South African Southern Rock band Jasper Dan have released their new single, “Tequila & Lime”, today, Combining classic Southern Rock with a rockabilly bounce, a touch of surf-rock and the distinctive Mexican flavour of a resonator guitar, the track moves from playful verses about tequila and temptation to an earworm chorus that gets straight to the point.
The single offers the first taste of the band’s forthcoming album, Hold the Salt and Lime, which launches on 12 February 2027.
From Soundcheck Noodle to Finished Song
“Tequila & Lime” began life as what the band calls a “noodle”, a loose instrumental jam they regularly played during soundchecks. It gave every instrument its moment and made it easier to dial in the band’s sound. There were no lyrics or defined song structure, just a groove they kept coming back to.
That changed when frontman Jamie Hendry picked up a dobro-style guitar during a sale at a music shop. Sitting at his home bar soon afterwards, he began playing the familiar jam on his new instrument and gradually giving it shape. Before long, lyrics were forming and the foundations of a new song were falling into place.
Jamie sent the rough structure and lyrics to his bandmates in a voice note, and the response was immediate. The rest of the band embraced the idea, and by the next rehearsal the soundcheck favourite had become a song.
Each member left his mark on the arrangement. Jason Eedes’ drums are playful and rhythmic, Barrett Cawood’s guitar is mischievous and teasing with a killer tone, and Mark “Funks” Kenyon’s bassline is simply sublime. The resonator guitar’s distinctive twang gave the music a Mexican flavour, which led naturally to the tequila theme.
Jasper Dan have long been known for their fondness for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, but the band also enjoys the occasional tequila. With “Tequila & Lime”, listeners get to hear another side of the band’s personality.
Temptation, Tequila and a Little Mischief
Jamie wanted the lyrics to be unmistakably about tequila, with temptation woven through the verses. The writing gives the drink an almost character-like presence, drawing on barroom imagery before taking a slightly darker turn. A reference to el Diablo adds an otherworldly note to the story.
The chorus then drops the mystery and declares its affection for tequila directly, naming añejo, blanco and reposado. The hook is playful, memorable and firmly rooted in the song’s rock ‘n’ roll spirit.
For Jamie, the idea reaches beyond the song’s subject matter. As he puts it, “I always say everyone has a little rock ‘n’ roll in them somewhere.”
The band chose “Tequila & Lime” as a teaser for Hold the Salt and Lime, giving listeners an early taste of the album. They also wanted the single out before the December break, as South Africa heads into its summer holiday season.
Jasper Dan Bring the Song to Life on Screen
For the “Tequila & Lime” music video, Jasper Dan teamed up with Ryan Du Toit of Dutwaa Creative Agency, based on Johannesburg’s West Rand. Jamie had recently worked with Ryan on the video for “Keep on Kickin'”, a song he wrote and released with his friend Justin Serrao, and the two clicked from the start.
When Ryan later attended a Jasper Dan show and heard an early version of “Tequila & Lime”, he became a fan of both the band and the song, and ideas for the video soon began flying back and forth. Ryan also created the artwork for the single, giving it a consistent visual identity that complements the music.
The band’s brief was simple: make it fun. The video draws on rockabilly, bohemian-inspired styling, vintage details, steampunk and Western influences, all brought together with the band’s own “HELLYEAH!” attitude. It is a fitting setting for a song born from a familiar jam and developed into something with its own distinctive character.
You can stream/download the track HERE.
More info about Jasper Dan
Jasper Dan is a Johannesburg Southern Rock band built on big guitars, honest storytelling and more than a decade of hard-won stage miles.
The band’s roots go back to 2014, when it began life as a cover band called Flippin’ the Bird. The urge to write original music soon took over, and in late 2015, working with producer Heath Fouché, Jasper Dan was born.
The name carries a personal story. It’s what frontman Jamie Hendry called the evenings he spent with his late father, just the two of them, sipping whiskey and listening to records. Those were special moments, and the band has kept the tradition alive, still enjoying “a little Jasper Dan” now and again.
The band made an early statement in 2016, opening for Iron Maiden at Carnival City in Johannesburg on the Book of Souls World Tour. That same year it released its debut album, A Southern Fling, produced by Mark Beling, and the single “Over the Water’s Edge” went to No. 1 on the MixFM SA Top 40.
From 2020, the band began working with producer Robin Walsh at Assegai Audio in Johannesburg, and that partnership produced a run of chart-toppers. “Your Sugar Girl” (2020), “The Soil (City of Gold)” (2022) and “Krooked Kings” (2023) all reached No. 1, as did “Hurricane Live” (2022). In 2024, “Mama Voodoo” took the band international, with its launch on Kerrang! Radio.
After several line-up changes, Jasper Dan settled into its current form when guitarist Barrett Cawood joined in August 2019. The line-up is Jamie Hendry (vocals, lyrics, acoustic guitar), Barrett Cawood (guitars), Mark Kenyon (bass) and Jason Eedes (drums).
That settled foursome has recorded the band’s new album, Hold the Salt and Lime, again with Robin Walsh at Assegai Audio.
They call it the most complete record they have made. It’s a labour of love that shows a band that has mellowed a little with time without losing its Southern Rock heart. The songs range from fun stories of shared experiences to more serious messages, all carried by a relaxed, confident groove.
Watch this space for updates in the Music News category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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