Bouwer Bosch - Christelle Duvenhage

Bouwer Bosch is a rainbow of intriguing layers.

His  colourful persona, quirky videos and bashing lyrics – many a  times aimed at the bull’s -eye he confidently paints on his own chest – make the perception that he’s a bit goofy and not really all that serious about life and music -a natural human error.

When one takes time to examine his method to -“what some may call madness”-, your eyes are  opened to a profound human being, intelligently navigating his way onto people’s lips and into their hearts. Whether you’re a fan of his – at times – off beat personality, quirky songs and comedic videos… or not, chances are the name Bouwer Bosch, somewhere in the past week, either moved through your lips… or into your ears.

A young Bouwer Bosch was what he refers to as, –“a stage fanatic”. Although he had high hopes of one day conquering Wimbledon, the bite  of the potentially lethal music bug, altered his brainwaves, and sent him down an unknown music channel,                                                                                                                                                                 “I have pretty much always been a stage fanatic, Bouwer explains, – “In primary school I did musicals. I was part of the church band – in St. 9 I started playing in Retief Burger’s band. That was pretty much when the music and touring bug bit me.

Pertaining to the dream a young Bouwer had of conquering the tennis world, – Bouwer has this to say,                                                                                                                                                                           “Growing up I really wanted to be a professional tennis player. I wanted to conquer Wimbledon and all those big tournaments. Unfortunately, I was one of those kids that had to work much harder in order to get somewhere… and I guess I was a bit lazy. I also discovered the Happy Meal…                                                                                                               But I still love tennis, and luckily I still get to play a stringed instrument… it’s just not a racket but a guitar…there’s strings none the less.”

After finishing school, Bouwer adventured his way to the University of Potchefstroom, to peruse his studies in BA Communication sciences. With a music revolution already starting to poke holes within the Potchefstroom atmosphere, the inevitable happened, and at age 22, Bouwer settled into an Afrikaans Rock band, that would make major waves within the local music industry in the following 5 years – Straatligkinders.

Bouwer Bosch - Christelle Duvenhage

Straatligkinders, made what was already apparent and obvious – crystal clear. Music was the path Bouwer was meant to tread on. Regarding his journey with Straatligkinders,                                                                                                                                       “Straatligkinders was an amazing time in my life. I learned so much about the music industry, the dynamics regarding friendship and everything that gets mixed – up in between, within a band. It was a journey full of highs and lows, good times and bad times. It was a journey driven by passion… that at times maybe drove you a bit too far.”

After Straatligkinders decided to take a break, Bouwer together with Glaskas Frontman, Deon Meiring ventured into a completely different music direction, – with the Afrikaans folky pop act Dans Dans Lisa. More recently, he endeavoured on a solo path, pioneered by his first solo album; Almal maak voute – with the ‘v’- being an intended spelling error.

Bouwer decided on the direction his solo venture would take, by evaluating what was currently going down within the local music scene,                                                                     “There are a lot of good quality rock- bands like Van Coke Kartel and Glaskas, Electro Pop acts like Die Heuwels Fantasties, and then you have Jack Parow dominating the Afrikaans Rap scene. I decided on a piano driven rock and roll sound, but still with a band, which makes the sound a bit lighter. I wanted to identify a field, within which I could make my own unique mark,” Bouwer elaborated.

The different direction Bouwer took musically was interpreted by many as strange, and critics had much to say about selling out… and a changing, – even altered – personality.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   “I definitely have not changed, regarding who I am,” Bouwer argues. “The Bouwer from Straaligkinders is still the guy I am today. The fact that I have a new approach to music does not mean I changed who I am. It means that I have a different approach… there is other things I now want to write about, and get off my chest.”                                                                                                                                                                                   “People,” he continues, “need to remember -, I am a musician. This is what I do. It’s my job. So I also need to produce music that will keep me alive. I guess the irony behind this, is that I am way poorer now, with my more toned down act, than I was with Straatligkinders.”

The less serious – sit-down comedian – side of Bouwer has really come out to play in his latest creative output. The lyrics and videos to the first two singles off his new album, are testimony to just that. In Vertel My – the video from the first single – a playful, almost childlike Bouwer, tries his utmost to conquer the uncomfortable time within a relationship by wooing his sweetheart with swings, sweets and ice cream in a park. In the second single off the album, Orkes Moles, Bouwer not only pokes fun at the local music industry and the way in which certain musicians go about their business, but embraces the bright red bull’s eye, he himself painted on his chest, and shoots off a few lethal comments at his own expense. Bouwer explains his use of comedy by stating,                                                                                                                                                     “I like comedy. I like trying to be funny, and I like writing funny pieces. I personally feel, that with Afrikaans music, you often need something to help you sell your product. It’s not always a question of the song being king. Something needs to be added to the mix -, whether it is comedy, controversy or angering someone. When reading pieces on Die Antwoord, you seldom read something pertaining to their music; …instead you read about the controversy surrounding their act, who they angered, and what they had to say about it. Comedy is a free tool you can use to stay relevant and on everyone’s lips. Not a lot of people within our music industry really use this. People within the music industry tend to take themselves and life in general very serious. I like breaking away from that.                   Plus, I don’t really have a big budget to do massive productions. Maybe if I had a bigger budget, I would be able to do less random stuff for attention.”

Bouwer being a resourceful creative also dabbles in the producing field, with music videos from Moses Metro Man and Glaskas being credited to his already ripping CV. He also produces his own music videos.                                                                                                                                                             Regarding the origin of his producing career,                                                                                                                                                             “I originally bought my camera whilst studying in Potch. No one really had money for the production of music videos. When I later moved to Pretoria, it was something I continued with. There were loads of opportunities. Getting the chance to take the material from someone else, and weave your own story around it, was an amazing creative outlet. And, it was a great way to get some extra cash,” Bouwer says.

Bouwer recently started downscaling on his producing side, channelling his focus to his solo career and the non-profit charity organization- and campaign, – Liefde wen.

Bouwer Bosch - Christelle Duvenhage

The Liefde wen campaign is a non-profit organization, still very much in the beginning phase. This campaign has already generated a major hype amongst young South Africans.                                                                                                                                                              Bouwer elaborates a bit more on this brainchild,                                                                                                                                              “I’m busy registering it as a non-profit organization, and let me tell you, there is heaps of admin. The goal of Liefde Wen, is to be a non-profit organization that lends a hand to many different projects. It’s only in the beginning phase – and we still have a long way to go before it is fully up and running.  The idea is to use the organization to get involved with various projects, for example children’s homes, etc. I don’t just want to give money to these projects, but actively get people involved to help and create kind of create a culture of giving. The campaign is also promoted by an already popular clothing range, consisting of t-shirts and caps. I want to use the profits generated from the sales of the clothing to help assist the projects Liefde wen takes on.                                                                                  When I die one day I don’t want people to remember me for the songs I had on radio. I’d rather have them remember me for the difference I tried to make. Life is more than music and catchy lyrics. The beggar on the street doesn’t care whether my singles are played on radio. It’s in a way so irrelevant.”

Bouwer Bosch is an intriguing individual. He is comfortable with who he is, what he chooses to do with his life …and how he goes about doing it. He believes that what he creatively produces is like a manifestation of who he is,                                                                                                                                                                    “I try to pour my whole heart into the music I write. My biggest critics always come watch my live shows, and comment that I’m not a good singer and that my voice isn’t perfect etc. It’s probably valid, but the point is, I don’t want to sing perfectly, because my heart is not perfect… my life is not perfect. What’s the point of going on stage, trying to be someone you’re not? I don’t want to be a different person on stage than the person I normally am. I like pouring my soul and personality into my music. Anyone can go into a studio and manipulate their voice into sounding perfect, but it takes more going in and selling your product that isn’t perfect. That’s how I try and live my life. I want people to see that I’m human, I have faults, and I’m sometimes an idiot.”

*Note: This is not an attack on Bouwer Bosch, this is merely an opinion piece*

This is Bouwer Bosch. You might know him as the lead singer of Potchefstroom rock band, Straatligkinders, as one of the two guys from acoustic duo, Dans Dans Lisa or God forbid, from his new solo effort, Almal Maak Voute.

Before I start this in-depth study about a man and his evolution towards ridiculousness, I feel I might need to explain how the idea for this post came to be. It might explain where I’m coming from a bit better than just blindly flying into an anger fueled rant. So here goes …

The local bar here in Pringle Bay, called Head Office Pub, has a big screen TV. Now, when there isn’t any sport going on, it’s pretty much locked on MK. Last night, while lining up an ambitious pool shot, I catch a glimpse of Bouwer Bosch’s music video for his song, “Vertel My“. I have seen that music video and I didn’t much care for it so I continued with what I was doing. While waiting for my turn on the pool table, I relaxed on a chair and checked out what was happening on the TV. As fate would have it, MK decided then was an appropriate time to air Bouwer Bosch’s new music video for his song, “Orkes Moles” and to be honest, it looked quite entertaining.

This morning I decided to check out this showcase of a music video …

What … The … F@#$. That is all that went through my head as I heard the lyrics to the song. The music video is pretty decent, it’s a cool concept but the song itself …

So then I decided to go through Bosch’s history and it almost made me break down in tears.

Let’s take a quick look at this young man’s musical career so far.

Straatligkinders – Bloeisels (2006)

The album that put Straatligkinders on the map, arguably one of the best local albums ever produced and one of my personal all-time favourites. This album contained all the elements that rock music should have. It has hard and it was fast. It wasn’t at all new or revolutionary but it was good.

I didn’t know who these four dudes were until I saw the music video for “Gedagte vir die Dag” and my mind was blown. It was the first time since Fokofpolisiekar that a local afrikaans rock band impressed me that much. The lyrics just fitted perfectly into the instrumentation. It all came together in such a beautiful way. There were slow songs that accelerate and there were fast songs that decelerate, it was gorgeous to behold.

This was 6 years ago, in 2006. I was so excited for this band’s future and I couldn’t wait to see them play all these killer tracks live. And when I did, my affection for their music just grew more and more. They weren’t one of those bands that’s pretty much a front man and three other dudes. Each and every one of the band members come into their own on stage and I loved the integration of it all.

Straatligkinders – Sweef Soos ‘n Vuishou (2008)

For the two years that Bloeisels was released, I made a point to go to as many of their shows as possible and they never got old. During the beginning of 2008, I got word that a new album is imminent and I was excited. I also matriculated that year and me and two friends were bound to go to Pringle Bay (don’t ask, I’m tired of explaining) and then hit the MK Avontoer when they came round in Hermanus. So I begged and begged and begged my parents to buy me the album before I go to see them at the MK Avontoer because I wanted to learn all the words before we go.

They finally got me the album in the beginning of December that year and I was a bit disappointed to say the least. Something was missing in the album, the instrumentation and the vocals didn’t gel so great like in the first album. Regardless, I grew to love it. I listened to the album as much as humanly possible and I grew to look past the little missing component that I couldn’t put my finger on.

I always knew that the guys were heavy religious and that there are various religious undertones in their songs, but in Sweef Soos ‘n Vuishou the guys began to promote charity heavily as well. The song, “Die Vrae Op Jou Arms” was about teenage suicide and self-mutilation and they promoted www.twloha.com, which is a charity that looks after such teens.

They also did a colab with Jo’burg rappers, Koldproduk, called “Desvalido” which was mind blowing. I’m still convinced it is the best cross-genre and cross-language colab ever produced.

Somewhere in between all of this, they did a cover of Kurt Darren’s “Kaptein” which was also released as a single. A really good cover where they put there own hardcore spin to this otherwise horrible song. Check the video here.

All in all, a more than decent album by the Potchefstroom boys.

Then the snowball started to roll …

Straatligkinders – Lank Lank Gelede en Ses Voet Benede (2010)

Facepalm. That is all that could possibly describe what I felt listening to that shocking excuse for a rock album. Two songs … Two songs out ten that were worth listening two. These two were “Hande Wat Dra” and “Jy Vermaak My Naar“. Funny thing about that last one is that it’s a song where the band mocks Afrikaans singers for their ridiculous songs and how they’ve sold out and so. The reason why I say its funny is because that’s exactly what Bosch ended up doing – selling out, but I’ll get to that later.

So yeah, horrible album. Didn’t even bother going to the shows anymore except the one at Oppikoppi but I mean, when in Rome …

I was utterly disappointed to the point that I wanted to give up on local music altogether.

Then news hit me that the band is taking an indefinite hiatus and Bosch and Deon Meiring, of Glaskas (which I love) are doing an acoustic side project, called Dans Dans Lisa.

Bittersweet news. On the one hand, the slippery slope the band was on had stopped, on the other hand they wouldn’t have the chance to redeem themselves by making an absolute cracker of an album.

C’est la vie …

Dans Dans Lisa – Die Gids Vir Grootword (2010)

First and foremost, I don’t own this album. I’ve heard a few songs on MK and seen them live a few times, so I’m talking under correction.

The first song and video that these two guys released was “My Eks(kuus)” which was embarresingly catchy, as well as terribly overplayed. It seemed to be more of a hit with the female population of this country, however. They came out with a lot of other singles, including “Gisteraand“, “Sing In Skaamte” and my personal favourite, “Mense Hier.”

All very poppy acoustic numbers. Catchy, but a long way from the humble beginnings that was Straatligkinders.

I actually like the majority of the Dans Dans Lisa songs I’ve heard. I don’t have a problem with the whole acoustic set-up that they’ve got going on.

It’s what happened after Dans Dans Lisa that I have a problem with.

Bouwer Bosch – Almal Maak Voute (2011)

Like I said earlier – What … The … F@#$ do you call that?

Is it just me that thinks you can’t go and hate on people for making crappy music and selling out when you’re doing exactly the same. Whats worse is, that in his second single, “Orkes Moles”, he actually sings about how singers are selling out while the song itself is utter bullshit.

What happened to the good old Bouwer Bosch that would step up on the stage. Tell us all about how the most important thing in life is love and then rock our socks off with the good old hard rock music that put Straatligkinders on the map?

You can say that it has to do with growing up but that’s bullshit. Look at Mick Jagger, he’s pretty much a fossil and he’s still rocking it out with his new supergroup, Superheavy (a post on them in the works). Look at the Van Halen guys, the ACDC guys. Look at Metallica.

All these guys are way older than Bouwer Bosch and they still rock as hard as they did when they were young.

I don’t know what happened, whether it’s the change in city or what, but am I the only one that misses the old Straatligkinders sound?

I want these badass looking dudes back. I want to lift a lighter up to “Totsiens” again.

I want go completely ape-shit when Benjamin starts the riff to “Gedagte vir die Dag”.

I want to get lost in the moment when the whole crowd sings along to “Kan Ek Met Jou Dans?”

I want to wake up without a voice because I screamed along to “Die Vrae Op Jou Arms.”

Okay, that ends my rant. It was fun but it’s finished now.

Feel free to comment and tell me what you guys think.

Keep smiling.

Chris