Iridium Project - Electronic, Funk, Function Band and Party Band - Cape Town

Iridium Project is a band that fuses house, tribal, funk, soul and jazz into electronica music. Formed in the early 2000s to wow club goers around Cape Town, Iridium Project is now a household name in South Africa with regular performances in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. Radio stations around the country continue to playlist singles from the band’s 2008 debut album, Stroboscope. The group’s hit single “Smoke & Fly” can also be found in compilations such as Platform and The Nightwatchmen.

In addition to the synthesizer-drum-bass-saxophone section, Iridium Project has one of South Africa's top DJ's, Craig de Sousa as a member of the band. In its appearance at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, the five-member group will feature well-known musicians - Melanie Scholtz, RJ Benjamin and Lindiwe Suttle. Scholtz’ vocal prowess can be heard in the band’s hit single “Which Way to Go”; while Iridium Project’s current hit “Show My Love” features RJ Benjamin.

Iridium Project
 

Iridium Project, from Cape Town, South Africa, are one of the funkiest electronic percussion acts available.

Iridium Project was born in 2001 when Mario Parmeggiani and Nick Matthews met at a record shop in Bree Street, Cape Town. After a couple of meetings Mario decided that Nick and he should play a gig at one of Cape Town’s more upmarket clubs, Rhodes House. On the night of the gig Mario introduced Nick to a very talented musician by the name of Ricardo Moretti and the three seamlessly worked together as a dance floor hit.

When 2003 dawned Iridium had started producing their first tracks and laid down the initial concepts for their first album, Stroboscope. Lu Chase was invited to sing vocals and they produced their first single “Smoke & Fly”. Her strong performance both in the booth and on stage enveloped her into what was becoming a frequently requested act at club gigs around Cape Town. By summer the project had performed at numerous private functions between Clifton and Johannesburg.

In 2004 the project got its first taste of a big stage when they were chosen as the warm-up act at one of the Springbok Nude Girl’s live performances. Many hours of attention were focused in the studio and “Smoke & Fly” was playlisted to high acclaim on local radio stations. The single was included in compilations such as Platform and The Nightwatchmen.

Iridium Project
 

2005 was a very constructive year with the addition of bass player ‘The Passion’. Together the act started playing regular shows at Opium nightclub and an alter ego midweek gig called “The Magic Carpet Ride” at Strega. The music grew its own shape driving from elements of Funk, Soul and Blues.

By 2006 the group recorded new material and released a couple of singles and a compilation. "Sequenced Funk", the projects second single, charted on South Africa's 5FM reaching #6. Iridium also featured as a support act for Fat Boy Slim and The Stereo MC's and travelled frequently to Durban where their name spread. Near the end of that year the group asked their good friend and one of South Africa's top DJ's, Craig de Sousa, to join the project.

2007 - the projects most successful year to date. A motivated crew planned rehearsals and recording sessions. Craig flexed his studio muscle and the first result proved to be the groups third hit single, "Lu's Control" which reached #1 on 5FM. They performed with new featured artists and new toys at many high profile events to packed dance floors such as the Durban July and A1 GP.

2008 - Iridium Project's debut album, Stroboscope hit the shelves at the end of January and saw the culmination of a 4 year journey with many friendships made along the way.

Iridium Project are:

MARIO PARMEGGIANI - DJ

LU CHASE - Vocal

NICK MATTHEWS - DJ, Sound Engineering

RICCARDO MORETTI - Producer, Musician

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Iridium Project - Electronic, Funk, Function Band and Party Band - Cape Town