THE TAZERS
- pinsandknucklesmerch
- 11 minutes ago
- 5 min read
South African band The Tazers are certainly not ones to sit around and wait for something to happen. With an upcoming European tour and a new album on the way, the Psychedelic-Rock trio have big things happening in 2025 - a testament to their ongoing hard work and dedication to the craft.
The Tazers consists of Jethro Lock (guitar, vocals), Timothy Edwards (drums, vocals) and Werner Jordaan (bass, vocals) and hails from Johannesburg, South Africa. The band have cemented themselves as one of the leading psych-rock bands in South Africa, with a full-length album and a couple of EPs already under their belt.
We caught up with the band before they fly over to Europe for their tour this week, to chat about their upcoming album FANTASY FACTORY and what it's like to tour overseas.
Your next European tour is just around the corner – what are you most excited for, and how does touring in Europe compare to playing shows back home in South Africa?
Crowds in Europe tend to be a bit more subdued and focus on listening to the music attentively, at least that’s what we found at first. If you give them energy, it tends to be reciprocated though. So it’s an amazing feeling when you turn a calm crowd into a bunch of maniacs dancing on tables towards the end of a show. Also, a strange concept for us is that you can have a well attended gig in a small venue any night of the week - we’re very used to South Africa being a weekends-only party.
What would you say are some of the biggest challenges of touring overseas, and are there any lessons learned from previous experiences that have helped you better prepare for future gigs/tours?
There have been so many small lessons it’s hard to keep track! We definitely underestimated the demand for merch, especially vinyl, in the beginning. There are also a ton of small things like where and how you’re allowed to park, dealing with public transport systems, opening windows (I’m being serious) and how to eat healthy and affordably while on the road. We’ve made just about every mistake you can make at some point, but fortunately that’s how you learn!
Alongside the tour, you’ve also announced a new album dropping in May. What can fans and listeners expect from the album? Can you walk us through a bit of the creative process behind it?
The album is a raw expression of the way we connect in the rehearsal room. We tracked a lot of the instrumentation live together, so it feels like a performance. Listeners can expect authenticity and a good time.
I think the new album is instantly recognisable as The Tazers sound that people know, but with a fresh, slightly raw and heavy take.
Who or what are some of your biggest musical influences for this record?
I think between the three of us you could pinpoint hundreds of different influences that came together to make this album. I think it’s the combination of the three of us bringing very different things to the table that creates something none of us would have come up with otherwise.
We’ve been loving the new era of raw and barebones bands that are busy killing it right now, such as Amyl and the Sniffers, Viagra Boys and even the new Hives releases. Some other influences include Jimi Hendrix, Pond, Ty Segall, Ron Gallo, OhSees, Vulfpeck, Funkadelic. Subconsciously we try to channel all of our influences and energy into writing new music.
You’ve called photographer, Richard Dick Smith, the “fourth member of the band” since he has toured with you previously and captured most of your live performances. How important is it for you to have a consistent visual identity across social media, and how does working with Richard help achieve that?
The Tazers have always been about the live experience first and foremost. Richard has an insane talent for truly capturing the energy in a room and his visual language just matches the band perfectly. I also have to mention that he is hands down one of the hardest working people I have ever met, and an absolute pleasure to be around, which are both incredibly important if you’re spending so much time together in the rollercoaster that touring is. We are insanely grateful for our Dick.
You’ve mentioned before that you draw a lot of musical inspiration from the 70s, being a psych rock band. What’s your approach to balancing vintage influences with more modern sounds?
Rehearsing a ton. If you want to lean into the vintage aesthetic you need to sound like a band that’s working within those same limitations. Recording live and leaning into the texture of mistakes and idiosyncrasies has to be backed up by some real effort so it doesn’t sound like you’re pretending. When that’s down, we just sprinkle in some modern recording techniques and our own flavour. We take ourselves seriously only in the places that are necessary. The rest is us having as much fun as we can.
All three of us have a very deep love for the music from the 60’s and 70’s, and I think those roots aren’t something you can easily hide. I think we just try to write the type of music we want to listen to, in the time that we’re living in. There’s no use trying to imitate a bygone era, but that doesn’t mean it won’t still exist in the current-day music you create. It should feel like it kind of happens automatically; we try to write music that makes us excited to play it.
How would you describe the South African rock and psych scene right now? Any local bands worth checking out?
There is so much talent in South Africa and always something new popping up! Some current favourites would be Black Math, Evert Snyman and the Aviary, Black Lung, Beast, Double Sun, Pussy Heaven, Mouse, Hellcats, Ruff Majik and so many more.
The South African music scene seems to be getting more international recognition – what do you think sets South African bands apart from those in the US, UK and Europe? What advice would you give to up-and-coming South African bands looking to break into the global market?
The reality is that doing music in South Africa is extremely difficult, so the ones that push through have to be talented, but also incredibly determined. That goes double for musicians operating in smaller sub-genres with more niche audiences.
The main piece of advice that I would give is don’t rush things, but also don’t limit yourself. Getting out of the country and playing shows was a pipe dream for all of us growing up, one that we never thought we’d achieve. We worked hard though, and over time, more & more seemed possible. The trick is to dream big and never give up on them.
If you could collaborate with any artist (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
Celine Dion, because then she’d finally get the recognition she deserves.
Besides the tour and new album, can you share what’s next for The Tazers in 2025?
We’re always plotting something, be sure to follow us on socials and keep your eyes peeled! The year is still young.
Rapid-fire round – finish these sentences:
a) If we could headline any festival in the world, it would be… Glasto
b) When we’re not recording or touring, you can find us… Playing Chess or on a motorcycle somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
c) Our guilty pleasure albums include… Schvitz by Vulfpeck; Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle Earth; Gorillaz - Demon Days.
Follow The Tazers on Instagram.
Listen to The Tazers on Spotify.
Photos by Richard Smith.
