The Transatlantics
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Adelaide , Australia |
| Products | Funk and soul music albums |
The Transatlantics were a funk and soul ensemble originating from Adelaide, South Australia, established in 2007.
Biography
The group was formed in 2007 by Adelaide natives Ross McHenry, Lachlan Ridge, Kevin Van Der Zwaag, and vocalist Tara Lynch, who connected while attending university. They gained recognition through performances alongside artists including Eddie Bo, Roy Ayers, and Ohmega Watts.
In 2008, several members initiated a side endeavor named the Shaolin Afronauts to pursue a more experimental musical direction. Both ensembles continued their activities in the ensuing years.
Following the development of a local fanbase in 2008, The Transatlantics intended to embark on a national tour with soul singer Marva Whitney in 2009; however, the tour was cancelled after Whitney collapsed during a performance. Undeterred, the band proceeded with touring and secured a contract with Freestyle Records to launch their self-titled debut album in October 2010.
By this stage, the band had grown to an eight-piece lineup. Their first album predominantly showcased original compositions alongside a rendition of the Presets' "Talk Like That". Critics drew parallels between them and Melbourne’s deep funk outfit The Bamboos (funk band) as well as American soul singer Sharon Jones.
The founding quartet remained integral through 2011, with the group expanding to ten members by 2012 when they recorded their sophomore album. Released in October 2012, Find My Way Home featured three female vocalists—Tara Lynch, Naomi Keyte, and Laura Knowling—whose vocal contributions were met with critical acclaim.
The band took a hiatus from July 2013 until they resumed live shows in January 2017. They performed at the Melbourne Bowling Club in May 2018 and later at the Grace Emily venue in Adelaide during December 2018.
Albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| The Transatlantics |
|
| Find My Way Home |
|
National Live Music Awards
Established in 2016, the National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) celebrate achievements within Australia's live music sector.
! |- | 2016 | Naomi Keyte | South Australian Live Voice of the Year | | [1] |- | rowspan="2" | 2023 | Naomi Keyte | Best Folk Act | | rowspan="2" | [2][3] |- | Naomi Keyte | Best Live Voice in SA |
Naomi Keyte
Prior to joining The Transatlantics, Naomi Keyte was part of indie band Gold Bloom, which performed at festivals such as Laneway and Fuse and released an EP titled Sidelines on 22 September 2012.
In 2017, Keyte unveiled her solo album Melaleuca, comprising ten tracks inspired by Adelaide’s natural environment. This release garnered three nominations at the South Australian Music Awards for Best Release, Best Folk, and Best Female Artist. She has appeared at events including Here's to Now (2017), Basket Range Festival, WOMADelaide (2018), and OzAsia (2019). In May 2020, she issued the single "Travelling Woman".
Tara Lynch
Tara Lynch, the original lead singer, married Ross McHenry, the bassist known for leading Shaolin Afronauts and a jazz trio since 2016, and took his last name. The couple has at least one child born around 2014. By 2016, she was working with History SA.
Members
The band's roster in 2010 consisted of:[4]
- Randall "Country" Ridge jnr – Guitar
- Kyra Schwarz – Trombone
- Kevin van der Zwaag – Drums & Good Vibes
- Chris Weber – Trumpet
- Tara Lynch – Vocals
- Jon "Sugarcane" Hunt – Baritone Saxophone
- Ross McHenry – Bass
- Kahil Nayton – Guitar
As of March 2012, the lineup included:[5]
- Tara Lynch – Vocals
- Naomi Keyte – Vocals
- Laura Knowling – Vocals
- Randall "Country" Ridge jnr – Guitar
- Kyra Schwarz – Trombone
- Kevin van der Zwaag – Drums
- Chris Weber – Trumpet
- Jon "Sugarcane" Hunt – Baritone Saxophone
- Ross McHenry – Bass
- Dylan Marshall – Guitar
References
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