RandburgMNMusic & Nightlife

HENRY ATE CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF SLAP IN THE FACE WITH NATIONWIDE ANNIVERSARY TOUR The soundtrack to a generation returns as Henry Ate hits the road this October and November. Three decades after Slap in the Face captured the hearts of South African music lovers and became the soundtrack to a generation of students, road trips and late-night singalongs, Henry Ate announces their nationwide tour to celebrate the album that started it all. The beloved duo of Karma Swanepoel and Julian Sun will embark on the 30 Years of Slap in the Face tour across South Africa this October and November, revisiting the songs that defined an era while sharing the stories behind one of the country's most cherished indie rock albums. Released in 1996, Slap in the Face arrived at a pivotal moment in South African music. Featuring timeless favourites including Just, Hey Mister, Henry and Waves of Salt, the album struck a chord with listeners through its honesty and unpolished authenticity. Looking back, the pair admit they had little idea of what lay ahead. "We were so young and completely unprepared for the music industry," laughs Karma Swanepoel. "We never really set out thinking this was going to be a career. I was just writing songs I loved and playing them wherever we could." Those humble beginnings included Monday night acoustic sets at Wing’s Beat Bar before being discovered by record labels. The album itself was recorded in an unconventional fashion, with producer Willem Möller preserving the raw energy of the original performances. Vocals were tracked in bedrooms, instruments found homes in hallways and makeshift studios, and the focus was always on capturing emotion rather than perfection. "There were no click tracks or elaborate productions," says Karma. "The songs were allowed to breathe and exist naturally. I think that's why they've stood the test of time." Even the band's biggest hit almost never made the record. "’Just’ was an afterthought," recalls Karma. "The album was technically finished and we begged Willem to let us record it. Thirty years later, it's incredible to see what that song has come to mean to people." Julian Sun believes the album's lasting appeal lies in the memories it carries for listeners. "’Slap in the Face’ became part of people's lives," he says. "It was the soundtrack to university days, friendships, first loves and adventures. Those songs belong as much to the audience as they do to us now." Over the years, fans have attached their own meanings to the music. Karma says she has learned to embrace those interpretations. "I didn't write ‘Just’ as a love song, but I've come to love that people hear it that way. Once a song is out in the world, it belongs to everyone." The anniversary tour promises more than a trip down memory lane. Fans can expect intimate performances, stories from the making of the album and a celebration of the music that helped shape South Africa's alternative music landscape. The Whirlwind Cafe & Bar opens at 5pm - limited menuShow starts at 7pm