Gazelle0

Gazelle is a South African band fronted by Xander Ferriera that incorporates punk, reggae, disco, 80’s electropop and traditional African melody into its sound. Gazelle is colorful part of the African Renaissance promoting the growth and worldview of any African born art. Apart from a fresh mixture of sound, a strong visual performance involving various artists and dancers makes it a very entertaining theatrical show. The group was born in 2006 following a long journey of discovery in music. Xander Ferreira, the founding member, started his journey as a reggae singer known as the White Lion. Originally from a remote part of South Africa, close the border of Mozambique, he grew up being a part of authentic South African culture in confusing but colorful times. Gazelle had it’s breath of  life when Xander started experimenting with producing a mixture of organic and electronic music. Mixing an element of Reggae Dub and Electro something fresh was found.

Joining forces with dj extraordinare and music producer Nick Matthews, Gazelle became a powerful production duo. With a flair for live performance Nick spent the last six years as a professional DJ and producer collaborating with some of South Africas finest musical talent. His focus has been to blend and create diverse sonic mixtures using the latest in modern DJ techniques. Nick’s productions include the likes of electro funk outfit Iridium Project and the afro fusion band Coda. At the beginning of 2005 after hearing some of Xander’s initial compositions Nick was compelled to help produce the work for the project and the first steps to a new journey began. Together the production duo combined an interesting mixture of backgrounds to create the unique sound of Gazelle.

The group works with various session musicians to produce dramatic theatrical shows. Over the last 2 years they have formed relationships with two organizations, Youth on Top (a dancing group from Khayelitsha whom they have been supporting and promoting) and The Season Marimba Stars (a marimba band from Gugulethu whom is also a part of a soccer team that they have been sponsoring). Through creating these shows and opportunities for these young musicians and dancers they push to create a base where young talents can have the opportunity to professionally follow their passion. Currently the band mostly works with Grenville Williams of Godessa and EJ von Lyric fame on bass guitar and Dubmaster China from groups such as Firing Squad

The focus is to create authentic Afrikan Elektronik Dance Musik. Called LIMPOP, a genre derived from the province Limpopo where Xander grew up. Over the last year the group have performed in multiple cities across Europe and Africa covering places such as Zurich, Basel, Bern, Milano, Bacelona, Berlin, Oslo, Warsaw, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Kiel, Munich, Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.

Website: http://www.yogazelle.com