Die Heuwels Fantasties (The Hills Fantastic) are an Afrikaans electro-pop quartet with ties to notable South African scene makers Fokofpolisiekar, Lukraaketaar, aKING, Thieve, and Die Gevaar. Emerging in 2007, the band found success in 2011 with the release of their chart-topping sophomore album Wilder As Die Wildtuin, which along with future endeavors like 2017's Okay!, saw them adopt a more nostalgic and acoustic-leaning pop style. Founded in the Cape Town suburb of Bellville 2007, and featuring the talents of Hunter Kennedy, Pierre Greeff, Fred den Hartog, and Sheldon Yoko, the band released their eponymous debut album via Kennedy and Greeff's own Supra Familias label in 2009. A high-energy blend of electro-pop and alternative rock, the LP featured contributions from Francois Van Coke (Fokofpolisiekar and Van Coke Kartel), Laudo Liebenberg (aKING), Adriaan Brand (Springbok Nude Girls), Neil Basson (Foto na Dans), and Jack Parow. Die Heuwels Fantasties scored a hit single the following year with "Doodegewone Aand," which appeared on the soundtrack to the Afrikaans comedy Bakgat 2, and in 2011 they issued their award-winning sophomore outing, Wilder As Die Wildtuin. Their first full-band effort -- their debut was primarily a Kennedy and Greeff affair -- the 14-track set took a more traditional pop/rock route with earworm melodies and reflective lyrics about growing up in South Africa. Subsequent gold-selling efforts Alles Wat Mal (2012), Ja. Nee. Lekker (2014), and Okay! (2017) followed suit, and helped establish Die Heuwels Fantasties as one of the most successful Afrikaans pop groups of their era. ~ James Christopher Monger