WeeklySA_AdminTRACTION: Classically trained Neil produce record-breaking music, bagging 1 million viewers on social media
By Priscilla Malinga
The father-son duo is making musical waves, at the same time sky-rocketing the musical scene with their new EP/album, Cantrel Jump now approaching 1 million viewers on TikTok.
Inspiring, melodious and heavy, the EP/album is catching traction. Like wildfire, it is red-hot, and lend itself to keeping music lovers on the toes on the dance floors.
As a South African genre, it nonetheless catches the attention of global audiences, giving ultimate joy to ears and souls of the connoisseurs, not in small measures, but in droves – all taking of its intoxicating splendour, and therefore demanding more of it – yea, its wildfire phenomenon.
Hot off the European tour circuit with performances in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, as well as back home, it is rocking the local musical lovers with great aplomb. Now the momentum is firmly entrenched, featuring Neil Breytenbach – who is also the keyboardist/co-songwriter with iconic local rock band – and his equally musically gifted son, Jesse, on vocals and guitar.
With their fourth EP/album release, Cantrel Jump has successfully forged a genre-blending sound that is unmistakably their own, bringing a fresh ad new flavour to the South African music scene. Neil is excited. With joyfulness he explains why the duo’s music resonates with their growing “Cantrel Army” of fans around the world.
“Our up-tempo sound is energetic; it is hot; it is positive; it is vibey with a feel-good spirit provoking movement, making one to want to have more of it,” he says. He continues: “We also have chilled songs that are lyrically deep, emotional and very real and raw.”
Jokingly, says Neil: “The Cantrel’s sound is what happens if Nirvana.” Jesse cites fellow South African band Seether as a song writing inspiration, “particularly for blending catchy and memorable lyrics with heavy, high-energy riffs”.
This, he states, uplifts and is emotionally charged sound, “most evident on the viral track Walls, which powerfully highlights the importance of self-reflection and looking after one’s mental health”. The lyrics were written by the classically trained Neil on his grand piano after Jesse, his son, and fellow bandmate, arrived home despondent after a tough day.
“There is no need to be despondent,” he says. “The message of Walls is that sometimes you have to stop being so hard on yourself,” says Neil.
“Don’t be afraid to reach out to people for help.” With its inspirational call to action, Walls has exploded the online space, and as it turns out, with a twinkle in his eyes, he adds, “yea, we are becoming a TikTok sensation…we are going places; healing souls”.
The song is featured on the band’s new EP Jump alongside three other tracks – the title track is guaranteed to get the crowds into a jumping frenzy.
“Expect hard, lyrically complex rock with visceral, melodic undertones. If you think the Cantrel songs you hear online are powerful, just wait till you see them played live,” says Neil.
Cantrel’s guitar riffs are instantly recognisable and are distinctive, heavy and powerful in a live setting – creating an electrifying experience “From the first few seconds, audiences know it’s us,” relates Jesse. “Our performances are high-energy experiences that ignite the crowd, getting people on their feet, jumping around and moving to the music beat. “What fuels Cantrel’s music is the energy of our fans and the way they connect with the songs, prompting to engage in dance, and losing themselves to the mesmerising heavy sound of the pulsating music.
“I write to create that sick-live experience, to see the crowd come alive with the music.”
