Arno Carstens

Born in 1972, singer, songwriter and guitarist Arno Carstens is regarded as a godfather of South African rock music who introduced audiences to a unique blend of punk, reggae, metal, funk and jazz. Carstens first gained mainstream acclaim as the lead singer for The Springbok Nude Girls, a Cape Town rock band formed in the early 1990s. But in 2003, Carstens released his debut solo project, Another Universe, showcasing his smooth singing chops atop guitar-laden, melodic and soulful rock songs. His profile soon extended beyond South Africa: he went on to co-write three songs on The Road, the 2011 album by Kent rock supergroup Mike + The Mechanics. But in late 2016, as a tribute to his heritage, Carstens recorded and released his first album in Afrikaans, Die Aandblom 13, a 13-track collection centred around his life growing up.