Category Archives: Interview

We Are Charlie - Let's Stare at the Sun. Picture by Lourens Smit

Staring at the Sun, and how We Are Charlie write honest songs

I met Dylan Christie and Wesley Reinecke on an ice-cold night at Pop Filter Studios in Pretoria. It’s right behind Menlyn. The third member (and bassist) of We Are Charlie, Rowan van Eeden, was away on a trip to Germany. But between Dylan & Wesley, they had more than enough to say.

“I think Pop Filter Studios is a great place,” Wesley, the drummer, raves. “I think many people don’t realise what a great place it is or actually haven’t heard of it. As for the facilities, the acoustics are flippin’ awesome. There’s not just one live room or one iso booth, or some guy’s home made studio. It’s international standard studios and spaces. And the gear here is phenomenal.”

Floris Groenewald
Floris Groenewald

Floris sometimes writes things when he’s not watching movies or playing video games or editing videos or folk-rock singing/songwriting.

http://www.theflow.co.za
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Jerain - Gold

Q&A: Jerain tells of her journey in music with new single, Gold

Jerain, a Namibian-born urban alt-pop singer-songwriter currently based in Cape Town, just released her newest single, Gold, today. It’s an interesting song, lyrically, that explores the inside of the music business, and addresses some of the challenges and ups-and-downs that come with writing and recording songs.

Floris Groenewald
Floris Groenewald

Floris sometimes writes things when he’s not watching movies or playing video games or editing videos or folk-rock singing/songwriting.

http://www.theflow.co.za
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Gerald Clark Studio__DSF8123_1

Life on the road with Gerald Clark and the Goldengoose

If you haven’t heard of Gerald Clark yet, you’ll almost certainly recognise him as the cool and lively “Afroboer” bluesman who regularly pops up on festival and other stages throughout South Africa. Last year he released his fourth album, titled Afroboer & the GoldenGoose, which was largely inspired by his meeting his girlfriend, the titular Goose.

Recently, Clark and the GoldenGoose gave up their home and comforts, deciding to settle for a nomadic lifestyle. They describe themselves as “happy campers” – traveling the country and permanently touring. We stole a few minutes of Gerald’s time between shows to ask him about this interesting journey.

Floris Groenewald
Floris Groenewald

Floris sometimes writes things when he’s not watching movies or playing video games or editing videos or folk-rock singing/songwriting.

http://www.theflow.co.za
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Stanley June - Define Love

Stanley June (re)defines Love

“Love, to me, is all about connection.” That’s Stanley June‘s definition – and you’d want a definition from someone who just released a single called Define Love. “Sharing a bond with someone or something. Something you miss when you can’t be with it and something that you treasure when it’s in your presence. Losing what you love can often bring confusion or upset, and that is what the song ‘Define Love’ is about.”

Floris Groenewald
Floris Groenewald

Floris sometimes writes things when he’s not watching movies or playing video games or editing videos or folk-rock singing/songwriting.

http://www.theflow.co.za
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Shortstraw by Hanro Havenga 07 - Hear Yee!

We Tolerate Shortstraw – a chat about Hear Yee! – RecordingStudios.co.za’s 5th Birthday party

For their fifth birthday party, recordingstudios.co.za is throwing a party at The Good Luck Bar in Johannesburg, in support of a charity called Hi Hopes. With this event, they’re aiming to raise money to fund cochlear implants and to buy hearing aids, giving children the gift of hearing – and therefore music! The party happens on 25 June, and will feature performances by Shortstraw, Naming James, David Beretta Owens, Hellcats, and PitVirus.

We spoke to Alastair Thomas of Shortstraw about the band, the charity, and the future.

Floris Groenewald
Floris Groenewald

Floris sometimes writes things when he’s not watching movies or playing video games or editing videos or folk-rock singing/songwriting.

http://www.theflow.co.za
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Acoustic Element - For The Day (feat. Four)

Q&A: Acoustic Element releases For The Day (feat. Four)

Acoustic Element is a dynamic and exciting acoustic pop duo from Cape Town – and cousins to boot. They don’t have degrees in music, but they sound like they might. Their music seems like unplugged versions of EDM – infectious, energetic, and lively. We asked one of the cousins, Callen Petersen, a few questions about the band and their latest release – For The Day (feat. Four).

Floris Groenewald
Floris Groenewald

Floris sometimes writes things when he’s not watching movies or playing video games or editing videos or folk-rock singing/songwriting.

http://www.theflow.co.za
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The Hellcats - Capital Craft Beer Festival 2016

Cat Piss by Hellcats – Talking beer and rock & roll at Capital Craft

“It’s an incredible event,” Hellcats say, about the annual Capital Craft Beer Festival. “Probably the best beer festival in the country.” They’re on the lineup for this year’s event on 11 June at the Pretoria Botanical Gardens, providing just one part of a wide and eclectic soundtrack to accompany your appreciation of the craft beers on display.

We’ve been to other beer fests where SAB beers are the only thing on sale and Kurt Darren is the headliner, and the organizers wonder why everyone’s blikseming each other at sundown.”

Hellcats is a two piece, stripped down, bare knuckle rock n roll band from Johannesburg. They are Alessandro Benigno on drums and vocals, and Warwick Rautenbach on guitar. And they believe it’s very important to keep the age-old traditional combination of rock & roll and beer alive. “If people didn’t have beer at our gigs, we probably wouldn’t have any fans.”

Floris Groenewald
Floris Groenewald

Floris sometimes writes things when he’s not watching movies or playing video games or editing videos or folk-rock singing/songwriting.

http://www.theflow.co.za
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Justin Serrao Regardt Scheepers Kinders van die Wind

Kinders van die Wind: Justin Serrao, Regardt Scheepers & Koos du Plessis

Without any warning, Justin Serrao starts singing in Afrikaans.

This not only describes Serrao’s career, but also his latest YouTube video, a cover of Koos du Plessis’s classic Kinders van die Wind. After releasing two English albums as a solo artist (and working on his third, due to be out in August), Justin surprised everyone with a collaborative cover project called #ToeEnNou, which kicked off with this video. “This project is something Regardt Scheepers and I have been talking about for some time now. So we’ve knuckled down and got it going.”

“Regardt and myself got talking at his studio one day about the Afrikaans legends and then we decided to kick this off. The reason we have taken on this project of singing the legendary Afrikaans songs, is to pay tribute to these legends and founders of our proudly South African industry.

Floris Groenewald
Floris Groenewald

Floris sometimes writes things when he’s not watching movies or playing video games or editing videos or folk-rock singing/songwriting.

http://www.theflow.co.za
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Citizen Beer

“Made with Honour” – A chat with Citizen Beer

Citizen Beer focuses on delicious, easily drinkable styles, simultaneously educating the drinker and thrilling their taste buds. The brewery started as a hobby in Hout Bay in 2009, but officially launched as ‘Citizen’ in 2012. The four beers they offer are the Patriot light lager, Alliance amber ale, Saboteur English IPA, and Diplomat Czech Pils. We asked them about education, beer, and brewing with honour, ahead of their participation in 2016’s edition of Pretoria’s Capital Craft Beer Festival.

Floris Groenewald
Floris Groenewald

Floris sometimes writes things when he’s not watching movies or playing video games or editing videos or folk-rock singing/songwriting.

http://www.theflow.co.za
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Jack Black Brewing Company at Capital Craft Beer Festival 2016

Jack Black Brewing Company at Capital Craft Beer Festival 2016

Jack Black Brewing Company is one of the most prominent craft beer brands around in South Africa today. Despite being available practically everywhere, including stalls at events like Park Acoustics, they’ll still be visiting Capital Craft Beer Festival 2016, where you can try them out for yourself (as if you haven’t yet). We spoke to them about the world of craft beer, Richard Linklater’s film School of Rock, and which beer goes best with Tidal Waves.

Floris Groenewald
Floris Groenewald

Floris sometimes writes things when he’s not watching movies or playing video games or editing videos or folk-rock singing/songwriting.

http://www.theflow.co.za
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