Luke Deville of Giraffe Aftermath and Liam Mackenzie of The Royal Youths have teamed up to create music together in this new musical project. Music is life, so here we are. See y’all this summer 2025 for our debut. 🔈🔊🔊

Torontonian troubadour Michael Dewey finds Sakatchewanean Gina Hetland in desperation as first femme singer lived sailor drunk... 

6 steel wires hovering and resonating across fretted wood, amplified by a hollowed spruce box...fingers adjusted to make pleasant sounds called chords...hums eventually called melodies...past stories turn into lyrics.

Lather, rinse, repeat, repeat, repeat... record.

Voila! The Black Dove

Written produced & recorded by: Michael Dewey
Vocals: Gina Hetland
Guitars, bass, keyboards: Michael Dewey
Drums : Nick Seiwert
Backing vocals on 'Blue to Grey': Angela Latham
Mixed by: Adam Riddle




“ Giraffe Aftermath channel modern North American frustration through the echoes of 1970s Jamaica, weaving carefully crafted songs into a fabric of sonic exploration. Characterized by sweet vocal harmony and dynamic arrangements, this Vancouver based group stays true to the roots of reggae while challenging the boundaries of what it may become; incorporating elements of hip-hop, jazz and electronic music and "swallowing the listener in the giant pocket they open in every song".
	In the summer of 2007, Steve Hackenbruch and Lucas de Villiers walked out of a daytime warehouse job and became the songwriting/production duo they call Giraffe Aftermath. Finding common ground in the calculated simplicity of reggae and dub music, they began writing and recording in a makeshift home studio. Surprised by the popularity of a handful of songs posted to MySpace, the project soon evolved into a live show and the release of a self titled album in 2008. 
	Joined by the relentless groove of Paul Steffes on Bass, they quickly became regulars on the Vancouver music scene playing a rich blend of deep, danceable music. With the release of 'Sleepless Nights' in 2011 and the addition of Ian Weiss (sax) and Jocelyn Waugh (trumpet), Giraffe Aftermath was becoming one of the most exciting live acts in Western Canada-  sharing the stage with international groups such as Katchafire, The Black Seeds, John Brown's Body and Macklemore; as well as three consecutive appearances at the Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival. 
	In spring of 2013 Giraffe Aftermath embarked on their first international tour, playing 18 shows in 23 days throughout Oregon and California. This tour was surprisingly successful due to the band's longtime internet presence, and led to a renewed sense of purpose within the group.
	Returning to Canada, the band played a series of sold-out shows throughout BC before retreating to The Loom Room studio in Cloverdale BC to start work on a new album. Mixed by Boston based engineer Craig 'Dubfader' Welsch (G-Love, Slightly Stoopid, 10 ft. Ganja Plant) and mastered by Kevin Metcalfe (Shaggy, Sting, UB40, Aswad) at the Soundmasters UK, 2014's 'Space Echo Beach Scene' resonates with the warmth of the vintage analog gear it was mixed on. "Based in reggae music fundamentals, but with a very unique and alternative take … through musicianship and what seems to be a true understanding of reggae music and stylistic elements", 'Space Echo Beach Scene' is a forward-thinking record about the struggles of the common man in the face of an increasingly corporate landscape.
	Despite the positive momentum the group was generating, the depression that seemed to fuel the music for de Villiers was starting to take it’s toll. As he retreated into solitude and substance abuse the bands live performances became few and far between and the creative output ground to a halt. 
	Fortunately, something clicked for the hopeless musician and after a serendipitous encounter with a book called “Shambala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior” he gave up alcohol and drugs (except cannabis of course) in favor of meditation and the goal of conquering his demons from within. 
	Now four years sober and vibrating with a calm intensity, de Villiers is creating again- and it seems like the Giraffes might be up to their old tricks: two good friends sending song ideas back and forth; pushing each other to further their craft; supplying the perfect ‘missing piece’ the track needs; Steve Hackenbruch and Luke de Villiers making songs together.
	With a handful of demos in the works and a new sense of identity the music is starting to take shape again and from what we’ve heard it sounds f**ing dope. With plans to launch a new single in spring of 2018 we can’t wait to hear what unfolds in the next chapter of Giraffe Aftermath. “

Professional drummer based on Vancouver island https://www.soultonecymbals.com/artist/liam-mackenzie

Followers of Elgin Vine