BIOGRAPHY
Seattle, WA alternative rock band South of Nine has its roots etched in Botswana's sand
and its soul formed in Johannesburg. New full-length Emphysema melds soaring
vocals, undeniable hooks, and searing guitars into an alt-rock storm that churns above a
foundation of immediately engaging melody. Equally suited to the sweatiest of rock club
and windows-down late-night cruising, South of Nine crafts the sort of anthemic rock
that will have you shouting along in no time.
Starting in early 2011, this four-piece band turned heads by performing locally in South
Africa, hitting up festivals and jamming alongside the likes of Prime Circle, Die
Antwoord, Fokofpolisiekar, Arno Carstens, Newtown Knife Gang, Tweak and Johnny
Clegg. Versatile yet always compelling, their music was quickly embraced by the weary
souls that wanted great alternative rock music to be back at the forefront of the South
African Music Industry.
No newcomers to music, primary creative David Garbers' (guitar, vocals, lyrics) former
band, USED2Bsyris, had taken full advantage of an overseas move to London; playing
many clubs and venues, recording an EP and opening for the likes of Nine Black Alps.
Though it should be said that he already had a history alongside major players in the
South African Music scene. At the tender age of sixteen Garbers played to an audience
of five thousand, and it's been a rollercoaster ever since.
After USED2Bsyris parted ways in 2010, Garbers returned to Africa and set out to form
a new band. South of Nine was born. Armed with the inspiration of first-hand experience
of the international music scene and a small taste of rock stardom, the search for a
band led him to founding members Corne Botha(guitar), Kyle Williams (drums) and
Chris Baillie (bass). At the same time, Garbers had developed a career in live
production, engineering international level artists and working with the finest performers
South Africa had to offer. This both fueled his passion and helped to maintain close
relationships within the industry.
On March 3rd, 2015, South of Nine released their first album Palindrome. The support
of this style of music in South Africa can often be hard to sort, but attention from various
radio and media publications around the country compelled the band to forge on. The
band had a couple of liquid lineup changes that has involved quite a number of great
South African rock musicians over the years.
While working on the follow up album Emphysema in 2018, fate stepped in and
changed the trajectory of Garbers’ life. After years of trying, he won the United States
Green Card lottery. Following his move to Denver in late 2019, he found work a full-time
engineer for AEG. A move to Seattle in April 2023 found Garbers with a burgeoning
following for his loop-based solo work - and a renewed passion for the Emphysema
project. Settling into Robert Lang Studios to complete the project, Garber’s emerged
with a record that proves “rock isn’t dead, it never died and never will!”
SHORT BIO
Emphysema melds soaring vocals, undeniable hooks, and searing guitars into an alt-rock storm that churns above a
foundation of immediately engaging melody. Equally suited to the sweatiest of rock club and windows-down
late-night cruising, South of Nine crafts the sort of anthemic rock that will have you shouting along in no time.
Starting in early 2011, the band turned heads by performing locally in South Africa alongside the likes of Prime Circle, Die Antwoord,
Fokofpolisiekar, Arno Carstens, Newtown Knife Gang, Tweak and Johnny Clegg. Versatile yet always compelling, their music was quickly
embraced by the weary souls that wanted great alternative rock music to be back at the forefront of the South African Music Industry.
No newcomers to music, primary creative David Garbers' (guitar, vocals, lyrics) former band, USED2Bsyris, had taken full advantage
of an overseas move to London. After USED2Bsyris parted ways in 2010, Garbers returned to Africa and set out to form a new band.
South of Nine was born. On March 3rd, 2015, they released their first album Palindrome.
While working on the follow up album Emphysema in 2018, fate stepped in and changed the trajectory of Garbers’ life. After years of
trying, he won the United States Green Card lottery. Following his move to Denver in late 2019, he found work a full-time engineer
for AEG. A move to Seattle in April 2023 found Garbers with a burgeoning following for his loop-based solo work - and a renewed passion for the
Emphysema project. Settling into Robert Lang Studios to complete the project, Garber’s emerged with a record
that proves “rock isn’t dead, it never died and never will!”