Farryl Purkiss
Encyclopedia
Farryl Purkiss is a SAMA
nominated South African singer-songwriter
. Purkiss released an eponymous debut album, Farryl Purkiss in 2006. He has released a number of EP
s and in 2009 released his sophomore
album
entitled "Fruitbats & Crows
".
Purkiss reached #1 in France with “La-Di-Da”. His songs have been used in campaigns by Nissan (Greece), Audi TT Remastered (UK), MTN (South Africa) as well as placement in the international film “Adopted” (featuring Pauly Shore
). In 2007 he was voted the most popular musician by Heat Magazine (South Africa), and in 2009 his song "Sticks and Stones" was used in the ABC
television show “Private Practice”.
He is also an amateur surfing
champion.
, Kwa-Zulu Natal (formally Natal) and grew up in Umhlanga
. Growing up, Purkiss had many pets (mainly birds and dogs) and spent his youth surfing
. At the age of 15 years old, Purkiss received his first guitar and by 16 years old he composed his first song (Ducking & Diving).
After finishing High School
, Purkiss went on to study Industrial Design
. At the same time he decided that he wanted to perform. He performed his first ever gig in Umhlanga
supporting fellow Durban
band, Perez.
While making his way around the gig circuit, Purkiss was spotted by South African guitarist, Nibs van der Spuy.
, Gareth Gale, and bassist, Roly Struckmeyer, Purkiss recorded what was to become Chapter One (Farryl Purkiss Album) at Birch's Tropical Sweat studios in Durban. The self-financed album was released on Nibs van der Spuy's record label
Greenhouse Music.
After the album was released, Purkiss met Damon Forbes who signed him to the jazz and world
centric record label.
South African Music Awards
The South African Music Awards are an annual award ceremony, run by the Recording Industry of South Africa , where accolades are presented to members of South Africa's music industry. Winners receive a statuette is called a SAMA. The event was established in 1995...
nominated South African singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. Purkiss released an eponymous debut album, Farryl Purkiss in 2006. He has released a number of EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s and in 2009 released his sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
album
Music Album
Music album is the name of:* Music Album , a 1970s Canadian television series* Album, a collection of music tracks...
entitled "Fruitbats & Crows
Fruitbats & Crows
-Singles:The first single produced from the album was "A Million Grains Of Sand." The music video peaked at #4 on South African music channel, MK .-Musicians:*Farryl Purkiss - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar*Kieran Smith - Bass Guitar...
".
Purkiss reached #1 in France with “La-Di-Da”. His songs have been used in campaigns by Nissan (Greece), Audi TT Remastered (UK), MTN (South Africa) as well as placement in the international film “Adopted” (featuring Pauly Shore
Pauly Shore
Paul Montgomery "Pauly" Shore is an American comedian and actor who starred in several comedy films in the 1990s and hosted a video show on MTV in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
). In 2007 he was voted the most popular musician by Heat Magazine (South Africa), and in 2009 his song "Sticks and Stones" was used in the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television show “Private Practice”.
He is also an amateur surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
champion.
Early life
Purkiss was born in DurbanDurban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, Kwa-Zulu Natal (formally Natal) and grew up in Umhlanga
Umhlanga
Umhlanga, or Reed Dance ceremony, is an annual Swazi and Zulu tradition held in August or September. Tens of thousands of unmarried and childless Swazi/Zulu girls and women travel from their villages to participate in the eight-day event...
. Growing up, Purkiss had many pets (mainly birds and dogs) and spent his youth surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
. At the age of 15 years old, Purkiss received his first guitar and by 16 years old he composed his first song (Ducking & Diving).
After finishing High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, Purkiss went on to study Industrial Design
Industrial design
Industrial design is the use of a combination of applied art and applied science to improve the aesthetics, ergonomics, and usability of a product, but it may also be used to improve the product's marketability and production...
. At the same time he decided that he wanted to perform. He performed his first ever gig in Umhlanga
Umhlanga
Umhlanga, or Reed Dance ceremony, is an annual Swazi and Zulu tradition held in August or September. Tens of thousands of unmarried and childless Swazi/Zulu girls and women travel from their villages to participate in the eight-day event...
supporting fellow Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
band, Perez.
While making his way around the gig circuit, Purkiss was spotted by South African guitarist, Nibs van der Spuy.
Chapter One (2004-2005)
Nibs Van der Spuy encouraged Purkiss to record an album and so Purkiss entered the studio with South African producer, Dave Birch (formally vocalist and guitarist for Durban band, Squeal). Along with drummerDrummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, Gareth Gale, and bassist, Roly Struckmeyer, Purkiss recorded what was to become Chapter One (Farryl Purkiss Album) at Birch's Tropical Sweat studios in Durban. The self-financed album was released on Nibs van der Spuy's record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Greenhouse Music.
After the album was released, Purkiss met Damon Forbes who signed him to the jazz and world
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
centric record label.