The Awakening is a South African musical project founded in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1995 by vocalist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Ashton Nyte. The sound has been described as a hybrid of darkwave, gothic rock, industrial rock and new wave - a combination that was described by Nyte as "dark future rock." The Awakening has released ten studio albums, several singles, EPs and two greatest hits compilations. As of 2008 The Awakening has been based in the United States.
The Awakening is credited in the press as "South Africa's most successful gothic rock act and one of the top bands in the far broader alternative scene." The Awakening has had top charting radio singles and club rotation throughout South Africa, Europe, and the US, and became the first gothic rock band to ever headline major national festivals throughout South Africa, including Oppikoppi and RAMfest, and has performed to crowds of 30,000+.