Tait is the new kid on the block who's been around the block. His debut EP is out now. It's called relate and it rocks ! tait is fronted, recorded & produced by Chris Tait who recently signed to a joint venture between Cape Town's Street Level and Benjy Mudie's Fresh Music.

….been around the block?

Seven years ago I started a band called Social Piranha, which achieved local success with our first single receiving good airplay. Due to some line up changes we later became Shooflys and went on to play for the next four years receiving great reviews and releasing a single called 2 days 'til forever on the Street Level Records label. By 2001 the band decided that they had lives to lead, and quite rightfully so, the end…..

Why is it that bands in South Africa seem to break up so quickly?

I can't speak for all South African bands but while still young and enthusiastic, we used to thrash our way around Cape Town, playing every single club or pub that would have us. We were in the middle of a SA music boom so things were great for a while with an infrastructure full of promise. The airplay was good, record companies were scouting, people were actually coming out to support SA music. A dreamworld that didn't last long. I think we're still waiting for that special spark in an artist. That critical combination of unique talent, memorable songs and marketability. It wasn't until recently that I realised how heavily committed and patient I need to be to ensure success. I'm looking forward to exciting times with Street Level & Fresh Music.

Is that the reason for the solo move?

My songs at that stage were based on the late hard rock/grunge-era bands like Soundgarden, STP, Temple of the Dog etc.. yet due to other influences in the band, we ended up more pop than anything else. That was fine, but I never had the chance to explore my somewhat harder and heavier roots…but more than that working as a solo artist is far more rewarding for me, not having the normal boring arguments with band members, is refreshing….sort of like a mini dictatorship.

What gets you out of bed to write a song?

As songwriter, most of what I write is inspired by everyday life (as is for probably most writers) Relate was written shortly after the Shooflys split, so I was writing about feelings and emotions I was experiencing around that time.

Which were?

I found myself wandering what I'd been doing for the past 5 years. Had I just wasted all that time? Or had I been on a neccessary journey?

What do you admire in other artists?

Lyrically, I admire bands like the Counting Crows, Pearl Jam , because of their ability to be completely open and honest when they write. It takes true talent to write from the soul.

What are your immediate ambitions?

As a solo singer/songwriter/producer/sound engineer I have only been around for the past 8 months since joining an experienced and talented team at Street Level Studios which I now call home. I'm reveling in the access I have to a top class studio, which just seems to give immediacy to my creative abilities. It's this environment that I think has spawned some of my best material. I aim to get as involved as I can with SA music, not only from the artist side, but also as a producer and engineer.

If you were asked to describe your influences as family members who would be your musical mothers?

Carole King, Janis Joplin

Dads? Robert Plant, Jimi Hendrix

Brothers & Sisters? Chris Cornell, Bono, Nelly Furtado

Grandparents? B.B King, Chuck Berry

Cousins? Led Zeppelin, Alice in Chains, The Counting Crows

What is your idea of a home cooked South African musical stew?

Saron Gas, Dorp, Bright Blue, Kelvin Declined

What's so special about tait in an industry overflowing with new artists?

I think tait weaves it's way nicely between hard rock and accessible melody, creating for me what I've always wanted - a fusion between what I love to listen to and what I don't tell people I love to listen to. For me, melody is probably the most important thing when writing, I mean sure, a good lyric is cool, but how many times do you find yourself humming or singing a tune regardless of what the lyrics are? So when I begin to write, the music comes before the words. A quiet room and an acoustic guitar are all it takes. My main aim is to make sure people dance and mosh at the same time…. "hey why not?" Maybe one day we'll find people abandoning those musical barriers.

I am however glad to notice a resurgence in rock music across the world. Now all we need is for SA bands to start breaking through those invisible barriers between us and the rest of the world, and joining them on the international stage.

On reflection, in these times of manufactured Idols and Popstars, I hope that regardless of who you are, what you are, where you come from and how you dress, that the song still remains King.