
Electromode is proud to announce the release of a brand new album from SA’s most beloved underground rock group, The Narrow!! But this time ‘round, audiences can expect less head-banging and more melodic awesomeness from the group as their new record explores the acoustic tenderness of the band.
The album, aptly titled “Understated” includes all the big fan favourites, in a stripped down unplugged format. The album is the first release since the band’s previous, SAMA nominated record, “You Don’t Get To Quit”.
After a successful 2010 YDGTQ tour The Narrow continued into 2011-2012 headlining festivals and sharing the stage with international acts In Flames and Prodigy.
The band’s decision to release an acoustic album comes after much demand from their fans after doing several acoustic shows over the years. “All our favourite bands have acoustic versions of their hit songs and it’s basically a thing you have to do as a rock band”, says lead singer, Hanu.
Most mega-fans know that Hanu is based in New Zealand, so getting this album together was, in some ways challenging as “it can take longer than just jamming some ideas in the jam-room”, says Emile. “But with the internet, it’s been fairly easy for the band to send ideas back and forth via email, allowing for even more creativity in that others get to listen to your ideas without introduction, and it’s allowed all of the band members to build onto the ideas with fresh ears”, he adds.
The Narrow have just completed a national tour in South Africa and will be one of the headliners at this year’s Synergy Live festival on 1st December. The band will be back on the circuit again in early 2013. When asked if the band will be touring in Hanu’s home town soon, “We really hope to do a kiwi tour soon. Any international type tour is always on our radar but nothing set in stone as yet.”
Two years after the release of YDGTQ, the band members, all a little older and wiser, are now either married or engaged, and both Emile and Deon have children, their own rockstars-in-training…
The Narrow have also reached a ten year milestone together as a group, and are proud to have received SAMA nominations for every album they’ve released.
Of their 10 year celebration, Emile says: “I think the next big challenge would be to make it for another 10!”
The group look forward to treating their fans of the last decade to this acoustic release.
The Narrow are:
Hanu De Jong
Emile De Jong
Jow Feldtmann
Lias De Lange
Deon Kruger
CONNECT WITH THE NARROW
For more information, please contact Jana De Beer on jana@gmanagement.co.za or call 011 463 0248
For bookings, please contact Hanu on bookings@thenarrow.com
Hunt The Ghosts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oe1Bt6G3As&feature=plcp
God Bless The Narrow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZLKynOp89Y&feature=plcp
Twitter: @TheNarrowBand
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Narrow/101865595550?fref=tsor search The Narrow
Understated, Recycled and You Don’t Get To Quit all available in store and on iTunes!
BIOGRAPHY 2012
Critically acclaimed hard rock band from South Africa sporting SAMA (South African Music Award) nominations for Best Rock album for all 3 of their full length albums.
The Narrow began in 2002, an idea spawned by Emile (Guitars), Jow (Bass Guitar), Sid (Guitars) and Lias (Drummer). Lacking a vocalist at that stage, it made sense to bring in Hanu. Hanu and Emile de Jong, were lead vocalist and lead guitarist respectively for South African rock band “Not My Dog” and it was an obvious choice to continue this collaboration in South Africa. Since forming The Narrow, the band very quickly developed their own sound and identity whilst retaining elements of their roots.
The band received wide support for their debut Self Conscious, which spawned 4 singles in South Africa. The album was voted best rock album and was nominated for a SAMA (South African Music Award). Reviews, articles and interviews in the SA Media have echoed this sentiment. Due to the popularity of ‘Self Conscious’, The Narrow decided to give the album a face lift in September 2005, it made sense to include tracks that were initially left off the first release. The re-release was then re-mastered with new artwork, two extra bonus tracks and two music videos of their songs The Banded and Push Up The Level.
In June 2003 whilst ‘Self Conscious’ was at its peak, slowly bringing the band out of cult status and into the rock arena, guitarist ‘Sid’ had to leave the band for personal reasons and was replaced by Deon Kruger who was already known in South Africa as an experienced session guitarist. Deon’s influence can be felt with the next album Travellers giving his own feel to this established Pretoria band.
The release of the album Travellers exceeded all expectations earning them a second SAMA nomination for best Rock album in 2005. The biggest single off this album was Lonely-lonely charting on every campus radio station in the country and making the Narrow a house hold name. Due to the extra tracks that were released on an EP called Split and the success of the single The Living Daylights, the band decided to release a special edition of the album with a total of 20 tracks including the new single Crash Through.
Live performances such as at the TUKS Rag festival were always coupled with vigorous energy and heavy - rock and roll. Various negotiations were taking place to secure the best international deal. One of their songs “Lonely lonely” was voted the best song ever on campus radio and is still very popular amongst the Afrikaner community.
Having gained a reputation as a live band with serious energy and professionalism – headlining almost every major festival, the band went off to Europe in August 2005 to play alongside the likes of Korn and Marilyn Manson at the Pukkelpop festival in Belgium. On the local South African scene The Narrow became a favorite at festivals headlining Oppikoppi, Seasons Wither, Ramfest and opening for acts like The Used, Violent Femmes, Inflames, Underoath etc.
After a short stint in the states the band pulled out of an international record deal and took a short break in 2007 only to start writing new material again in 2008.
In 2010 they released their 3rd full length album “You Don’t Get To Quit” and was again nominated for a SAMA for Best rock album.
After a successful 2010 YDGTQ tour The Narrow continued into 2011-2012 headlining festivals and sharing the stage with international acts In Flames and Prodigy.
Two years on, the band members, all a little older and wiser, are now either married or engaged, and both Emile and Deon have children, their own rockstars-in-training…
The Narrow have also reached a ten year milestone together as a group, and are proud to have received SAMA nominations for every album they’ve released.
Of their 10 year celebration, Emile says: “I think the next big challenge would be to make it for another 10!”
The group look forward to treating their fans of the last decade to this acoustic release.