Yesterday I actually used social media to discover a new South African band that is putting themselves out there and sticking with the changing times.
The Watermark High started following me on twitter yesterday.
Luckily I was intrigued by the name of the follower and didn’t disregard them as one of the many twammers out there.
Why I immediately became intrigued by the band is simple. It’s not often that a local band will simply create music and give it away. The industry here is too tough for that. It’s hard work here to make good money from music so many bands keep it close, don’t release their tracks for free download before they’ve made it big in some way.
After mentioning that I discovered the music online I was soon informed that via one degree of separation I actually knew the social media muso. What a pleasure.
So what’s the deal? Simple, The Watermark High is a band from Gauteng, South Africa. Post-Rock / Electronica / Indie / Ambient. It’s that easy. You can download the EP from their MySpace page or just click here. It is the solo release from Paul van der Walt.
I am really impressed that the music doesn’t fit in to one of the more popular genres of the moment in SA. Right now you have rock, hip hop, rnb and pop in SA. This is what sells.
The ambient approach that The Watermark High takes to their rock is refreshing and listenable and I am in awe. It’s great.
When you download the EP you are confronted with 4 tracks and a Word document to read. This is what they have to say:
Hi
Thanks for downloading The Watermark High’s new 4 song EP, “Disappear With Me”. If you like what you’ve heard then please help us out by telling all your friends about us. Either encourage them to download the EP as well (by going to www.thewatermarkhigh.co.za), or feel free to burn them a disc. It’s free, we just want to get the songs out there!
We’d really love to hear from you. Please join us on Facebook and Myspace and comment! Also keep checking those pages for the latest information on shows, news, videos etc.
The Watermark High on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Watermark-High/7554472468
The Watermark High on Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/thewatermarkhigh
We look forward to hearing from you! See you around!
Paul
(The Watermark High)E-mail: thewatermarkhigh@gmail.com
Official Site: www.thewatermarkhigh.co.za (redirects to Myspace)CREDITS
All songs were entirely recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Paul van der Walt, between January and April 2008, between his bedroom, garage and the band’s practice space.
Lyrics by Paul van der Walt.
Cover artwork by Zoology Design Studio (www.zoology.co.za)The Watermark High Live: Paul van der Walt (guitar and vocals), Robin McDonald (drums and beats), Tjaardt Swanepoel (guitar) and Sandra Smit (bass).
Thank you for listening.
Reading that document I was sold. To quote: “Either encourage them to download the EP as well (by going to www.thewatermarkhigh.co.za), or feel free to burn them a disc. It’s free, we just want to get the songs out there!” That’s it, that’s the way music is going, going, gone. And they are right there with the movements of the industry. Lovely.
Just in case you aren’t convinced that the band gets it, here is where you can find them:
http://www.thewatermarkhigh.co.za
http://www.trig.com/thewatermarkhig
http://www.purevolume.com/thewaterm
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Waterm
http://www.sellaband.com/thewaterma
http://www.imeem.com/thewatermarkhi
http://www.twitter.com/watermarkhig
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Popularity: 8% [?]
December 10th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Dude, Paul’s just cool like that. Good post.
December 10th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Kief. Free music is the way of the future…somehow.
But, um, that just click here link has been disabled by MySpace
December 10th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Thanks Nick – seems like the link only works from MySpace. Have ammended accordingly!
January 15th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Really dig the music and also enjoy this site. Thanks nic
Also check out:
http://www.ideabounty.com/blog/post/1889/3-most-rocking-festivals
Something I came across that you guys should find interesting.
Shows just how awesome SA is!
January 7th, 2011 at 1:17 am
Managing your Marketing Campaign.It automatically submits it to Video Sites, Photo Sites, Blogs, Micro Blogs, Bookmarking Sites, RSS Feeds,Press Release Sites, and dozens more.Marketing Tools
January 8th, 2011 at 1:21 am
The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.
January 9th, 2011 at 3:39 am
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April 18th, 2011 at 4:31 am
Feels right to me. I would wager that Dennis VanDerGinst feel the same way.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:54 am
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