ISSUE 13 MUSIC MAGAZINE
Togger of the Month / Jo’s Corner / Danni ‘s Punk Pit / Writing on the Wall Tattoos & Piercing / Matt Roux / Political Heresy / Rugsteek die Waarheid
February 2012
♦ Editors Note
Volume Conflict
♦ Team Profile ♦ The Writing is on the Wall ♦ Featured Bands • • • •
Matt Roux Volume Conflict (cover page) Rugsteek die Waarheid Political Heresy
Matt roux
♦ Danni’s Punk Pit ♦ Jo’s Corner ♦ Competition
RUGSTEEK DIE WAARHEID
♦ Togger’s of the Month • •
Crystal Rees-Gibbs Lisa Stayt
♦ Tattoo’s & Piercings ♦ Contact Page
POLITICAL HERESY
I
Editors Note
t’s the month of love he he. I hope everyone’s doing something special for
Valentines Day. Before we get into what’s featuring in this kick ass issue this month, let’s talk COMPETITIONS!!!! ☺ In the spirit of the “month of love” we are giving away 5 C.Ds of one of our featured artists “Matt Roux” to 5 lucky readers. Go check out Jo’s Corner for more details on how to win this awesome prize ☺. Also in Jo’s Corner she looks at the Valentines Day story, her regular quote of the month and ”Just for giggles” Rocking our front cover this month is a band I am so excited about featuring, they are an alternative grunge band from the city of Port Elizabeth. I’m talking about “Volume Conflict”. Go check them out in my exclusive interview. I also interview a musician who in my opinion is one of the most talented musicians I have seen to come out of South Africa in a long time, namely, Matt Roux, he was also nice enough to let us give away 5 of his CD’s as I mentioned earlier – so don’t forget to enter and be sure to email us as soon as possible. In Danni’s punk pit, she interviews an awesome band who goes by the name of Political Heresy who are just such an awesome band. Danni also interviews a metal Afrikaans band who goes by the name of “Rugsteek die Waarheid”. It’s so great to see such good talent coming out of the Afrikaans community - keep it up guys. Also check out her poetry section called Coffee Shop Poetry where every month we give a reader a chance to feature their poems. So if you fancy yourself as bit of a poet, then send in your work and we would love to feature it. You can either send it to fanbasemusicmag@gmail.com or send it direct to Danni at daniela.greenday@yahoo.com. Danni also features this month a tattoo artist by the name of Rebecca Claxton, a must read. This month we have been blessed by featuring two Toggers for our “Togger of the Month” section. The first one happens to be someone who is very close to my heart, my girlfriend, Crystal Rees-Gibbs. I am so honored to be featuring her unique photography. Our next togger is a talented photographer who has some awesome live gig shots, namely Lisa Stayt. Both very talented togger’s and it’s an honor to feature them in our mag. I hope you enjoy the beauty of the different styles that these photographers produce.☺ Last but not least, we have our “Tattoo and Piercings” section where every month I go searching for the best pics of tattoos / piercings, so if you think you got some cool artwork done then send them our way so we can feature them, and u might even win the title of best tattoo or piercing. You can send in all pics to fanbasemusicmag@gmail.com A big thank you to my special team who is the real reason we see the mag out every months. So Mom, Jo and Danni thanks soooooo much I love you guys big time. Well. that’s it for this month peeps. We hope you enjoy this issue and before I forget, I hope you all had an awesome New Year and didn’t get up to too much trouble. Thanx to everyone who wished us well for our 1 year anniversary edition last month - we appreciate all your support and love. Keep rocking
Duz z y
Name: Duwyne
Nickname: Duzzy
Fave saying right now: Mamu or Lani Greatest ambitions in life: In the words of Just Jinjer’s song “What he means”, “ PEACE , LOVE MORE, TOLERANCE (Live by that and you won’t go wrong) Fave shoes: All Stars What’s playing in your CD player/iPod right now: Rock till you drop volume 4 (but I find myself playing “Flyleaf- all around me” on repeat... That women’s voice is amazing.
Name: Daniela
Nickname: Danni / Greenday Fave saying right now: "To do something that you feel in your heart that's great, you need to make a lot of mistakes. Anything that's successful is a series of mistakes." Billie Joe Armstrong Greatest ambitions in life: Become a music journalist and follow Green Day around the world!! Fave shoes/item of clothing: My Green Day chucks and doc martens (Oh and my crazy high heels) and black hoodie. What’s playing in your CD player/iPod right now? Green Day's Warning CD and some Aerosmith
Name:
Joanne
Nickname: Jo
Fave saying right now: Yebo Greatest ambitions in life: To be a teacher Fave shoes: Black boots Fave item of clothing: Jeans What’s playing in your CD player/iPod right now: Seether
WRITING IS ON THE WALL Dear Fanbase – congratulations on your 1 year anniversary. We have enjoyed seeing your mag grow from strength to strength, featuring amazing articles and upto-date music happenings, specially on the SA music front. Hope you have another 100 years of success. Your No. 1 Fan !!!!! ECLC xx Duzzy replies: Hey ECLC, nice to hear from you again and that we are still keeping you interested in reading our mag – you rock dudes ! Duzzy
Finally, a band out there to help me relive my grunge days. People say grunge died when Kurt Cobain died but if that is the case, then Volume Conflict is giving it life again, BUT I do stress if you think this band is just another grunge wannabe band then you are sorely mistaken, because this band has what it takes to step outside the boundaries and make music that people want to listen to but in a “I don’t care type of attitude”. The band was formed 2007 by three brothers Triston Smith (Vocalist, Songwriter, Composer, Rhythm Guitarist ), Leon (Lee ) Smith ( Drummer, Composer ) and Stefan ( Stitch ) Smith ( Bass, Back-up vocalist, Composer ), and later joined by lead guitarist Heunis Wilco (Snow ) who altogether make up the sound of Dirty guitars, strong riffs and heavy drumming. Their Lyrics are angstfilled, angry, frustrated, sad, fearsome, and depressed. All the elements of a great alternative grunge band. What makes me even more excited about this band is that they are from South Africa straight out of Port Elizabeth. Interviewed by: Duwyne Clayton Photography by : Tiandi van Niekerk Photography
First of all guys, thanks for having this interview with Fanbase. When I saw your Facebook page and read up about you, I knew this was going to be an exciting interview. Where did it all start and what is the history behind the band? Well, to put it very short. It’s safe to say that years ago when we as a family ended up in the dumps after a bizz deal went sour, we were “saved” from ending up on street by this abandoned trailer park just outside Port Elizabeth, South Africa. And ya, there in the seclusion of this amazing nature & immense poverty around us, the first aspects of our “drive” reared its face when we started making some music together & almost intuitively found we were on to something unique as a unit. Call it fate, call it luck, call it any aspect you want – don’t know – there was just this instinct that kicked in when we played together, and after that it were almost a given to explore our creative capabilities as far as we could and still can.
How would you define your music? Well, sometimes we think it’s like painting something on a canvas without leaving any blank spots, trying to make the picture as colourful & filled in as possible. Kind of like that, but instead of using paint brushes, we use instruments in the aim to try and create something alternative but yet melodic, aggressive & emotional. Who is the songwriter in the band? Initially it was Triston, but it soon became clear to work together as a whole would give us more of a broader spectrum to finish little pieces that there were already a solid foundation for. So nowadays it’s all of us with a soled attempt of just bringing our best into the jam room and feeding off of each other. Plus that helps with a good band relationship overall as well.
What sort of crowd is your music aimed at? We would like to think EVERYONE, but that is ultimately in a way a foreign thought these days due to some aspects of the modern civilization not being as challenging as some other eras, but all in all we would appeal most to people that have a problem with today’s realistic views & feel a urge to by times just questioning some of the normal views internationally doing the rounds lately. That and off course people that find in them a passion for music on a more alternative and “rock” driven edge. Explain a Volume Conflict gig to me, what would I expect if I went to one of your gigs? Funny enough this kinda nicely falls in with the previous answer we wanted to add on. Because there are by times this little sense of, crowds being a bit “stiff” these days so we would like to try and do away with that, by taking club and festival goers back to the GOOD OLD DAYS when it were OK to let loose, you know? We mean what happened with that, let’s bring a Riot Grrrl back man. Let’s make people feel they can let loose again with no inhibitions. Cause truth of it is the crowd is nothing without the energy the band is putting out, but, visa- versa so is the band NOTHING without the crowd’s energy. Let’s bring that energy back. So ya, guess to answer your question it can only be described by one word… ENERGY. Do you have any rituals before going on stage? Rituals were not ever really our thing. Guess the closest we come to something of the sort is usually trying to make every show as honest & integrity filled as possible. So we would do our “bonding” by properly making an effort for the fans by just chilling with a few beers while focusing on the show, putting on our stage outfit, doing makeup & just wishing each other a quick good luck with an internal knowing of going out & putting on our best show ever, no matter what size of the crowd.
What is the craziest thing that has ever happened on stage? Shame that is quite a story. We sometimes accidentally end up hitting some unfortunate show patron with our front line guitars going into the crowd. Leaving him/her with a blue eye the size of a golf ball. But it’s all good we use to feel very bad till one fan told us it’s actually a honour to leave with a battle scar like that. Do you ever get nervous before going on stage? You know in a way it would be sad if not even the least adrenaline is involved when taking to stage. But you do very rarely experience the “no nerves” show., but overall, nerves are good. It makes you perform well. So ya, yes definitely. You just channel it correctly. With having 3 brothers in the band, do you as a band ever have differences of opinions, and how do you deal with them?
“Difference of opinion will always be there”
Difference of opinion would always be there in a band with brothers or not. We just think our biggest privilege in this case is the fact that we had time to get to know each other longer than most do and that definitely makes it easier when facing feuds & working them out. Especially in the case of other bands getting so mad at each other they split up. We’ve been there & done that LONG before the band, so we found a way to respect each other’s opinion while finding a middle ground without any unnecessary drastic measures. As a lifelong friend, Snow understands those dynamic as well.
Who is the craziest one in the band? Stitch, without any doubt whatsoever, definitely Stitch. Especially on a hangover, he gets sharp as a knive & makes you cannnn yourself with his sayings so bad it feels your stomach wants to burn out.
Where can we catch you gigging in 2012? January and February we have 2 music videos to film plus a recording and photo shoots. The first one up is the RamFest the 2nd of March in Port Elizabeth & along with that we are planning national wide tours throughout the country as 2012 is the year for breaking our band. So ya, basically everywhere, just keep an eye out for dates & don’t be shy to attend our shows cause you won’t be left hanging.
Thanx so much for this interview guys, any last words? Yea, thank you so very much to you too Fanbase. From our side we would just like to encourage any and all, if you have a dream, follow it and try to never compromise on it. Cause, fundamentally, no matter how hard it is to do that sometimes, real happiness can’t be found any other way.
First Gigg for 2012 RAMFest 2nd March 2012
MATT ROUX Interviewed by : Duwyne Clayton
I am so excited to be featuring this talented singer in Fanbase. After listening to his awesome album I could easily see there is more than a few hit songs listed on there. Matt Roux originates from the city of Cape Town and he is destined to go far in the music industry. With catchy acoustic songs, which makes you want to sing and dance, he is rapidly pulling together a fanbase around Cape Town and pretty soon all around South Africa. Ladies and gentleman I give you Matt Roux. Enjoy the interview!
those first D and G chords smooth. I was lucky enough to then be exposed to some experienced guitarists throughout my teenage years, each of whom took my guitar playing to the next level. Songwriting started in my early twenties.
First of all, thanks so much for doing this interview. It is really awesome featuring you in Fanbase It’s a real pleasure for me to be sharing my story and music with you! Congrats on your recent 1 year anniversary. Where did it all start as a musician? Did you come from musical background? I was given my first guitar by a friend when I was 13. I had not grown up in a musical family so I was really the first to show an interest in an instrument. Funnily enough I still have a pre-school report showing that I showed little interest in music and rhythm as a very young child – thankfully that changed as I got older! I remember the repetitiveness of trying to get
How would you define your music? That’s a great question and something I’ve thought about a lot. I am a singersongwriter who uses the acoustic guitar to provide the rhythm that carries the lyrics. I am not a folk player. I’ve been told I have “pop sensibilities” in my songwriting. Making the guitar pieces interesting to the ear are almost as important to me as the
lyrics. I have been told my lyrics are a particular strongpoint. If I was someone who’s never heard your music what experience would I get from going to your gigs? Well, performing is a passion for me. Being on stage and entertaining people with energy is something that I have really enjoyed over the past 2 years. I always stand when I perform because I find sitting inhibits my movement and expression. So a newcomer to a Matt Roux gig would walk away entertained with some of my lyrics stuck in their head ☺ Where do you find your inspiration of your song writing, and what is the process like? I am constantly observing people around me – people I know as well as strangers. I store all these observations somewhere in my head and then when it comes to songwriting time I add these observations to my own real (and imagined) experiences.
Very few of the songs on my current album are literal experiences – instead they expand on themes such as temptation and loss and I’d like to think there is a thread of hope strung through a lot of them. My songwriting process almost always starts with a riff and rhythm that comes from just jamming on the guitar. A very interesting thing that happens to me is that I often get an important riff in the very first minute or two of picking up the guitar. Once I hear something I like I will repeat the riff or verse over and over, introducing variations. I will often record these ideas to ensure I don’t lose them. This then gives me the foundation upon which I write the lyrics. It’s rare for me to get the bridge and chorus in the same initial session as the riff / verse. But I’ll then take my time to let the lyrics and the bridge and chorus develop. I’ll often write subsequent verses while I’m driving or running. There’s something about the rhythm of running that helps me write lyrics.
“PERFORMING IS A PASSION FOR ME “
What is your fave song that you have written and why? I think “Hand on my Heart” is my most complete song in the sense of having very interesting and rhythmic riffs, a catchy chorus, a well balanced bridge and strong lyrics. I love the song “Hand on my heart”. Can you tell us the story behind that song? Thank you, that has become a favourite of a lot of my fans. Firstly, I wrote that riff while sitting on the grass at my folks place one Sunday. As I said earlier, it came almost immediately after picking up the guitar – you have to be thankful for those moments of inspiration. The first line “I’m going to reveal myself like mercury” actually came from another song I’d being struggling with which wasn’t working. So I stole that line from my other song and then I had this mental picture of the metal mercury slipping through the fingers of a hand, hence “I’m the heaviest weight for you to hold in your hands”. Those two lines built an idea in my head of a guy who is exiting a relationship and the inevitability of that for him. But the overall lyrics, while sad, still have a certain hopefulness and kindness – he’s not doing this to destroy her.
Where have you gigged before? All over the Cape. I’ve played Long Street (The Waiting Room, The Grand Daddy Hotel balcony), Observatory (Obz Café Theatre), Blouberg (News Café and The Green Barn), various restaurants in Century City, the Barleycorn of course (home to original music in Cape Town), the annual Barleycorn festival at Maynardville and The Brass Bell in Kalk Bay. I’ve also had some great shows at The River Club and Trinity. Will you ever consider gigging in Durban and when can we expect that? I would LOVE to hit Durban and Joburg. If "Square One" gets lots of fans in those cities in 2012 I will absolutely arrange a tour. Do you ever get nervous before going on stage? Luckily I don’t suffer from pre-gig nerves or stage fright. I am genuinely energized to get on stage and entertain people. I really see it as an honour to be able to perform. You won the coveted Barleycorn Songwriter's competition in 2010, First of tell us what that competition is all about and tell us what it was like winning it? The Barleycorn Music Club's aim is to promote and present the best local, original music in Cape Town. It's been going since 1975. David Kramer recorded his first album at the club in 1980 and others who've played there over the years include Flat Stanley, Freshly Ground, Steve Newman & Tony Cox amongst a very long list! They arrange an annual Songwriters’ competition with annual Songwriters' competition fantastic prizes - they're into their 17th year this year I think. In July 2010 I entered my song called “This change does not come cheap” (which is on my debut album) – the rule is that the song may not have been played live before submitting it. Of the 90+ songs entered I was selected for the top 10 performance evening. On the night of the finals I randomly drew a number and had to perform 1st. It was cool to get the ball rolling but I had to wait through 9 other performers before hearing the results. Really strong entrants placed 3rd and 2nd so I had no expectation of hearing my name called as the winner. It was genuinely one of the best moments of my life when I was called out as the winner, and a validation that the songs I was writing were worth something. I made some great friends that night in the local music scene. Who are your main influences? I spent so much time listening and figuring out early Dave Matthews stuff. But since then my ears have been dominated by John Mayer and Jason Mraz, with some Ani di Franco thrown in too.
Where can people get hold of your music? My debut album called “Square One” was released in December 2011 and can be heard here: http://soundcloud.com/mattroux/sets/square-one/ Also, you can download the whole album for free from my homepage: http://www.mattroux.com Lastly, where can people catch you gigging in 2012? I am going to be spreading “Square One” far and wide across Cape Town. You can expect to catch me at Obz Café Theatre, The Down South Bar, Trinity, The Green Barn and more. I’m also keen to throw together a Garden Route tour for the first time. Thanks so much for doing this interview with us Matt Thank you guys for listening to my music!
REMINDER ……………. STAND A CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF MATT ROUX CD’s ENTER OUR COMPETITION IN “JO’S CORNER”
DANNI’s punk pit
Hello all you crazy kids! As we all know it is the month of love, if you are single try not be toooooo cynical ;) Your time will come!!! I really hope you all enjoy the bands I have featured in my section which include Political Heresy and Rugsteek die Waarheid. I had the pleasure of interviewing Rebecca Claxton who is a truly gifted tattoo artist, be sure to check out some pictures of her work. I hope you all have an amazing month ahead and be sure to always keep your head held high! A big thank you goes out to Mama Clayton for all her hard work!! We love you! Enjoy the Poem of the Month, guys instead of being anonymous don’t be afraid to show off your name at the end of your awesome poetry!!!! Keep it Punk xx
“Rugsteek die Waarheid� is an up and coming Afrikaans band that are well on their way to becoming one of the most sought after bands around town. Their quirky personalities shine through in their interview and I am sure you will all enjoy getting to know them on a more personal level. It is always great to talk to bands that are willing to share moments with their fans! Thanks guys!!!! X
Interviewed by : Daniela de Almeida
How did you all come up with the name Rugsteek die Waarheid?
Who is the most responsible one of the group?
Vincent: “After much debate, trail en error we came up with “Rugsteek die Waarheid”. Although they contemplate murder whiles their educating us with mercy, betrayal, unfaithfulness. They have knowledge of good and evil but they backstab their beliefs to suite their own vendettas.”
Quinton: “I must say that would be me!”
Is it hard to break into the SA music industry? Stephen: “The South African music industry is a hard shell to crack in comparison with countries such as UK and the States. The record labels in South Africa (are there any?) cater for a general sound, making it a lot more difficult to get your material aired. For this reason bands take the independence (working without the beneficiary label) and drive their own passage towards success /exposure, making it a longer process and challenging to come up with something that will sell.”
When did you all meet and decide to start a band? Shaun: “We all know each other from primary school and became friends at that stage. As we grew older and music took a part in our lives, Vince, Stephen and Quin decided they wanted to do a project, then they got me involved to help out with the mix. But there was still a sound missing. So we posted a false advertisement on an online dating website which drew Ray’s attention and so we got Ray joining the band to complete the sound which you hear today and love, called Rugsteek die Waarheid.”
Who is the rebel in the band? Ray: “I don’t really think there is one particular person that stands out, we all are rebels in our own way. When we do irresponsible things it always ends up with everyone in trouble because there is always someone motivating the rest to do it, normally Vincent. “
Share some funny moments that you have all experienced together as a band? Shaun: “Well, the funniest things happens when we all get together, doesn't matter when or where, every moment of each time, there is always something new that comes out, which in turn brings out the funny side of everybody and then you can expect anything, Ha ha!”
Who writes the lyrics for the songs? Vincent: “Stephen is the vocal writer in the band. His lyrics can be compared to famous local Afrikaans poets and he aims to achieve the same creativity. If a song contracts a lot of emotion the writer of the song will basically, co-lab, with Stephen on the lyrics.”
What do you all do outside of the band? Quinton: “We all have our daily jobs, problems and hobbies. We love to party and hangout. I jet ski, Shaun loves picking flowers and putting them in a bunch, Ray collects dogs (real life ones), Stephen likes interior decorating and Vince plays World of Warcraft. That is pretty much what we do.”
Describe your sound. Ray: “Our music is very different than the commonly known Afrikaans music scene, it is very brutal and melodic at the same time. Very honest and in your face. Our music carries forth the message that no one wants to talk about.”
What are your plans for 2012? Stephen: “2012 is going to be marked as a great year for the band. We’re planning on hitting the studio to work on our debut album titled: “Onder die Waterval van eerste Name”. This is a follow up to our self released EP: “Die Kind is nie Dood nie”, which is up for free download on our Facebook page. This also marks the year where we’re going to tour the country with a local hot shot band, “Reasonable Man”, and to gig more than the previous year (this includes venues we never played and hopefully festivals). Shoot a second music video following our debut music video: “Hoofstuk 23”, produced and edited by Dennis Puth (Reasonable Man). To obtain a strong Fan Base this year (pun intended, ha ha).”
“OUR MUSIC IS VERY DIFFERENT TO THE COMMONLY KNOWN AFRIKAANS MUSIC SCENE”
Band members : QuintonQuinton- Vocals StephenStephen- Drumming and Vocals ShaunShaun- Guitar VincentVincent- Guitar RaymondRaymond- Bass Guitar
'Two In The Shirt� is a provocative clothing company based in California, USA. Also known as T.I.T.S the company has grown tremendously over the past year and is a key sponsor to many international celebs throughout the world. The Kartal Group has specialized in the state of the art online store that supplies all the latest ranges available to the public in South Africa. I hope to see you all wearing them soon! Thank you again to T.I.T.S for my rad new tops!! I have been wearing them everywhere!!! So trendy and edgy! Fits in with the perfect Punk Rock life style! xx
Danni’s Tattoo and Piercing interview with :
Rebecca Claxton I have been wanting to interview Rebecca Claxton for ages, as I have seen her work and really admire it. Rebecca is an edgy tattoo artist with the most incredible talent. I hope you all love her interview as much as I did and if you are considering getting inked, be sure to follow her advice and give her a call. Peace and love xx
Where are you working and how can people place bookings with you? I work from my home in Waterfall by appointment only. You can chat to me about a design or book an appointment via email, rebecca@inkandoil.co.za, or add me on facebook and contact me there, www.facebook.com/inkandoil.
What music are you into? Good old gut-wrenching heavy metal!
How many tattoos do you have? A pitiful 9, and counting!
Do you still remember creating your first tattoo on someone and what was it like? I won’t ever forget it, I was so nervous! It was a simple dotted line across a friend’s wrist, that’s it. The crowd of people hovering over me probably didn’t help.
What advice do you have for people who are contemplating inking themselves? Think long and hard about what you’re considering getting done. Make sure it is symmetrical to your personality and is not a replica of what the world supposedly wants to see. View it as a reflection of your soul in a form of artwork on your skin and enjoy the experience. Be picky with your artist, look through portfolios and ask lots of questions. It will be on your skin forever!
What's your typical day like? I take my son Chase to day-care, then rush home to pick up the trail of toys and destruction he leaves behind , mop up, clean and sterilize for tattooing. If I’m not tattooing that day I park off and work on designs or paintings.
Coffee Shop Poetry…… You have made a fool of me Flaunting another woman in my face While I stand working Trying to ensure our eyes don’t meet Completely degraded to nothing I hated you for a moment, I still hate her and I don’t even know her It should be me But it’s not I loved you for a moment I still do. You drain me You take everything You are everything. I hate myself for not being able to not fall to my knees when you greet me I wish I could be rude and harsh Yet I cannot subject you to that. Anonymous girl.
The musical genius behind Political Heresy is a man by the name of Dez. His music simply defines the true non conformist that he is and you should all go and give his songs a listen to. I was really so impressed to hear the depth and true spirit in all his music. Let me know what you all think! xx
Political Heresy- tell us the mission that you wish to accomplish with your music, with a name like that I can see you are filled with strength and character! Well first off I'll explain the name and then I think you'll see the mission and message crystal clear :) Political Heresy as a name was inspired by hero’s such as those on the cover of the full length debut "I AM"; JFK, MLK Jr. Ghandi, and Lincoln. All of which were murdered for following their love of the truth and overcoming the excuse me, but bullshit
Try and describe what your sound is like. Avant Garde Art Rock is probably the easiest way if you HAVE to try to box it, but literally you can't define it by one sound. A lot of people connect to my influence vocally of Layne Staley of Alice in Chains and I often hear my voice is very similar to his. The guitar is like a mixture of Hendrix jazzy bluesy acid rock, lots of effects and craziness. Some Frusciante abstract jammy yet groovy even sometimes reggae esque
Avant Garde Art Rock is probably the easiest way if you HAVE to try to box it…….
of society and what specifically was wrong in their own time. In my eyes, as I have been singing about this stuff for two years and I am so excited to see all this ripening of minds with the Occupy and Anoymous movements, I feel that it was my push to believe in myself to stand up and speak out.
To even Dimebag and Randy Rhoads being major influences. The biggest point of this project was to NOT pick a genre, there's literally something for everyone on every CD that's been released. I AM was more grungy, ambient, and jammy… WORK BUY CONSUME DIE was more industrial, acoustic, dark but
How do you all get through the difficult parts of being a musician and how do you keep your spirits high? Don't let judgement, jealousy, closemindedness, or any other hurtful energy in. I believe in what I'm doing and won't let anything stop me. I’m also very into meditation, positive thinking, and active mind manifestation. What motivates you everyday? Art. I feel like if I don't release artistically, a sort of trapped or confined, plus I really dislike people's complacence and low self value to submit themselves so in that sense I feel they deserve more and I want to do whatever I can to help unchain them. Dez tell us about your lyrics, do they just come to you randomly?
pretty, and INDIGO WILD CHILD is kind of pulling out my own weird mix of rock. So is taking over the world on you to do list of this year? Absolutely. Occupy the entire Globe. Political Heretics and Herechix UNITE!!! 8-) When were you bitten by the musical bug? About 3. I was tinkering with the piano, but pots and pans were always at my disposal, band and clarinet, bass clarinet in school starting at like 8. Guitar at like 10 or 11. Vocals are really my newest tool of expression and only singing for a couple of years. As a lot of people told me I couldn't or that I was already good at guitar, why do that. Follow your heart.
I always am coming up with lyrics, poems, rhymes, etc. I write in a journal, text myself ideas, or type it up, but I am constantly building up a library for whenever I am done with an instrumental to lay some vocals down. Literally over 500 text files waiting for instrumentals ha ha. Wee bit obsessed with music 8-) What is your typical day like? I work for myself building websites, doing graphic design, editing videos, and marketing. As of late I have been waking up to my beautiful girlfriend, which by the way is having an interesting effect on my writing. I then let my dog out. I play guitar for a bit, and then I get to work! This is an expensive dream to manifest, manage, and become!!! Legends aren't cheap! I am always singing, coming up with ideas lyrically, or little riff ideas and then I compile them usually late, late into the night to make new music.
Tell me something that random I am partially colourblind (Red-Green is what it's called) and that's the reason my artwork is so vivid and colourful :) . Every track gets a piece of art, check that out on my website www.iampoliticalheresy.com
what I'm trying to do with my music. I was also very shocked to learn that the statue of Ghandi where I ended up Photoshopping to use for the cover of my first album "I AM" was located RIGHT by his birth home. Totally crazy to realize. Whoa!! I used that!!
Why do you think Music changes lives? Because music is a vibration of the sound waves, shaking the molecules of everything in our existence. It truly is one of the ONLY forms of expression you MUST feel, and if you didn't feel it, I'm turning it up LOUDER! 8-) Also I like writing with dual or triple meanings to where its open to interpretation and in the end a year later singing a song I'm hearing what something means to a fan and even personally finding new meaning forever! :) This also is why I love to play so many different genres and not limit myself to ONLY rock because I feel limitless emotions, why limit myself to ONE sound and tone? Where is your favourite place to perform? Music Festivals!!! I don't really like bars and that whole scene I really prefer bigger more laid back and Music-Focused avenues. I am saving up to buy a way to tour and go to all the music festivals I can, and based on my fan demographics ideally I need to really get to Europe and South America. For that makes up for I'd say 3/4 of my 70,000+ online fanbase. I need to take this GLOBAL! That's why YouTube and the internet has been such a HUGE part of my musical movement and literally has opened doors to playing festivals and getting radio play. Even to this interview!!! :) Thank you so much by the way!! Tell us about the best day in your life so far. Playing at the Sweet Auburn Festival in Atlanta on the street Martin Luther King Jr. was born, raised, and lived on. Standing where he stood as a political activist and civil rights movement rooting ground and then further PLAYING and SINGING my heart out. That was definitely a great day just for the metaphysical and energy connections I make of that
Haha. I also got to put some Political Heresy stickers (Ohhh about several thousand‌ haha) all over Atlanta to promote!!! I'm all about pushing out there to be heard! If it wasn't this day, it was when my Grandfather was passing away and he would barely speak to any of the family. He was very close to me and he asked me to play guitar for him. He was a big part of the reason I started playing guitar. What artist would you like to perform with one day? My ultimate dream would be to sing with Alice in Chains as I so often hear I sing just like the late Layne Staley. I think a challenge to the new singer may just be in order. Check out my YouTube channel StrongerThanAllGTR on YouTube and see my Alice in Chains covers. What do you think? Other than that any of my influences I plan on opening up for. It's just time and manifesting it with positive thoughts! Old school...or new school...what genre wins in your book? I love 60's and 70's rock. Really not too into the 80's minus some of the rock (NOT THE CORPORATE C**AP METAL that is the equivalent to the rap mess we have now. All about money, itemizing and demeaning women, and blinging yourself out‌) I also love 90's rock. I usually listen to like Hendrix, Alice in Chains, Nine Inch Nails, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Janice Joplin, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Stone Temple Pilots, etc...
Interviewed by : Daniela de Almeida
Hey all you Fanbase people. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and are relaxed and ready to read another exciting issue of Jo’s Corner ☺. As you all well know this month is the month of love. Yes it’s Valentines Day again, time to bring out the cards, flowers, candy and romance for your special loved one. Remember even if it’s a box of chocolates or a sweet, it’s the thought that counts. In this Jo’s Corner I bring you the story of Valentines Day how it all began. We also run a competition where 5 lucky readers can stand a chance to win a C.D from one of our featured musicians, Matt Roux. Just answer the following question,
what day does Valentines Day fall on ? and email your answers to fanbasemusicmag@gmail.com and you might stand a chance to win this awesome prize. Also in Jo’s Corner I have “The quote of the Month” and My “Just for Giggles”. Have a good month peeps and hope you enjoy this issue ☺
JOKES – QUOTE – VALENTINES DAY STORY
Valentines Day began in the time of the Roman Empire somewhere in the 3rd century. At that time Rome was ruled by an Emperor named Claudius. Claudius wanted a big army and expected men to volunteer and join. Many men did not want to fight in wars. They didn’t want to leave their wives and families. Not many men signed up which meant Claudius was mad. So he came up with the idea that if men were not married they will not mind joining the army, so he decided that there will be no more marriages. Young people were outraged and thought this new law was cruel. In the time there lived a man named Valentine who was a priest and married people, he was furious and could not believe this new law that had been passed, so he decided to marry people secretly without Claudius knowing. One night as he was performing a marriage, the soldiers captured him and threw him into jail and sentenced him to death, a wonderful thing happened next, all the young people came to jail to visit Valentine. They threw flowers and notes into his window and wanted Valentine that they believed in love. One of the prison guards daughters became friends with Valentine and helped him keep up his spirit. She believed Valentine had done the right thing by marrying people secretly. On the day Valentine was to die, he left the prison guards daughter a note thanking her for friendship and her loyalty and signed it “love from your valentine”. That was how the tradition of exchanging love messages on Valentines Day began. He wrote the note on the 14th of February on the day he died. Now every day on this day people remember Valentines Day and think about love and friendship and when they think of the Emperor Claudius , they remember how he stood in the way of love and they laugh coz they know love cannot be beaten.
Quote One makes mistakes; that is life. But it is never a mistake to have loved. Romain Rolland
CE HOSTING & WEB DESIGN SERVICES Contact : Chris Engels email: cehosts@gmail.com
TOGGERS OF THE MONTH
Crystal ReesRees-Gibbs & Lisa Stayt
How did you get into Photography? Even as a little girl I was constantly grabbing hold of the family Polaroid camera and small 35mm camera and costing my parents a pretty penny developing photos of the most random things, anything and everything that caught my eye. My lifelong passion has been movies and filmmaking and photography. Having the creative bug in my system I went straight from matric to Film school in Johannesburg, to gain as much knowledge as possible. While studying Art Direction I found myself constantly surrounded by the most colourful, interesting, crazy, creative and artistic people I had ever encountered. I was instantly inspired to pick up my camera and document our crazy moments on set and on our student shoots, both in front of and behind the scenes. I found myself in strange places and even stranger situations, some of which people would have to witness to believe. I was soon never to be seen without my camera in my hands and I have managed to capture small obscure moments that carry the most incredible memories. Fuji S5600, which admittedly is not as impressive as the latest Nikon or Canon, but it has done me a very good service. I love my camera and I don’t believe that a camera makes a photographer, although I would never turn down the opportunity to experiment with a more expensive option. I prefer to have a camera I know well and continue with my collection of classic Polaroid and 35mm classics.
I hope to one day have quite a selection of vastly different types of cameras, and I’m definitely a fan of all cameras and I enjoy learning how to use them.
What do you like about photography? There isn’t anything I dislike about photography. I love the fact that you can capture one moment in a photograph that could have so many different meanings or so many possible endings to each story. Every photograph can be taken out of context and say exactly what each person viewing it wants it to mean, like a painting. You see people at their best or experiencing their most private personal moment, places in the peak of their glory or at the end of a long battle. I love how each photo will be both loved and hated depending on the audience. There is no failure in photography. Passion is the only requirement worth having.
What camera are you currently using? What style of photography do you like? I absolutely adore black and white photography, spontaneous portraits of people, places and buildings, documentary/ photojournalism, experimental. I find all styles of photography beautiful as long as I connect with an image, I’m hooked.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years in terms of your photography? In 5 years I hope to be more established in name and reputation with my photography. I want to be able to travel more extensively and be constantly adding to my experience and portfolio. There will always be more to see, and more to learn from people and places and be able to capture more moments. I would really enjoy collaborating with other photographers with different styles, learning as I go along.
Who is your favourite South African Photographer and why? Kevin Carter, Greg Marinovich, Ken Oosterbroek and Jo達o Silva otherwise known as the Bang Bang Club. J端rgen Schadeberg, a German photographer who moved to South Africa in 1950 and who took some of the most iconic photographs during the Apartheid era.
Describe a day in the life of a photographer? Being a freelance photographer is basically hunting down new subjects and inspirations daily. No two days are the same, no two jobs or assignments are the same; which basically means it’s necessary to have a brand new mind-set and outlook every day. Whether the day involves taking photos you want to take or following a brief from a client, you need to approach the job with the same enthusiasm and attention to detail. Some days are easier than others, and there’s no chance to catch a breather or take a break; you are your own employer so you have to constantly be on the lookout for the next job, while still taking care in focusing on the task at hand. The job only really gets started once the photos have been taken, the editing process is long and often difficult, it helps to sometimes have fresh eyes take a look at the progress and offer some feedback as to what works and what doesn’t. People are often very particular about what they are looking for as clients and so you can often find yourself reworking and re-editing pictures to suit their tastes. The final task is then to select pictures that you feel are good enough to add to a portfolio of work, which can be easier said than done. Most photographers find it difficult to pick their best work, since they took every photo with a specific purpose and reason. Personally, I take notice of what people think of certain photos and use general opinion as my guide to which photos are more successful than others.
What advice do you have for up and coming photographers? To embrace constructive criticism and advice, listen to opinions, constantly look at other photographs for inspiration, reject negativity, understand the basics, respect the responsibility to accurately and respectfully capture an emotion, to open your mind and follow inspiration and to just take photos‌. constantly.
How did you get into photography? To be honest, I started off messing around with a k$k point & shoot camera (which often resulted in a blur of frustrated images). Picture me cursing & moaning while trying to photograph a band with no manual control over my camera - those were the rookie days. Long story short, with the help of Google and my ever patient fiancĂŠ, I bought my first DSLR in March last year and experimented relentlessly.
What camera are you currently using? A soon to be retiring Canon 40D and a Canon 16-35mm 2.8 L lens.
What do you like about photography? It’s my personal get-away from the usual mundane life. I enjoy the complexity, yet simplicity of each scene or environment I photograph in.
What style of photography do you like? Live music, portraiture & candid photography.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years in terms of your photography? At the moment I’m trying out all available avenues. I’d ideally love to focus on live music & concert photography, but in SA, this is unfortunately a small and slightly over saturated market. I’m now starting to focus my efforts on portraiture, let’s see where it takes me ☺
Who is your favourite South African photographer and why? I don’t have a particular favourite, but Al Nicoll & Tyler Dolan have some mad skills when it comes to manipulating light.
Describe a day in the life of a photographer? I’d have to describe my Friday night’s as a photographer, as I’m a clothing designer by day ☺ Batteries charged, brandy in hand, lens wide open and go. A few hours of snapping & we’re back home with a full CF card. It’s usually in these early hours of the morning where I find myself eagerly reviewing the nights catch.
What advice do you have for up and coming photographers? Don’t buy a Nikon…. Kidding! Keep pushing your own boundaries & never be afraid to try new techniques. I’ve seen way too much black & white in photography recently (especially live music). Bring the colour back!
Out of your portfolio, give us the one image you’ve taken recently which really blows your mind ? This is a pic I took of the guitarist from “When Karma Sleeps” at unit 11. Sid from The Cheap Bad Habits described it well “Turned to stone, wild”
Habit to Live
The Anti Retro Vinyls
The Kongos
The Kongos
The Voodoo Child
Zebra & Giraffe
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Sven Fouche Andre Peeters
Brendan Fish Chantel Weyer
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