Ike Moriz Explained

Ike Moriz
Label:Mosquito Records London Pty Ltd.
Years Active:1995-now
Instrument:Vocals, piano, guitar
Occupation:Singer, songwriter, composer
Birth Place:Friedberg, Hesse, Germany
Birth Date:14 May 1972
Birth Name:Eike Moriz
Website:https://www.ikemoriz.com/

Eike Moriz (born May 14, 1972), better known as Ike Moriz, is a German-South African singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and actor. He has released 20 albums in the indie rock, pop, Latin, easy listening, dance, lounge, blues, jazz and swing genres.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Early life

Ike Moriz grew up in Wentorf near Hamburg, Germany. The son of the jewellers Kai and Waltraud Moriz attended the Wentorf primary school from 1978 and thereafter from 1982 the Wentorf grammar school, where he was also head boy from 1988 to 1989. During this time he acted in theatre plays directed by Hans Bittner, who was also his piano teacher. After graduating in 1991, he completed his compulsory one-year military service. From 1992 to 1993 he went to South Africa to work on his uncle's citrus farm in Clanwilliam in the Western Cape.[5]

Studies

Returning to Hamburg, Moriz studied economics at the University of Hamburg from 1993 to 1995 and gave his first concerts as the lead singer of several rock bands. He also played his first parts in English-language theatre plays. He then studied jazz, rock and pop music at the Carl Maria von Weber Academy of Music in Dresden from 1995 to 1999 under Professor Hanns-Herbert Schulz. As part of his course, he took part in a twelve-months student exchange programme at the South African College of Music in Cape Town and the Conservatory of Music in Rotterdam (Erasmus Programme) from 1997 to 1998. He received two degrees (Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education).[6] [7]

Career

London (1999–2005)

Ike Moriz lived in London from late 1999 to early 2005. Initially, he performed as a street musician, then as the lead vocalist and keyboard player of the indie rock band Stunt Double and eventually as a solo singer with a backup band. In 2002 Moriz played his first leading role in the American musical Saving Anne at the Greenwich Theatre.[8] [9] He founded his record company, Mosquito Records London Pty Ltd., and recorded his first hit single Fall Into The Sun at Tin Pan Alley Studios in 2002 with producer Steve Kent. This was followed by his first two solo albums, which he recorded and produced at Motion Studios from 2002 to 2005. They were mixed and mastered by Alan van Kleef. Moriz's songs reached number one on various radio stations in the UK, the Netherlands, South Africa and Germany and were played on the radio in seventeen countries around the world. British singer David Bowie voted Ike Moriz's songs Top Song of the Week' several times on his website.[10] [11] [12] In 2004 Moriz performed at the Ukkasie Arts Festival in London with several other South African artists such as Heinz Winckler, Nianell and Steve Hofmeyr.[13]

Moriz also played minor roles and cameos in international feature films such as Alfie (2004), Shanghai Knights (2003) and Love Actually (2003), as well as in South African and British TV series such as EastEnders, (2011), Backstage (2006) and The Bill.[14] [15]

South Africa and international (since 2005)

Moriz has been living officially in South Africa since May 2005, where he immediately received a lot of media coverage with his second album Play Me and its single releases I Feel Real and Play Me.[16] With national television and radio interviews, music videos, appearances in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and articles in magazines and daily newspapers, he quickly became known nationwide and was voted one of the country's top five singers in 2006.[17] [18]

This was followed by another album in the pop-rock genre, All Around The World (2007), which he presented for the first time with launch concerts at FashionTV cafés in both Johannesburg and Cape Town. The album launch in Cape Town took place at the same time as CD launch parties in Germany, the Netherlands and Great Britain.[19]

Moriz performs regularly with a variety of accompanying musicians in Cape Town and Johannesburg, e.g., at Oude Libertas Amphitheatre, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, numerous hotels and various clubs, theatres and wine farms.[20] In April 2008 he gave a concert on the occasion of the 125th anniversary celebration of the German International School Cape Town.[21]

In 2008, Moriz, who was previously known mainly as an indie pop and rock singer, began to explore a variety of other styles, starting with the release of his Stardust trilogy (2009), which consisted of three albums in the swing and jazz genre. The new style opened the door to an even larger audience, especially in the so-called African capital of jazz, Cape Town, where the fourth largest jazz festival in the world has been held annually since 2000.[22] In the same year he published the Christmas album Starry Night, for which he also filmed a music video in Germany at the Hamburg observatory where he also performed several times at the vision sternwARTe' festival on occasion of its 100-year anniversary.[23] [24] [25] Since moving to South Africa, Moriz has recorded all of his albums and singles at Paris Recording Studios in Fish Hoek, Cape Town, where he has also produced other artists (such as Brothers With Voices Cape Town).[26] Between 2010 and 2016, seven more jazz and swing albums followed, as well as albums in the easy listening, Latin, lounge, blues and pop-rock genres, such as his swing albums Siren Terpsichore (2012) and Love Swings (2015) and the blues album At Last (2014).[27] [28] [29] In 2018, after his album Gold Rush (2017), Moriz, for the first time, released a ‘best-of’ compilation album entitled Millennium Hits 2002-2018. In April of the same year, Moriz's first Afrikaans-language single was released, a cover of the Louis van Rensburg song Voshaarnooi.[30] Moriz's latest album, Dragons, was released on his birthday on May 14, 2020, during the South African COVID-19 lockdown, along with the music video of his song Say Your Name. Moriz did embark on a short 'Dragons Tour' with saxophonist Kurt Buschmann in Germany in late 2021 and in summer 2022 to promote his new album. During the tour he performed at castle Vietgest, St. Michael's Church, Hamburg as well as castle Reinbek where he performed Billy Joel's anti war song Leningrad during an interview on the German TV channel NDR 3.[31] Moriz returned to Northern Germany for another tour from late June to early August 2023 performing with saophonists Kurt Buschmann and Leandro Saint-Hill as well as South African pianist Charl Du Plessis.[32] [33] [34]

The versatile songwriter sings in English, but has also sung songs in German, Afrikaans, Spanish, Xhosa and French.[35] Since 2010 he has been touring in Germany every year.[36] [37] [38] [39] In South Africa, Moriz collaborates, plays and tours with renowned studio musicians and music groups such as the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra,[40] the Ike Moriz Swing Band, saxophonist Willie Van Zyl, guitarists Willem Moller, Gregory Schoeman, Gorm Helfjord, Alvin Dyers and David Leadbetter, drummers Kevin Gibson, Paul Tizzard, Ivan Bell, Shaun Michau, Barry van Zyl (Johnny Clegg Band) and Tony & Frank Paco, pianists Andrew Ford, Charl Du Plessis, Amanda Tiffin, Muriel Marco, Jason Reolon and the bass players Robert Nel, Wesley Rustin, Emilio Gassibe, Dave Ridgeway, and Charles Lazar.[41] [42] Other South African singers such as Judith Sephuma, Monique Hellenberg, Elana Afrika and Melanie Scholtz have also performed or recorded songs with him.

During his career, Ike Moriz has performed in eighteen countries: South Africa, UK, Germany, Namibia, Morocco, Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Portugal, Senegal, Malta, Turkey, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Canary Islands, Botswana and Belgium. All of his musical works have been released through CD Baby and his own record label Mosquito Records London Pty Ltd., distributed by Jassics Music (jazz albums) and Select Music Distribution (first three albums and maxi singles). His catalogue of works is "sub-published" in South Africa by Sheer Publishing.

Charity work

Together with the photographer and writer Kiara Worth, Moriz founded and championed the environmental protection interest group Fresh Air For Hout Bay' in 2014, for which he wrote, recorded and published the protest song "Lucky Star Ain't What You Are".[43] Moriz and Worth also created and lead the air pollution portfolio of the HBRRA (Hout Bay Residents and Rate Payers Association) in the same year.[44] The group was founded in response to the air pollution of a fishmeal factory in Hout Bay. Moriz and Worth were interviewed in numerous newspaper articles and continued to volunteer as the group's spokespersons for 6 years until the closure of the factory in 2020.[45] [46] [47]

During the Cape Peninsula mountain fires in March 2015, Moriz composed an anthem for the South African Volunteer Wildfire Services, called Heroes In Red to raise funds for the organisation.[48] [49] [50]

He has also endorsed the Cape Town animal welfare association D.A.R.G. with free concerts and played at charity events to help fund epilepsy research at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town with the ‘Alexi and Me’ campaign.[51] Moriz regularly performs at Rotarian events in Cape Town to sponsor their community projects.[52] [53] In September 2008 Ike Moriz appeared as one of the main acts of the ‘Zimfest’ together with other well-known bands such as Freshlyground and The Rudimentals in order to endorse the work of the NGO PASSOP (People Against Suffering, Oppression and Poverty).[54] In 2006 Moriz took part in the recording of Greatest Love Of All with thirteen other South African celebrities in order to raise money for the ‘Differently Abled 24/7/365‘ initiative.[55] [56] Moriz, an avid runner, also sponsors the NGO Sakhisizwe youth development programme in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, where he volunteers regularly at the local Parkrun.[57] In August 2022, Moriz gave a sold out concert at Hamburg's main landmark, the St. Michaelis Church, in support of the children's aid organisation ‘Plan International, after the concert had first been postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.[58] [59] [60]

Personal life

In 2012, Ike Moriz married Madri Le Roux-Moriz, the sister of South African singer Nataniël. They live together with their daughters Sofia Marie and Kateline in Hout Bay in the Western Cape.[61] On the famous Chapman’s Peak Mountain, a rock formation was named after Ike Moriz (‘Ike’s Thumb) in 2012.[62] [63] [64]

Discography

Albums

  • 2004: Mirrors And Shade (catalogue no. MOS0003, UPC: 634479004261)
  • 2005: Play Me (catalogue no. MOS0005, UPC: 634479171659)
  • 2007: All Around The World (catalogue no. MOS0006, UPC: 634479634215)
  • 2009: Stardust (catalogue no. MOS0008, UPC: 884502111019)
  • 2009: Body and Soul (catalogue no. MOS0007, UPC: 884502110944)
  • 2009: Angel Eyes (catalogue no. MOS0009, UPC: 884502133356)
  • 2009: Starry Night (catalogue no. MOS0010, UPC: 884502152654)
  • 2010: Blue Moon (catalogue no. MOS0011, UPC: 884502361964)
  • 2010: Charade (catalogue no. MOS0012, UPC: 884502783612)
  • 2011: C'est Si Bon (catalogue no. MOS0013, UPC: 885767504462)
  • 2011: Sunday (catalogue no. MOS0014, UPC: 885767568020)
  • 2011: Breathing Dreams (catalogue no. MOS0015, UPC: 885767791848)
  • 2012: Siren Terpsichore (catalogue no. MOS0017, UPC: 885767124417)
  • 2014: At Last (catalogue no. MOS0018, UPC: 888174506364)
  • 2014: Nobody Does It Better (catalogue no. MOS0021, UPC: 889211179251)
  • 2015: Love Swings (catalogue no. MOS0024, UPC: 190394012793)
  • 2016: Debonaire (catalogue no. MOS0025, UPC: 190394360597)
  • 2017: Gold Rush (catalogue no. MOS0027, UPC: 191061556336)
  • 2020: Dragons (catalogue no. MOS0030, UPC: 195079384493)

Compilations

Singles and EPs

Music videos

  • 2003: Still (filmed in London, UK)
  • 2004: Mirrors and Shade (filmed in: London, UK)
  • 2005: Play Me (filmed in: Cape Town, SA)
  • 2006: I Feel Real (filmed in: Cape Town, SA)
  • 2007: All Around The World (filmed in: Kirstenbosch, Cape Town, SA)
  • 2008: Peace Dream – Upupha Ngoxolo (filmed in: Hout Bay, SA)
  • 2009: Starry Night (filmed in: Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany)
  • 2013: Angie Blue (filmed in Cape Town, SA)
  • 2014: See You In The Night (filmed in: Cape Town, SA)
  • 2015: Heroes In Red (filmed in: Cape Town, SA)
  • 2015: Lucky Star (filmed in: Constantia, SA)
  • 2020: Say Your Name (SA)
  • 2020: Dangerous Rhymes (SA)

Literature

Notes and References

  1. Web site: South Africa's Rock Legends. The South African Rock Encyclopedia.
  2. Web site: Steyl. Louisa. 2016-11-09. Let the music take you. 2020-09-13. Netwerk24. Tyger Burger. en.
  3. Web site: Ike Moriz & his swing band hits. 2020-09-13. wine.co.za.
  4. Web site: Jazz. All About. 2021. Ike Moriz music @ All About Jazz. 2021-09-04. All About Jazz Musicians. en.
  5. Web site: Funke. Ariaane. 2018-07-18. Südafrikanischer Popstar auf Besuch in der Heimat. 2020-09-13. www.bergedorfer-zeitung.de. de-DE.
  6. Web site: Jantjies. Tamsyn. 2017-02-20. Ike Moriz set to enthral Playhouse audiences this month. 2020-09-13. Netwerk24. Distrikspos. en.
  7. Web site: Kim Nadine. Meyer. 2009-09-25. Bergedorfer Ike Moriz ist in Südafrika ein Star. 2020-09-13. www.bergedorfer-zeitung.de. de-DE.
  8. Web site: Sarah Jane. Boden. 2006-09-04. SA rock artist IKE back in South Africa. 2020-09-13. represent.co.za. Soul Providers Collective.
  9. Web site: Jones. Kenneth. 2003-01-16. Saving Anne, Musical About Time Travel and Anne Frank, Gets U.S. Premiere in MI. 2020-09-13. PLAYBILL INC.. en.
  10. Web site: 2019-08-12. Es ist eine philosophische Frage, wem man helfen soll und wem nicht. Ike Moriz schreibt Lieder mit Botschaften und Tiefgang.. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200718085854/https://downloads.derreinbeker.de/ausgaben/2019-08-12.pdf. 2020-07-18. 2020-09-13. Der Reinbeker.
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20040808025437/http://ikemoriz.com/featuredoriginalmusicoftheweekbowie.gif David Bowie.Com: Featured Original Music of the Week – Mirrors And Shade (Single)
  12. Web site: Klotz. Franziska. 2017-08-09. David-Bowie-Cover in heller Sommernacht. 2020-09-13. www.bergedorfer-zeitung.de. de-DE.
  13. Web site: 2004-08-20. KWV UKkasie 2004. 2020-09-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20040820175215/http://www.ukkasie.com:80/ukkasie2004/brosjure.htm. 2004-08-20.
  14. News: Kennedy. Christina. 2006-03-09. SA's own indie-pop idol. 6. The Citizen (Vibe). Johannesburg. 2020-09-14.
  15. News: Gordon. Romy. 2010-09-01. Ike Moriz - The man behind the voice. cover story. Bay Magazine. Cape Town, South Africa. 2020-09-14.
  16. Web site: "Play Me" is getting much play. 2020-09-13. Channel 24 News. en.
  17. Web site: 2017-02-12. Valentine Stars - Ike Moriz (singer). 2020-09-13. valentinestars.co.za. Opulent Living.
  18. Web site: 2006-03-29. 2005 Awards: Top 5 vocalists in South Africa. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20070108172915/http://www.zazone.com/articles.asp?id=481. 2007-01-08. 2020-09-13. zaZone.com: Article.
  19. Web site: 2010-07-04. Bergedorf-TV Künstlerportrait Ike Moriz - Internationaler Popstar aus Bergedorf. 2020-09-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20100704002028/http://www.bergedorf-tv.de/reportagen/bix-0909-ike-moriz/index.htm. 2010-07-04.
  20. Web site: 2007-02-02. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens programme 2006/2007 Ike Moriz. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20070202211854/http://www.sanbi.org/frames/whatsonfram.htm. 2007-02-02. 2020-09-13. Sanbi.org.
  21. Book: Koehler, Thorsten. 125 Jubiläumsjahrbuch Deutsche Internationale Schule Kapstadt: Profimusiker Ike Moriz.. Deutsche Internationale Schule Kapstadt. 2008. Cape Town. 51.
  22. Web site: Cape Town International Jazz Festival. 2020-09-13. Cape Town International Jazz Festival. en.
  23. Web site: Voigt. Thomas. 2020-09-13. Bergedorfs Stern in Südafrika. 2020-09-13. www.bergedorfer-zeitung.de. Bergedorfer Zeitung. de-DE.
  24. Web site: Hamburg. Hamburger Abendblatt-. 2011-08-13. In die Sterne schauen, Gedichten lauschen und Musik genießen. 2020-09-13. www.abendblatt.de. de-DE.
  25. Web site: 2011-09-15. vision sternwARTe Kunstausstellung - Kunst an der Hamburger Sternwarte in Bergedorf. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110915064928/http://www.vision-sternwarte.de/ausstellung/musik.htm. 2011-09-15. 2020-09-13. Vision Sternwarte.
  26. Web site: Brothers With Voices. 2020-09-13. www.facebook.com.
  27. Web site: Helen. Herembi. Moriz counts on muse for 13th album. 2020-09-13. www.iol.co.za. Cape Argus, Tonight (IOL). en.
  28. Web site: van der Spuy. Michelle. 2015-12-07. Moriz's album full of love for Swing. 2020-09-13. Eikestad Nuus (Netwerk 24). en.
  29. Web site: Bangs. 2014-03-12. Leicester Bangs: Review: Ike Moriz – At Last. 2020-09-13. Leicester Bangs.
  30. Web site: Jahr. O.. 2017-08-05. Zurück zu den musikalischen Wurzeln. 2020-09-13. epaper.lokale-wochenzeitungen.de. 14.
  31. Web site: Hamburg. Hamburger Abendblatt-. SerrahnEins Bergedorf: Wentorfer Ike Moriz aus Südafrika. 2022-01-14. themenwelten.abendblatt.de. de-DE.
  32. Web site: Watkins . Karen . 2023-08-04 . Chappies thumbs up helps singer rock on . 2023-08-08 . Sentinel News . en-ZA.
  33. Web site: Liebetanz . Frank . 2023-07-03 . Konzert im Schloss Vietgest mit Ike Moriz und Charl Du Plessis SVZ . 2023-08-08 . svz.de . de.
  34. Web site: Der Reinbeker, Seite 24, "Ike Moriz und Kurt Buschmann bei oxhoft”, 26.06.2023 . 2023-08-08 . Der Reinbeker, Seite 24, "Ike Moriz und Kurt Buschmann bei oxhoft”, 26.06.2023.
  35. Web site: 2019-08-03. In Südafrika sind die Dinge intensiver. 2020-09-13. epaper.lokale-wochenzeitungen.de. Markt Wochenzeitung. 4.
  36. Web site: 2020-09-13. Buschmann und Moriz auf Tour. 2020-09-13. www.bergedorfer-zeitung.de. de-DE.
  37. Web site: 2019-08-02. Musikerduo ist zu Gast am Tonteich. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190802053925/https://www.abendblatt.de/region/stormarn/article226652595/Musikerduo-ist-zu-Gast-am-Tonteich.html. 2019-08-02. 2020-09-13. Hamburger Abendblatt. Hamburger Abendblatt.
  38. Web site: 2018-09-15. Abschluss der erfolgreichen Sommertour. 2020-09-13. epaper.lokale-wochenzeitungen.de. 4.
  39. Web site: 2019-09-01. Easy Songs mit starker Begleitung. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190901202454/https://s3ef3d12165ff405b.jimcontent.com/download/version/1554275638/module/12801925331/name/Bille_KW37-2018.pdf. 2019-09-01. 2020-09-13. Bille Wochenblatt.
  40. Web site: Ulmenstein. Chris von. 2017-01-28. 'Valentine under the STARS' celebrates romance with top stars!. 2020-09-13. Whale Tales Blog. en-ZA.
  41. Web site: Anthony. Elmarine. 2018-12-24. Ike Moriz in last show of the year. 2020-09-13. Eikestad Nuus (Netwerk24). en.
  42. Web site: Liebetanz . Frank . 2023-07-03 . Konzert im Schloss Vietgest mit Ike Moriz und Charl Du Plessis SVZ . 2023-08-08 . svz.de . de.
  43. Worth. Kiara. 2020-12-20. Government, Big Capital and The People(s): A fishy tale of power, influence and development in Hout Bay Harbour. PhD thesis . University of the Western Cape . 11394/7941 . 82.
  44. News: September 2014. Hout Bay news Sept 2014. Hout and About. HBRRA. live. 2020-09-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20200916075556/http://www.hbrra.co.za/filebrowser/download/137. 2020-09-16.
  45. Web site: 2015-04-26. Fishy fumes in 'Republic of Hout Bay'. 2020-09-13. www.iol.co.za. en.
  46. News: Van Diemen. Verna. 2015-05-08. Sing the stink blues. The Sentinel. 2020-09-13.
  47. Web site: Kinnear. Jannis. 2015-04-26. Claims something is fishy in 'Republic of Hout Bay'. 2020-09-13. Weekend Argus (Sunday Edition).
  48. Web site: VWS. 2020-08-23. Heroes In Red (VWS anthem). live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200823090330/https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerWildfireServices/posts/759316430848419. 2020-08-23. 2020-09-13. Volunteer Wildfire Services Cape Town.
  49. Web site: 2015-03-31. Music from fire: The Fire Fighter Anthem and the big Cape Town fires in March 2015. 2020-09-13. Mosquito Records.
  50. News: 2016-09-15. Sizzling overseas. False Bay Echo. 2020-09-14.
  51. Web site: 2017-02-10. Alexi and me campaign. 2020-09-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20170210010821/http://www.alexiandme.co.za/. 2017-02-10.
  52. Web site: Watkins. Karen. 2018-11-09. Rotary fundraiser. 2020-09-13. Constantiaberg Bulletin. en-ZA.
  53. Web site: 2018-11-02. Rotary Club - Wine Fest (flyer). 2020-09-13.
  54. Web site: Zimfest '08 - Party for a cause. 2020-09-13. www.bizcommunity.africa. en.
  55. Web site: 2006. Differently Abled 24/7/365: Fundraiser 2006. 2020-09-13. douganderson.co.za.
  56. Web site: 2006-10-01. Differently Abled Initiative: Greatest Love recording. 2020-09-13. douganderson.co.za.
  57. Web site: Staff Reporter. 2018-03-23. Support runners to raise funds. 2020-09-17. Sentinel News. en-ZA.
  58. Web site: Wessel . Barbara . Love Swings für die Rechte der Mädchen . 2022-08-17 . www.plan.de . de.
  59. Web site: 2020-07-23. Veranstaltungen - Plan Aktionsgruppe Hamburg. 2020-09-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20200723112343/https://www.plan-aktionsgruppe-hamburg.de/home/aktuelles/veranstaltungen/. 2020-07-23.
  60. Web site: Ike Moriz Setlist at St. Michaelis Kirche, Hamburg . 2022-08-13 . setlist.fm . en.
  61. Web site: Van Wyk. Marguerite. 2013-08-14. Nataniël se kleinsus, Madri, oor 2 soorte Ma-wees .... 2020-09-13. Sarie magazine.
  62. Web site: 2012-05-01. Ike's thumb Rock formation named after Ike Moriz (in Hout Bay). 2020-09-13. Mosquito Records.
  63. News: Lilford. Don. 2013-03-22. Sentinel News (Ike's Thumb) - front page. The Sentinel. 2020-09-13.
  64. Web site: Watkins . Karen . 2023-08-04 . Chappies thumbs up helps singer rock on . 2023-08-08 . Sentinel News . en-ZA.

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