Territory: Europe
Desmond and the Tutus have been gallivanting across the world’s stages with their rollicking, roaring, and utterly unique brand of indie rock for around fifteen years now, and have carved out a niche for themselves that no band can emulate. Who can fill a festival slot comfortably between Thandiswa Mazwai and Hugh Masekela
(see Soweto Heritage Fest 2013), and also headline alongside some of the most progressive surf rockers, synth mavens and indie experimental bands? The Tutus can.
As far as SA indie rock goes The Tutus have been around since 2005, long enough to be considered stalwarts of the scene. They themselves might say they’re kak old. Not that old, but old enough to reminisce on the flexibility of youth and second guess their stage dives sometimes. Their debut album Tuckshop (2008) is noteworthy today as a fan favourite, spawning crowd pleasers “Peter”, “Kiss You On The Cheek” and “German Modern”. Released at the dawn of the MK89 era, The Tutus found a devoted following in a growing indie scene and quickly became its poster boys with their collection of kwela melodies and indie-punk aesthetic. Around the same time they made their first foray into the Japanese music scene, dropping two releases on Japanese labels Flake Records and Every Conversation, and soon after that Parisian label Tigersushi released a 12” of Kiss You On The Cheek . Not a bad inning for a band fresh out the gate. Their second album MNUSIC (2012) saw them team up with lauded Los Angeles producer Eric Broucek and spawned three singles that all charted on the 5FM Top 40, with “Zim Zala Bim” reaching the coveted #1 spot.
For their third album Enjoy Yourself (2015), The Tutus assembled a banging collection of indie-rock anthems, pretty love songs and pulsing disco hits, and bagged themselves a South African Music Award (SAMA) for Best Rock Album in 2016 along the way. The album’s lead single “Pretoria Girls” also peaked at #1 on the 5FM Top 40 chart, and earned them an MTV Africa Music Awards nomination. Having toured extensively internationally since their 2009 UK tour for The Vivian Girls,
The Soft Pack and Women, The Tutus made their presence known early, scoring a set at one of the last of the legendary Optimo parties at The Sub Club in Glasgow, and selling out their first European headline show at Stockholm’s lauded Vanner och Bekanta. They also later set their sights on Japan, selling out numerous tours in
conjunction with their local label releases. Back on home soil, The Tutus have opened for indie giants Two Door Cinema Club, Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah, and The Drums. They also once played for a deaf audience at Joburg’s Bassline, which had a vibrating dance floor and interpretive dancers to boot. In many ways their music reaches beyond audial boundaries to make just about anyone and everyone groove. Following a 2019 that was jam-packed with festival headlining slots and massive club shows, The Tutus took time out to record their new album Desmond , due for release in late 2020. Fifteen years down the line and Desmond and the Tutus still channel a high level of energy that is cheeky and infectious, putting on a spectacle of a live show that is enjoyed by all and is rivaled by few.