Hearing a name like Ben Dey and the Concrete Lions is sure to make you go mmm... Interesting. And as soon as these awesome lads opened their mouths and sang, I was hooked. They are unique, brilliant and very chilled. I had to chance to speak to the guys from Ben Dey and the Concrete Lions.
The first time I saw
you guys was at a recording of JOU SHOW in Bellville earlier this year. You
guys blew me away. For those who don't know, how would you describe your sound?
Our music is a fusion of African rhythm and an international sound that may be
classified as Afro pop-rock.
Please introduce the
members of the band. Ben Dey - Lead singer and writer/composer of all
songs. Ongama Mona - Lead guitarist and co-founder of the band from
Khayaletisha. Alex Birns - Percussion. Dillon Birns - bass
Where are you guys
from and where/how did you meet? We are all from Cape Town. Ben, Alex and
Dillon are from Noordehook. Ben and Alex were in the a band together during
high school. Naturally, Alex accepted Ben's invitation to join the Concrete
Lions. Alex's brother, Dillon, followed suit. Ben and Ongama met at the
Noordehook village in 2013 and founded the CONCRETE LIONS.
The band has a very
unique and cool name, please tell us the story behind it. During the recording
of one of Ben's earliest songs, Ongama added a line "Conquering
Lion". The other band members asked if he had said "Concrete
Lion" - it then stuck from there. The "Concrete Lions" is
reference to Ongama and the struggles of growing-up in a township.
Any change you may
have had to the line-up and why? Set musicians have come and go (Ben does
not want to mention old members), however the structure of the music has
remained much the same as the foundation and driving force of the band is
Ongama and Ben. The current members share the same ambition, ideology and
commitment which has been crucial to our recent success.
Have you always been
a fan of music, how did it start? Yes. Ben started violin at the age of 5
all they way through his highschool years. His problem with the violin however,
was that he couldn't sing whilst playing. Ben's dad bought him a "NOW
00s" CD in 2010 for Christmas. After listening to Coldplay's Viva La Vida,
Ben received his first guitar the next day where he learnt how to play the song
by himself. He hasn't looked back on guitar since.
How did your recent
trip to the UK went? Any interest from record labels that side?
Unfortunately our VISAS have been rejected 3 times. Only recently did our
applications come back successful and thus, we will be delaying the tour to
December.
What is life on the
road like? Guitar picks and guitar strings. (Ben's strumming normally
results in a broken string).
The first CD you
bought was... NOW 00s - Ben's dad bought him this CD on Christmas Day in
2010 and was instantly drawn to Coldplay's Viva La Vida. The next day Ben
received his first guitar and self-taught himself the song. He hasn't looked
back on music since.
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