Breaking stereotypes on mainstream ideals.
So let’s start here. as far as interviews go, one normally sets a date time place etc etc etc I guess I got lucky, staying in an industrial apartment with a good friend of mine, I heard a band in rehearsal mode, cool. We hear them coming down the stairs after what sounded like dam good rehearsal and ask a question "can you guys play the concertina?” jokingly they all say "nah" so the question arises "hey what is your bands name" huh no way "Parklane" was indeed the answer. So here’s me thinking ;I got lucky yes I did... so let me introduce myself, “hi I’m gen I was sent to this scary cape town place to interview you ‘Parklane", Darren puts forward his hand and we meet and greet, great pleased at this factor Darren says "come up anytime". Confirmation of interview done and dusted in a dark stairwell on one those infamous rainy Cape Town days.
The next day, I’m checking my emails just to scratch/catch up on what my editor sent me about the doings of Parklane, ok, these guys are sussed, world tour and all. Here you are; Parklane who? Parklane my friends are an international band based in the mother city, Cape Town. While I do my homework I hear them start up another band rehearsal, yeah baby this is my chance. Let’s get ‘the cat by the tail’ and start the invasion. Phone Kobus, "um where are you, let’s do this!".... the reply "yeah for sure". I get my stuff together, camera, note pad, two flights up, we are at the door and hear the intensity of the rehearsal... will they hear the knocking of the front door? Set in the moment I kinda get a song in my head "you keep on knocking but you can’t come in" but just then the door opens, with a friendly welcome and a ‘hey come up upstairs’, all welcoming in tone from Darren. I mean we did after all just walk in during band rehearsal. These guys are free going, we get told to take a seat relax and enjoy the show. What a way to be introduced. I start taking photos of their amazing captivating energy. Parklane were definitely comfortable with ‘us’ these ‘unknown people’ while at the core of the doings of what bands normally keep to themselves…. the "practice sessions". Not once did they let me feel like an intruder, not once, they let us feel like guests….their audience…
The session, the songs being introduced, the comeradie within the band lets one know that this is the real deal these guys are serious and they have passion not just for music they produce but care for each other. They have “it”. “It” being called “stick together" ... "never break the circle". Listening to the songs and watching them, I’m thinking that they are playing for a live audience but then it brings me to think, if they are playing to each other and if not listening to each other then who is the audience? A song comes up and it's powerful, the riffs leading up to the vocals and the drums being just subtle until they need to no longer be so gentle, vocals kick in yet again....."Loving you is suicide and I’m not gonna be the one who is going to die tonight". Nicely done "Parklane".....and people may I introduce to you Parklane...?
Sitting in a avant-garde apartment with massive windows and a view of misty table mountain, what was an interview became more of a discussion and an interesting one at that many good laughs and then some serious faces and a couple of skits well if one could call it that, compliments of the Damien {das drummer}. Finally we get to meet and who is who in the band so on vox is yes Mr. Ryan, on bass Darren, guitarist are "?"..."?" then on drums Damien. Five piece band deluxe. So what’s the first question prey do tell, I ask them to ask me question, "huh aren’t you "interviewing us?" .... this fellow readers was a task and half and so the interview becomes an abundance of gifts for other bands advice and privileges for the eager "to get the know how” of what it is all about and yes the question did arrive from my side "how did you get to where you are now?"
Yup that was the beginning of an elusive conversation just streamed with seven of us five muso's and two artists {well trained in a sense} just talking and contemplating. Nicely done. Quotes abound. Information overload. "So how did you get to where you are now?" all convo leads to Ryan {vox}, determination, hard work, and here's the jewel..... Networking and yes and a proactive attitude. Marketing was a key element of Ryan’s many triumphant "doings" to get Parklane out there and yes it payed off, big time, proactively in these days does work because we do have the world at our fingertips but one must always keep in mind as Damien mentioned "positive input leads to a positive outcome" that’s a clinker.
Many mindsets of the occasional “band sets” seem too often think that one has to produce quantity over quality this is meant in terms of demo’s and albums to be heard, now Ryan feels strongly about this topic as a band has to represent themselves via many media channels and the only way to do so is well to be “heard”. If one has to save to record excellence then be it so. Then one can actually be established as an artist/band. More than often fame doesn’t happen overnight nor does it stem from just gigs alone but from yes…PROACTIVTY….that would be Parklane's key essence with musical Endeavour’s; now exceeding our shores dually to Pride within themselves and what they do and how they do it! One entity about these guys who will always base themselves within South Africa is that “their reality is opposed to the possibility”…Make it happen…believe…
After spending a good hour or two with Parklane I walked out with some thoughts and realized that there is so much within the industry that can improve if only maybe the industry could “band together”. All in all Parklane is a band to watched, inland or outland, PARKLANE INTERNATIONAL well-done lovely meeting you and we wish you well on your journey.
Don’t say MAYBE … say PARKLANE baby…
written for www.undergroundpress.co.za
