Your self-titled debut solo album was released recently. How did the idea to record a solo album come about?
It is something that was in the back of my mind for a couple of years. [Former Van Coke Kartel drummer] Jason Oosthuizen left Van Coke Kartel at the end of 2013, [and] we found a great new drummer in Dylan Hunt [who] previously played with Pestroy, but we decided that we won’t work on new material just yet, we just wanted to become a band again. I had a bit more time on my hands to work on something else. [In] early 2014 I told Jedd [Kossew, Van Coke Kartel’s guitarist] that I want to make a solo album and asked if he wanted to be involved in the writing process. He said yes and we immediately started writing songs for what [would become] my first solo album.
Can listeners expect a different sound from that of your other projects on the album?
Yes, definitely. First and foremost, I didn’t want to rehash [Van Coke Kartel] or [Fokofpolisiekar]. I love both those bands, but why would I want to do the same thing again? I also made a point of writing an album that is not genre specific and also tried to steer away from making a straightforward rock album. It is still rock-based, but [it is also] influenced by punk, folk, country, industrial and even pop. The lyrics are still introspective and personal, so not too many surprises there. I collaborated with a female vocalist [Karen Zoid] for the first time [on the song “Toe vind ek jou”]. It is a proper ballad. I haven’t done many of those. I became good friends with Karen Zoid [over] the last year and it was really cool writing with her. [The] success of the song [has been] overwhelming.
The album’s first single, “Moontlik nooit”, was made available as a free download on your website. Would you say that this single gave listeners a good idea of what the rest of the album would sound like?
Yes and no. The album is very diverse and not genre specific at all, but there are a couple of tunes on the album in the same [vein] as “Moontlik nooit”.
“Moontlik nooit” was also released on 7’’ vinyl. What made you decide to go this route?
I actually just wanted to release “Moontlik nooit” [as a] free download from my website, to give people a chance to check out a new tune. While I was planning this, Permanent Record approached me and asked if I wanted to put it out on vinyl. I am [a] big fan of vinyl and have a massive collection that I got from a friend’s dad. [How] could I say no?
The video for the album’s second single, “Toe vind ek jou”, which features Karen Zoid, has received over 300,000 views on YouTube. The video itself emanates a feeling of simplicity – was this the atmosphere you wanted to achieve?
[Yes], we just wanted to do something that [was] very simple and didn’t cost too much [because] there was no more money to spend. I wanted [the video to be] us playing the song in a room, like a live performance. The director came up with the [idea of the] lamps that light up and dim with the tune and he also told us to lose the guitars. I think that really helped our performances in the video, but at the end of the day I think people watch the video [because] they connect with the honesty of the song.
You’ve recently announced that you’ll be forming part of the Blood Brothers concert tour, along with nine other artists. What do you hope to take away from this experience?
Blood Brothers is a charity event. I would like to help raise money for cancer awareness and hopefully help some people with cancer. I also just want to hang with friends and play music.
Image: Jaco S. Venter
