I still remember watching Isochronous (now known as ISO) live for the first time at RAMFest Johannesburg 2010 and I have to say that this SA Pop Rock band have a come a long way since then.
I have seen them live tons of times and even though this isn’t really the music genre that dominates my playlists on Deezer and the Grind Radio, they’re definitely good at what they do and anyone that has seen them live will most likely agree with me. They played one of their best live shows at Oppikoppi in 2011 (which definitely introduced them to a wider audience).
For almost a decade since their inception in 2006, ISO has been at the top of their game on the forefront of the South African music scene. The evolution of ISO has been staggering both locally and internationally.
This award winning pop rock band has gained respect and recognition with their unique music and inspiring live performances in an industry that has quickly elevated them to a well respected group with an enviable reputation in the circuit. With an impressive live show that incorporates the latest in sound and lighting technologies, ISO has been recognised as a world class act by critics and the press in general.
With 5 studio offerings, a live DVD and an iBook (a first for a South African band) to their name, the band previously known as Isochronous, have reinvented themselves time and time again to stay relevant to local and international audiences.
Early in this year, the band announced the departure of drummer Marko Benini from the band, and soon after Nick Mc Creadie joined the band as the new drummer. ISO has been fairly quiet throughout 2015, but it’s great to know that they’re finally back with a bang. I saw them live for the first time in over a year at Park Acoustics this past weekend and I have to say that it was pretty awesome seeing them perform on a stage again.
I recently had a quick chat with ISO. This is what they had to say:
It’s been a while since you’ve played a live show, why the short break from the SA Music Scene?
We have been training up our new drummer Nic, so we were rehearsing the last couple months in Johannesburg.
How has the drummer change affected your style of music and the way you perform live?
We feel that Nic has added a new spark to the band, especially for our live for performances. Our style of music comes from an honest place so we try let it flow that way. Nic was already interested in progressive music so his playing fits in perfectly.
If you could collab with any SA artists, which 5 would be on the top of your list?
Hello Beautiful, Gangs of Ballet, Micasa, Goodluck and The Brother Moves On.
What are you currently working on at the moment?
A new album!
What can fans look forward to from you in 2016?
We are focusing on our songwriting. We will be writing music more in lines with our progressive sound so the fans can expect to hear some really interesting music next year.
I’d like to thank ISO for taking time to catch up with me and I wish them all of the best with their musical endeavors. Let’s hope that their next album gets released early in 2016…
Photo Credit: Anna Smith
Watch this space for regular updates in the Music category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
