Colourfields

Colorfields is a South African group founded in early 1997 by Ash Read (ex drummer of Zap Dragons and The Streaks). Early band members included Nic Hazell (guitar and keyboards), Ben Amato (keyboards, guitar and groovebox), Josh Hawkes (bass), Tim Parr (guitar). Their sound was described as "a hard-edged mixture of heavy percussion, trip hop, dub and reggae, electronic sounds and rock" A bit of a schizophrenic mish-mash! Debut album "Incidents" (Ruby Records) was released in late 1998 but Josh Hawkes later left the band, and in 1999 Jorge Carlos joined as bassist and Kerstin Olivier on Keyboards and vocals and later violin. Nic Hazell then departed during 1999, with Jorge Carlos following suit in 2000 and Tim Parr shortly thereafter. The second incarnation of the band produced a slightly different sound, with Simon van Gend on lead vox and guitar and Eric Michot on bass. Around 2001 Simon left and the band merged with reggae band The Branch (Judah Brown - Lead Vox, Lennox Olivier - Percussion, and Diles - Guitar) to form African Rhythm Travellers (ART). ART opened for Cypress Hill in their Lucky Strike tour. Subsequently, in 2002 the band broke up when Ash couldn't keep it together through the drug haze and at the same time Kerstie got herself knocked up the duff (there is no maternity leave in the SA music industry). A deeply reflective hiatus was had during which time Ash cleaned up in 4 months of rehab after 20 years of hard drug abuse, and Kerstie retired to quiet farm life to care for a wailing sprog. In mid- 2004 they reunited with a newfound energy, buffed and shining after their respective personal spring-cleanings and realised this was a great time to fall in love. Zaan de Villiers came on board with keyboards, brothers Sylvain Baloubeta (bass) and Bienvenue Baloubeta from Congo Brazzaville brought a wonderfully African flavour to the mix. In 2006 the second album was recorded but never released due to lack of funding during production. Judah Brown’s voice and massive stage presence gave the band a uniquely South African essence, but sadly he was attacked and killed in a car hijacking before the album was completed. Unfortunately the band faltered yet again under the pressure Ash and Kerstie were under, trying to be responsible parents and making ends meet in the difficult South African economic climate. They made the decision to shelve the band and the album in favour of tending to more responsible pursuits, the stress of which nearly killed them both. 2016: A decade later, realising that music is essential food, and that all this other supposedly responsible shit is nonsense, Ash and Kerstie rekindled that Colorfields fire and are yet to stomp the world’s dancefloors with renewed vengeance. Watch this space...