HENRY ATE Biography
South Africa’s celebrated pop chanteuse Karma-Ann Swanepoel achieved national success in late 1996 with the release of her debut album “Slap In The Face” under the moniker Henry Ate at the tender age of 21. Two singles from that album occupied the top of South Africa’s radio charts. In May of 1997, the first single “Just” sailed all the way to 1, followed by the second single “Hey Mister” which rose to the 2 slot a few short months later in September of 1997.
Success came like a tidal wave and the young waif-like beauty was swept into a fury of press and public adoration. Only working with the best players she could find, Karma’s live shows possessed a certain magic and energy that drew sold out crowds everywhere she played. Henry Ate was quickly becoming a national institution. Henry Ate ended the year touring the continent with Skunk Anansie.
In 1998 Karma released her second album under the name KARMA. The album was titled “One Day Soon”. Four consecutive singles from that album all entered the Top 10 – “Dr. Pepper”, “One Day Soon”, “Tuesday Afternoon” and “Seconds Count”. Henry Ate went on tour that year with South Africa’s most popular artist, Johnny Clegg. The year was capped off when Karma won Pop Album Of The Year at South Africa’s SAMA awards (South African equivalent of the Grammy) for “One Day Soon”. Karma appeared on the covers of the S.A. editions of People Magazine, ELLE, Cosmo, The Sunday Times, the London edition of TNT and many other national magazines as well as articles in Billboard etc. KARMA was soon headlining every major music festival in South Africa, and toured with Garbage in 1999.
In 2000, Henry Ate released their second (Karma’s Third) album “Torn And Tattered” with top charted singles “Madhatter”, “She’s Alright”, “Saints And Sinners” and “Prayer” and was subsequently nominated for Album Of The Year. By this point, Henry Ate had grown to be South Africa’s most popular live act. Karma began producing other acts, writing songs for other artists, all the while compiling an impressive catalog of original songs.
In 2001 Henry Ate toured with Melanie C, and played an international gig in London at the Empire in Shepherds Bush. Also in 2001, the Henry Ate song “Just” was voted the 1 song of all time in South Africa by Radio 5 FM’s listening audience. 2002 saw the release of “Henry Ate 96-02 The Singles” which includes all of the top radio hits plus four new songs and is the last album of her contract with EMI in South Africa.
August 2003 saw the release of KARMA “Seven Songs” through Karma’s newly formed independent label AMP (Ate Music Productions). Both projects have been a huge success for Karma, with the album achieving 3 1 singles (And And And, 27 Years and I Found Out) in SA.
In November 2003 Karma-Ann made the move to the USA. She started working as a solo artist under the name KARMA. Based in Ft Lauderdale, this indie folk rock artist is quickly developing into a popular attraction at live performance venues throughout Florida, California, New York and Atlanta where she travels frequently.
You can buy the new HENRY ATE 96-03 THE SINGLES album online here:
KALAHARI
MUSICA
LOOK & LISTEN
Karma Seven Songs Track Listing: And And And, 27 Years, I Found Out, Just, Hey Mister, Falling Apart & Once
Karma Working Title Track Listing: On Countless Occassions, Art (Working Title), Turn the Clock Back, Suddenness, Country Ballad, Shut Me Up, Hello Outside & My Big Mistake
Karma Don’t Walk Fly Track Listing: Tula, Karma Come Over, Honestly Honest, 0 Miles, 143, tattoo, Lucy, Remember Me, Hello Outside, Come Bye, Pennies & Contraband
Henry Ate 96-03 The Singles Track Listing: Henry, Just, Hey Mister, Tuesday Afternoon, One Day Soon, Second’s Count, Madhatter, Prayer, Saints and Sinners, Outside, Life, Finally (Acoustic), And And And, 27 Years, I Found Out,& Postcards
Karma even if She tried Track Listing: The Riddle, Monster, Masters of War, Broken, The Clown, Turn the Clock Back & Solo
