Introducing: Riddlebreak

Riddlebreak is an alternative/progressive metal band based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Going from alternative to a metal hybrid, with six band members from different backgrounds, drawing inspiration from many genres, Riddlebreak is unlike anything you’ve heard before. Gareth Reed (rhythm guitar/backing vocals) talks us through the background of the band, as well as shining some light on the South African music scene, fellow band-members; Laura Atkinson (violin), Julian Vosloo (lead guitar), Jade Osner (vocals), Gordon Bosma (drums), and Roushan van Niekerk (bass) join in to offer up their own personal musical memories.

RiddlebreakWhat are the origins of Riddlebreak? I believe that there have been a few line-up changes? How long has the current line-up been together?

The origins of Riddlebreak are veiled a bit in obscurity; it was so long ago. The name can be traced back to 2010 but the history goes back further. We started off as a post-rock band borrowing elements of indie and punk. Back then our vocalist at the time, Russell Peach, astutely named us Polly In Hot Water; him being a photographer… for the longest time, I (Gareth) thought it was the name of some parrot he had haha.

Oh, we also had some crack-head bassist that stole some gear and sold it for drugs, her time was fleeting and we’re glad she’s gone. Roushan took her place and played her first gig a week after joining. Since then Russell and our original drummer, Tony Duarte left to pursue other dreams, but not before contributing to changing the name to Riddlebreak and also laying down the metal foundation for what the band was to become. We then acquired a Gordon, captured a Jade, and finally, after much searching, a wild Julian appeared.

Laura replaced our previous violinist Dave when he left for the UK. The core group has been together about 7 years with Laura having been with us for about 5 of those

In what ways has the band’s sound developed with the new line-up?

The band has embraced a more ‘progressive’ direction but still holds true to its metalcore roots with the current line-up. As the current members joined one by one over the years, the sound took a much heavier turn than we were used to; we used to have clean vocals but then Jade Osner took the mantle and showed us what a dying bear hurtling through space would sound like… and we loved it. Julian Vosloo then came later to turn our minds into goo with his Proggy riffs and ridiculous time signatures. Each member has brought something into the music that we learned from and used to push ourselves to create the music we do today.

How did you feel performing your first gig with the new line-up? And how was it?!

So with Laura being the latest addition, we threw her headfirst into deep water; our first show with her was one of our biggest local festivals that always hosts at least two international acts, Krank’d Up 2016. We aren’t aware of any metal bands in South Africa that use a violinist, so the anticipation of doing something so Avant-Garde to our community, was one of excitement and dread! Needless to say, our scene totally embraced it, and Laura has been a key feature ever since.

Riddlebreak is very hard to pigeonhole, so many different textures jump out at the listener (especially with Laura’s violin work which comes as a rather lovely surprise), but what should people expect when they check the band out?

People can expect a sense of familiarity at first, for a moment; and as the song continues that comfort will be challenged. Riddlebreak is all about duality. We maintain a constant pulse, a rhythm of life to follow. All the while the guitars will chaotically dance in and out of this expectation, until these opposing forces are conducted by sheer tension into a juicy breakdown or a soaring solo. Expect to be fucked with.

The new EP ‘Architeuthis’ has just been released, what was the gestation period of the EP like? How quickly did it come together? And what are the lyrical themes behind it?

So initially we were aiming to release a fully realised album by June 2020, but then Covid and lockdown hit hard. Our studio of choice had to shut its doors temporarily and there were impossible curfews and restrictions to overcome. So instead of coming out of this with nothing, we pushed hard to finish what we could manage, and thus our EP Architeuthis was born. In terms of how quickly it came together, one could say it’s a stripped-down version of a much larger plan. We picked from the bunch, the songs we felt would still make an impact and stand strong on their own without another 12 songs to back them up.

So far we are incredibly humbled by the success Architeuthis has achieved so far, and it’s really thanks to our friends and fans for still believing in and supporting us despite such hard times and their own problems they’ve had to face. The lyrical themes behind the music is one where we all have monsters to face; and rather than defeating them, we learn to walk with them. Everything in life has a balance and you cannot know peace if you haven’t known war. You cannot be happy without having known sadness. Don’t deny your darkness.

The cover artwork is stunning! Who created it? In fact, the artwork for all the previous releases such as ‘The Hog’ and ‘Allegiant’ is stunning. 

Thank you! We had two artists work on the pieces. One is renowned, Chris Valentine who did the artwork for The Hog and Allegiant, and the other is the talented Nathan Ferreira who did our cover art and the artwork for A Momentary Brightness and Eyes of the World Ender.

What is the local music scene normally like in South Africa?

The local music scene in South Africa is small but powerful. Everyone works hard to uplift and support each other, and certain organizers and promoters in this country do their best to help put our music on the global map either by bringing big bands over for us to play with, or having some of our most talented represent us overseas. We sometimes struggle with venues and enough ticket sales, and on rare occasions, we battle against negative stigmas associated with metal being ‘evil’. Overall though we stick together through thick and thin.

South Africa is having a tough time with the pandemic at the minute, is there any light at the end of the tunnel?

That’s a broad topic to try and answer, and everyone will have their own insights and opinions to consider. In our field of expertise, if we just band together for the common good, we believe our metal scene will survive. Sure the platforms may change; maybe live shows won’t be feasible for a long time and we’ll have to adapt to online shows or something to that effect. So long as we understand we need to adjust to our surroundings in order to survive, we will definitely see through this pandemic and come out the other side better for it. A Bear Grylls approach, if you will.

In terms of a similar audience: who would be the ideal act for Riddlebreak to support?

Ooh, that’s a great but unfair question. There’s a lot of diversity in music tastes amongst the members, and we’ve even been lucky enough to open the stage for some of our all-time favourite inspirations. Namely Periphery, Sikth, and Monuments to name a few! Going forward though, anyone in a similar vein would a dream come true! Like Veil Of Maya or Skyharbor. Or better yet (no offence to the former), Meshuggah or Gojira!!

What are your first musical memories? And what was the lightbulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?

Jade: I’ve listened to rock and metal from a very early age. I don’t know why, but as a child, I always thought that you had to be “old” to be able to scream. During the early hours of a Saturday morning one day I was watching Headbanger’s Ball on MTV, I think I was 15 at the time, and that’s where I first saw and heard Bring Me The Horizon’s Pray for Plagues. After that glorious experience, I almost instantly decided that I wanted to learn how to make that noise. The rest is history.

Gareth: Each member has their own reasons for doing this. One of my earliest memories was I was probably in grade 1 or 2, and I think it was Led Zeppelin on TV…and my friend Albert and I were jumping around the lounge like animals. Didn’t really understand why I reacted that way. But I eventually jumped on the table and broke it. My parents gave me a whopping I’ll never forget. But ever since I knew I wanted to do music. As a young adult, it wasn’t until our drummer Gordon Bosma pushed me into my first mosh pit, did I know I wanted to particularly make metal music!

Gordon: This is a strange one because the critical moment was 110% influenced by my best friend at the time in high school – he picked up guitar and wanted to start a band, being a good friend I was totally convinced, my options then were bass guitar or drums. After weighing up my options (mostly how hard would it be to convince my parents to let me start this instrument) I decided bass was the right course of action, however, immediately I was shut down and persuaded by being told that drums are way cooler. My parents were very hesitant about this idea and they decided they would buy me a pair of drum sticks; if I still wanted to play drums after a year they would then revisit the idea of buying me a drum kit. Being the very persuasive person I am, the annoying tapping of drumsticks on all the surfaces of my parents’ cars or house was quickly rewarded with a drum kit I could smash to my heart’s content (and my neighbours utmost displeasure).

Roushan: I don’t know if there was a specific defining moment, but my family is pretty musical and as a child, I was constantly making up songs. I also remember having lots of musical toys. My grandfather also used to play electric guitar and my sister is a studied musician. I remember my dad also getting my sister and I software for making loops and songs, so I guess music has always been around.

Julian: I got interested in guitar and metal music in high school when I made friends with a classmate who showed me Devildriver and Cradle of Filth when I was about 13. He also played guitar and I thought it was so dope, so I asked my folks for a guitar for my birthday later that year. I never really enjoyed any music I had heard on the radio so up to that point I wasn’t into music at all. But metal was a whole other story! Since then I’ve been an avid listener of all types of metal and a lot of other genres as well.

Laura: My mom studied history of music at university, so growing up there was always classical music playing in the house. So from a very young age, I had exposure to the sound of violins in an orchestral scenario. Then, when I was about six years old, I went to see Lord of the Dance. It was the first time I remember seeing someone play violin live and the first time that I saw a violin being used in a contemporary setting. After that, I knew I wanted to learn how to play the instrument.

Personally, who has been the biggest influence on you becoming a musician? Would it be a teacher? A family member? A fellow musician?

Jade: I’ve had people pushing me towards music for the vast majority of my life. Never realised it at the time though. In school, I was encouraged to take music as a subject. I was in a few school plays where I would have to sing and I even won a primary school version of Idols, by popular vote. My family has always been very supportive in everything I do so I guess I have them to really thank for everything I am now. Now my biggest influences are the Vocal Gods whose music I listen to daily and who I strive to be like one day.

Gareth: No specific person made me want to do music, I mean, sure there were friends and teachers that played a special role. But for me, it was more about music helping me cope as a young kid growing up in Zimbabwe. Growing up under a dictatorship wasn’t easy, and I don’t know, music helped me channel a lot of anger and frustration through a healthy outlet. I can honestly say music saved my life. To think back on what person from a band contributed in that way, I would say Pete Loeffler of Chevelle or Brandon Boyd of Incubus.

Gordon: Not to copout and steal everyone else’s answer but there has not been one point of reference when it comes to my musical inspiration or influence – it usually comes about in waves, I’ll find a new artist or band and be sucked in completely – want to steal every piece of juicy goodness from it and carry that into my music going forwards. Some honourable mentions would have to be (as strange as it sounds) Gareth, before I joined Riddlebreak I would come to all their shows and just perve over the idea of being in a band – making my own music and being able to be totally eclipsed by something I was a part of creating. It is usually a musician or band that is outside of what I am listening to that would steal my heart – recently I’ve fallen in love with an emo-rap artist called Killa Laharl, there’s so much feel squeezed into each song, really takes you on a journey and I’ve been really addicted to trying to incorporate that smooth sound with huge feel into everything I can.

Julian: Similar to my previous answer, I was inspired to get a guitar by my high school friend but one of my first biggest influence was Dimebag Darrel of Pantera. He was a phenomenal player and his style really inspired me to play.

Laura: Probably my mom. She drove me to all my violin lessons, orchestra practices, concerts, and exams. But my gran also had an important part to play. I nagged my parents to allow me to start taking violin lessons for about a year. They thought it was just a phase that would pass, but my gran eventually told my mom: “If you don’t start taking her to lessons, I’m going to!” and that’s when I started playing the violin.

Roushan: My sister has probably been the most influential person in getting me into the live music space. She got an electric guitar and wanted to start a band with a friend who lived down the road who played drums. They needed a bassist and so I decided to give it a try and it stuck. My dad said if I saved up for a bass he would match the amount spent and buy an amp. My sister has also been a huge influence on me playing and listening to metal. She was the one who introduced me to System of a Down, Korn, and later Tool which led me down the path I’m on today.

What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?

Jade: The last gig I had the privilege to attend before everything went down was a big local event called RAM FEST. A lineup of amazing local bands and the headliner was the phenomenal The Black Dahlia Murder! The band I had always wanted to see live. It was truly a night and a mosh pit to remember.

Gareth: Last international gig I attended as a fan was probably Angus and Julia Stone when they came to play in South Africa. And more recently my favourite local punk band Joy Club Cassidy Cassidy, check me out!

Gordon: Funny question, I almost can’t even remember the last live band I watched, lockdown has done us all dirty. In November 2020 there was a brief relaxing of the lockdown laws and we managed to get to Twilight Festival, sadly there were no bands (only DJ’s) but being able to wiggle my booty again was quite magnificent.

Julian: The last international band I saw as a fan was Monuments (their second time in SA, think it was 2 years ago?) which was mind-blowing, they had just recently recruited Andy as their new vocalist and he did such an amazing job! In terms of local bands, I went to a gig called Prognosis which had some of the best prog bands in SA like Oh God, Savage Lucy, Ocean Giant, and KOI. All really top-notch bands worth checking out!

Laura: Jeepers, I think the last time I went to a show as a fan was probably to watch Foo Fighters and that was ages ago!

Roushan: The last international show I managed to attend was Crown The Empire, about a week or two before our hard lockdown came into effect, and just 3 days before the first official case of Covid was announced in the country. It’s actually weird to think that we were all so blissfully unaware of what was about to happen at that point in time.

What current social issue are you particularly passionate about?

Gareth: I’m pretty passionate about science and anything revolving around the concept of using technology for a higher quality of life. I thoroughly dislike the current fossil fuel industry and any government or company that opposes progression. Very passionate about concepts like the Venus Project who strives to bring together some of the world’s top scientists to figure out a way in which we can live in a world where technology works for us! Freeing us from meaningless jobs, to pursue all of our passions. I could go on for days about this, but just imagine playing a show anywhere in the world without financial constraints, because housing, food, medicine, education is all covered by technology. Bliss.

Julian: I’m with Gareth on this one, technology is definitely the way forward. For me, climate change is a serious issue and not enough is being done by governments or the average person to change our ways. We only have one planet and we have to take care of it or we’ll die with it!

Roushan: I’d say I’m pretty passionate about gender equality and stopping gender-based violence. Thankfully the landscape has been changing over the years but there’s still a lot of work to be done. Another issue that’s close to my heart is education. I spent 5 years as a teacher and I feel that children should have better access to education, it’s quite a big issue here in SA.

What album do you have in your collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?

Jade: I have quite a few playlists on my Spotify that I think most people would be surprised by, but my personal favourite would be my extensive collection of Russian Hard Bass. Everyone needs a little Hard Bass in their lives.

Gareth: Probably Pink Season by Pink Guy. Nuff said.

Gordon: Quite literally every playlist I have created on Spotify since just before lockdown has or will surprise anyone who knows me (or doesn’t). On a down day all I want to listen to is emo-rap (burgos, MASN, Jake hill) and on every other day, all I want is really loud trap rap thrown in my face (mugxtsu, Ghostemane, twentythree).

I find it quite difficult to tell anyone about the cool music I find ‘cos all these artists have the strangest names I feel stupid saying them out loud. And then there’s drum n bass or metal or some alternative rock will be filling up the space in between.

Julian: Even though I love metal in most of its forms, I have really been enjoying a singer called Aurora. She’s from Norway and has an incredible voice! Very chilled and beautiful but meaningful music as well.

Laura: Most people who know me but don’t know that I play in a metal band would probably be surprised by the metal music that I have in my playlist.

Roushan: The main playlist I listen to (aptly entitled, Random) would certainly surprise people with how it can go from Wage War one second to Glass Animals the very next. There is also an unsettling amount of filthy Drum n Bass lurking there in the darkness peppered with some Jarv,, Oni Inc, Anderson Paak, and Eminem.

Although 2020 was a year to forget, there was some great music released; what would be your album of 2020?

Jade: There was a lot of good music released last year. Times of strife often produce some of the best music. It’s incredibly hard for me to pick, but I would say Bring Me The Horizon’s Post Human: Survival Horror. Every song has appeal, it’s very well written and the themes and messages they chose to convey are relevant. It was an album I think a lot of people needed to get them through some of the muck of last year.

Gareth: My favourite release of 2020 would definitely have to be a tug of war between The Death Of Me by Polaris and Guardians by August Burns Red.

Julian: I don’t really follow that many album releases, to be honest, I usually keep an eye out for singles. A band that released a lot of dope tunes during 2020 was Annisokay (they did release them as an album, Aurora, as well but in 2021), so their singles would be my top pick even though it wasn’t technically an album until 2021.

Roushan: I think mine would be Dreamland by Glass Animals. And even though it’s a single, Snowblood by ERRA.

Who would you class as an underrated songwriter?

Jade: I would like to draw attention to a very underrated singer, songwriter, and guitarist that I have had the privilege of knowing for most of my life and who shares my undying love for music. A local artist based in Cape Town named Leon Venter. He writes beautiful and meaningful songs that come straight from the heart. He writes purely for the love of music and for that he is admirable. It’s not metal, but you should definitely give him a listen if you get the chance.

Gareth: Spencer Sotelo of Periphery and the aforementioned Brandon Boyd of Incubus.

Gordon: I have found so many artists during lockdown that seem to be flying under the radar completely, this may however be due to my strange twist in musical taste. If I have to choose one it will be Istasha. He really makes magical music – it is so powerful but so precise and every element sits so beautifully in its place while still letting the huge feelings of anger or frustration or whatever it might be in the song remain overwhelming and awe-inspiring.

Julian: For me, a massively underrated band is Thank You Scientist. Their music is mind-blowing! The singer is immensely talented and the musical prowess is ridiculous. More people need to listen to them!

Laura: Hans Zimmer. Technically a composer, not a songwriter, but I am obsessed. The way he can tell a whole story without any words is remarkable. He may not be underrated, but I don’t think he can get enough credit.

Roushan: I’d have to say Randy Slaugh who’s a producer and composer. He’s worked with Periphery, Skillet, Devin Townsend, Architects, David Archuleta, TesseracT, Four Year Strong, and Skyharbor, and is a member of one of my other favourites, White Moth Black Butterfly.

What are your plans for 2021 should COVID ever disappear?!

Should everything align and Covid goes away, we would definitely like to work on a fully-fledged album and tour it. We’re aching for live shows more than ever. But for now, the focus is to keep on keeping on. We’ve managed to build up fantastic momentum despite all the crap that’s befallen the world and we’d love to keep that going.

How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?

We’re pretty active on social media, as a band, and in our personal capacities. Feel free to contact us on Facebook and Instagram where we post the bulk of our spam. We would absolutely love to hear from our listeners so feel free to stalk us, we try to answer back as much as possible. Hit us up on Facebook, Instagram or email us at riddlebreak.music@gmail.com. There’s only one Riddlebreak so we’re not hard to find. Looking forward to hearing from you!!!

 

Photo credit: David Devo Oosthuizen

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