be a bit self-absorbed.

 

What’s your best memory of aKing?

When we were away playing some shows up north and we came back down to make a Rocking the Daisies gig. When we got there, the sun was setting and all our friends were there and it was a great time and we got to do it as a living.

 

What’s your worst experience in aKing?

We partied through the night once and missed our flight. We were lying on the floor at OR Tambo Airport with no idea how to get home and our girlfriends were quite cross with us.

 

JACO ‘SNAKEHEAD’ VENTER

 

What do you like about yourself?

I’m a happy guy. That’s pretty much about it.

 

What do you dislike about yourself?

Probably, not being tidy enough.

 

What’s your best memory of aKing?

Obviously having done lots of shows. We’ve been to Argentina once. Most are fun memories.

 

What’s your worst experience in aKing?

That’s quite hard. I don’t know, probably playing shows where there’s not a lot of people.

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