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Mystic Diaries Volume 7 - Bloemfontein’s Boer gets a taste of ARV’s…

sunelia89 — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:29:35 +0000

Anti Retro Vinyls rock out Mystic Boer Bloemfontein; Danya Botha

Bloemfontein’s Boer gets a taste of ARV’s…

On the 24thof March, the old faithful Mystic Boer Bloemfontein got its first taste of Anti Retro Vinyls.The boys from Durban, consisting of two pairs of brothers – Chris and Carl van Renen and Harry and Greg Allan, were on route on their first national tour and stopped over in Bloemfontein for their first official gig in central South Africa.

Carl van Renen; Danya Botha

The boys were quite excited to play their first Free State show, and the fact that they got to do it in the infamous cultural rock beacon, Mystic Boer, made it that much more special. Chris van Renen commented, “Playing in Mystic Boer Bloemfontein has actually always been one on my bucket-list of shows to do.”

Greg Allan; Danya Botha

The interesting foursome took their fresh vibe to the stage with the crowd anxiously looking on. It was clear that the Mystic children had no idea what to expect and they were apprehensive at first. It, however, only took 30 seconds of the intro of the promising single, Would you like to pretend, to completely win the crowd over. With their fresh indie/disco/punk sound, fuelled by an energetic performance, they had the crowd dancing and jumping in no time. Seeing a band get completely lost in the moment of their music during a life performance is a beautiful thing.

Greg Allan; Danya Botha

They sped by like a small freight train, and before the crowd knew what had really hit them, frontman Greg was saying thank you and good night! I think it’s safe to say, that the attendants enjoyed their ARV dose, with a few people in the crowd immediately afterwards asking, so when are they coming back to Bloem again.

Chris van Renen; Danya Botha

The Anti Retro Vinyl are on the fast track to major success, with the first 3 months of 2012 producing a video on MK, a single playlisted by radio stations abroad, an appearance on MK’s Studio 1, and a successful national tour. Things are, however, not slowing down…at all, and they have major plans for the coming months. Within the next couple of weeks they will be releasing an acoustic EP. Yes, you heard right, indie/disco/punk band, known for their phenomenal life performances, will be sending some acoustic vibes our way. The acoustic EP – showcasing another brilliant ARV dimension– will hold over fans, until the release of their new album somewhere near the end of July.

Harry Allan; Danya Botha

I think it’s safe to say, that these boys and their fresh vibed sound will be conquering our airways within the next couple of months.

Anti Rero Vinyls - Danya Botha

Here’s hoping that their first official gig in Mystic Boer Bloemfontein will not be their last, and that Bloemfontein’s Boer will get to experience some super energetic ARV’s on a more regular basis.

Mystic Diaries Volume 6 - A Dangerous chat with the king of Afrikaans RAP – Jack Parow.

sunelia89 — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 09:07:44 +0000

Jack Parow blew into Bloemfontein on Wednesday, 21 March 2012 for a stage ripping performance in the old Faithful, Mystic Boer. I was lucky enough to corner a casually dressed, friendly, yet serious minded Zander Tyler for a few questions.

Here’s what the other half of the Parow persona had to say:

Starting at the very beginning. The choice to challenge a still very conservative music industry – still recovering from Polisiekar shock – with dangerous Afrikaans rapping skills, was a brave decision to say the least. Tell me a bit about your Afrikaans rapping decision.

JP: It was just something I have always been into. I definitely didn’t try to prove a point and say: “Look at me; I’m standing up against conservatism – I’m a rebel!” I did what I wanted to do – rapping in Afrikaans was what I wanted to do.

South Africans and especially Arikaners are quick to tag people with little labels. You have been tagged with a ZEF label?

JP: Ag ja, people are always saying I’m ZEF and stuff like that – I do probably come from an area in the Cape that a lot of people refer to as ZEF. But, I really don’t worry about shit like that. You’ll always find tannies looking down at people, saying, “Oe, look at that one.” It’s a problem with the Afrikaans community. Some Afrikaans people are quick to pin-point and label others. But really – again – that is really not something that bothers me – I don’t care for other people’s perceptions and thoughts regarding me.

Quickly – your lyrics are brilliantly written. Its smart…fast and deadly. Has writing always been a passion?

JP: Yeah, I guess I have always liked writing, and I guess I have always been quite good at it. In school I enjoyed Afrikaans and English, and I was very good at writing essays and stuff.

Jack Parow started Die Antwoord…

JP: Yeah, people always say that, but I didn’t begin Die Antwoord. I was a part of the beginning. It was amazing and I enjoyed it a lot! But I realised that I wanted to follow my own head…my own direction and so, I chose to do my own thing and I’m very happy about it.

So you don’t regret it – considering they’re pretty much busy with the whole world domination thing?

JP: Laughs…no not at all, I’m very happy for them and the success they are enjoying – they deserve it. But I am happy with the direction in which I went and the place where I am now.

Eksie ou, your newest offering, is doing amazingly well.

JP: Yes, it is fucking amazing. Hosh tokelosh is like, the first Afrikaans song to reach number one in the official 5fm Top 40 Charts. There’s no concrete proof (laughs), but I asked my buddies from Fokof and their songs didn’t reach number 1 – so I’m pretty stoked about that.

That is pretty amazing – also a sign of Parow fever not only being restricted to your Afrikaans speaking community…

JP: Definitely, there are a lot of English fans that love my music. I guess that’s maybe the thing with English speaking people; they’re much more open-minded to something that is different.

Afrikaans is dood – a reaction to criticism – certain people saying you’re killing Afrikaans.

JP: Ag ja, it’s all about how people believe that Afrikaans is dead, but how we (artists like myself) are actually bringing it back and “growing” it. You know, I really love my language and I am very proud of all the things Afrikaans people have accomplished – it’s so sad that there are still so many Afrikaans tannies and oomies criticizing and finding a devil in every possible scenario….especially when something is different from the norm.

Tell me a bit about the choice to play with a band.

JP: Yeah look, we’ve been doing it for quite some time now – almost two years I think. But in the past we mainly only used it for overseas tours, because the bars in SA weren’t so keen on paying for the band – obviously it’s more money. But now we have taken the decision to play with the band. The places are open to it now as well, and I must say, I really enjoy it. It just brings something else to the party.

Jack Parow is an in your face, wild character – but Zander Tyler is a private person, keeping his private life under wraps. Is it difficult at times coping with the constant Parow spotlight?

JP: Yeah – I don’t want to live my personal life in the spotlight – what I do in my personal life has nothing to do with anybody and that’s why I never really talk about it with the media and such. I don’t want to be on the cover of Heat magazine or something like that. It can be difficult having prying eyes on you.

Bloemfontein – Jack Parow’s almost in Bloemfontein more than Die Heuwels Fantasties. Tell me a bit about the vibe you get from Bloemfontein.

JP: This is a fucking dangerous place this. I love coming to Bloemfontein. I have never actually slept in Bloemfontein – I hope it doesn’t happen again tonight (laughs). I usually end up partying till they take me to the airport the following morning. I have never before in my life missed a flight – but out of Bloemfontein – I have missed two flights! I usually end up kuier-ing with your gevaarlike rugbyplayers – we end up braai-ing and kuier-ing at their homes afterwards. No, I love Bloemfontein – Bloem really has lekker people.

Soooo, knowing you’re a Stormer and knowing your special bond with the Cheetahs – are your loyalties maybe torn when these two meet?

JP: Laughs – No, no, you see the Stormers – they are my team, but the Cheetahs are my – very strong – second team!

Mystic Diaries 3.2 - Catherine Grenfell: Words of Wisdom from 5fm’s coolest kid on the block.

sunelia89 — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:32:25 +0000

I recently had the privilege of cornering 5fms Catherine Grenfell for a quick chat, before her set at Mystic Boer Bloemfontein’s 15th birthday bash.

Catherine – fondly referred to as Cath by friends and fans alike – grew up with music, “My dad, used to play all the old classics, and we used to listen to Radio 5 back in the day. We loved listening to the top 40. I guess I was just surrounded by music as I grew up. In school I studied music, and I got my grade 7 in piano. When I reached the ripe age of 18, I started going out to watch bands play live. That quickly became my favourite past time – watching different bands preform, and I guess that’s where my love and appreciation for local bands stemmed from”, Cath says.

After school, Cath attended Pretoria Technikon, where she studied lighting and sound. She had a dabble here and there in the music industry, but her work focussed more on Drama productions. After starting out in the industry, she later moved over to the production side of events. With a slight foot in the door – a contact made here and there – things started happening very fast for the young Cath.

Catherine Grenfell; Photo - Danya Botha; Down to Africa

She elaborates, “I started out working within the industry, and then moved over to the production side of events. I got a call from a friend who was working for Mark Gillman at 5fm. Mark was the breakfast DJ, and he was looking for someone to help produce the show. I thought it sounded like fun and decided to do it. Soon thereafter the breakfast show began looking for a female voice on the show – seeing as they were all men. They eventually decided on me – as I was already familiar with the team. That’s how I got in. Not really having a lot of experience, it was quite daunting at first. But it was a major opportunity– AND I LOVED IT! A while later a gap opened up for someone to take over from Barney Simon – in a sense, helping to promote local music. Being a major passion for me, I got straight into that.

Later, I got the opportunity to produce the “Live to the power of 5” show. They struggled to find a DJ for the show, and decided to use me. It was a perfect fit – the show gave me the opportunity to play the music I wanted to play…not having to adhere to specific play listing regulations. This of course also gave me the opportunity to help break some awesome bands into the industry. “

Catherine, a – now – seasoned 5fm DJ/producer, still holds the pumping music revolution bubbling through the veins of the local music industry very near to her heart. Being that as it may, her passion does not drown out her realistic and logical thoughts regarding the local music industry. She has a clear stance regarding bands wanting to be play listed on radio stations, radio stations carrying the blame for not play listing local bands enough, and what bands/muso’s should be doing, in order to achieve that all elusive breakthrough.

Catherine Grenfell rocking the Mystic Bloemfontein crowd ; Photo - Danya Botha;; Down to Africa

Regarding the music industry within South – Africa, popping its seems, Cath says, “Bands are evolving all the time. The South – African industry is currently at an all-time high. They’re coming up with their own sound that doesn’t necessarily sound South African – if you know what I mean. People are listening to a lot more genres, instead of just listening to rock. There are a lot of collaborations coming through, and I think that it is just amazing!

When it comes to bands, musicians and critics – within the community – , criticising 5fm for not providing more support to bands by means of play listing etc. – Cath has this to say, “There is this thing where bands want to be play listed on 5fm. I understand that, but times have changed regarding what 5fm plays. Our top 40, that was completely rock orientated back in the day, is now completely commercial. Bands and musicians need to realise that there are other music possibilities you can explore, if your music does not fit in with 5fm. If you are adult contemporary, try getting play listed on regional radio stations. If you are a hard-core rock band, start by trying to get your music play listed on campus radio stations – it’s a start. If it is your honest dream to be played on 5fm, then you need to either conform to the Top 40 type commercial side, or stay true to yourself, and explore other avenues. A lot of bands – for example; Graeme Watkins Project and Shadowclub – have been broken on 5fm. Those are just two examples of bands coming up with a unique and fresh sound. I think what 5fm is looking for, is not your run of the mill rock stuff, but really well written songs that will appeal to the masses.

5fm has completely progressed, in the sense that we will add certain songs that fall outside of the commercial top 40 arena, just so that people can be exposed to new material. That being said, musicians and critics should remember, that there are hundreds of local bands that compete to get their music play listed. If you want your music on 5fm, you don’t just compete with them, you compete with the thousands of other quality bands around the world.

Catherine Grenfell - 100% good times at Mystic Boer Bloemfontein; Photo - Danya Botha ; Down to Africa

Cath, strongly believes, that if people want to start playing the blame game – fingers should be pointed more in the direction of regional and community radio stations that choose to scan our musical talent pool with blind eyes and deaf ears. “There are so many other radio stations out there – why are they not being targeted and asked what they are doing to promote our bands and musicians. There is a radio station in Johannesburg, that has a bigger listenership in Johannesburg, than 5fm does – why are they not targeted? I know 5fm is a national radio station, but all those regional radio stations, put together, will make up more listenership than we probably have. Why are they not asked why they are not doing their part to help promote our bands?

Catherine makes a valid point.

Before wrapping up, Catherine has some advice and tips to share with bands looking to live their musical dream. “Be true to yourself. If you want to be an underground band, be an underground band. If you want to be famous, and you want to be on every radio station, listen to that radio station you’re targeting, see what music they play, and if you can fit into that mould, or you are willing to adapt to do so…then do it. I think musically the best advice I can give, is just to write good songs. There has to be some good hooks, and well written lyrics. I will be completely turned off by poor meaningless lyrics. Stuff has to move you. Your song writing needs to be up to scratch. Take criticism, and use that to your benefit. Bring something new, fresh and different to the table. A great example, are the boys from Shadowclub. They came out with this awesome new and fresh sound. Their album is amazing, but the thing that has everyone talking is their live shows. Word of mouth regarding a band, and the performances they deliver, is a free – extremely powerful – marketing tool, use it. A phenomenal live show will captures attention, and gets your name out there. Focus on getting your material played by smaller stations, its good exposure. YouTube…get your videos on YouTube…a lot of bands have been broken on YouTube. Keep on challenging yourself…and just never give up…if you really have a driving passion to make it…keep on keeping on.”

Catherine Grenfell is one humble, passionate inspiration of a lady. She sees the world passionately, with a bit of logic and realism stirred in, to help her decloud her view.

She inspires me to keep on writing, and to keep my focus lodged on my passion for music that grabbed hold of my gut so many years ago. She is a shining example of the type of influential individual you can be, when you keep your vision focused, your dream true, and your whole heart in it.

Mystic Diaries ... Volume 2

sunelia89 — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:37:45 +0000

Daar is ‘n gees van feesviering in die lug… en dit hang besonders dik rondom die Mystic Boer Bloemfontein. Nee, ek verwys beslis nie na Valentynsdag nie – dié skrywer glo nie regtig in al daai pienk fluffy sweety-pie cliché vibes nie… – wel in elkgeval vir tyd en wyl ek wag vir my ridder in sy skinny jeans om my te kom vang. Ek praat van Die Mystic Boer Bloemfontein se 15de Verjaarsdag wat Woensdagaand vir Bloemfontein in “Big way” gaan tref.

Maandagaand het het ek ‘n titseltjie van die opwindende partytjie-gees beleef toe ek so “in the spirit of celebrations” ‘n vinnige draai by die Boer gaan maak het om die optredes van Sean Met Die Bril, en Half Price te vang.

Sean met die bril, het die partytjie met sy harde rock klanke aan die brand geskop. Die groepie mense wat voor die verhoog saamgedrom het, het soos daai “bobble head” hondjies, hulle koppe ritmies geskud na mate sy harde klanke die gate en ooptes binne die Boer gevul het. Met sy super cool hypnotic themed guitar het hy die die skare – voor – , die hubbly- kinders onder-dak, en die foozeball groepies, op ‘n stadium heeltemal onkant betrap, met ‘n awesome cover van Strawberry lipstick. Almal het vir tyd en wyl bietjie kop verloor , en diep lekker saam gesing.

Sean Met Die Bril ; Danya Botha

Die man met die bril , is gevolg deur ‘n interessante punk outfit, Half Price. Met hulle klein mosh-pit gevolg, het hulle vir goud gegaan, en uiters energiek hulle klanke uitbasyn . Die vreemde band het omtrent hulle moshers uit hulle nate gehad en ek moet bieg -, my fokus was soms meer op wat die moshers besig was om aan te vang, as op die klanke komende van Half Price. Op ‘n stadium het die moshers beurte gemaak om mekaar op die verhoog te stoot, waarna die ‘gelukkige’ waaghals ‘n spectacular… EPIC… FAILED… stage-dive uitgevoer het.

Half Price ; Danya Botha

Hier voel ek nou verplig om gou 5 te vat… om vir jou gratis… ‘n Mystic Diaries tip of the day te gee.

#MDT 1: ‘n Stage dive kan nie effektief uitgevoer word indien daar slegs 5 mense is om jou te vang nie . Jy gaan dit nie maak nie my liewe seun en dogter. Jy gaan val… jy gaan hard val! Jy gaan dit dalk nie dadelik voel nie… alkohol dien as ‘n natuurlike verdowingsmiddel, maar broer…suster… jy gaan vir hom die volgende dag voel. Stage dive slegs as daar ‘n groot stampvol skare is… ek praat van ‘n RAM-fest groot skare – (terloops…Ram – Fest loer om die draai…en die bad boy… gaan natuurlik in die Boer gehou word… just saying)

Nou dat ons dit agter die rug het…

Mystic was Maandagaand weer die toonbeeld van geure en kleure. Die jock, die punk, die emo, die boer, die hippie en die poppie… een van elke menslike genre het ‘n draai kom maak en gees kom vang.

Sooooo… terug by die dik partytjie vibe wat mystic omsingel.

Woensdag aand is dit die groot aand, en ek verwag om al die mystic- kinders in in volle glorie daar te sien. Catherine van 5fm vang spesiaal ‘n vlug Bloemfonein toe om die patytjie na ‘n volgende level te spike. Sy is altyd ‘n belewenis live… en jy was nog nie regtig by ‘n partytjie, as jy nog nie by ‘n Catherine partytjie was nie. Ek gaan haar ook corner vir ‘n vinnige chat .… So hou die Mystic Diaries dop vir daai ene!

Sooooo dis dit vir Volume 2…

Baie dankie aan die amazing Danya Botha vir haar foto’s… seriously… die dame het supreme talent. …Ek het so ‘n nagging gevoel dat almal binnkort iets in die lyn van…

“Wie’s Liam Lynch… het jy al Danya Botha se foto’s gesien?…” gaan vra .

Ek wil ook ‘n groot dankie in die rigting van die lekker mense by Mystic Boer Bloemfontein stuur. Die Mystic Diaries sal obviously nie moontlik wees, sonder julle hulp en ondersteuning nie.

So liewe Mystic-kinders… sien vir julle Woensdagaand in die Boer… bring jou maters… bring hul maters… spring in, in julle hordes. Of jy ‘n jock, ‘n punk, ‘n hippie, ‘n boer, ‘n poppie, ‘n rocker is – … daar is iets in die Boer waarby jy gaan aanklank vind… hy cater vir almal; …judge niemand… almal is welkom.

Mystic Boer Bloemfontein 100% Goeie tye…GEES!