About Us

The Sound of Conversation

Musical Philosophy
At Hassan’adas, music is a conversation. We listen and respond in real time, sharing intuition and emotional flow. Our sound is communicative, collaborative, and deeply rooted in the belief that rhythm connects us all.

Cape Town Origins
Born in 2010 in the vibrant musical landscape of Cape Town, we’ve been crafting our unique fusion of African roots and Latin grooves, creating soundscapes that make heads bob and feet tap with infectious energy.

Accessible Fusion
While deeply rhythmic and genre-blending, our music remains warm, inviting, and inclusive. We experiment with different styles so there’s something for everybody, always keeping it accessible.

“Making music a conversation… we listen to each other and respond to what is being played”

~ John Hassan, “Minister of Percussion”

The Band

John Hassan – “Minister of Percussion”
Percussion, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

Trevino Isaacs – Keyboards

Nathan Carolus – Lead Guitar

Lucas Khumalo – Bass

Mornay Hoffmeester – Drums

Albums

Look Now (2011)

Universal Music

Our energetic debut featuring traditional band instrumentation with vibrant samba, jive, and raw rhythms that introduced our signature sound to the world.

Asante Sana (2022)

“Thank You” in Swahili

A conceptually richer, more acoustic offering recorded at Milestone Studios, Cape Town. This album leans into acoustic vibes, Latin percussion, and piano storytelling.

Featured Tracks: Cape Town • Protect the Planet • No Money No Honey • Asante Sana

Live Performances

“We Are One” Regional Tour 2015
South Africa and Mozambique tour earning acclaim for polyrhythmic percussion, infectious energy, and multilingual lyricism in English, Zulu, Portuguese, and Tswana.

Delheim Mini-Jazz Fest 2022
Opened as a quartet, blending authentic African sounds with global influences in Cape Town’s well-respected jazz circuit.

V&A Waterfront “Take The Stage” 2024
Free public concert series presenting Afro-Latin grooves with dynamic improvisation and jazzy interplay.

Our Sound

Rhythmic Fusion
Seamless blend of samba, Marrabenta, Afro-jive, and Afro-Latin grooves layered with Cape jazz sensibilities.

Instrumentation
Percussion-forward with acoustic guitar, piano, marimba, and vocals driving expressive storytelling.

Collaborative Style
Music as conversation—empathetic, responsive, and expressive in every performance.

Global Accessibility
Multilingual lyrics and inviting grooves make our music relatable and danceable for everyone.

Live Energy
Energetic, collaborative, and improvisational—we thrive in both festival settings and intimate venues.

Musical Evolution
From rhythm-heavy “Look Now” to acoustic, conceptually cohesive “Asante Sana”.

“We combine samba groove, marrabenta, and African jive to get your head bopping and feet tapping with infectious energy, funky Afro-boogie polyrhythmic percussive vibes”

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