17 April 2013
Acclaimed instrumental pop group Sterling EQ walked away with the award for Best Instrumental Album at the illustrious Ghoema 2013 Music Awards Ceremony on Sunday night.
Known for changing the face of instrumental music in South Africa with their extraordinary fusion of virtuosity, fresh beats and undeniable X factor, instrumental supergroup Sterling EQ added another trophy to their mantelpiece on Sunday, when their latest release, Pulse, won the Ghoema Music Award in the category Best Instrumental, where the all-wo man supergroup was up against the likes of Rocco de Villiers, CH2, Martin Lane and Niël Rademan.
PULSE, which received rave reviews from South African media and international fans alike, and has – according to The Times – “set new standards for the instrumental music genre”, is Sterling EQ’s fourth release, and their first under the EMI label. The group also boasts a SAMA Award as well as a list of hundreds of live performances across 10 countries.
In addition to their victory in the instrumental category, Sterling EQ also enjoyed a nomination in the coveted Best Music Video category for their video “Carnaval” – an extremely unusual feat for an instrumental product to be recognised in one of the most highly contested categories in any music awards competition.
Lead player and founder Carina Bruwer said jokingly in their acceptance speech “Not only are we blown away by winning this award; it was already a victory for us to be nominated in the same category as Bobby van Jaarsveld for best music video”. She also thanked the Ghoemas and the South African industry for embracing instrumental music and giving it the platform for which they (Sterling) and their fellow-nominees have been working tirelessly. Another special thanks went to Sterling EQ’s producer Mauritz Lotz, to record label EMI, and especially to their loyal fans.
____________________________________
STERLING EQ WEN GHOEMA TOEKENNING
Die bekroonde instrumentale popgroep Sterling EQ het by die glansryke Ghoema Toekenningseremonie Sondagaand met die toekenning vir Beste Instrumentale Album weggestap.
Sterling EQ, wat bekend vir die manier waarop hulle die gesig van instrumentale musiek in Suid-Afrika verander het met hul innoverende vermenging van verbluffende virtuositeit, kontemporêre ritmes en onweerspreekbare “x faktor”, kan nog ‘n trofee op hul vertoonkas plaas. Hul nuutste vrystelling “Pulse” het geseevier met ‘n Ghoema musiektoekenning in die kategorie Beste Instrumentale Album, waar die vrouegroep saam met Rocco de Villiers, CH2, Martin Lane en Niël Rademan genomineer was.
PULSE, wat uitstekende resensies van die Suid-Afrikaanse media and publiek, sowel as internasionale aanhangers ontvang, het volgens The Times – “nuwe standaarde vir die instrumentale musiekgenre gestel”, en is Sterling EQ se vierdie suksesvolle vrystelling, en hul eerste onder die EMI-etiket. Die groep spog ook met ‘n SAMA Toekenning, sowel as ‘n lys van honderde optredes in 10 lande.
Boon en behalwe hul oorwinning in die instrumentale kategorie is Sterling EQ ook genomineer in die gesogte kategorie vir Beste Musievideo vir hul video “Carnaval”, ‘n uiters ongewone prestasie vir ‘n instrumentale produk om erkenning te geniet in een van die mees kompeterende kategorieë in enige kontemporêre musiektoekenningskompetisie.
In haar aanvaardingstoespraak het hoofspeler en stigterslid Carina Bruwer gespot: “ons is nie net oorweldig deur die feit dat ons hier staan met ‘n Ghoema toekenning nie; dit was vir ons reeds ‘n klein oorwinning om vroeër in dieselfde kategorie as Bobby van Jaarsveld vir Beste Musiekvideo genomineer te kon wees!”. Sy het ook die Ghoemas en die Suid-Afrikaanse musiekindustrie bedank vir hul ondersteuning van instrumentale musiek as eiesoortig- kontemporêre genre waarvoor hulle (Sterling) en hul mede-genomineerdes onverpoos werk. Hul regisseur Mauritz Lotz en hul platemaatskappy EMI, sowel as hul lojale aanhangers, het ook ‘n spesiale Sterling EQ dankie ontvang.