Morne Smit – Bass guitar
Raph Kossew - Drums
Jedd Kossew - Guitar
Tait arrived on the SA music scene in 2003 securing their first record deal with Fresh Music/Street Level Records. Their first album, “Back Seat Driver" was received as one of South Africa's biggest pop-rock albums of 2003, with the single "In My Arms" charting in the Top Ten on radio stations nationwide, followed by the next single "The Best Days of My Life" doing much the same. Tait spent most of 2004 touring SA and promoting the album, including performances on ETV, GOTV and interviews on all major radio stations. The band underwent some drastic changes early 2005 due to the tragic loss of their guitarist Quinton Jansen. Shortly thereafter their drummer Charl Bruwer decided to pack things up and move to the UK. The band has now been joined by Raph Kosssew on drums and his cousin Jedd Kossew on lead guitar, both with similar influences and the right skills to push Tait into the next era.
Chris Tait
Chris is the man behind most of the songwriting and producing. In 2001 he joined an already successful team of music producers at Street level Studios, the studio that brought you the likes of The Usual, Black Diamond (Semisane), Justin Bergh, Psycho Deli and many more. During this time he has written and collaborated with some of South Africa’s biggest artists. His influences range from Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Pearl Jam to Foo Fighters, Matchbox 20 and Live.
Chris says: I think TAIT weaves its way nicely between hard rock and accessible melody, creating for me what I've always wanted - a fusion between what I love to listen to and what I don't tell people I love to listen to.
Raph Kossew
Raph Kossew, well what can we say about him??? Tait’s very own “Bonzo”. Raph is the man behind the drums….the lunatic…the one keeping it all together. Raph has been playing in the SA scene for a number of years. Mostly with the hard rock band Cruel April, but also doing plenty session work in some of Cape Town’s finest studios. He was first approached when Tait’s original drummer decided to head north and since then has become an integral part of the bands persona. It just wouldn’t be the same without him….much like “Bonzo” in fact…His influences range from Metallica, Led Zeppelin and STP to Britney Spears, Beyonce and Christina.
Raph says: I like peanut butter toast and my favorite artist is Arno Carstens.
Jedd Kossew
Jedd joined Tait in early 2005. He joined at a time when things were really difficult but still managed to fill the shoes of one of South Africa’s finest guitarists. He brings his own flavour and personality to the band and is now an important part of the band’s evolution. His influences range from Metallica, Audioslave and Iron Maiden to Soundgarden, Zeppelin and STP.
Jedd says: All chicks welcome as long as you leave before mom wakes up….
Morne Smit
Morne is the newest member of the band, taking over from long time bassist Alun Curtis. Alun just recently entered fatherhood and could not commit to the bands hectic schedule. Morne is a session bassist who has played with the likes of the Dynamics, Louise Carver, Justin Bergh, Jo Rowlands band, Semisane, Sons of Trout etc. His influences range from Radiohead, Foo Fighters and U2 to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, the Police and Led Zeppelin.
Morne says: Howzit!!!
Tait have spent the last few years writing /recording and preparing for the release of their long awaited second album “So Many Ways”. During this time they secured their first major publishing deal, with Universal Music International and are now also apart of the Authentic Ideas stable of artists. The album will be released under the Next Music label, a new independent label with the backing of some of South Africa’s major players.
“So Many Ways” is a collection of songs influenced by love, life and death…So many ways to love…. So many ways to live…. so many ways to die…
RADIO AIRPLAY:
• 1st single “(I think I can)Relate” secures record deal with Fresh Music
• “(I think I can)Relate” play listed on 5FM, Matie FM, SAFM, UCT radio, TUKS FM, CBFM, Radio Shimla.
• “(I Think I Can)Relate” spent 3 weeks at No. 1 on SAMP3.com
• 2nd Single “In My Arms” is released and play listed on 5FM, Matie FM, UCT Radio, TUKS FM, CBFM, Radio Shimla, 94.7 Highveld, Jacaranda, East Coast radio, Radio Algoa, KFM and OFM.
• “In My Arms” reached No. 4 on 5FM Top 40, No. 1 on Radio Algoa and in the Top ten on almost all radio stations in the country.
• 3rd Single “The Best days Of My Life” play listed on 5FM, Matie FM, UCT Radio, TUKS FM, CBFM, Radio Shimla and OFM.
• “The Best Days Of My Life” reached No. 12 on 5FM Top Forty and No 7 on the 5FM High 5@five.
• 4th Single “Don’t Let Me Go” play listed on 5FM, Radio Algoa etc.
TV AND RADIO INTERVIEWS:
• Interview and Live performance on GOTV Meltdown.
• Interview and Live performance on E TV Morning Show
• Interviews on 5FM, 94.7 Highveld, East Coast Radio, OFM, Matie FM, UCT radio, TUKS FM, CBFM, Radio Shimla.
PRESS REVIEWS/INTERVIEW:
• Interviews/reviews in the Cape Argus, Die Burger, The Citizen(JHB), Die Beeld, Blunt Magazine, Stage Magazine, SL, YOU, Huisgenoot and most other newspapers and magazines nationwide.
LIVE PERFORMANCE’S:
• All venues in Cape Town including The Mercury, The Indie Armchair Theatre, Mystic Boer, Bohemia, Obs Café, Acoustic Café etc.
• Obs Festival December 2003.
• 2 week Tour of JHB, Pretoria and Bloemfontein in May 2004.
• Authentic Ideas first V-Town Festival in Vereenerging May 2004.
• 2 week Tour of JHB, Pretoria and Bloemfontein Oct 2004, upon release of Tait’s first e-single “High and Mighty”.
• Main stage at Woodstock 6 in September 2004.
DISCOGRAPHY:
• 1st Single “( I think I Can)Relate” released 2003.
