Zebra & Giraffe (abbreviated to Z & G) is an alternative rock band from South Africa.

Zebra & Giraffe started out as the solo project of songwriter Greg Carlin. After releasing his first album, Collected Memories in 2008, Greg put together a full touring band with Greg Carlin (Vocals, Guitar, Bass), Alan Shenton (Guitar) and Mike Wright (Drums & Keyboards).

In 2010 Zebra & Giraffe released their 2nd album The Inside and the third album; The Wisest Ones was eleased on the 23rd July 2012.

It's hard to believe that it's already been two years since Zebra & Giraffe released The Inside. It's even harder to believe that it's been six years since the band recorded their hugely successful, SAMA award-winning album Collected Memories.

A lot has changed since then. Members have come and gone and the band's sound has moved from straight-up, radio-hit rock to a place far darker and more daring than even they could have imagined. Zebra & Giraffe's latest album, The Wisest Ones, is the result.

'We know some of the songs from this album won't be played on radio, and to a certain degree with Collected Memories and The Inside, I always worried about a song's commercial appeal,' says front man and lyricist, Greg Carlin. 'With The Wisest Ones we really just wrote songs that felt right - songs that almost needed to get out. Whether they had a catchy chorus, or a chorus at all didn't really matter.

'That's not to say there isn't a lot of catchy stuff on this album; there is. We just haven't been afraid to experiment with our sound and push ourselves with this album. It still sounds like us; like Zebra & Giraffe; but it's definitely darker, noisier, and lyrically, a lot more honest.'

With Deftones, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, A Perfect Circle and Marilyn Manson having a significant influence on the mood of the album, The Wisest Ones showcases Zebra & Giraffe's desire to experiment while continuing to solidify their roots as one of South Africa's most prominent alternative-rock groups. Which is exactly why the band connected with US-based mix engineer, Mark Needham, who has worked with both seasoned performers, such as Chris Isaak, as well as up-and-coming artists.

While the departure of drummer Darren Leader and bassist Andrew Maskell threw the remaining members off guard, it simultaneously gave Zebra & Giraffe the fresh start they needed to record a new album.

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