BIOGRAPHY

The Metanoya Rockonfusion (henceforth called METANOYA) consists of three members:-                     

Eben Kok (drums)-                     

 Morkel Erasmus (vocals & guitar)-                     

 Jaun “Wolfve” Hugo (guitar & vocals) 

The word METANOYA is derived from the Greek word “metanoia” which means the renewal of the mind, or to change the way you think. Reference to this can be found in the Bible in Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but allow God to transform you through the (entire) renewal of your mind…” 

Rockonfusion is a term invented by the band to shorten “fused on the Rock”, their way of “being One with Christ”. And this is what the band is all about: non-conformity. The wide world of modern society is hammering young people so hard with all kinds of pressures about how to live and what to chase in life, that few ever actually get to a place where they chase their own destiny and purpose.

Too many young people fall into pitfalls like drug abuse and suicide. Musicians aren’t helping this cause – they sing songs about anger and violence and hate, and forget that the main reason people listen to music is to feel good, for comfort and to be inspired. Metanoya wants to bring hope back into music, making music that inspires people to be more than what they’re told, and to find true LIFE by finding purpose in the God who made us.  The band was formed in the fall of 2001 when Jaun Hugo and their former bassist started jamming together. Morkel Erasmus joined them and after recruiting a keyboardist, percussionist and lastly Eben Kok on drums, their initial line-up was complete. They started doing small local gigs, which included anything from youth camps, benefit days for underprivileged children, birthday parties, and youth church services. In time, the line-up changed to a four-piece, and after the bassist quit (and another bassist after that) the three core members decided to make due on their own. They have a unique energy on stage – being very much in touch with what God wants to do and also in touch with each other.

Their worship flows from deep within, often taking form of unknown songs that happen spontaneously and ooze with the life-changing presence of God. In the past four years, Metanoya has been steadily building an underground fan-base, while crafting their sound to a unique blend of melodic spiritual alternative-rock and building their own studio through which to produce their music. They feel that too many bands are forced to have a certain sound and play certain music by their record labels because this is “commercial”.

Following suite to bands like Delirious, the band aims to have greater control over their creative output and the whole value-chain of their music. Their music can be described as a fusion of melodic rock, alternative, grunge and nu-metal with a very strong focus on melody and harmony. Music has become so much about rhythm and people have lost the appreciation for good melody and soothing harmony.

They’ve performed with the likes of The Narrow, Fevertree, One80, Petri-D, CJay, Kickstand and many more. The bookings are flowing in from all around the country, and they even played Margate Main Beach on New Years Eve. At present they are also the full-time worship band for the youth church of “Lewende Woord”, one of the largest churches in the Pretoria-area. 

The future looks bright. This year sees them invited to Godly Revolution for the third time – an event held in Gallagher Estate which is attended by more than 12,000 people every year. The band recorded and released a single a few years ago to give fans something to take home whilst the first full album was being crafted. Only 2,000 units of this single, entitled Radio Unfriendly have been made and mostly sold out. In 2005 Metanoya launched their independent debut studio-album, containing 13 tracks ranging from hard-hitting rockers to make you mosh around in your room, to soothing ballads that’ll leave you in tears or on your knees acknowledging that life is about more than yourself. The album is titled This is why and more than 500 units of this album were sold in two weeks since release, even before a distribution deal with Brettian Productions was finalised. In 2006, the Metanoya Rockonfusion, armed with 13 brand new tracks and a new licensing, marketing and distribution deal from Merchant Gospel Records (owned and operated by SA Music legend Louis Brittz), entered the studio once again, and the finished product is something of an eye-opener in an otherwise stale local rock-scene where everybody tries to be commercial and have a similar sound.

The new album is titled RockSolid and marks the beginning of a new season for the guys. This album has the potential to launch the band onto the international scene. The songs are very catchy and insightful, and the production is even more creative than their previous effort. Some of the songs have already been play-listed on major secular and Christian radio stations and have been well-received on the charts. Numerous nationwide television appearances followed in 2006, and the first single “All over me” has remained on in the top 10 of the SA MP3 download chart for 10 months now, peaking at number 2. Their live act is something to experience. From synchronized stage antics, to soothing vocal harmonies, to harmonized intricate guitar licks and solos, to breaks and phrasings that leave the audience anxious for more, to an honest expression of genuine love for God, it’s no surprise that they’ve been headlining major festivals for 3 years now.

What makes them even more appealing is that they also prefer the more intimate settings, such as small acoustic sets and youth camps where they can get to know the young people up close and personal for a few days.  

Where do they see themselves in 5 years? This question gets asked a lot. But the real question is, where do they see themselves NOW?

Right now they want to impact young people on a personal, intimate level.

Right now they want to make a difference in the nation, in the world.

And in 5 years, maybe MTV?

Reaching a much wider audience…

rocking the planet…

bringing LIFE to a LIFELESS GENERATION…

Jesus is LIFE…

God is real – no matter how you feel!!