Karen Zoid

Biography

Karen Zoid (born Karen Louise Greeff on 10 August 1978) is a South African rock singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer and talk show host. Her work in both English and Afrikaans has gathered critical acclaim, and she has been dubbed South Africa's "Queen of Rock" by several major local publications. Her followers and, more generally, the South African youth have also been referred to as the "Zoid Generation" by the press. Zoid's current band members are Jeandré Schultz (guitar), Werner Ainslie (bass guitar), Anton Eloff (keys) and Giovanni Serci (drums). The singer is also known for hosting the kykNet television series Republiek van Zoid Afrika and was one of the judges on The Voice SA as well.

Early life

Born in Brussels to a South African diplomat, Zoid grew up in Belgium before moving to Johannesburg. Here she attended the National School of the Arts before going on to study drama at AFDA. In 2001, she dropped out of university to focus her attention on music.

Career

Zoid's first album, Poles Apart×Poles ApartJune 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Set of Wheels (Karoo Anthem)2:522Yuppie Scum2:543Afrikaners Is Pleserig3:444Southern Sky3:505Waitress4:256Maak Nie Regtig Saak Nie3:417Whore4:528Whole in One4:089Katriena2:5010Inspector Holmes5:1311Engel2:3212Callback5:5413Vleesbaai3:0314Taxi2:49, was released by EMI in June 2001. "Afrikaners is Plesierig", a song featured on the album, has achieved iconic status in South Africa, entering the local lexicon and being listed as one of the 100 greatest South African songs by the Sunday Times. EMI released her second album, Chasing the Sun×Chasing the SunJune 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Oh My Love3:422Suburbs2:213Ons Soek Rock & Roll4:004Deurmekaar4:135Dinosaur3:056Black Guitar4:487Beautiful4:258Verandering4:279Jan3:3810Born to Shine3:4111Forty-Seven4:2812Meisie Wat Haar Potlood Kou3:1913Foto Teen Die Muur4:0714Danville Diva4:2215Gentleman's Song4:28, in June 2003 and her third, Media×Media2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Lift Me Up3:372Kaapstad3:133Small Room3:554Ek Lewe4:045Scumbag Is 'n Loser3:296Guy From The Beer Commercial3:097Homo Sapien3:13820 Jaar5:019Hou Vas Aan Wat Jy Het4:0910The Devil Doesn't Dig It2:5511Familie Reünie2:5012Pleased To Meet Me4:1713Reason2:4614Mascara5:12, in July 2005. Her fourth album, Postmodern World×Postmodern WorldReleaseSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Aeroplane Jane4:122Postmodern World3:363Silly Town3:594Pseudonym3:045As We Go3:396Katherine Anne2:047Silverbird4:018Mama’s Gonna Sort You Out3:269I’m so Happy That We’re Friends3:5110Hold on to Me3:3411Lights3:2912You Belong with Me3:0713Early Morning1:10, was released in August 2007 after she had left EMI and signed with Just Music earlier that year. In 2009, Sony released Ultimate Zoid, a two disk album combining hits from her previous albums with three new tracks, and a live recording. Terms and Conditions was also released by Sony in 2010. Zoid Afrika was released in 2012, by Zoid's own production company, Karen Zoid Productions.
Music from Zoid's albums has been included on the audio entertainment of international flights to and from South Africa. She has also written music for television, with two of her songs featuring in the 2006 movie "Number 10". On 3 May 2008, she won the SAMA for Best Female Solo Artist. Karen Zoid performed at the inaugurations of Presidents Thabo Mbeki in 2004 and Jacob Zuma in 2009. She and her band also performed at the Nelson Mandela 46664 HIV/AIDS benefit concert in 2005, and at the centenary celebrations of the ANC in 2012. She and her band have had several concerts in London, mainly to South African audiences. In 2006 they performed in London, Canada and Dubai (at the Dubai Desert Rhythm Festival).
In 2010, Karen Zoid starred in a Franz Marx film, Susanna van Biljon. She also recorded the film's theme song. Republiek van Zoid Afrika, a late-night talk show hosted by Zoid, premiered on kykNET in July 2014. As of early 2016, Zoid is a judge on the local version of the singing competition The Voice.

Personal life

In 2004, Zoid married former band member Don Reineke, with whom she had a son, Ben Francis Reinecke, on January 29 2007. The couple later divorced in 2010.

Albums

Poles Apart (2001)
Chasing The Sun (2003)
In Die Staatsteater DVD (2003)
Media (2005)
Postmodern World (2007)
Alive in a Postmodern World DVD (2008)
Ultimate Zoid (2009)
Terms & Conditions (2010)
Zoid Afrika (2012)
Drown Out The Noise (2015)
Op Die Oomblik Deel 1 (2017)
Op Die Oomblik Deel 2 (2019)
Under The Covers - Live (2021)
Humanoid (2023)