Band members: Nikhil Singh- vocals, synth, guitar; Gareth Dawson- bass, backing vocals; Len Cockcroft- drums, perc, backing vocals The WiLd EyeS are a three piece band from Cape Town that have been performing regularly since inception in June 2004. They released a full length debut album titled: Our Love has a Special Violence in 2005 on OMTD Records. The band were selected to showcase at the 2007 South by South West Festival in Austin Texas. The words that first spring to mind when listening to their debut release, "Our Love Has A Special Violence" are 'frantic disko punk'. Midnight Pet and Breakdown are both stand-out singles that seem to convey the very message of the band: "let's dance!" The hair-raising feedback squall of "Disko Inferno" and the manic tension-and-release in "Kali Cola" and "O Maria" are good examples of how The WiLd EyeS flawlessly combine impeccable song-craft, sonic prowess and a total disregard of the ordinary into a hedonistic yet disturbing musical whole. Songs like "Breakdown" and "Valley of the Snake", meanwhile, display an almost fiendish knack for creating impossibly catchy pop songs. Without discrediting their musical performance, they are able to combine it with a strong visual stage presence is captivating and memorable for anyone who has witnessed the band live. These intense and vibrant presentations often feature pink Cleopatra wigs, bizarrely ornate dresses and excessive make-up, and, on occasion, the talents of well known performance artist Bingo, who is not averse to showering the audience in a hail of electric sparks from his angle-grinder. In October 2004, while still being newcomers to the scene and with no release or major gigs to their name, they won the Cape Town leg of the Global Battle of the Bands. The band was one of four South African bands selected to showcase at the 2007 South by South West music festival held in Austin, Texas. Our Love has a Special Violence was released in 2005 on OMTD records. The album was recorded, mixed and produced over 9 months at SUI Studios, Cape Town by Dirk Hugo. Mastered by Tully McCully. The OLHASV album is released on OMTD Records, a South African based independent label with a commitment to releasing and promoting original South African music of integrity, and to maintaining a high standard on all facets of the releases. In keeping with these values, "Our Love Has a Special Violence" is packaged in a vibrant translucent digi-pack, each of which has been silk-screened by hand. The illustrations and design were done by the band's front man, Nikhil Singh, who has also cultivated a considerable reputation for himself as a comic artist. These limited edition album sleeves are distinctive and reflect the visual quality of the band themselves, reflective in their live performances. The album has been well received in the media with comments such as these by: Daniel Friedman of the Mail and Guardian, "South African music has always been unique, with bands like The WiLd EyeS being a further indication of music filled with originality and a certain 'je ne se pas' that many contemporaries, internationally lack." The album has sold out its first pressing and is well into its second. Tracks from this album have been featured on various CD compilations including: Session magazine, two SL magazine compilations and the 2006 Levi's Young Guns compilation. The Wild Eyes track: 'Valley of the snake' was featured in the SA skate boarding documentary "Kurb", produced by Dallas Oberholzer. There are music videos: Valley of the Snake and Breakdown which are downloadable off the Wild Eyes website (www.thewildeyes.com) as well as being on rotation on SA music station MK 89. The song ‘Breakdown’ off the album Our Love has a Special Violence was selected for the first Mail and Guardian compilation CD which is to be released in May through Runway Music with distribution through Universal. The song ‘Midnight pet’ from the Wild Eyes album was selected for the Cellardoor live album comprising of those artists having performed at all the Cellardoor live events. Although the Wild Eyes are no longer performing together, other emerging South African bands such as the BLK JKS, Eat this, Horse and Kid of Doom have cited being inspired by the Wild Eyes who have left a legacy for the others to follow.