South African father-and-son duo, made up of Neil and Jesse Breytenbach, Cantrel is making waves in the music scene with their latest single, “She Said”, which is taken from their new album titled Drive (which dropped on Friday the 19th of January 2024).
Penned and produced by Neil Breytenbach, also known as one of the band members of Prime Circle, the inspiration for the single came down to a candid moment with his wife.
Neil Breytenbach comments on “She Said”
“Some songs take 20 minutes to write, and ‘She Said’ was one of them. I was busy writing a song on piano when my wife came home and bluntly told me it sucked. Upset, I started a new song from scratch, and in just 20 minutes, ‘She Said’ was born.”
The song is a heartfelt ode to his wife’s beautiful smile. Neil recorded the song at his home studio and Jesse lent his vocals and guitar skills to the track. Cantrel’s core sound is rooted in rock music, but the album, Drive explores a range of genres, including rap, pop, and acoustic music.
Neil Breytenbach comments on Cantrel‘s new album
“We made sure there’s something for everyone on there. Out of 17 songs on the album, hopefully, people will find their personal favorites.”
The Cantrel father & son Duo emerged during the lockdown when Jesse was attending Zoom classes from home. The natural chemistry and musical synergy between the father and son duo quickly became evident, leading to the creation of more music for their album.
Cantrel draws inspiration from iconic bands like Nirvana, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Bush, and Coldplay, showcasing their grunge roots. The album “Drive” is a testament to their dedication.
Neil comments on the recording process
“By recording the 17-track album at home, it took a little longer than usual because we were doing everything ourselves most of the time. It was a long hard journey to get it all done.”
The decision to release a 17-track album stems from Cantrel‘s desire to showcase their versatility.
Neil comments on this
“We want to be a more versatile band, capable of playing broken-down acoustic shows or full-on energetic rock shows, or a mix of our rock, pop, and acoustic music.”
Highlighting some of their favorite tracks off the album, Neil mentions radio-friendly songs like “She Said,” “Final Hour,” “What if Flowers Burn,” and “Write Me a Letter.” Meanwhile, their favorite rock songs include “Jump,” “Bounce,” “Chains,” “Drive,” “Banana Drama,” and “Feeding on My Fire.” The album also features the poignant piano ballad “Runaway,” described as hauntingly beautiful.
Cantrel’s Drive, featuring the new radio single, ‘She Said’ is available now on Spotify and all other major streaming platforms.
Watch this space for updates in the Music News category on SA Music Zone.
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