Sipping coffee with a glass of wine on the side at his favourite spot in Langebaan, characteristic silver-streaked pony tail, moustache and beard neatly trimmed, Frans radiates childlike excitement and enthusiasm over the new direction his musical career has taken. His spin-off into solo stardom after years of playing cover songs for other bands came at the right time. He has been working in Saudi-Arabia for many years and got used to the expat life. To counter the home-sickness, he makes music and often performs solo live in Taif, using back tracks.
But WHO is the man behind the sunglasses, beard and virtuoso guitarist persona?
There is barely a musical instrument that Frans hasn’t played (and mastered). Born and bred in the West Rand town Krugersdorp in South Africa, his fascination with sound and rhythm started at a young age. Luckily his parents indulged their only son’s explorative journey into the magic world of music, and after the usual toddler phase of kitchen drumming sessions on pots and pans, he took piano lessons. By the age of 7 he was equally adept at conjuring magic from both a piano and a guitar and he just never stopped.
His passion for creating unique, original music never waned, and somehow he managed to maintain and juggle his artistic endeavours with a “real” career as technical engineer, marriage and family life. His wife Jeanne, a nursing sister, and oldest son Jody do not share his music mania, although Jody is an ex Drakie (prestigious Drakenstein Boys’ Choir). He prefers sport, however, and is a professional cricket coach.
It is young Rici who truly shares Frans’s love for experimenting with sound and instrumental music. They did all the instrumental work themselves for Frans’ first solo album release in 2009, Beginnings – St. J – Prophecy Project, which is a mixture of Progessive Rock, Blues and Jazz / Rock fusion. Frans performed lead, rhythm and bass guitars and Rici the drums and keyboards. Rici was also co-writer and co-producer on the tracks.
COVER PHOTO : Betsi-Anne van der Vyver
St.J. Prophesy’s recipe for making excellent Rock:
1. Take a virtuoso South African (living in Saudi Arabia) guitarist with a vision: Mid 2008 -: St.J. – Prophesy is the banner under which Frans JC Martins (St.J.) is pursuing his solo career. The music is a mixture of Progressive Rock, Blues and Jazz/ Rock fusion.
2. Add a super tight South African rhythm section to keep the beat and fill in the bottom end: Mid 2008 – Rici Martins (drums/ synths) and Damian Meyer (bass) (both courtesy of Nova Rise, formerly CHB) form this formidable team.
3. Stir and taste the mix: The verdict – It rocks, but not as well as it could and should: Their first album entitled Beginnings was released on the 18th of April 2009 at Tanz Cafe in Johannesburg, South Africa. The album was recorded, mastered and produced at St.J.’s studio Alternate Minds Studios with St.J performing lead, rhythm and bass guitars and Rici Martins the drums and keyboards. Rici was also co-writer and co producer on the tracks.
4. Find a South African rhythm guitarist and taste again. Hmm, not bad, the mix is not perfect yet, let it simmer for a while: 2011 somewhere – One of the challenges was to find a very capable second guitarist. Having searched and found, they are delighted to welcome on board Bruce Klein, (courtesy of Nova Rise, formerly CHB), capable and rocking, whom so generously offered his services!
5. Search the earth high and low and find a Polish female vocalist with incredible vocal and song writing skills: Mid 2012 – After having to do much convincing they are over the moon to welcome Anna Coates to the mix. Careful, something crazy is about to happen!
6. Stir the mix extremely gently, it might explode! November 2012 – The second album (the first to feature vocals) is released, Desert Rain is going to get you all wet!
7. Pour sound emitting from the mix into a loud audio source: Get a hold of both albums and play it loud!
8. Sit back and enjoy, they have concocted a truly International Rock expericence! Please share the St.J. Prophesy sound with your friends and let them experience the ultimate Rock explosion!
Dragonfly Night is a group of four musicians from three continents: Frans, a South African based in Saudi Arabia, Anna based in Poland, Chris from the United Kingdom and Rici from South Africa. Their creative cooperation happens mostly on-line, although they have rare occasions to meet and to play together live. The album, Liminal Place, was released in October 2016.
Dragonfly Night is:Anna Coates: Vocals, Keyboards, Piano, GuitarsFrans JC Martins: Guitars, Recording, EngineeringChris Coates: Guitars, Engineering, ProductionRici Martins: DrumsDragonfly Night on the www: