ISO: "We felt it was necessary to explore something different"

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ISO has just released a new EP, entitled Passages. Frontman Richard Brokensha answers some questions.

Good day, Richard. How are things?


Photo: Louise Pieterse

Hooooowzit, I'm awesome. My buddy Peach is getting married tomorrow so it's gonna be a good weekend.

Congrats on the release of the new EP, Passages. ISO seems to have settled into an instantly recognisable, unique style, yet the new EP does seem to have some new elements. In particular, “The place that I know” has a strong dance element – which is not the first thing you’d think of with ISO. How did you approach the making of this EP, compared with your previous releases, and what new avenues did you want to explore?

Firstly we had a new producer for this EP, Peach van Pletzen. His style is more along the electronic lines and this is why songs like "The place that I know" and "Signs" sound quite different from our previous material. We decided to go this route with these songs as we felt it was necessary for us as musicians to explore something different. We feel strongly about the band evolving in each album/EP that we come out with, so this also played a factor in exploring a different avenue.

Particularly for a five-track EP, the songs are incredibly diverse. True to the ISO style, though, there’s many a strong hook around. How does the writing process in the band generally work, and how do you go about sifting through everything you create to settle on a collection you feel is right for an album or EP?

Marko and I will usually come up with a chord progression and the melodic content. We sit with the song for a long time, chopping and changing certain parts on either Reason or Cubase just so we can get an idea of how it would kind of sound like. Then we take it to Franco and Alex and let them add their instruments to the songs in whichever way they feel works well. Although for this EP it was mostly written in studio, so the guys would come in and listen to the pre-production and then do their takes. We wrote and recorded this EP in a very short amount of time, which was also something we wanted to experiment with. Seeing what we could come up with "on the fly" was a fun part of this particular recording.

You guys have become known as one of the top acts to see live in the country (must say, I’ve seen you a few times, from Stilbaai to Nelspruit, and the label is certainly not false) – why is this? What is the band’s philosophy when it comes to live shows? What should the relationship be between the band as live act and the band as recording artists?

We have spent a lot of time in the "woodshed", practising our instruments as much as possible. I think this would add up to the fact that certain people consider us a "top act". We believe that if you can't replicate your studio sound or be even better live, then you shouldn't be playing live shows. It is a big thing in the band to deliver a world-class performance musically.

An interesting point that’s come up in a few interviews is the question of venues … Some bands feel the lack of big, proper venues in South Africa (festivals excluded) has a negative effect on the quality of shows, and on the quality of bands, available to local music fans. What are your thoughts on this? How do you adapt your shows for bigger or smaller stages?

I think it's more of a problem that there isn't enough demand from the public for live music shows. If there was more support from South Africans in the live music industry I'm sure more venues would start popping up. The type of venue can definitely have a negative effect on a band and I can say we have experienced this first hand – it's always got to do with how the room is treated for live sound. There aren't many venues where you can say "Damn, the sound is great in here." We don't really adapt our show for bigger or smaller venues. Of course, if we are playing a big festival we will have visuals, stage décor, and will be styled, but the music remains the same.

Speaking of which … you guys experienced a massive trauma at Oppikoppi last year when your trailer with loads of instruments and stage equipment – including fire extinguishers and confetti canons – was stolen from the artists’ campsite. More than R100 000’s worth of stuff, it was reported. What was the end result of the ordeal? How does a band bounce back from something like that? 

We had a lot of support from Anton at Music Connection. Our fans and family also helped us out. Roland also helped with Alex's keytar which we are very grateful for. Our biggest loss was the canons, which were hand made by our bassist. It's sad to see how something of such a big scale can happen and no one takes responsibility for it, even when it was in a secure area. That really made us lose a lot of faith in people in the industry.

Some bands find mass popularity a challenge in terms of the battle between sticking to their roots and keeping up with what’s cool at the moment; others thrive on that pressure. How do you and your band mates experience this? What would your advice be in this regard to bands who quickly find themselves at the top of the local food chain?

It is important to follow the modern music that is coming out every couple months or so now, but I can't stress enough to any musician or band out there that you should play only what you feel is honest and true to yourself. That is the only way that you will feel natural on stage.

ISO has had a really successful run since your inception in 2006 … It’s been eight years. What are some of the highlights and low points you’ve had? Any really special places you’ve played at? Any particularly shitty ones?

We have enjoyed playing all the major South African festivals, particularly Rocking the Daisies, RAMfest, Innibos and Splashy Fen. Other shows we have enjoyed were the MR Price Pro, opening for John Newman, and 2 Door Cinema Club, but the highlight so far has definitely been our 10-show arena tour in Germany, where we played to over 100 000 people. Low points we like to forget and put in the past.

What does the near and far future hold for ISO?

The only goals we have at the moment are to write a ton of songs and tour overseas, especially Germany again, and other European countries.

What is the meaning of life?

Compassion for me. The most enlightening quality I find in this realm. It's definitely not social media, I'll tell you that. 🙂


Photo: Louise Pieterse

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