The song is an infectious eighth note pathology expertly framed by jagged guitars and frontman Martin Cito Otto's low-ball narrative. Mixed, engineered and co-produced by Matthew Fink, "Voodoo Doll" rewards with a sonic tapestry of menacing energy.
WONDERboom has released a total of nine albums over the years with their 10th album set for release later this year through leading indie label, Just Music.
They have headlined many major South African festivals and have been nominated for five Best Rock Album awards at the South African Music Awards. They also won the South African leg of the 2004 Global Battle of the Bands and came second worldwide at the finals in the London Astoria! A major highlight for the band was the sole support slot for Guns ‘N Roses, at the South African leg of their Not In This Lifetime tour on 29 November 2018.
After being in the game for a remarkable 23 years, the bands energy, passion and love for music has only gotten stronger and can be experienced on and off the stage.
I spoke to Cito last week, ahead of the tour – which covers:
On the dance floor, with my wife, boogying to cool alternative dance music and a solitary pulsating strobe light. Making music and performing are a very close second.
Music means life to me. I’m addicted to it. Like some kind of all-consuming obsession, it’s running through my thoughts all the time.
The process of creating and building on an idea that most probably was initially conceived as a simple bass line or melody, and witnessing it come to life into a song or musical composition. Pure bliss!
At times, I am unconsciousnessly driven by ego, but it’s the daily grind and sobering realisation of my insignificance that really, and mostly, drives me. The music industry and surviving in it is a daily humbling experience. Humility is powerful and craft-building. Nothing quite likes going back to the drawing board.
There have been quite a few funny stage moments in my lifetime. But corpsing (unintentionally laughing during a non-humorous performance) while acting in a theatre production is my favourite because it can be quite deliciously uncontrollable.
Right now, it’s my wife. She manages to work a full-time corporate job with huge responsibilities, studies, runs, does yoga, stopped drinking, does a mountain of holiday projects, transforms our home into a sanctuary, loves all animals and puts up with me.
Sorry to bring up US politics, but Bernie Sanders does it for me. The way he’s bravely taking on the system and building support for a positive future for all, from the ground up, with no corporate contributions, is a beautiful thing to see. Gives this naïve rockstar some hope.
My mother’s beautiful “Ferrari” accordion.
Most of the day it’ll be good, speciality coffee or, if it’s alcohol, Guinness or a lovely single malt, like Lagavulin. Love good tequila too.
Usually, it’s my hair. But I’d like to believe it’s my voice. Nobody sounds like me.
Photography or painting. Would’ve made a great dancer if I hadn’t been so lazy when I was younger.
Funny. Clumsy. Impulsive. Irresponsible. Procrastinator.
Quite. An old high school friend created a way of expressing sarcasm by putting the word “quite” in any sentence. E.g., “that’s quite good” means it’s bad.
My “Medicine Boy” t-shirt.
“Ops us a go…” It means, “Let me have a turn”.
Seeing Radiohead and/or Nick Cave perform live somewhere.
My annoyingly loud parrot, Molly. And cat piss.
The audience singing the words to our songs backs at me at a show.
Pull funny faces when I sing high notes.
Right here, right now.
Over the years, I have supported numerous organisations and initiatives – ranging from orphanages to animal welfare, wildlife conservation and rehabilitation programmes. Also headed up an International Day of Peace (21 September) initiative in South Africa called Peace Starts for about six years. At the moment, I support the SPCA, Great Dane Rescue South Africa and Greenpeace. Mostly performing at fundraising events.
Tour the world with WONDERboom. Oh, and world peace.
