Arno Carstens Live at Arcade Empire 13 August 2011

Arno Carstens Live at Cool Runnings Fourways 5 August 2011

PROFILE

Arno Carstens is an internationally signed, platinum selling, South African singer songwriter, credited as “The Godfather of South African Rock” (Miles Keylock, GQ Magazine) for the role he has played in the development of the South African rock music industry. For the past two decades, he has been committed to the South African music industry.

LEAD SINGER & SONGWRITER, SPRINGBOK NUDE GIRLS, SOUTH AFRICA — 1994 – PRESENT

The Springbok Nude Girls is an alternative rock band from Cape Town, South Africa. They played their first gig in September 1994 in Stellenbosch and since then have toured both locally and internationally extensively.

In 2010, to a thunderous reception, the band headlined the most popular South African music festivals, Rocking The Daisies (Cape Town) and Rocking The Gardens (Johannesburg), proving that they are still one of the most beloved alternative rock bands in the country. They went on to perform as the opening act for U2 in Cape Town and Johannesburg during their South African tour in February 2011, as well as perform a sold out show at Shepherds Bush Empire in London and an explosive show at The Isle of Wight Fesival in the UK in June 2011.

Besides various scheduled South African performances in 2011, the band will headline OppiAarde, Potchefstroom in South Africa later this year and their 6th studio album, recorded in London in June 2011 is scheduled for release in the coming months.

The Springbok Nude Girls have released the following albums:

Neanderthal 1 (August 1995) (initially on Bluegum records CDSNG1, Epic)
It Became A Weapon (October 1996) (Epic)
be-vest@iafrica.com (1997) (Epic)
I Love You EP (1997-03-04) (Epic)
Afterlifesatisfaction (Epic, 1997)
Omnisofa (April 1998) (Epic)
OPTI MUM (November 1998) (Epic)
Surpass the Powers (July 1999) (Epic)
Un-E.Z. (1999) (Epic)
Relaxzor (November 2000) (Epic)
The Fat Lady Sings – Best of the Springbok Nude Girls 1995-2001 (October 2001) (Epic)
Goddank Vir Klank 1994 – 2004 (July 2004) (Sony Music)
Nude Girls (Exclusive UK release) (July 2006) (Golden Fairy Records/SonyBMG)
Peace Breaker (March 2007) (Sony/BMG)
Springbok Nude Girls LIVE at London’s Astoria (2007) (Sony/BMG)

SINGER & SONGWRITER, ARNO CARSTENS, SOUTH AFRICA — 2000 – PRESENT

Arno Carstens is an award-winning South African singer-songwriter and guitarist currently based between Cape Town and London. During his career as the lead singer of South Africa’s favourite rock band The Springbok Nude Girls, and subsequently as a solo artist, Arno has released 9 studio albums and had 18 top ten singles. He has won 5 South African Music Awards and shared the stage with legends of the music world. Arno has performed on the main stage at the Isle of Wight Festival, has appeared at Glastonbury, V Festival, T in the Park and Hard Rock Calling and has supported the likes of U2, The Rolling Stones, Paul Weller, The Police, Simple Minds and Meat Loaf on European tours.

Arno Carstens’ UK debut album Wonderful Wild (release date 26 April 2010) was written, recorded and mixed in London & Spain with co-songwriting contributions from Giles Martin, James Walsh, Jim Duguid and Youth. The album was produced by legendary British producer Youth (The Verve’s Urban Hymns) and Jim Duguid (Paulo Nutini’s These Streets). Final mix on the album is by Tim Bran (The Verve’s recent UK#1 album).

Arno’s 2nd solo album, The Hello Goodbye Boys was released in 2005. Produced by well-known South African studio maestro Brian O’ Shea (USA’s Seether), The Hello Goodbye Boys went gold and won a SAMA award in 2006.

Another Universe, Arno’s debut solo album, was released in 2003 and as one of the most anticipated solo projects in South African music history, did not disappoint, becoming the biggest selling South African English rock album this side of the millennium. The platinum selling album won a SAMA Award for Best Rock Album in 2004.

ARTIST, ARNO CARSTENS, SOUTH AFRICA — 2005 – PRESENT

Arno studied graphic art in 1992, following as lifelong passion with the arts. As a child he dreamed that he would embark on a career as an artist, but when he met Theo Crous in 1994 and together with Arno Blumer, Francious Kruger and eventually Adriaan Brand, formed the now legendary Springbok Nude Girls, his focus shifted to music.

In 2010 Arno returned to South Africa after three years of writing, recording and touring his third solo album, “Wonderful Wild” abroad. Back in Cape Town again, Arno began working on an idea for this exhibition; a 12 month journey that saw him return to his love: fine art. The core identity of Arno’s work is based on his unique take on Surrealism. He works with oils on canvas, and featured imaginary creatures doing ordinary things, portraying everyday human emotion in an alien world.

Arno paints regularly with globally renowned artist, Beezy Bailey.