Nick Cave; Bloc Party; Unkle; Velvet Revolver; Kasabian; Radiohead; Kings of Leon; Johhny Cash; Arcade Fire; Coldplay; Queens of the Stone Age; Mass Volta; Missy Elliot, Prince, The Doors, Libertines, Morcheeba, Royskopp...
Arno Carstens is the biggest selling South African English singer/songwriter in the rock genre. He performed for 10 years as the lead singer of the cult rock band: The Springbok Nude Girls. He has been working as a solo artist since 2003.
During his career as the lead singer of The Springbok Nude Girls and subsequently as a solo artist, this 4 x platinum singer songwriter has released 9 studio albums, had 13 top ten singles, won 5 South African Music Awards for Best Albums, toured internationally ten times and shared the stage with the likes of INXS, The Beastie Boys, Lenny Kravitz, The Cult, Smashing Pumpkins, The Offspring, R.E.M., Metallica and Ronan Keating.
In June 2007 he was invited to play at the Isle of Wight Festival in the UK alongside Snow Patrol, Muse, Kasabian, Wolfmother, Amy Winehouse, Paulo Nutini, James Morrison, Keane and The Rolling Stones. Two weeks later he played as the main support act for The Rolling Stones in Spain.
Another Universe, Arno’s first solo album, was released in September 2003 and as one of the most anticipated solo projects in SA music history, did not disappoint, becoming the biggest selling South African English rock album this side of the millenium. The platinum selling album has been lauded in SA as a masterpiece, winning a SAMA Award within the first 6 months of being released.
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Arno’s 2nd solo album, The Hello Goodbye Boys was released in September 2005. It’s a powerful record, defined very clearly by Arno’s unique voice and his creative ability when it comes to writing music. Produced by well known South African studio maestro Brian O’ Shea (Seether), The Hello Goodbye Boys is without a doubt; Arno’s finest musical work to date. The album has sold gold and won a SAMA award in 2006.
CAREER SUMMARY
1994
Forms the Nude Girls with Crous, Kruger, Brand and Blumer.
1996 - 2001
Signs to Epic (Sony Music Entertainment SA) in 1996 and spends the next 5 years developing a cult following in South African with hit records and sell out concerts. This Nude Girls become one of the most successful rock bands in this country since the early eighties. They are a unique and electric band, defying categorization with their winning blend of sonic metal, strong and melodic songs, rousing and deafening concerts and an iconic front man and musicians. The band surpassed all expectations reaching iconic heights with radio hits such as 'Blue Eyes', 'Bubblegum On My Boots', 'Genie', 'I Love You' and 'Little'. The Nude Girls headline all the major South African festivals and tour internationally.
2001
Publicly announces that the original Springbok Nude Girls will no longer play together.
2002
Arno begins to write solo material, meets Albert Frost and together they form the project band New Porn.
2003
Arno writes, records and releases his 1st solo album, Another Universe. The album is produced by Neal Snyman. It is released in September through Sony.
2003
The Nude Girls reunite for a sold out national and international tour.
2004
Another Universe goes GOLD and wins a SAMA Award for Best Rock Album.
2005
Arno writes, records and releases his 2nd solo album The Hello Goodbye Boys, which is produced by Brian O’Shea and mastered in London through Metropolis, the team that mastered Oasis last album. It is released in September through SonyBMG.
2006
The Hello Goodbye Boys goes GOLD and wins a SAMA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album
2006
The original members of the Nude Girls reunite to write and record their fifth full length studio album.
Arno continues to pursue his solo career.
Both bands continue tour locally and internationally.
2007
The Springbok Nude Girls release Peace Breaker and Live at The Astoria DVD and perform 2 sold out national tours
Arno plays at Isle of Wight festival and opens for the Rolling Stones in Spain
Arno records an underground electronic album with producer Urbitro. The project is called Bhelltower and their album is scheduled for release in 2008
Arno continues to tour locally and internationally.
ALBUM RELEASES _ NUDE GIRLS
1995 Neanderthal 1
1996 It Became a Weapon
1997 AfterLifeSatisfaction
1998 OptiMum
1998 OmniSoFar
1999 Surpass the Powers
2000 Relaxzor
2001 The Fat Lady Sings
2004 God Dank Vir Klank
2007 Peace Breaker
Nude Girls (UK only)
Live at The Astoria (DVD)
ALBUM RELEASES ARNO CARSTENS
2003 Another Universe
2005 The Hello Goodbye Boys
..1 HIT SINGLES
1997 Genie (Nude Girls)
1998 Bubblegum on my Boots (Nude Girls)
1999 I Know What I Want (Nude Girls)
2000 I Love You (Nude Girls)
2001 Smiley Skull of Faith (Nude Girls)
2003 Another Universe (Arno Carstens)
2004 Life is…. (Arno Carstens)
Boy (Arno Carstens)
Something we Started (Arno Carstens)
2005 Hole Heart (Arno Carstens)
2006 Feel It (Arno Carstens)
Bad City (Arno Carstens)
2007 Illuminate (Nude Girls)
AWARDS
1997 SAMA Award: Best Rock Performance for “It Became a Weapon”
2000 SAMA Award: Rock Album of the Year for “Surpass the Powers”
2001 SAMA Award: Rock Album of the Year for “Relaxzor”
2003 SAMA Award: Best Rock Album for “Another Universe”
2004 SAMA Award: Best Adult Contemporary Album for “The Hello
Goodbye Boys”
REVIEWS
“Able to invoke Beatlesque mania with the swivel of his leather clad hips, Arno does sexy while retaining his masculinity. Even bubblegum on his shit-kicking boots can’t take the swing out of Arno’s step”
GQ 50 Best Dressed Men of the Year, Dylan Muhlenberg, December 2005
“Arno Carstens is probably the most successful rock artist in South Africa today. Reviews on his work state that he has become almost a cult hero and if one takes into account his outstanding list of awards and his awesome record sales, then it becomes clear that he has changed the face of the South African music industry”
Space Magazine, October 2005
“FHM has been digging Carstens since he and the Nudies exploded onto the SA music scene in a wave of positive, local-rock vibes back in the mid-nineties. The Hello Goodbye Boys, his 2nd solo effort, is gonna be a monster. This will have you singing along in your living room after one listen. Top, five-out-of-five stuff from SA’s best loved rock star!”
FHM, CD Reviews, October 2005
“Forget Chris Martin from Coldplay. When it comes to combining style and sex appeal with a unique voice and genius songwriting skills, Arno Carstens is your man.”
Pulse Magazine, CD Reviews, September 2005
“Arno was one of those lead singers. You know the ones? The ones that float even if you shoot them full of heroin and turn their band into wax dummies. Once the king Nude Girl, he’s back, fully clothed and mightier than ever.”
In London Magazine, Gordon Glyn-Jones, September 2005
“If anyone deserves the status of ‘The Godfather of SA Rock’ it’s Arno Carstens”
GQ, Miles Keylock, September 2005
Dear Arno, Thank you for your add, I am going to live soon in S.A., I hope we could (my husband and me) meet you. A lot of success! you and your music are awasome.
YOU ROCK Arno!!! Looking forward to you comming to KC. The Verizon Ampitheather in Bonner Springs KS (USA) is an excellent place for a concert. I would love to see you there. It's PERFECT for loud concerts.
im so pissed off that i missed u guys on that saturday!! ur music sounds amazing, and it was lovely to meet u guys, u better tell indi and meme when ur back in london! xxxxx
Hi I was at the Isle Of Wight festival and thought you were absolutely amazing, cannot believe I have missed out for so long will certainly be rectifying that. Please play in England again soon as I would love to see you again. xxxx
hay just want to say i watched you play live a couple weeks ago in the east-rand and all i can say is WOW.......... amazing live wish you all the best and will carry on supp you guys
