The Vanilla band
Barthlo
Lead guitar, synthI love collecting shoes and I am a huge watch fan. My favorite place on earth is the beach, especially Arniston in December, because you swim and tan all day long and in the evening you open a beer and braii. Thats my idea of a perfect vacation. When I was about 4 month old, my mom used to play me music on her old record player and I think that’s where my love for music started.
Tyan
Lead singer, guitarI’m a creative soul with a love for adventure and the great outdoors. I’ve got a softer side than people realize, I value family and friendships and I make time for those who matter to me. I collect vintage cameras and love to shop around for band memorabilia and other quirky bluesrock, but I enjoy a lot of today’s pop music. I’m just a suburb boy dreaming of a bright future.
François
DrumsI am probably the most relaxed person you will ever meet, but beneath the laidback exterior is a serious passion to succeed. I love to be active and stay fit, playing hockey, tennis or cricket whenever the opportunity arises. My dry humor often gets me into trouble even though I can’t hurt a fly. Whiskey, friends or the odd sarcastic conversation makes my day.
Jaen-Pierre
BassI am addicted to music that grooves, breaths, ebbs and flows and subsequently I chose the instrument which encapsulates that. I am obsessed with mechanical watches and in a serious relationship with good whiskey. I plan on wearing great suits the rest of my life, and a good pair of leather shoes makes my heart beat a little faster.
Our story
The Vanilla is a 4 piece feelgood pop band from the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town. The band consists of Jaen-Pierre Dowling on bass, on drums Francois Keyser, guitar and lead vocals Tyan Odendal and on lead guitar and synth Barthlo Visagie.
Tyan and JP attended Rocking the Daisies 2014 and felt inspired beyond belief. Playing Daisies’ main stage seemed like the ultimate accomplishment and they briefly toyed with the idea of starting a new band. It wasn’t until the end of the year that they really kicked into gear however, and after an amazing December holiday up the East Coast, The Vanilla was born.
Just as 2015 got underway, Tyan, a selfprofessed bluesrock aficionado, started writing pop songs out of nowhere. Writer’s block turned into creative flow, and soon a hefty pile of songs had been written. JP and Tyan always had an immense love for radio pop and figured their new project should be a natural extension of something they love.
The band may be brand new, but the members have known each other forever. Tyan, Francois and JP practically grew up together, attended the same schools and learnt to play their instruments at the same time. They picked up Barthlo along the way, and the 4 of them moulded The Vanilla’s sound into something refreshingly new, but strikingly easy on the ear.
The word “vanilla” usually refers to something normal, neutral or plain. The exact opposite of what the band aims to be. This beautiful piece of irony got the members excited, and the decision to adopt the band’s name was unanimous.
The Vanilla has spent a lot of time crafting their songs, working on their live performances and building a brand that is instantly recognisable and easily relatable. The band’s message is centred around good energy, having a great time and sharing a positive outlook on life. They aim to make you smile, but they definitely make you dance!
Next gig Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts 3 April 2016 - 5:15pm - 7:00pm
We got a freaking awesome new design, made by Thibault Jan Beyer.