92. FRESHEST AND BEST, CHANNEL 24, SOUTH AFRICA, December 2009: IKE MORIZ - LET IT SNOW  (single off “STARRY NIGHT’)

Classy SA crooner eases us into the festive season with this swinging Vegas lounge finger snapper off his new album 'Starry Night', which contains 15 beautifully arranged jazzy adaptions of popular Christmas songs.

91. 91.NADINE MEYER, BERGEDORFER ZEITUNG, GERMANY, 24.09.2009
    

Ike Moriz füllt in Afrika Konzerthallen

Samstag, 26. September 2009

Der Juweliers-Sohn ist in Südafrika ein gefeierter Sänger, hat bereits sechs Alben herausgebracht.

SO ENTSPANNT KOENNTE IKE MORIZ IN KAPSTADT NICHT AUF EINEM KIRCHEN-

VORPLATZ SITZEN. DENN IN SUEDAFRIKA IST DER BERGEDORFER EIN STAR. MUSIK-,

KLATSCHZEITUNGEN UND DAS FERNSEHEN BERICHTEN REGELMAESSIG UEBER IHN. AUF

DER STRASSE WIRD ER ANGESPROCHEN UND MUSS AUTOGRAMME GEBEN.

FOTO: MEYER

Ob er in seiner Musiker-Laufbahn jemals den Durchbruch hatte, weiß Ike Moriz nicht. Vielleicht kann man ihn nicht vergleichen mit Stars wie Tokio Hotel oder Nena, deren Musik auf Radiosender rauf und runter läuft. Tatsache ist aber: Ike Moriz hat sechs Alben veröffentlicht, zwei weitere folgen in Kürze. Seine Lieder werden in 17 Ländern gespielt, und in Südafrika kommen um die 5000 Menschen zu seinen Konzerten.

Erlebt man den smarten, blonden, großen Mann heute, meint man, er sei für die Bühne geboren. Doch das war nicht immer so. Erst nach Bundeswehr und einem Jahr leidenschaftslosem BWL-Studium in Hamburg, begriff Ike Moriz, wo seine tatsächlichen Talente liegen. Er bewarb sich an drei Musikhochschulen und wurde überall angenommen. Er ging nach Dresden und studierte Jazz und Rock/Pop.

"Mit meiner Vorliebe für eckigen Brit-Pop war ich dort kurz nach der Wende ein Außerirdischer", erinnert sich der heute 37-Jährige. Deshalb zog es ihn nach seinem Abschluss nach London. "Meine Vorbilder waren damals David Bowie, Blur oder John Lennon. Ich wollte wissen, was sie inspiriert hat." Jobs als Kellner und Aushilfslehrer, aber auch kleine Filmrollen, zum Beispiel in "Tatsächlich Liebe" oder in englischen Serien, hielten ihn über Wasser. Doch auch mit Straßenmusik verdiente er einiges dazu. "Ich bin sogar mal mit einer Freundin durch Europa getourt. Wir haben an touristischen Plätzen gespielt und bis zu 100 Euro am Tag eingenommen", sagt Moriz, der diese Zeit als sehr lehrreich empfand. "Man erhält sehr viel unmittelbare Kritik."

Einen richtigen musikalischen Schub brachte allerdings schließlich eine einzige Begegnung - und zwar mit Steve Kent, dem Produzenten von George Michael. Aufnahmen im Tin Pan Ally Studio, in dem schon Jimmy Hendrix spielte, und Konzerte zusammen mit Session-Musikern von George Michael lieferten die ersten Erfolge. "Ich schickte auch eine CD nach Südafrika, dort leben viele Verwandte von mir und ich liebe das Land." Zur Überraschung des Sängers schnellte seine erste Single dort in den Charts auf Platz eins. Es sollte aber noch ein paar Jahre dauern, bis er 2005 England endgültig den Rücken kehrte und nach Südafrika zog. Heute lebt er in Kapstadt, spielt drei bis vier Konzerte pro Woche - von Jazz bis Indie-Pop.

Wer Ike Moriz live erleben will, kommt am Dienstag um 20 Uhr ins BeLaMi an der Holtenklinker Straße 26. Eintritt: fünf Euro. Zum 25-jährigen Jubiläum des Juweliergeschäfts seiner Eltern an der Bergedorfer Schloßstraße spielt er am heutigen Sonnabend von 16 bis 19 Uhr. Hörproben gibt's im Netz: www.ikemoriz.com oder www.myspace.com/morizike

90. SEAN HOUGHTON, 'THE FULL CIRCLE' MAGAZINE, CAPE TOWN, 01.08.2009

Ike Moriz was born in Hamburg, Germany but the presence of extended family members living in South Africa meant he first visited the country as a four-year-old and he grew up loving the country and considering it his home. He studied at the Hamburg College of Music earning a degree in music-teaching and jazz-performance. While at the college he joined an international exchange programme that allowed him to study under different teachers at the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music, the Southafrican College of Music (at the University of Cape Town) and the College of Music Carl Maria von Weber Dresden, broadening his musical vision. Ike had long been a David Bowie fan and also enjoyed the glam rock scene of the ‘70s. In the late ’90s he was into Brit pop and alternative rock bands such as Pulp and Blur and went to live in London. For the next six years Ike taught music to help pay the bills and played in a hard-rock outfit called Stunt Double which was “a kind of Spinal Tap thing.”
“It was always about the music for me,” recalls Ike, “not fame.”  But as their popularity grew various members would either give up or want to move on to bigger and better things. To make ends meet Ike began busking in London.“I made really good money busking,” Ike reveals. “A lot of buskers are untrained, self-taught 'wannabe rock stars', so when people came across me they were pleasantly surprised that I could play and sing so well. My musical training really helped!”
Ike performed his own compositions on the hard London streets and tube stations and loved it. “You can really judge how people react to and receive your music when you’re busking. The immediate response is an amazing experience. If they’re not hooked in seconds, they’ll just keep walking. But if you can get them to stop and listen, and then to throw money down for you, you know you’re doing something right!” The busking experience made Ike realise that he should become a solo performer. He met Steve Kent who had produced several of George Michael’s hits and the two worked together and released Ike first single Fall into the Sun which went to number one of several radio stations in England and Europe. The song is about suicide so its popularity surprised but pleased Ike. He sent a copy to South Africa and proved equally popular here. The single was flowed in 2002 by an album called Mirrors and Shade which was released in 17 countries and went to number one England, Holland and Australia among others.
At this time Ike appeared in several major movies such as Alfie with Jude Law; Shanghai Knights with Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson; and Love Actually with Bill Nighy. He also appeared in UK television series such as Eastenders, Family Affairs and Holby City. In 2003 Ike released his next album called Play Me which similarly to Mirrors and Shade garnered favourable comparisons to David Bowie, including from David Bowie himself who listed Ike’s cover of Starman as Bowie’s “Song of the Week” for three months! Ike is fiercely original and insists on playing and recording his own music but the Bowie influence is very apparent in his first two albums. The Sad Songs from Play Me could have been lifted directly from Ziggy Stardust (okay,if you insist on the full title: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars) and although Ike may not be entirely happy with the comparison it is a huge compliment because the song is certainly good enough to have been included on Bowie’s iconic record.
In 2005 Ike visited Cape Town and played a few gigs at the erstwhile Acoustic Café in Muizenberg. He was blown away by the reaction of the Cape Town public. He had become disillusioned with the superficial London scene so thought to himself, “you only live once” so he should spend it doing what he loved in a place that he loved and moved to Cape Town permanently. By his own admission, Ike went a bit overboard when he settled in South Africa. He spent big money making videos with super-models and appeared on local TV shows and in leading magazines.
In 2007 Ike released his third album All Around the World. This album was an accessible mixture of pop-rock and easy-listening radio friendly songs. What sets this album apart is that the David Bowie influence is less obvious and Ike has established his own sound and persona. Although he does pay tribute to Bowie in Watching the Sun by including ‘Station to Station’ in the lyrics and in the bonus track Still uses the familiar David Bowie pronunciations and inflections. Again, the comparison should be seen as positive because the song is a good one. The stand-out track on the album is Starry Night, a duet with effervescent, bouncing-off-the-walls personality Elana Afrika, which still receives regular airtime on local radio stations. Any number of other songs on the album such as All Your Heroes Are Dead, Killing Games, Anything You Want, Bite the Dog and I’ll Be Your Man could (and should) have also been hit singles. All Around the World really is a solid collection of songs. A great album.
Ike grew disillusioned with the Joburg scene. “It was just another London, very chicy and snobby,” so Ike decided to forgo Jozi and settle in Cape Town. One of Ike’s earliest loves was jazz which is why he studied it at college. To challenge himself artistically he began experimenting with jazz again and had no intention of making anything for public consumption. When he played his new jazz/swing styled songs for his friends though, their reaction was unanimous, he should record and release this music which all agreed sounded very cool. So Ike decided to change everything and reinvent himself as a jazz/swing performer.
Over the last two years he has been recording no less than three albums to be released as the Stardust Trilogy towards the end of this year. Parts 1 and 2, titled Stardust and Body & Soul respectively are already available on iTunes and Part 3 called Angle Eyes has just been completed. The albums are a collection of swing standards and some original Ike Moriz songs. In pop/rock mode Ike’s voice ranges from a hard gravelly rasp to a soft and gentle whisper. In swing mode the rich resonance of his voice makes Michael Bublè’s seem rather thin by comparison. Indeed, comparisons with the great Tony Bennett are inevitable, Ike Moriz performing swing is that good. Ike is busy recording another rock album to be called Breathing Dreams to be released in early 2010. If this new collection continues the same growth Ike demonstrated on All Around the World, it is bound to be a huge success all around the world!
When Ike is not recording in Paris Studios in Fish Hoek he is performing at gigs around the Southern Suburbs such as Deli Delish and La Cuccina in Hout Bay, and the Constantia Nek Restaurant, or at corporate functions for people who know that Ike Moriz is perhaps, alongside Jesse Clegg and the Parlotones (whom he rates very highly), South Africa’s most accomplished musician and performer. People may ask, if Ike is that good, why isn’t he an international superstar? “It’s never been about the fame,” explains Ike, “it’s always just about the music. I’ve got to be true to who I am. Music is my religion. My way of communicating. When I write a song I feel like the music is coming through me. It’s a beautiful experience to write a song that becomes something that has an influence on other peoples’ lives.”
Ike is assisting a vocal group from Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay called Brothers with Voices (BWV - who Full Circle will feature in our next issue) and who have an abundance of vocal talent but little business acumen to take it further. Ike has paid for studio time and helped them record a CD called Peace Dream, after one of the songs they covered in isiXhosa from his All Around the World album. Ike loves Hout Bay and Cape Town. “I’ve always felt this was my true home,” he says with absolute conviction. He spends as much time as he can walking up Chapman’s Peak and around Hout Bay.
Although he has enormous talent and the supermodel looks that makes the ladies gaga, Ike is a very humble, deep-thinking and caring man who is seriously involved in community and environmental concerns. A very refreshing change from people who grab their 15 minutes and believe that entitles them to behave obnoxiously and treat ‘lesser mortals’ as just that. Ike couldn’t be further removed from that ugly stereotype. He really is a sincere, down-to-earth good guy who would no sooner be rude or disrespectful to anyone than he would stop writing and performing. For more info about Ike and where he is gigging visit his website: www.ikemoriz.com.

89. ETIENNE BUYS, CAPE TOWN UNDERGROUND, CAPE TOWN, SA, 31.10.2008

Ike Moriz "All Around the World" -
October 2008

The launch of the new album by Ike Moriz took place at Fashion TV in Cape Town,
and was attended by the kind of crowd you would expect at such a venue: Plenty of
good looking people and people that thoughtthey were really, really good looking.
Unfortunately, Derek Zoolander did not makean appearance... The evening kicked off
with a few drinks at the bar for media and other guests while a few of Ike’s music
videos played on the screens in the club. The band took to the stage at about 10.30
after a sizeable crowd had arrived. The crowd seemed somewhat subdued in the
beginning; I think this was partly to do with the blinding stage apparatus that spelt out
“IKE” for all to see. The first half of theperformance was pretty much taken over
by the incredible lighting which I think took away from the actual band but made
for some pretty cool photography and some small talk around the bar during the break.

88. KIRSTEN SMART, THE NEXT 48 HOURS, CAPE TOWN, SA, 31.10.2008

Ike Let's It All Hang Out At Fashion Tv Bar

I once had a choir teacher who looked just like David Bowie. Unfortunately for her she was a
woman and unfortunately for me she didn’t like me at all. I was always the one at the
back who would crack inappropriate jokes and make up crude lyrics to sing to the
“Carmina Burana”, much to the annoyance of Mrs David Bowie. Nevertheless, being in
choir (as well as being in detention- courtesy of Mrs David Bowie), as my dad would say;
“built character” and was, I feel, an important part of who I am today (which is rather low
on musical ability and high on cynicism). So when I heard that Ike Moriz’s music is
inspired by David Bowie (the original,  not my choir teacher) I couldn’t pass
up the opportunity to attend his new CDlaunch, “All Around the World” at Fashion
TV Bar. After getting off to a rather late start (which, I have come to
realise, is expected of the Capetonian “artsy” crowd), the band struck up a
surprisingly upbeat, yet unique tune.I was quite relieved, however, to see that
Moriz didn’t also adopt the British popicon’s sense of fashion and, is in
fact rather ruggedly handsome =>

87. MARETTA BELLINGAN, SUNDAY RAPPORT, TYDSKRIF, SA, 26.10.2008

Neem kennis: Ike Moriz het geland
deur Maretta Bellingan
 
Die wit baadjie gooi jou bietjie van koers af. Ike Moriz lyk inderdaad meer na 'n
binneversierder of 'n modeontwerper as 'n rock-sanger. En wanneer die voormalige
hoofseun later verklap dat hy as kind baie skaam was en eintlik nog
steeds is,  lig jou wenkbroue nog verder.  Maar kyk na die telling, sê die
sportentoesiaste as hulle span gewen het.  En Moriz se "telling" verklap dat hy gewis
nie 'n wannabe of 'n maybe is nie. Hy's  klaar daar. Een van sy liedjies is in
sewentien verskillende lande op die radio gespeel. Snitte van sy eerste twee CD's
het die eerste plek op verskeie radiostasies in Brittanje, Suid-Afrika en Holland, behaal.
Ike is ook op ZA Zone as een van  Suid-Afrika se vyf top solo-kunstenaars in
2006 gekies. En so gaan dit aan. In een van Smokie se bekendste liedjies
vra hulle, wie de dinges is Alice? Mens wil amper vra wie de dinges is die kunstenaar
wat onlangs die meeste stemme vir die Oppikoppi Wildcard-fees gekry het? Al het
hy nie daar opgetree nie, "want hulle het  verwag dat ek in die vroeë oggendure
wanneer almal skuinsdronk moet sing."  Moriz het ook gehoop dat hulle ten minste
sy vervoerkoste van Kaapstad sou betaal. "Wat maak hulle met al daai hekgeld,"
wonder hy terloops. Maak kom ons begin by die begin. Wie de dinges is Ike Moriz wat
op sy CV beskryf word as 'n internasionale Suid-Afrikaanse Indie-popster en akteur? 
En hoekom hoor ons nou eers van hom? Die 35-jarige sanger het "oraloor
grootgeword, my pa was in die advertensiewese." Duitse pa, Suid-
Afrikaanse ma en 'n ouer suster wat 'n  juwelier in Duitsland is. "Ek het op skool
begin toneelspeel omdat ek so skaam was.  Ek speel klavier vandat ek sewe is, maar
was beslis nie 'n tiener wat sy eie  garage-band gehad en gedroom het daarvan
om eendag beroemd te wees nie." Tog is daar musiek in sy gene. "Oupa was
'n operasanger en ouma was 'n suksesvolle klavierpianiste." Die jong Ike was egter 'n
diep seun, 'n Kafka-aanhanger, wat 'n  skrywer van ingewikkelde boeke wou word,
maar uiteindelik musiek en toneelspel in  Suid-Afrika, Duitsland en Holland
bestudeer het. Vandag spog hy met  diplomas in musiek-afrigting sowel as
uitvoering. Aanvanklik speel Ike in verskeie bands in Brittanje, maar besluit later om
die solo-pad te loop. "Dis makliker. Jy  skryf die liedjies en jy maak die besluite."
'n Jaar later ontmoet hy George Michael se musikale vervaardiger en neem in 2002
sy eerste kort CD met vier liedjies op.

86. CAPE ARGUS, EVAN MILTON, SA, 16.10.2008

IKE MORIZ:
All Around the World - Mosquito Records

Ike Moriz brings glam back to indie-pop, launching All Around The World with dancers, international link-ups and models. (Friday, FTV, cnr Buitengracht and Hout sts, 8pm, R30).

85. SUNDAY RAPPORT, TYDSKRIF, SA, 05.10.2008

84. OVERTONE, WWW.OVERTONE.CO.ZA, SA, 19.09.2008

"The big question: is Ike Moriz really South

Africa’s answer to David Bowie? Well, if

All Around The World is anything to go by,

perhaps. Some Ike Moriz die-hards might find

this shameful – and there are many of them

– but prior to receiving the task of writing a

review of the tall blonde, starlit singer-

songwriter, I had never before heard of Ike

Moriz. Maybe being a fully-fledged indie rock

girl has something to do with it…

Overtone | Ike Moriz - All Around The World

As with any carefully crafted pop album, the

majority of the tracks share an aural aura.

A couple of gems that should be kept in your

radio-friendly archives include All Your

Heroes Are Dead and the title track. Still

(Bravo Mix 2007) is a good indication to go

by when curious to find out more about

Ike’s music. Whereof One Cannot Speak may

be the only song not written by Ike himself,

it’s opens the album on a strong note, and

suddenly you’re at the front row of the

outdoor festival listening to your new

favourite solo artist from the South."

"... on a second and third listen, you can

actually invoke the spirit of David Bowie.

Seriously. Put the album in a circle of

candles, play the title track and chant

‘Ziggy’ three times while snorting a line of

uncut cocaine. You’ll be amazed.

The self-titled indie-pop star is no stranger to

the global music industry. He’s recorded all

around the world (no pun intended), making

a name for himself in Germany and London.

But Moriz has traded in some of the glamour

of being a musician for film. He himself has

also graced the silver screen, featuring in

major motion pictures like Shanghai Knights

[view] and Love Actually [view]. You

can understand why. Tracks such as

Killing Games and Always You (Samsara)

are just screaming for a part in the next

Hugh Grant/Colin Firth hit.

A definitive Ike Moriz hit mixes a blend of

synth-pop with acoustic guitar-driven

melodic rock. If you were an 80s kid, listening

to a vinyl by Talking Heads, The Cure, Gary

Numan or Soft Cell vinyl, give this album

a listen."

83. WHAT'S ON SA, WWW.WHATSONSA.CO.ZA, DEX, 16.9.2008

Ike Moriz - All Around the World
Written by Dex, on 16-09-2008 14:45
Ike Moriz's latest offering "All Around the World" is a mixing pot of
great catchy lyrics,sweet melodies, some of the finest musicians SA has to
offer and the warm voice of Ike Moriz.Starry Night featuring Elana Afrika
adds a touch of spice to the album, with a sort of Rocky
Horror duo feel to it. Each track leaves an aftertaste of sweet familiarity.
This album could be the one that puts SA pop music on the global map.
I expect we will be hearing a lot of it on the airwaves.
If you are into POP music, this is definitely one for your collection.
 

82. SUNDAY TRIBUNE, 'THE BUZZ', DURBAN, SA, 07.09.2008

IKE MORIZ: SOUND OF THE WEEK!!

Ike Moriz, local indie pop star and actor, has just
released his third album, All Around the World.
The album was recorded in London and Ike got to
work with George Michael's producer, Steve Kent.
Indiepop Spinzone describes his sound as
'Bowie without the glam meets Oasis without
the self-importance, teamed with UK chart
'alternative' without the boredom'.

81. Cape Concierge, issue 1757, SA, 08.09.2008

ZIMFEST 2008
6 September - 7 September
An humanitarian fundraising music
event with some of South Africa's best loved bands including Freshlyground, The
Dirty Skirts, The Rudimentals, Ike Moriz and Coda.  All proceeds from ticket sales
will go to refugees and asylum seekers from Zimbabwe.
 

80. BEELD, JIP, Johannesburg, SA, 05.09.2008

CD RESENSIE: Pragtige Ike reis deur indie-pop
All around the world deur die gorgeous Ike Moriz is
’n lekkerluister-CD wat beslis deel van jou versameling
moet wees.

Die 12-snit-album sluit ’n remix-weergawe van “Still”
in, terwyl The Darkness se guitarist, Jim Barnes,
die opening song vir Ike se album geskryf het.

Die verrassing op die CD is dat die superceleb Elana
Afrika Ike vir die snit “Starry night” join.
Dit klink nogal goed.

Ike, wat al voorheen as Suid-Afrika se eie indie-pop-idol
gedoop is, ondersoek ’n wye verskeidenheid emosies
en stilistiese elemente om hierdie album kleur te gee.
Die luisteraars kan verseker wees dat hulle wel die
enigmatiese Britse Pop/Rock gaan kry.

79. OVERTONE, PRESS RELEASE, www.overtone.co.za, SA, 22.07.08

ZIMFEST 08 | Ike Moriz, Coda, New Altum Confirmed!

International indie-pop star and actor Ike Moriz has
returned from the UK, where he received wide
acclaim for his two albums ‘Mirrors & Shade’ and
‘Play Me’. In the US, Ike was described as
‘Bowie without the glam meets Oasis without the
self-importance teamed with UK chart alternative without the boredom.’

78. KARIN BURGER, KAAP RAPPORT, CAPE TOWN, SA, 13.05.2008

77. MADELEIN OOSTHUIZEN, 24.COM, JIP, SA, 08.02.2007

Wat om te verwag: Sy musiek wod beskryf as
Indie-pop wat duidelik is uit sy alternatiewe
rock-aanslag en sterk ritmes. Ná die depressiwiteit
van die eerste twee songs was ek amper oorgehaal
om die CD af te sit . . . maar hoe bly is ek ek het
nie voor hierdie impulsiwiteit geswig nie. Van
daar af tel die musiek beslis op en dit word al
hoe duideliker hoekom hy soveel internasionale
sukses behaal het. Die lirieke raak meer opgewek,
maar verloor nie hul wortels wat diep in die soet
en bitter van die lewe geplant is nie.
Hoogte- en laagtepunte: Die songs wat veral aan
my hartsnare gepluk het, is Always you, Starry
Night, wat hy saam met Elana Afrika sing, en
die titelsnit All around the world, wat dominerende
kitaarklanke en ’n wonderlike beat het. Minder
mooi en heeltemal te hardcore vir my sensitiewe
ore was, is Bite the dog.
Gevolgtrekking: Koop die album en luister dit ten
minste een keer van voor tot agter deur. Daarna
het jy my toestemming om net jou gunstelinge
van die mure te laat bons. – madelein oosthuizen

76. ARNOLD RAS, DIE BURGER, JIP, SA, 09.12.2007

75. EMILE BUTLER, TV PLUS MAGAZINE, SA, 28.11.-06.12.2007 issue

"Ike recently released his 3rd CD and it's contagious! This 12 track CD surprises you with a variety of emotions and music styles which resemble the British Pop/Rock genre. The track 'Starry Night' is hot

Also try: George Michael, Oasis.

74. CLARISSA GROBLER, "VOLKSBLAD / JIP", BLOEMFONTEIN, SA, 26.11.2007

Ike se album spog met wêreldklanke
IKE MORIZ het in wat ’n mens sou kon beskryf as ’n kort tyd in ateljee-terme
sy nuutste album, All Around the World, uitgereik. Dié album volg kort op die
hakke van sy vorige album, Play Me. Soos met sy vorige album is daardie
Bowie-agtige klank steeds daar, hoewel ’n mens ook ’n klein tikkie andersheid
kan bespeur. Dié musikant-akteur het met CLARISSA GROBLER gesels oor
die nuwe album.Daar was Mirrors and Shade (wat omtrent vier jaar geneem het
om te ontwikkel), toe Play Me en nou All Around the World wat gou in sy
voorloper se spore gevolg het. Hoe het die maak van jou derde ateljee-album
verskil van die maak van Play Me? My hoofdoel was om ’n album te skep wat ’n
baie melodic, warm en natuurlike vibe het. Daar is al vir my gesê dit klink steeds
baie internasionaal, maar dat mense sekere klanke, ritmes en melodieë herken het
wat meer aan Suid-Afrikaanse musiek herinner as te vore. Ek het ook saam met
meer musikante as te vore gewerk. Dit is ’n baie internasionale mix van mense
van Malawi, Suid-Afrika, Noorweë, Duitsland, Italië, Skotland en Engeland.
Ek het saam met vier kitaarspelers, vier tromspelers en vyf baskitaarspelers tydens
die opname in die ateljee gewerk. Al my vorige albums en singles is oorsee geskryf
en opgeneem, maar dié keer is die meeste van die songs hier geskep terwyl ek
in Kaapstad en Johannesburg gebly het. Baie het gebeur sedert my terugkeer
van Londen twee jaar gelede, en ek het probeer om hierdie “nuwe lewe” terug in
Suid-Afrika te reflekteer in die songs.

Hou die titel van die CD verband met jou eie reise? Die titelsnit, All around the world, staan vir die idee van “volg jou hart?.?.?. maak nie saak wat nie”. Ek het agtergekom mense reis of verhuis om verskillende redes. Ek het gevind die belangrikste deel van om na ’n plek te reis nie soseer die eindbestemming is nie, maar die werklike reis om daar te kom. Ek het die reis om All around the world te skep baie geniet! Ons doen die dinge waarin ons glo en ons leer deur dit te doen. Dit is daardie ervaringe wat ons gehelp het om te word wat ons is. All around the world sê basies: Doen dit – wat ook al dit is wat jy droom om te doen! Die lewe is gereelde verandering. As ons ophou verander, is ons dood. Gunsteling-track op die nuwe album? Dit is altyd moeilik om
te sê. My gunsteling is gewoonlik die een wat ek laaste geskryf het. In hierdie geval All your heroes are dead. Maar dit verander heeltyd en wissel tussen Killing Games, All around the world, All your heroes are dead en Whereof one cannot speak. Daar is ’n onbetwisbare charm in jou musiek, ’n sekere sin van styl. Wat is vir jou die belangrikste in jou musiek? Ek was nog altyd veral gefassineer deur die ideaal om “tydlose musiek” te skep?.?.?. maar dis ’n heel anderste storie. Essensieel wil ek my persoonlike gevoelens en gedagtes met ander deur my musiek en lirieke deel. Ek het gevind dat ek dit die beste doen deur ’n baie eerlike benadering totliedjieskryf: Ek probeer om na my hart te luister tydens die liedjieskryfproses.

Hoe hanteer jy kritiek? Dit hang af van die omstandighede, maar ek is altyd bereid om waar te neem hoe menseop my musiek reageer: Ek vind dit fassinerend om te sien hoe verskillende mense reageer. Wat lê nog vir Ike Moriz voor om te bereik? Ek het so baie idees vir toekomstige albumprojekte dat ek hoop ek lewe lank genoeg om te sien hoe hulle geskep word. Ek wil electronic pop, tradisionele Afrika-musiek, jazz en heavy rock verder verken in die toekoms. Ek speel nou ook weer toneel en wil aanhou om verskillende karakters en toneel scenario’s te verken. Het jy ander musiekprojekte op die spyskaart? Ek bestuur tans ’n tradisionele Afrikavocal ensemble van ’n township in Kaapstad en ek werk live op die verhoog en in die ateljee saam met hulle. As jy nou, ná drie albums en ander ervaringe, terugkyk, het jy toe jy met jou musiekloopbaan begin het, gedink jy sou dit wat jy reeds bereik het, bereik? Ek het altyd in my vermoëns geglo om goed te wees met dit wat ek doen, maar ek sou nooit geraai het hoe alles in plek geval het in die afgelope jare nie. Ek sou nooit in ’n miloen jaar geraai het nie?.?.?.

73. 24.COM, SA, 15.11.2007

STARRY NIGHT (single off 'All around the world": Self-made
indie-pop idol gets up close and personal with 5FM’s Elana Afrika
on this swooning, Xmas-ready love song off his third CD,
All Around The World.:

72. BARNEY SIMON, RADIO 2000, SA, 13.11.2007

Barney Simon presented the new
album ALL AROUND THE WORLD
as featured album of the week in
his Tuesday night show. He played
all tracks saying:

"Fantastic album! I love it! The song
'Peace Dream' reminds me of
David Bowie's Space Oddity"…

71. OVERTONE, WWW.OVERTONE.CO.ZA, SA, 24.10.2007

SA indie-pop idol Ike Moriz’s press release

is more abundant than a list of Michael

Jackson lawsuits. Signed to UK label

Mosquito, the baby-blue-eyed white boy

is obviously comfortable in the buzz of the

music industry, and is also obviously quite

comfortable both on stage and in studio.

South Africa prepares for the release of

their own pop ambassador’s third studio

album, All Around the World. But Overtone

wants to know something from the man

himself… (click on the pic for the interview)

70. DIE BURGER, Mariana Malan, Cape Town, SA, 03.03.2007

"ELANA SING

SAAM MET IKE"

69. ARGUS, THE GOOD WEEKEND, TOP20+, LYNTINA AIMES, CAPE TOWN, SA, 03.03.07

'IKE MORIZ

& ELANA AFRIKA'

68. ARGUS, TONIGHT, EVAN MILTON, CAPE TOWN, SA, 28.02.07

'Rock on at these gigs

67. ELLE MAGAZINE, 03/07, PAGE 153, Johannesburg, SA, March 2007

'FASHIONABLY FIRST'

Another SA magazine covers the story of
indie idol Ike Moriz's visit to the FASHION
TV CAFE 'ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY' party
in Sandton on 2.12.06 with 5FM star
DJ Elana Afrika.

66. PEOPLE MAGAZINE, VOL20/NO49, Johannesburg, SA, 08.12.2006

'LOCAL STARS HIT THE TOWN

SA's indie idol Ike Moriz visited the FASHION TV CAFE 'ONE YEAR
ANNIVERSARY' party in Sandton on 2.12.06 with his friend Elana Afrika
(DJ from SA radio station 5FM).

65. THE STAR, HELEN HERIMBI, Johannesburg, SA, 09.10.2006

'Prodigal son' returns to show

local musos what good music's

all about

South Africans become expatriates for many
sound reasons. The crime rate, the HIV/aids
epidemic, the poverty - but not singer
Ike Moriz. His reason for leaving our shores
years ago was, in fact, because of the
sound. "Besides all the heavy metal, I was
just sick of hearing good bands play cover
songs. They were much better than that,"
says the Capetonian who lived in London
for five years but now calls Jozi home.
The adult contemporary artist is back in
SA not only because he missed the nature:
"I love the outdoors, that's one of the
reasons I came back," but also to settle
down here. He released his album, Play Me
this year to an audience that is slowly
but surely catching on to the man's style.
While overseas, Ike had roles in British
soapies and made a significant living from
starring in musicals. His resumé even
includes that he taught mathematics and
music in London. About this experience
he says, as his eyes widen: "It was
traumatic, the students seemed to have
no respect for anybody and I had trouble
keeping them under control." Needless to
say he was only too happy to swap the
blackboard for a studio booth.

64. 24.COM, SOUTH AFRICA, OCTOBER 2006

Melanie says: Gorgeous
Both Ike's looks and sound are gorgeous!
what a great international sound for a south
african pop star! Awesome. I'll support him!
Any day!!!

Nina says: What a fantastic sound!
I love his songs!! I've seen Ike many times
live now and heard his songs on the radio.
they rock. His latest video is on MK89
now (I feel real). It's totally awesome!!
Go IKE!!!

Suzan says: WOW, This is brilliant!!
This guy is amazing. I rate him one of the
top5 South African singers of the moment.
His video rocks and the songs are so
catchy!! also saw him live at the waterfront
last weekend. he'll be the SA star of 2007
for sure!! Rock on!!

Tracy says: Cool
I like it, I heard the song on the radio and
liked it straight away, had no idea he was
South African. Look forward to hearing
more off the album.

63. CAPE ARGUS, JOHN MONSOON, Cape Town, SA, 4.10.2006

TICK, TICK, ... BOOM

"There is a rumour in the air that Cape Town
music is about to ignite a fuse that will send
SA music into orbit. It's a music explosion
not seen (or heard) for at least a decade.
We gathered some of the Mother City's
finest minds in music to see who is holding
the matches." ... ""only really in the last
four years that indie rock has started to
make its big global come-back and even in
the late 90s modern music just never had
the sorts of bands that it has now," so it's
not too unusual that Cape Town bands
are pushing the envelope and being noticed.
"Ironic," says Ike Moriz, the well-selling
solo artist, "Cape Town used to be known
for its cover bands!"" ... "Moriz is
passionate about his home town but also
under no illusions that he sells more CDs
in Gauteng, because "it's just the way it is".
Cape Town bands are also generally more
creative by way of location." ...

62. DSTV CHANNEL MK89 INTERVIEW, SEPTEMBER 2006

Read Ike's latest
interview from Sept'06
on DSTV channel MK89
(click here)

61. TONIGHT MUSIC, CAPE ARGUS, Cape Town, SA, 14.09.2006

60. S.J., REPRESENT, GAUTENG, SA, 04/09/06

SA rock artist IKE back in SA
"WATCH THIS FACE - AND IT'S A GORGEOUS FACE AT THAT - LADIES YOU'LL LOVE SA'S
NEXT BIG ROCK BOY, STEP ASIDE ARNO, IKE MORIZ IS HERE. WELCOME BACK TO SA
IKE, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HOME, WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR MUSICAL DREAMS...
COME ON FANS - GIVE IKE LOTS OF LOVE. SEE IKE'S WEBSITE..." (READ THE FULL
ARTICLE ONLINE BY CLICKING HERE)

59. COSMOPOLITAN MAGAZINE, SA, AUGUST 2006

"HIS ROCK/INDIE SOUND IS ACVOUSTIC & EDGY BUT STILL MADE FOR EASY LISTENING!"

58. GQ MAGAZINE, SA, JULY 2006

57. CDWHEREHOUSE, SA, 01/05/06

Underneath the radar
"...South African rocker Ike Moriz actually has the musical muscle to back up
his own hype.And his uncanny Bowie croon isn't the only thing that makes
Play Me worth tuning into either: Moriz runs the retro rock gamut from
hook-heavy 70s glam rock swaggers ("Hey, Hey-hey, Hey") to Britpop
breezes reminiscent of Suede's shoegazing ("Play Me") or Blur's anthems
("Every Time The Sun"), and edgier Brel-meets-Bowie piano ballad implosions
("The Sad Songs")."

56. FHM MAGAZINE, SA, MARCH 2006 ISSUE

IKE MORIZ - PLAY ME

"THIS DUDE WEARS HIS INFLUENCES WITH ABOUT AS MUCH SUBTLETY AS A MAN WEARING
ONE OF THOSE HATS YOU CAN DRINK BEER FROM. WHICH IS NOT A BAD THING IF YOU
LIKE BEER. OR RATHER, IF YOU LIKE YOUR INDIE POP WITH LARGE DOSES OF SEVENTIES
BOWIE VIA NINETIES SUEDE YOU`LL DIG THIS. IKE HAILS FROM THE CAPE BUT HAS
SPENT TIME IN THE UK PERFECTING HIS BRITTISH ACCENT AND POP SENSIBILITIES.
HE ALSO ACQUIRED A TASTE FOR EYELINER, BUT DON`T LET THAT PUT YOU OFF, THIS
CAT WRITES A FINE TUNE. LISTEN TO IT WHEN WEARING VELVET AND DRINKING
MARTINIS! TRACKS TO DOWNLOAD – PLAY ME, LIGHT IS DARK AND THE SAD SONGS."

55. CLARISSA GROBLER, "VOLKSBLAD / JIP", BLOEMFONTEIN, SA, 03/04/06

54. CHRISTINA KENNEDY, "THE CITIZEN", JOHANNESBURG, SA, 09/03/06

SA'S OWN INDIE-POP IDOL
He’s one of the few South African musicians to have met with success in the UK
lately, yet Ike Moriz has decided to return here to settle. Christina Kennedy spoke
to him. Many South African pop-rock outfits look to America for their inspiration.
Not so Ike Moriz. This Capetonian’s style pays fond tribute to Britpop and
Seventies glam rock. Moriz has returned to settle in South Africa after
pursuing a relatively successful music career in London for the past five years.
This week has seen him launching his album Play Me in Joburg, with another gig
scheduled for tonight at the Blues Room in Sandton.Moriz has lately been
enjoying airplay on 5FM, OFM and campus radio stations with the title track
from his second album, which he wrote and produced himself. It seems his
infectious, melodic, dramatic indie-pop is finding favour with an increasing
number of South Africans, having already been widely hailed in the
UK and Europe. 
‘BOWIE WITHOUT THE GLAM’
He has been described as “Bowie without the glam meets Oasis without the
self-importance teamed with UK chart alternative without the boredom”.
However, Moriz confides that while the constant comparisons with Bowie
are flattering, they do get a bit tiresome. After all, it’s natural for every artist to
want to be defined in terms of his or her own style and not be known as a
pastiche of others, but most people, it seems, feel the need to fit new musical
endeavours into their frame of reference. Nonetheless, if you’re going to be
compared to anyone, The Thin White Duke himself is not a bad place to start...
And Bowie himself once voted Moriz’s song You Could single of the week on
his website – quite an endorsement. So who exactly is Ike Moriz?
Blonde, blue-eyed and distinctly Scandinavian-looking, Moriz is truly
a citizen of the world. Thanks to his parents, he had a jet-setting childhood,
and was fortunate enough to study music in South Africa, Germany and the
Netherlands.As a child, he was “an early Shakin’ Stevens fan” (brave of him
to admit that) and also listened to the Eurythmics, Bowie, Lou Reed,
Iggy Pop, Velvet Underground and the Talking Heads, shaping, no doubt,
his affinity for indie pop/rock with a distinctly English flavour.
A BAPTISM BY FIRE
After completing his studies, he decided to try his luck in London’s cut-throat
music scene. “I’d always wanted to see what London was like, considering
that musicians like Suede, Pulp and Blur built their careers there. I wanted to see
where that feeling in their music stemmed from. And I love Monty Python, and
I wanted to see where the British acting world got their inspiration from.“But
when I got there, it was actually very different to what I expected. Some
Londoners are very rough, and it’s very expensive to live there. I managed to fit
in there musically – people there have always liked my music – but there’s a lot of
competition. But it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be.”Seemingly born
under a lucky star, early on Moriz met up with George Michael’s and
Marc Almond’s producer Steve Kent, who put him in touch with a great set
of session musicians who were into the same music as he was, and he ended up
doing both albums with them.He also did some work on movie sets, playing
small parts in movies such as Alfie, Bridget Jones’s Diary 2 and Love,
Actually, as well as playing a body double in Wimbledon.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
Having achieved some success and acclaim in 17 countries with his first three
singles, though, he became thoroughly homesick and has returned to South
Africa.“I’ve had enough of London,” he says. “It was fun and I learned a lot,
but I think I’ve learned what I had to learn. I’m most at home in Cape Town.
It was an emotional decision to return to South Africa – it felt like the right
thing to do.” His plans are to focus on establishing himself in South Africa and
continue running his own label, as well as doing some acting on the side.
However, he reluctantly admits that he may have to keep up his profile
overseas as well. “I just don’t wanna go,” he says mock-petulantly.
He is currently working on the video for a song called I Feel Real.Moriz
will be playing with The Parlotones tonight, and says that he is gratified to
hear how “authentic” South African bands are sounding. “They’re not
necessarily trying to sound American any more. Kwaito artists aren’t
rapping about corvettes in LA, which they know nothing about, but about
their own stuff. It’s more interesting.”What can locals expect from his
live show? “A very high-energy, theatrical experience” Bowie would be
pleased...* Visit www.ikemoriz.com for more information.

53. CORNELIA LE ROUX, "DIE BURGER", CAPE TOWN, SA, 27/02/06

52. JANE MAYNE, CAPE TIMES, CAPE TOWN, SA, 06/01/2006

"... Most of the songs are put together with a bare-bones backing which
provides a somewhat jerky backdrop that echoes early 1970s Brit bands - This is
Moriz's second studio album with Mosquito Records, recorded after his Mirrors
and Shade tour last April, and it perfectly captures his Bowie-esque leanings."

51. KARIN BURGER, ("KAAP-) RAPPORT", CAPE TOWN, SA, 27/11/2005

50. LEON MUSTON (THE HERALD), PORT ELISABETH, SA, 25/11/2005

IKE Moriz is a South African who has spent the last few years living in the UK

and this change of environment seems to have influenced his musical style on

the album Play Me (Mosquito Records).

The title-track is an up tempo song similar to Franz Ferdinand or Kaiser

Chiefs, while Hey, Hey-hey, Hey has an early ?90s Brit pop feel.His vocal

style at times sounds like David Bowie, although at others it could remind

listeners of Prefab Sprout's Paddy McAloon.The result is quite a diverse

album, which is highly recommended.

49. EVAN MILTON, CAPE ARGUS, Cape Town, SA, 10/11/2005

"Ike Moriz is something of a paradox: he's part German and

part South African, and the unsentimental precision of the

one surfaces as often as the slightly self-deprecting, yet

easy-going nature of the other. Then there's this business

of making it overseas in less than 6 years to garner interest

from George Michael's recording studio, earn a nod of approval

from David Bowie, boast respectable European live-gig and

radio impact and then decide to head home to the Cape.

After graduating from our College of Music, Moriz relocated

to London in 1999, fronting bands there and in Rotterdam

and Hamburg before going solo and recording his debut EP,

Fall Into the Sun (2002). Back home,its title track hit

Stellenbosch's MFM No1 spot. A second EP, You Could,

followed, reaching No.1 on the UK's Matchbox Radio, and the

Top10 on Holland's Halo FM. Perhaps more importantly,

early in 2003, the title song was voted Song of the Week by

Bowie himself on DavidBowie.net. Impressive after only four

years in the Big Smoke. His sophomore EPs and debut

album, Mirrors and Shade (2004), have more than a smattering

of Bowie-styled vocal bends, and left of center lyrics in

them, but there are also hints of Blur and Oasis. And,

to Bandstand, though Moriz certainly has his own unique

style, the earlier work has suggestions of a somewhat sane,

somewhat sanguine Syd Barrett - another contradiction.

Meeting Moriz, one is unsure whether to guide him to a chair

and go easy on the radio interview, or be on full alert for an

industry-hardened veteran. He's a nice guy, but he's no fool,

and he knows there's a mountain of work ahead. Making that

road easier is a launch-sponsorship from Chivas

Regal, promoting "the Chivas life" and a forthcoming

video directed by Johan Nel (Fokofpoliesikar's image maestro).

Moriz's new CD is called Play Me and it is being launched

tomorrow at Rhodes House at 60 Queen Victoria Street,

Gardens. ... Doors open at 9.30pm, video screening

and performance at 10pm. Cost: R50. More

on www.ikemoriz.com"

48. THE CAPETOWNER, Cape Twon, SA, 10/11/2005

"International rock musician Ike Moriz will spills theatrical, edgy pop
into Rhodes House at the "Play Me" CD launch on Friday November
11. Based in London since 1999, Moriz has returned to his home in
South Africa with a new drive and energy that springs from his exposure
to many different countries and life on the road. Moriz has been
described as 'Bowie without the glam meets Oasis without the
self-importance, teamed with UK chart 'alternative' without the boredom'.

Moriz is back with a new 8-track CD: the title track "Play Me"opens
softly with "Hey, hey-hey, hey", and picks up tempo with heavier rock
guitar in parts. Other tracks include the dark decadent pop of
"Visionary" and the epic and grand Bowie-esque piano ballad
"Another Day". Previous worldwide hit singles have included
"Fall Into the Sun" and "You Could", which topped charts from the
SA Top Ten, Matchbox Radio 24 chart to Halo Radio in The
Netherlands. "You Could" was voted "Song of the Week" by Bowie
himself in 2004. Moriz's songs were also featured on over 100 radio
stations worldwide and put Ike on the map as a leading Indie pop star.
'All together an album well worth the wait that lives in a decadent,
emotional, dramatic and almost theatrical world,' said Dale Olivier
of Matchbox Radio 24 in the UK. This scorching internationol
rock session opens its doors at Rhodes House on Queen Victoria
Street on Friday November 11 at 10pm ... "

47. CAPE ARGUS, CAPE TOWN, SA, 09/11/2005

"...this week's hottest party is probably the being held at Rhodes
House this Friday, where international rock musician Ike Moriz
will take the stage. Moriz spills theatrical, edgy pop into
Rhodes House (60 Queen Victoria Street) at the PLAY ME
CD LAUNCH, sponsored by Chivas Regal Premium
Scotch Whiskey.

Based in London since 1999, Moriz has returned to his
home in South Africa with a new drive and energy that springs
from his exposure to many different countries and life on the
road. He has been described as "Bowie without the glam
meets Oasis without the self-importance teamed with UK
chart 'alternative' without the boredom..."

46. BARNEY SIMON, TUKS FM, Pretoria, SA, 16/10/2005

"I dig the album. Good songs. ... I will play 'Evaluate Me' on my show
on Monday,18.10.05 on the SA music explosion. 21h00-21h30. Rock on!"

45.Tony Dee , ZAzone.com, Cape Town, SA, 16/9/2005

IKE MORIZ - PLAY ME

"Ike Moriz is back with a new 8 track CD: `Play Me`.It opens softly with
`Hey, hey-hey, hey` but the song picks up tempo. It got pop elements
to it, but has heavier rock guitar work in parts," ... "`Play Me`, the title track,
is very good - great lyrics, good hooks and nice mix of music and vocals -
no wonder it was chosen as the title track. `I Feel Real` takes one or two
listens before becoming a song that you can really enjoy, it`s different and
has a good edge to it. `Every Time The Sun` slows things down with a slight
acoustic guitar feel, a very good variation between the other tracks. `Light Is Dark`
is my second favourite song on the CD. The chorus is filled with backing
vocals which adds a great effect to the song." ..."`Dull Blue Eyes` makes up
for the previous song and is quite catchy. The album closes with `The Sad Songs`
which slows things down and is one of those typical slow... well...
sad songs... The piano in the song really sets a great atmosphere.
Ike has grown significantly after releasing his first CD and `Play Me` is a
step up, and in the right direction." ..."fortunately for South African
Ike Moriz fans, he`s back in South Africa and will be playing at venues around
the country - so look out for Ike and get hold of his CD. There are videos
and images on the www.ikemoriz.com website

44. Kim Wild, ZAzone.com, Cape Town, SA, 2/3/2005

Ike Moriz at the Acoustic Café
Can one refer to a gig as being romantic? Well, I just did! It was initially the setting
with the low lighting and candles ... and then it was the presence of Ike, a single
person that held his own on stage.

I must be honest and say that I hadn?t heard of Ike until that evening, which is
pretty embarrassing considering that I pride myself in knowing what I consider to
be a lot of South African bands and artists, especially the very talented, so I don't
know how he slipped by me. I?m going to try using the excuse that he has been
overseas for the past few years! He does however still say ?Ja? a fair bit which is
fantastic to hear and at least we know that he hasn?t forgotten his roots; an accent
comes across more in his singing than his speech. I have read in numerous places
that he sounds like David Bowie and it must be quite annoying to be compared
to someone else all the time when you?re writing your own original material, even
though everyone has their, what you might call, ?musical influences?. He then
ironically sang a Bowie cover and I saw what the critics meant! He sounds a lot like him!

I loved every song he played; `Drowning` I had listened to on a website earlier
in the day and was thrilled when he sang that second - it’s a great song. I was sorry
to see the set come to an end and was sorry to have the cat leave my lap where it
had been sitting all evening - Acoustic Café is a truly classic place!

Ike deserves all the international acclaim he gets and will hopefully be more
recognised on the local scene as well. I would have to agree with "he’s like Bowie
without the glam meets Oasis without the self-importance teamed with UK chart
?alternative? without the boredom."

43. Thomas Feist, Crossover review, Germany, January 2005

Mirrors and Shade

"... A voice as melodic as Lennon and as cool as David Bowie...
arrangements full of hooky choruses and dark theatrical pop...
highly recommended, buy the album!"

42. Elizma Nolte, SA TIMES article, London, UK, July 2004

Making it in London

"Ike Moriz has a claim to fame that few other South African musicians can
boast – he has shared a movie set with René Zellweger. The young
musician landed a role as a singing piano player in her latest Bridget
Jones II movie. But Moriz has far bigger dreams for his music career
than a small stint in a Hollywood film. Moriz has been trying to break into
the UK music scene and make a name for himself internationally.
Competing with the thousands of bands that perform on the London
circuit every night is extremely difficult, he admits. ?Due to the internet
and all that big labels also haven’t got the money they used to have.
They tend to only go with the sure bets and the Pop Idols."It’s a pity, says
Moriz. "There’s so much talent out there – just go to Camden and see.
Then you turn on the radio and you think: ‘what’s going on here?’." It’s this
amazing wealth of acting and music talent that attracted Moriz to the UK
in the first place, as well as the fact that South African music seemed to
be going nowhere at the time. " When I left Cape Town the music scene
over there was pretty dark. It was all ‘local is lekker stuff’. Now it is very
different. There is a new breed of South African music coming up
– interesting and very different." His own music Moriz describes first
and foremost as "interesting", secondly as "edgy pop". " People say it
sounds a lot like Bowie or Morrissey." Ike’s first single, Fall into the Sun,
has received wide radio play and high acclaim in South Africa.
So much so that Moriz has been inspired to return to his home country
for a tour. " I’ll go wherever people want to hear my music,"
says Moriz. "If things pick up in South Africa, I wouldn’t mind going back
there for good. I miss the quality of life there.? Moriz recently recorded his
debut album Mirrors and Shade here in the UK. It is available at
www.ikemoriz.com as well as at www.oneworld.co.za."

41. David Bowie, New York, USA, June 2004

Click here and listen to the official "MIRRORS & SHADE - June 2004
ALBUM MEDLEY" (2.8Mb), that has just been voted
"Featured Original Music of the Week" at davidbowie.com (7.6.04)

40. Zazone, proudly South African Music, Cape Town, SA, June 2004

"Capetownian Ike Moriz moved to London in 1999 and has been
building up his musical talent until now with the release of his debut
album `Mirrors and Shade`. Ike's style is unique, but extremely
familiar, sounding like a cross between David Bowie and Suede.
His band consists of several musicians who've worked with Ike
for a while, including Jim Barnes on guitars..."

"...What's very pleasing about the album as a whole is that,
although similar to David Bowie, Ike does not attempt to mimic
his work (or cover it), but rather release a pleasing sound unique to Ike.
`Mirrors and Shade`, the title track, for some reason did not move
me as much as I expected it would. I find that `Another Day`,
`Fall Into The Sun` and `Flame Blue` are better tracks. `Still`
is a laid-back emotive ballad while `Visionary` has a very
good rock riff running through the track. `Drowning` is a
good track, laced with familiarity..."

"...Overall a good album with a classic sound which should appeal
to pop and light-rock fans alike. Some tracks don't quite seem to fit
with the others in terms of a common theme, but they do show Ike's
amazing ability to cross from style to style easily and keep the
listener attracted to the album. A definite keeper, but watch out
for future work from Ike Moriz, I think it's going to get even better!"

39. Tony Bates, 3WBC 94.1 FM, Victoria, Australia, May 2004

Absolutely excellent!

38. Amazon.co.uk, (customer reviews), UK, May 2004

"...charming and addictive"

"...I was hooked right away!"

"It just ripped my heart out!"

Click here to check out the complete customer reviews here

37. Magic Mushroom Records, Holland, May 2004

After his great Singles Fall Into The Sun and
You Could, now his debut album Mirrors & Shade:
Mirrors & Shade opens with the hauntingly good
song Another Day, Ike' s voice is as good as it gets
and the recording is sublime, to be honest we couldn't'
stop listening to it. Along with a bunch of new songs,
the songs You Could (thrill me, kiss me, kill me, ...),
Visionary and Drowning are also on this full album
release, AND RIGHTLY SO !!!Ike and his band are
spot on and all we can say is : A Big Congracts
from us to Ike and his team !!!

36. Dale Olivier, Matchbox Radio24, London, UK, May 2004

After much anticipation and hard work the debut album " Mirrors and
Shade" from IKE MORIZ has landed on planet earth. Featuring the
worldwide hit singles "Fall into the Sun" and "You Could" that topped
many charts from The SA Top Ten, Matchbox Radio 24 Chart to Halo
Radio in The Netherlands. "You Could" was actually voted as "Song of
the Week" by Bowie himself. The songs were also featured on over 100
Radio stations worldwide and put Ike on the map as a bonafide
Indie pop star. This album features 11 tracks of pure emotional
glamour pop. The new single and title track " Mirrors and Shade"
is dark, infectious, melodic and has a massive chorus that sticks
in your head and never leaves. "Still" that was featured on
UK SKY TV for  millions to see

is an incredible pop ballad that is cleverly crafted and extremely
melodic. It is the song Suede were always looking for. Moriz was
recently described as "Better than Bowie himself" by Island FM.
Other tracks include the dark decadent pop of "Visionary" and the
epic and grand Bowie-esq piano ballad "Another Day". Ike also recently
starred in "Bridget Jones 2" playing and singing the piano. All together
well worth the wait and a superb album that lives in a decadent,
emotional, dramatic almost theatrical world. Proper emotional
melodic pop with a shiny surface and a huge anthemic mood.

Release - Mosquito Records London 2004

35. By Spinzone, Pennsylvania, USA, May 2004

 

Ike Moriz - "Mirrors & Shade" Ike, if you didn't know,
could best be described as South Africa's answer to David
Bowie and this is his debut LP. At first I thought he committed
a faux pas by putting all the songs from his first 2 EP's on
this album. Because who will buy them when they can get
everything here? However, by and large they are all mixed
differently and not just the music, as the vocal tracks are
redone as well. That essentially makes them all new
versions, so it's interesting for people who were aware and
it still leaves reason to get the original ep's if you like it. This
was particularly clear on the track Fall Into The Sun which I
always liked, but I think I prefer this new version even more.
That pretty much is the feeling for most of the re-recorded
stuff here. It was all good to begin with, and doing it over
didn't hurt as it often does. At worst the songs are different,
but at least as good if not usually better. The tracks new to
this outing tend to be more on the lighter side, perhaps
because the other stuff was very "single" oriented to begin with.
Songs like Still or Fake Fatale are really nice adult styled ballads
and fit with the rest very well. About the only critique is there
is a degree of style variety on the album, which does prevent it
from having a common theme or thread that ties it all together.
I think this is because Ike has true talent, but he needs to find
his footing. He's still teething as it were, but at that it's some
fairly delicious bites. He's like Bowie without the glam
meets Oasis without the self importance teamed with
UK chart "alternative" without the boredom. Certainly
worth checking out, that's for sure! sound clip video - Still

Label ~ Mosquito, 11 Tracks, 2004

34. Tony Bates, 3WBC 94.1 FM, Victoria, Australia, May 2003

"Ike Moriz, fresh from South Africa, based in London now, has a great
debut album out. Top notch songs, without being either retro
or pretentious; instantly memorable leaving you wanting more.
So now we know where David Bowie gained his influence from!"

33. David Bowie, New York, USA, March 2003

David Bowie voted YOU COULD "SONG OF THE WEEK" 
at www.davidbowie.com!! (18.3.03). He also made the
live-version of Ike's STILL "SONG OF THE WEEK" (11.3.03)!!

32. Matchbox Recordings, London, UK, March 2003

"You Could" is the second single from number 1 Matchbox artist
IKE MORIZ. This catchy and dreamy pop gem has already been
played on 50 radio stations worldwide and has charted in South
Africa, Holland and the UK . This single features a new track
" Visionary" and a Radio edit of " Drowning". Ike was also
recently voted for best song by Davidbowie.com.
He delivers a poppy, radio friendly song with lots of Suede/Bowie
esq. glamour and hit potential.

" You Could"  is an infectious , melodic and melancholy
Indie pop classic." (MR)

31. Spinzone, John Kruscek, Pennsylvania, USA, February 2003

Ike Moriz - "You Could EP" This is the second release by my
friend Ike Moriz, a now London based South African. This takes
right from where the last single left off (same cover too) but I think
he really finds himself on this new single. The title track is a dreamy
Bowie like soundscape meets Oasis and it melds all the hooks of
those two genres to perfection. It really ought to be climbing
charts someplace. The second track, Visionary is actually a
grungy outing, coming close to being like Nine Inch Nails with
better vocals. (I would say he reminds me of a cross between
Bowie and Peter Murphy of Bauhaus fame). It's got chirping, edgy
guitar and a very black but sexy feel to it. The last track is a remix
of the song Drowning from his last single, and I don't have the
time or inclination to see how different they are. It sounds a little
different I think. Well, it's 8 seconds shorter so something has
changed. But what matters is it's still good, and still reminds me
of Suede or early Gene. OK Ike, you have talent. Let's see that
long player already. And you can (and should) check him
out here www.ikemoriz.com .
Label ~ Mosquito, 3 Tracks, 2003

30. Magic Mushroom Records, Holland, January 2003

This month on Magic Mushroom Records Review: IKE MORIZ

 You Could

 Visionary

 Drowning (radio edit)

 Written by Ike Moriz

 Recorded at Tin Pan Alley Studios
& Motion Studios, London

A while ago we came in contact with Ike Moriz, a
London based singer/songwriter. He sent us his latest CD-single
called YOU COULD, recorded at Tin Pan Alley Studios, and
released by Mosquito Records & Matchbox Recordings London.
With this new release Ike shows that he' s very capable of writing
catchy pop tunes. The title song YOU COULD is a relaxed pop
song with a nice melody to it. Ike's vocals on this song are very
strong. We think this song has hit potential !!!

29. G.J. Barclay, Soundwave FM, Napier, New Zealand, January 2003

"We have the song "You Could" in our daily play lists,
and the comments received

28. Charlotte F., Radio Sirup, Siegen, Germany,January 2003

"In December we did get a copy of "You Could" and I really liked it.
The tracks are fresh, they rock, and they are exactly the type of
music we usually play. That's why we'll of course announce and
play them."

27. Mike Williams, Vanguard Online, Sheffield, UK, January 2003

"You Could is the second single in recent times from Ike Moriz.
It's a gently strummed indie track, something between Pulp
and David Bowie. The power of Moriz's voice and his 

ability to hit just the right notes are the outstanding features (...)."

26. Eddie Schouten, Haloradio, Holland, December 2002

"Great music. I also like track 2 " Visionary" a lot. We've put
"You could" in our hit zone,  which means it will be played for at
least 4 times a day!"

25. Simon Charlwood, Island FM, UK, December 2002

"I like the single a lot!" (You could)

24. Powerzone.co.za, SA, December 2002

23. Magic Mushroom Records are reviewing YOU COULD
on their website in Holland, December 2002

22. Wilroy Bennen, Multisound FM, Holland, December 2002

"I listened to your CD and I love it, all three songs.(...) We will
certainly play your song on our show (...) I'm very enthusiastic and
I can't wait to hear your latest single You Could!"

21. Kel Bailey, 3SUN FM, Australia, October 2002

"The single is great and the other tracks sound great as well.

I would love to hear more of your stuff"

20. Radio Grischa, Switzerland, October 2002

"I like it!"

19. East FM 91.9, Nairobi, Kenya, October 2002

"We will start playing it come this weekend ... good effort!!"

18. University Radio York 1350AM, York, UK, October 2002

"Your single certainly sounds impressive..."

17. Radio K101, Moscow, Russia, October 2002

"The music is wonderful and we will certainly play it on our radio!"

16. Radio St Helena, Saint Helena, October 2002

"We have listened to all three tracks and we have found them
refreshing as they are different to the normal "run of the mill"
stuff that's coming out now."

15. Drive 105.3 FM, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, September 2002

Brian Magoo Show: "We've received great feedback and

we think that "Fall into the Sun" is a great tune.

14. Soundwave FM, Napier, New Zealand, September 2002

"refreshing sound!" 

13. Castlebar 102.9 FM, Ireland, September 2002

John from CRC FM especially liked ANOTHER  DAY, the second
song on the single but he thought that it was over all "pretty amazing!"

12. HALORADIO.com, Holland, September 2002 

"I've listened to the samples on the website and I must say you
remind me somewhat of David Bowie and Suede. Normally I don't
like to put a label on music or try to compare artists with each other,
but these are not the least ones to be compared with." 

11. Heartland FM 97.5 MHz, Scotland, September 2002

"Good single,..., nice one! ... It'll be on rotation for a good while yet."

10. Vicky Smith, Matchbox Records, London, UK, 01.10.02

Staying in true English guitar pop mode we move onto a very new
and fast rising star IKE MORIZ (originally from Cape Town/SA) .
This enigmatic solo artist delivers the bright and poppy classic "Fall
into the sun". This song was recorded with Steve Kent who has in
the past worked with George Michael ( yes from Wham). This song
is not Club Tropicana but a very poppy and especially catchy
song reminiscent of Ike's hero Bowie and a bit like Suede
vocally also. Saying that the main strength to this song is the
unstoppable and extremely catchy and warm chorus. This very well
produced song also comes packed with everything from a string
section on the chorus to dreamy shimmering guitars and falsetto
Brett Anderson could never have reached . It also boasts a very
uplifting feeling and once you've heard it once you will never forget it.
Great stuff from a solo artist proving it can be done your own
way in style. Brilliant.   

9. Radio Sotenäs 95.3 FM, Sweden, September 2002

"Fall into the sun' sounds great"

8. Indieradio, Washington D.C., USA, August 2002

"Full of energy and potential; Ike's latest  single, 'Fall into the sun,'
is definitely worth a listen."

7. LMFM 95.8, Drogheda, Ireland, September 2002

"I had a listen and was pleasantly surprised!"

6. The Worldwide Web Radio 3WR, South Africa, August 2002

 "I always love music with a strong piano presence (Another Day=favourite)
and coupled with the strong and emotional voice your songs fit into my
wide appreciation of great music! Well done!"

5. Spinzone, Pennsylvania, USA, Sept 2002

Ike Moriz - "Fall Into the Sun EP" Our Ike here is another bloke from
South Africa and a friend of Dale Olivier who pointed him in my
direction, whereupon he sent me this EP. He has been in a few
other bands in and around Europe, but this is his first attempt at a
solo career. (and it is a self released effort) The title track is very
unusual in that it seems to tread in very modern waters while
retaining many elements of 70's solo styling. He has quite an
articulate voice and isn't afraid to use it, in almost a Bowie-esque
way but with far more range. That was what probably made me
unsure of this at first, as that isn't the kind of thing many can do
so you don't exactly hear it often. The song itself is upbeat, but
more ballad like than a true pop single. The sort of song that
continually grows on you. The other tracks are Another Day
which is a slow, emotive and plaintively sung song with very
sparse instrumental accompaniment, but the emotion comes
off as fairly genuine. The last track Drowning (In London Town)
has a more modern line and sort of reminds me of perhaps a
mix of the bands Gene and Suede. There are elements of blues
guitar, funk groove, 70's glam and 90's Alternative rock on this
disc. It's all that and none of it. He has a nice style and a good
voice and if you buy singles and can get this it is quite
recommended. I think, like Dale, his best stuff is yet to come,
as he appears to be an artist whose power will grow as he
comes to learn himself, and I look forward to hearing the debut LP.
You can check out a trimmed mp3 of the title cut by clicking here.
Label ~ www.ikemoriz.com, 3 Tracks, 2002 

4. Matchbox Recordings, London, UK, 01.09.02

New solo artist IKE MORIZ releases this great new three track EP
through Matchbox. "Fall Into The Sun" EP was produced at
Tin Pan Alley studios by Steve Kent, who has previously worked
with George Michael. Drawn to Ike’s surprising mix of enigmatic
lyrics and catchy melodies, Steve strengthened this paradox
by adding deceptively simple guitar hooks. Based in London, Ike
is of South African/German descent. His new style has emerged
from his diverse musical experiences, fronting bands in Cape Town,
Rotterdam and Hamburg, usually performing his own material.
This EP features the title track " Fall into the sun" with it's extremely
catchy and bright chorus and Bowie/Suede esq. feel. Expect loads
of falsetto and heartfelt vocals and lyrics from this new class A
entertainer. For full track listing click above.

3. SA FM (104-107FM) / Johannesburg, South Africa, August 2002

"it's fantastic"

2. AFK Max, Nuernberg, Germany, 25.08.02

"We enjoyed it - a pretty nice and typical Brit-Pop London Sound.
Maybe Your Song 'Fall into the Sun' will find the way into the charts
- we believe in it."

1. KFM 94.5, Richard Hardiman, Cape Town, South Africa, August 2002

"I love it, ... it sounds great!"