He is a Ghoema and SAMA-nominated artist that has blossomed both as a solo singer and with his band Van Coke Kartel. The rock star dropped his debut self-titled album last year to rave reviews and cemented himself as one of the most exciting voices in Afrikaans music. I caught up with the singer and discussed his banging album, awards and his upcoming second studio album.
I really enjoyed your debut solo album. What do you think made your debut solo album so special?
My debut solo album is very special to me because I put a lot of hard work into it. I wrote personal songs that I hoped people could relate to and it seemed like they did.
How different did you go into the creative process this time around than when you do so with your bands?
The creative process was more or less the same. I also wrote the majority of the album with Jedd Kossew and it is exactly the same writing team as Van Coke Kartel. I think we tried to create something that didn’t sound like the bands I play in. That was the biggest prerequisite. I also wanted to make an album that reflects who I am at the moment and that obviously changed things a bit. I collaborated with a couple of people and all those songs were created in their own way. There was a different process for all of them.
‘Toe Vind Ek Jou’ was a huge hit. What inspired the song?
‘Toe Vind Ek Jou’ was written for my wife. It is about our relationship and what we have been through. I wrote the song with Karen Zoid who also features on the track. She really liked a Van Coke Kartel song called ‘Tot Die Son Uitkom’ which is also a love song and one that derived from a vulnerable place. She said that she would like to work with me on something similar and helped me put my feelings into words.
You won five Ghoema Awards recently as well. How important are awards for you?
I think awards are the cherries on top. I have never anticipated the wonderful response the album received. That was what I hoped for and more.
What do the next few months hold for you?
I am currently working on material for my second solo album. It will be released early 2017. That is my main focus at the moment. Oh, and a lot more gigs!
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