Kent O'Shea

Kent draws his musical influence from The Beatles, Mike Batt and many other early bands, being exposed to melodic music from an early age whilst travelling South Africa during the 70’s with his father Hugh O’Shea, a professional travelling troubadour. It was inevitable that he would soon follow this path and at age 12 he began to play guitar and started writing lyrics.

His meaningful and poetic song writing obviously runs deep in his Irish roots (he was born in Cork and lived in Myrtleville, a small village in Eire but grew up surfing Ballito on Kwa-Zulu Natal’s North Coast in South Africa) and his lyrics are charged with emotion. His captivating voice is unique and is sometimes reminiscent of Lou Reed or The Kinks. He is 100% African now and this is evident in his latest release, with uniquely South African songs and backing of pure African drums and percussion.

In the nineties he was a founding member of one of South Africa’s most potential new rock bands, Rubber Soul, and since formed controversial hemp rock band Happy Four Twenty, recording singles with both bands which still receive regional and national airplay in South Africa and abroad on Internet sites. His compositions have also featured on BBC and local television stations. His publishing label Ricoshay Music was accepted by SAMRO in 2003 and he has since released 3 complilation albums featuring over 45 original songs.


www.ricoshaymusic.com

He currently lives in the mountain valley village of Barrydale, where he draws inspiration for his latest album. Mountain Rock Valley Roll is an eclectic mix of acoustic songs inspired by the people and environment of Route 62, which rolls through the valleys of the Little Karoo in South Africa.

Pic by Lou 

Kent’s music and song writing are as enduring as the countryside itself and he cites everything from The Rolling Stones to Bob Marley to the rolling valleys, mountains and people of the “Klein Karoo” as his primary influences for his latest band Beetles and Butterflys.