New on your playlist: A man and 10 songs
Cape Town millennial nu-folkie Jon Shaban launches his debut album, Fortune Favours the Brave, on Sunday. Though named after one of its songs, the title serves as appropriate commentary of both the collection and the singer-songwriter - this is a bold and wholly heart-on-its sleeve offering from a seemingly fearless performer.It is a solo album in every sense of the word. "It is just me and 10 songs," Shaban says. "Six of them on nylon string guitar, two steel string and two 12-string."If that sounds sparse or in any way twee, it isn't; Shaban's songs are raw, punchy declarations of independence. As he sings on Dealing With the Thoughts of Angry Men, "I'm always trying to figure out an effective way to shout the things that I have learnt about and to make sure I am heard. it really makes a difference that I got to learn these lessons on my own."And it's been a well-rounded curriculum. Shaban's lyrics reflect a quirky, sometimes surreal take on relationships and life in general; those looking for a "message" or a social consciousness here will be struck by the album's conservation themes - not just of a natural environment but of one's sanity in a perplexing, increasingly noisy world.Shaban has been a veteran of Cape Town's music scene for a while. He was a member of the popular Cape Town ska outfit Captain Stu, which formed in 2002. In 2007, their fusion of reggae tones and Mother City jazziness attracted a deal with a UK management company. They hit the festival circuit hard and even wound up doing a brief Australian tour in 2011.Shortly after that, Shaban embarked on a solo career. It was, he says, a "slightly scary" decision to take on audiences with just a voice, a guitar and a bunch of songs they'd never heard before.But the group dynamic was a strong one, and Shaban has since put together the side-project folk-punk band, The Shabeen.The solo album launch is in Noordhoek, with Hatchetman and Jamie Acheson of Naming James as support acts.Tickets from www.quicket.co.za. Check Shaban's Facebook page for other gigs..
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