Mezzanine Floor are a 5 piece progressive metal/hard rock band from the coastal city of
Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

The band formed in 2010 with a mutual goal to create an emotive, conceptual sound. 
Drawing from a myriad of influences, the likes of, Mastodon, Tool, Opeth, Cult Of Luna,
Black Crown Initiate, Between The Buried And Me and Gojira to name a few.

"Being a conceptual and artistically vibrant metal band is something we have grown to expect from Mezzanine Floor, 
not only in their music, but in how they approach all aspects of being a band." ¬ Patrick Davidson - Metal4Africa

Members
Dixen van Onselen - Lead Vocals - (Formally of Venality, Last to Know, Sativa Seed)
Dylan van der Merwe - Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals - (Formally of Last to Know, Stimulis)
Lourens van der Merwe - Rhythm Guitar - (Formally of Sins of Immigrants, Car Number Thirteen) 
Tyran van der Merwe - Bass Guitar
Kyle Allen - Drums - (Formally of Silent Sympathy, Stimulis)

Album releases:

"Feed the Machine" 2013
"Architecture Of Aeons" 2016

Following a slew of local performances and the release of their debut album "Feed The Machine", 
the band entered into the South African leg of Battle For Wacken 2014 which saw the band progessing to the finals in Johannesburg.
The following year the band was invited to perform at WinterFest 2015 alongside the finest metal heavyweights of South Africa.
In 2016, the band recorded and released their sophomore album "Architecture Of Aeons" and in conjuction with the Concertssa Mobility Fund, 
they embarked on the 1st leg of their album tour performing in the Western Cape with Johannesburg and Durban next on their radar.


"With the release of their self-produced Architecture of Aeons, the band's second release after 2013's ‘Feed the machine’, we are treated to this 
quintet's range of intricately constructed bursts of bone-crushing riffs and delightful clean sections that still manage to come across with 
the brutality of a cute panda bear ripping your face off. The band's myriads of styles take the listener's ears on an epic journey through the 
guts of a demonic beast right out the mouth to vomit on conventions." ¬ Kevin Rule - The Metalist ZA - With Dawn.

Media:
SA Music News
http://samusicnews.blogspot.com/2011/10/friday-weekend-before-halloweenbe.html

In a sultry ambiance reminiscent of jazz days from an era past, the Montreal Jazz Band delights with the greatest hits from the 30s to the 60s. As part of their vast repertoire, complete with numerous languages, this quartet gracefully balances jazz, french chansons, and latin rhythms to delight.
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Dans une ambiance feutrée rappelant le style jazz de l'époque, le Montreal Jazz Band reprend les plus grands succès des années 30 à 60. Doté d'un vaste répertoire, riche de plusieurs langues, le quatuor jongle habilement avec le jazz, la chanson française et les rythmes latins.

NEW ALBUM : March, 31th 2023 
Nicolas Parent started music at the age of 5, learning Alto Violin making the switch to guitar at 13.

He is a graduate of MAI (Nancy), the American School of Modern Music (Paris), Jazz Conservatory and also obtained a Diplôme d’Etat. He notably studied with Gérard Curbillon, Michel Perez, Philippe Macé, Peter Giron, Mike O ’Neil.
Master-Class  with : Avishai Cohen, Lionel Lueke, Scott Henderson, Sylvain Luc, Louis Winsberg, Pierre Bensusan.

Eclectic guitarist, Nicolas plays and records as a sideman for numerous bands :
Miroda (Fado-Folk), Cate Petit (Etienne M’Bappé - Bossa), Open Road (Country),  Assek (Rock), Sofia Nilson (Jazz), Chocolate (Funk), Anita Sy (Blues), Gabrielle Roda (Chanson), Garwall (Métal), French Delight (Jazz), Cosmic 4tet (Fusion), Margot Cassila (Pop-Jazz), Formol (Hip-Hop Hard), Deer (Folk)…

He does music theatre work for the “Matador Company” (national tours in France) compose for short films and touring in Japan with his own band.

Artist and independent producer, his 3rd album MIRAGE will be released on March 29th 2019, with special guest Vincent Segal (Sting, Salif Keita, Keziah Jones…) on Label L’intemporel, distributed by L’Autre Distribution in France and abroad.
His last albums TORI (2016) and MOMENTS (2013) have been succesfull, released on the same label.

Nicolas Parent has the unquenchable desire to constantly refine his sense of aesthetic. In doing so, he has created a very personal universe, mainly putting the focus on his voice as a composer.

AWARDS :
- Springboard Finalist at St Germain-des-Prés Jazz Festival :
“Special Recognition from the jury for the originality of the writing“
- Selection The Affordable Art Fair
- Springboard Finalist at Jazz en Baie
- Paris’ Young Talents /Paris City Hall

REFERENCES :
Japan-Tour, Radio France, Jazz à St Germain-des-Prés, Eclats d'Emails Jazz Festival, Jazz en Baie Mont St-Michel, Sunset, Sunside, L’Européen, Baiser Salé, Studio de l’Ermitage, Auditorium de l’Onde, Studio de Meudon, Festival Quai Jazz, L’Improviste, Neuf Jazz-club, Belushi’s, Jazz au Canapé, Caminito Cabaret, Kibélé, Caveau des Artistes, Living B’Art, Vent des Grèves, Swan bar, Babilo, Ciné-Concert au Limonaire, Guitare Xtrem Magazine, Tamanoir, Halle Freysinet, Afordable Art Fair, Centre Carpeaux, Connetable, Festival Deli-Delo, Manège Royal, El Alamein, Balle au bond, Baleine blanche, Vache bleue, Jardin d’Arpajon, Fnars, Médiathèque Aimé Césaire, Médiathèque Sabatier, Alhambra, Caveau de la République, Théâtre Trévise, Théâtre de Sèvres, Théâtre Reine Blanche, Théâtre 2 Rêves, Théâtre Quai des arts, Théâtre de Nesle, Théâtre Darius Milhaud, Théâtre Cornillon, Théâtre Berthelot, EMI, Place Masséna, Georges V, Astor St Honoré, Salle Gustave -Tour Eiffel...  

http://www.nicolasparent.com

Jesus Christ is awaiting us folks, the time is right, the demonic empire shows up like never before, get ready and get saved before it is too late !!!

becoming born again is the priority now and this takes time, understand that satan and his devils rule this world and very few will enter the gate of heaven through the narrow path !!!

here is a documentary for you to see things clearly, be blessed in Christ Jesus mighty and holy name. may God be with you, this journey ends soon !!! you better pick up a bible and read !!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc_J2k4Cdp8

I was a Christian who was oppressed by demons and curses all my life.  I was rescued by the Lord Jesus Christ at age 60 and delivered from demonic oppression.  Thank You Jesus.  Now I am an enlightened Christian who knows that demons are real but they don't rule.  My mission is to reach as many as i can with the Word of Luke 10:19 "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy and nothing will harm you".  This means that as a Christian we have power over the demonic realm and not the other way around.  If we know this then we can fight back!

Based in Gent, Belgium, Dan and Morad have worked together on the Whicked Hayo project for over five years. Appearing on numerous compilations from Night Oracle Records (Greece) , Ketuh Records (Austria) and many others, plus the Fullmoon Festival 2006 DVD (Circuit VIII/BNE, Israel), their sound is well-known – yet still strangely alien – to lovers of night-time trance sounds. They have worked with many of the dark and tribal scene's biggest names, including Azax Syndrome, Psykovsky, Highligh Tribe, Secret Vibes, Claw, CPC and others. 

Whicked Hayo have appeared at most of World's leading festivals, including Trancedence Festival, Fullmoon Festival, Antaris Festival and Transylvania Calling. Their relentless audio rampage – bombarding the dancefloor with the unexpected – creates an incomparable atmosphere, which has established them firmly at the top of the Belgian dark scene, and is a hit wherever they go.


SOLO ALBUM SOUNDBREAKERS


2008: Night Oracle Records proudly presents the debut album of the Belgian project Whicked Hayo. 

After five years establishing Whicked Hayo as one of Europe's best-loved (and sometimes most feared) night-time live acts, Dan Firiou and Morad Bensaoud present ''SoundBreakers'' - their first album release at Night Oracle Records. Combining solid basslines with truly bizarre samples and their unique breakdowns that drive any dancefloor crazy, SoundBreakers has a sound that will delight and disturb the scene all over the world. Balancing the most insane breakdowns and positively violent drum tracks with truly twisted humour, the ecstatic chaos of Whicked Hayo's sound opens up a new direction in psytrance. 
.. 

2009 HILIGHTTRIBE Feat WHICKED HAYO - TRANCELUCID

Ten years ago, I remember telling the band 'Keep on working this way, Iand+700;ll tell you when we're there.' Now here it is, I recognize what I was waiting for: the adventure is ready to begin! Thanks to Morad and Dan from Whicked Hayo (1rst album: Soundbreakers, Night Oracles Recs.) for their excellent work on the Mix and arrangements. Also, thanks to N'do Mbemba Kanoute from Senegal (Tambakunda Track) who lent us for the second time, the magic of his lyrics and Cora. Take time to really listen carefully this album. You then will ear and realise all the details and brightness of the musicians incredible inventiveness and ease.. For shure a smile will come onto your face. But the ultimate experience is still on stage when the band can exercise its charism and especially privileged relation with its public, giving then all of its size. 

2012 Second SoloAlbum The Sequel 

Mix Up Tape Album: http://soundcloud.com/whickedhayo/album-preview-the-sequel

Omveda Records is happy to present the second studio album of Whicked Hayo titled "Soundbreakers: The Sequel" 
3 years after the release of their successful debut album which gave the world a glimpse of their ability to create unique breakdowns and bizarre yet intelligent usage of samples, while doing the mixing for the Highlight Tribe album ‘Trancelucid’ Morad Bensaoud and Dan Firiou are back with a diverse album that showcases the evolution in their sound. 
Inspired by new influences and ideas and the fusion of their talent with highly-respected musicians such as Juno Reactor, Highlight Tribe, Kindzadza, Psykovsky to name a few, the album is an interesting amalgamation of their trademark breaks, tribal percussion, aggressive old school acid synths, classical piano and hi-tec sounds. Merging all these ideas they have created a very catchy and diverse while keeping the highly energetic dancefloor factor they are known for. The remixes of Juno Reactor and Highlight Tribe are some of the ones that could catch you by surprise, showing their ability to create a wide range of sounds. 
Over the years they have showcased their explosive live-act all over the world and in festivals such as Freedom Festival , Full Moon Festival,Earthdance, Rhakti Dei, Transylvania Calling among many others. 
This Summer expect some dancefloor carnage with these maniacs letting go of these new weapons in the festival circuit!

The Gypsy Ska Orquesta  is a street band from Caracas, Venezuela that combines different musical styles like ska, latin, jazz and gypsy-balkan music. With an instrumental and explosive proposal, literally turn on the party, whether in the street,  a nightclub or at a theater, the listener is never indifferent to this experience.

The Gypsy Ska Orquesta  was born in 2009 from a street musical proposal of  Sebastian Leon (sax), and Mauricio Vivas (accordion). In the beginning, the goal was simple: Go out and play in the street to share with strangers in a regular enviroment the musical work that we were developing. So, in a rushed and chaotic rythm (as our city), between the street, jam sessions and musical experiments, the project was taking shape, friends joined and so, once or twice a week for a few hours the sidewalks of Caracas became our makeshift stage.

In mid-2011, begin to emerge numerous invitations to play at local parties, exhibitions, weddings, dance performances and from there then this gathering Consolidates as an ensamble, being so far nine stable musicians.

In the Summer of 2014 the Gypsy Ska Orquesta  made its ﬁrst international tour in Europe, playing in different Music Clubs in countries such as Germany, Spain, French, Belgium, Poland and Czech Republic, as well as in diverse festivals like the Burg Herzberg Festival (Fulda, Germany) and the Römersee Open Air (Bad Rappenau, Germany).

In 2015 the GSO made its second tour in Europa, named “The Goat Tour”, playing in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia and Italy, in diverse festivals like the Mighty Sounds Festival (CZ), Skaville (CR), Colour Meeting Festival (CZ), Vrbove Vetry (SK) and for the second time in the Burg Herzberg Festival (DE). This Tour was entirely filmed by Krzysztof Gajewski, director of the documentary film “Ska Delight” and at the moment they are working in the creation of a film about this last adventure.

For this year the GSO is organizing 2 more Tours in Europa, a short Spring-Tour in March and their 3rd Summer-Tour in July and August, with dates already confirmed with the “Warsaw Balkan Madness” Crew, the “This is Ska” Festival in Dessau, Germany, and many more.


Skinny Puppy formed in 1982 from the partnership of cEvin Key (Kevin Crompton) and Nivek Ogre (Kevin Ogilvie) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Key was dissatisfied with the pop direction of his then-current band Images in Vogue and began Skinny Puppy with the intention of doing something more raw and experimental. The duo recorded their first self-released cassette Back & Forth in 1984, with help from Dave "Rave" Ogilvie. This was the beginning of a long partnership between Skinny Puppy and Rave, who would serve as their producer until 1993, again in 1995, and was occasionally listed as a member of the band in album liner notes. Back & Forth drew the attention of Vancouver startup label Nettwerk, who signed the band later that year.

The dark electro-pop styles of the debut EP, Remission, and first album Bites the following year, earned the band a fervent fan base. This era saw the creation of such now-immortal underground hits as "Assimilate", "Smothered Hope", "The Choke", "Dead Lines", "Last Call", and "Far Too Frail".

Dwayne Goettel, who played synthesizers and samplers, joined Skinny Puppy in 1986. Classically trained as a pianist/keyboardist, Goettel had previously worked with the synth pop band Psyche, among others.

Their audience expanded with a distribution deal with Capitol Records/EMI, while Play It Again Sam issued a number of their releases in Europe. Their production values continued to improve with the addition of Goettel on Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse in 1986 and Cleanse Fold and Manipulate in the year that followed. "Dig It", "Addiction", "Chainsaw", "Stairs and Flowers", and "Deep Down Trauma Hounds" are prominent songs from this period.

Skinny Puppy toured for three years in North America and Europe; a live performance at Toronto's Concert Hall in 1987 was released on VHS in 1989 and CD in 1991 as Ain't It Dead Yet?

Over time, the band became outspoken advocates for animal rights, and used the European Head Trauma tour and North American VIVIsectVI tour to draw attention to the issue. The title of the album, VIVIsectVI, released in 1988, was a pun intended to associate vivisection with Satanism (i.e. the "666 sect"). The album's lyrics dealt with criticism of pollution, chemical warfare, deforestation, rape, cocaine addiction, and the promotion of sexual abstinence to stop the spread of AIDS/HIV. The lead track "Dogshit" was released as a single in 1988 under the name "Censor" (due to censorship issues, radio stations urged the band to change its name for radio airplay) while the single "Testure" (which denounced the vivisection of animals for research purposes) reached No. 19 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1989. A music video was produced for "Testure" featuring footage of a man being tortured by monstrous-looking surgeons, augmented with clips from The Plague Dogs and Unnecessary Fuss, and included a statement denouncing vivisection. Key and Ogre were arrested for "disorderly conduct" at a 1988 concert in Cincinnati, Ohio after an audience member, believing the stuffed animal Ogre was "vivisecting" to be a real dog, called the police.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the band members also worked on various side projects. Key and Goettel were involved with The Tear Garden (a collaboration with The Legendary Pink Dots), Doubting Thomas (an outlet for their non-Skinny Puppy instrumentals), and the rock band Hilt. Ogre struck up a friendship with Ministry's Al Jourgensen and joined Ministry and some of its side projects on their live tours. For Skinny Puppy's fifth album, Rabies, released in 1989, Jourgensen joined Rave as producer.

Their next album, Too Dark Park, was released in 1990. The album is built on the harsh electronic rock of previous albums, yielding the singles "Tormentor" and "Spasmolytic". Environmental degradation was a major theme on songs such as "Nature's Revenge" and "Shore Lined Poison" while layers of background noise grew to a crescendo on the album's closer "Reclamation".

The album that followed two years later, Last Rights, pushed the dark noise of Too Dark Park further into experimental territory. In 1992 the single "Inquisition" was released. Another single, "Love In Vein", was made but not released until some of the remix and b-side material intended for it appeared on Brap: Back and Forth Series 3 & 4 in 1996. The "Killing Game" video and tour backing film were directed by William Morrison.

Ogre, Key, and Goettel signed a contract with American Recordings and moved to Malibu, California in 1993 to record The Process, a concept album inspired by 1960s cult The Process Church of The Final Judgment, with Roli Mosimann producing. Artistic and personal differences caused Ogre to leave Skinny Puppy in June 1995. Goettel was found dead of a heroin overdose in his parents' home two months later. The Process was eventually completed with Rave, released in 1996, and dedicated to the memory of Goettel. It was an overall stylistic departure from their previous albums, prominently featuring untreated vocals, guitar, and more accessible song structures. The liner notes that accompanied the CD included thank-yous to "Electronic Music Lovers" and "Puppy People" followed by the words "The End" in bold type.

Several collections were released while Skinny Puppy was dormant, including Brap: Back and Forth Series 3 & 4 in 1996 and The Singles Collect and B-Sides Collect in 1999. Nettwerk commissioned a remix album in 1998; titled remix dystemper, it featured classic Skinny Puppy tracks re-worked by a diverse range of artists, including IDM pioneers Autechre, alt-metal band Deftones, rapper/hip hop producer Guru and Industrial mainstay KMFDM. Ogre and Mark Walk also took part, contributing a breakcore remix of "Dig It" and an updated version of Remission's "Smothered Hope" with new vocals by Ogre.

In 2000, Ogre and Key reunited and performed live as Skinny Puppy for the first time since 1992 at the Doomsday Festival in Dresden. The live album Doomsday: Back and Forth Series 5: Live in Dresden was released in 2001. Key joined ohGr on drums for its 2001 tour, while Ogre appeared on the track "Frozen Sky" on Key's 2001 album The Ghost of Each Room. The first new Skinny Puppy track in several years, "Optimissed", appeared on the Underworld soundtrack in 2003. Ogre, Key, Mark Walk and various guests, including Danny Carey of Tool and Wayne Static of Static-X, recorded the band's ninth studio album, The Greater Wrong of the Right, released in 2004 on Synthetic Symphony, a sub-label of SPV, their European distributor since the mid-1990s. The new Skinny Puppy sound was in a similar vein as The Process, with a somewhat more rock-oriented style. Skinny Puppy toured North America and Europe in support of the album in 2004. Skinny Puppy toured Europe again in 2005, and returned to the studio to complete their next album, Mythmaker, which was released in January 2007.

According to a news posting on the official Skinny Puppy website, the band's next studio album was originally slated for release in October 2009, but the release of this album was delayed due to insolvency issues with the SPV label (thus leading to Ogre naming the 2009 tour the "In Solvent See" tour). These issues were not expected to be resolved until the end of 2009. However, the "In Solvent See" Tour took place as planned.

In May 2011, Skinny Puppy announced that they finished recording a new album titled HanDover, which was released in October of 2011.

A live album, titled Bootlegged, Broke, and In Solvent Seas and recorded on the band's 2010 European tour, was released on June 12, 2012 by Metropolis Records.

Aruán Ortiz, “the latest Cuban wunderkind to arrive in the United States” (BET Jazz), hit the ground running when he came on the American jazz scene in 2003.

A former classically trained violist and pianist, this Santiago de Cuba native’s sound is as marked by the influence of the contemporary classical composers such as Schoenberg, Ravel, and Copland as by traditional Afro Cuban sounds and jazz greats Bud Powell, Art Tatum, and Thelonious Monk.

Aruán’s jazz career took off in Europe after being recipient of various awards including Best Jazz Interpretation, Festival de Jazz in Vic, Spain (2000) and Semifinalist, Jas Hennessy Piano Solo Competition, Montreux, Switzerland (2001). He soon became a first‐call pianist in Barcelona and Paris. Since arriving in the US, he has played steadily with Wallace Roney, Antoine Roney, Terri Lyne Carrington, Greg Osby, and Cindy Blackman. He has also played or recorded with Esperanza Spalding, Gary Thomas, Wayne Krantz, Rasheed Ali, Stefon Harris, Horacio “El Negro” Hernández, Giovanni Hidalgo, George Garzone, Jane Bunnett, and Jerry Bergonzi among other great jazz artists.

Aruán considers himself “a curious person who loves music”, and portrays his music as an architectural structure of sounds, incorporating contemporary classical music, Afro‐Cuban rhythms and improvisation as primary material in his compositions. This is evident in his recordings Impresión Tropical, Universal 1996; Aruán Ortiz Trio Vol. 1, Ayva/Pimienta/ Universal, 2004; and Alameda, Fresh Sound New Talent, 2009, which received 4 stars in Jazzwise magazine (U.K.) which named it one of the top ten jazz CDs of the year.

Aruán’s ability to subtly incorporate world music elements into avant‐garde jazz makes his sense of creativity unique and recognizable in different styles. This musical vision led him to be featured on dozens of albums such as the Flamenco influenced recording ‘Evocación’ by Raynald Colom (Ad Lib Arts/Harmonia Mundi 2009), Esperanza Spalding’s “Junjo,” (Ayva Música, 2005), Arturo Stable’s “Notes on Canvas” (Origen Records, 2005), Wallace Roney’s “If Only for One Night” (High Note, 2010), The Afro-Horn Project by Francisco Mora Catlett (AACE, 2012), Steve Turre’s “Woody’s Delight” (High Note, 2012), among many others.

He was invited by flutist Mark Weinstein to produce, arrange and perform on the CD “El Cumbanchero” (Jazzheads 2010), inspired by the traditional music of Cuba for string quintet, flute, piano and percussion. This album was nominated as one of the best albums of 2011 by numerous music publications, and Aruán won Latin Jazz Corner’s “Arranger of the Year 2011” for his contribution on this album.

The music of his upcoming CD Santiarican Blues Suite (Sunnyside Records, 2012), was commissioned by the Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre for the 25th anniversary of the company 2010. The choreography Pagan or Not by Jose Mateo based in the music of this Suite, was selected one of the best ballet performances in New England in 2011. 

Aruán Ortiz is a critically acclaimed and recognized performer, composer, producer and educator, not only on the New York City scene, but around the globe as well.


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