Kevin Browne – Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar & Song Writer
Kevin had his first taste of musicianship when his mum signed him up for acoustic guitar lessons when he was at primary school.
A few years later he got his first electric guitar & soon became obsessed, initially inspired & influenced by guitar legends including the likes of Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour & Angus Young.
He joined his first band in his early teens playing covers, before discovering a passion for creating his own original music performing guitar & vocals.
Encouraged by friends & family his songwriting developed over the years to follow, with life’s up & downs providing plenty of material to work with.
He cut his teeth in his first originals band “Quiver”, performing often at the iconic ‘Temple bar’ on upper Queen Street in Auckland city.
He moved to Muriwai beach in 2004 where he met local drum teacher Paul C, who helped define his original songs as the duo ‘Bare Bones’.
It was via covers band ‘Bluefields’ that they met Nik Smith. Nik joined them on bass guitar, forging a solid power trio – KANIS was born.
Paul C departed in 2015, so Nik & Kev met with their sound engineer Brett Rogers to discuss recording practice tracks for a new drummer.
They had a spontaneous jam with Brett on bass & Nik on drums.
Sparks flew & the chemistry was immediately evident – a new band was born.
KANIS had found it’s new drummer as well as a new bassist.
Niklaus Axe Smith – Drums
Nik first picked up the drum sticks at age 9. He grasped the technique quickly, however, not having a kit to practise on, soon picked up his mum’s acoustic guitar, hounding her to teach him some chords. At age 14 he was given his first electric guitar. A red Segovia strat copy.
Punk and thrash metal were his main influences at the time and loud distortion was the only way to play. Nik started his first band, “painted black” in high school, as lead guitarist, never leaving the garage. This was followed by a string of metal bands and Nik established himself as a solid rhythm guitarist/vocalist.
In the early 2000s, Nik changed direction and joined a pub rock covers band as lead vocalist. He performed at many pubs and parties across the Auckland area. It was while singing in west Auckland rock covers band “bluefields” he met Kevin Browne and Paul C, who were writing songs together as a side project called “barebones”. Kev-vocals/guitar and Paul C-drums.
Nik was so inspired by Kevs song writing ability that he picked up the bass to complete the sound trio. The songs evolved and gigs came thick and fast, finally settling with the name “KANIS”.
In late 2015, Paul C decided to move on from KANIS. Nik and Kev got together one day at the bands sound engineers (Brett Rodgers) home studio, with the intent to record drum-less demos, for potential drummers to practice to. However, Nik jumped on the drums, Brett Rodgers jumped on bass, and boom. Welcome the new KANIS lineup.
Brett Rogers – Bass
From a very young age, Brett’s adopted family knew he came from a musical background. They encouraged his untapped creativity, by having various musical instruments around the home, including drums, acoustic guitar, keyboard, harmonica and a piano accordion, which was bigger than he was. It wasn’t until high school and the discovery of 80s metal, that Brett brought his first electric guitar and had a chance meeting with neighbour Tony T, former guitar player for Ardijah. This would spark private lessons and long jam sessions that would influence Brett’s musical style in the years to come.
With a string of no-name bands behind him, Brett joined EarthBound in the 90s, as lead guitarist. A hard working band, they were initially runners up in Battle of the Bands, taking out first place the following year. Following the band’s break up, Brett turned his focus to live sound engineering for bands and large corporate events (which is another story). Long work hours prevented full time involvement with any bands, but he was constantly working on original instrumental pieces in his own home studio.
Brett was KANIS’s studio and live sound engineer when drummer Paul C, who had played with Brett in EarthBound, resigned. Nik and Kevin were at Brett’s studio, discussing recording demos for potential drummers when Nik jumped on the drums, Kev picked up a mic and Brett jammed on the bass, using skills he was developing playing in progressive metal band Osmose. They clicked and KANIS’s new line up was born.
Duncan Standley – Band Manager / Promoter