bEHIND THE SONGS

“And you love, and you lead, our feet stampede.”

This song was inspired by the Cape Town Swing dance community, a non-profit organization that provides an inspiring and uplifting service to the citizens of Cape Town and surrounding areas. It tells the story of a dance leader (The Angel) who visits the city to lead the community in dance through its city streets. In doing so, dance becomes a symbol of hope for its inhabitants and provides them with a sense of belonging.

2. Mazel Tov

“And silver linings light the blue, an avalanche of morning dew.”

I wrote this song after a conversation with a friend who battles with depression. She is a beautiful person – kind, warmhearted, compassionate. In the conversation she emphasized people’s expectation of her to “just snap out of it.” It goes without saying that this is not how depression works. I admire her for her humility and the ability to carry on, despite this card that she has been dealt with in life.

So, this song is about staying resilient in the face of adversity.

3. The Morrow

“And tales of defeat, loop and repeat. While she orbits me.”

This song is about being afraid to love again…It paints a picture of how one can struggle to process your thoughts and emotions whilst a potential love interest is waiting in the wings.

I used an oceanic theme as metaphor to describe this given my love for the ocean and where I live – a port city.

4. Big Old Tree

For Mum.

“Give me the wisdom that I long for, that which only you can provide.”

This song was inspired by a Tree of Life bracelet I received from my mother after she was diagnosed with advanced cancer. I wrote the song 18 months after her passing during the days leading up to Christmas in 2022.

There is a strong ‘nature’ and ‘meditation’ theme to the song. Aside from music, this is where he found solace after her passing when trying to process feelings of loss and grief.

5. Belong (Song From a Bedouin Tent)

“Let us heed else we’ll fade with the sands of time. For I know, should we let go, we’ll belong.”

The title track of this album. The reference to Bedouin tent was the result of a tent I had in my lounge when I wrote the album. No jokes! The reason being: my neighbour complained about the noise I made when I did vocal exercises. I didn’t blame him! The sounds at times did not sound human at all, but it’s great for vocal ability 🙂 I threw maroon and yellow blankets over the tent to help dampen the sound, which made it look like a Bedouin tent from some Middle Eastern movie set. When I finished with writing the final track for Volume 2, I removed the tent from my lounge and instead, opted for a paper cup to sing into when doing these exercises. It was a semi-ceremonious occasion. What one does for your passion!

On a more serious note, this song was inspired by Covid and Lockdown. That longing for connection and being close to loved ones during those severe restrictions of movement. It is also about family bonds and how it changes over time, in particular, the resistance to bury the hatchet.

I spent many years working in the Middle East, and have a soft spot for the beauty of the desert. The lyrics describe the writer living alone in the desert, after a “fateful event” which had a dramatic impact on his family bonds. The writer then becomes aware of the role he played to create this situation (“Third eye rises”), and decides to return to his family to make amends, because ultimately, that’s where he belongs.

6. New Beginnings

“Hold forth and resist, self-doubt when it exists.”

The very first song I wrote.

New Beginnings followed 18 months of deep introspection and spiritual exploration after the passing of my mother and relocating back to Cape Town. The song is based on many in-depth conversations with my life coach, as well as personal reflections.

The last section, in particular, has significant personal meaning. From my home, one can see the Cape Town City Bowl, the harbor, and Table Bay. Sometimes a fantastical blanket of fog seeps in over the bay into the city and is a beautiful image, especially at night. It’s accompanied by the foghorn in Mouille Point, which adds additional mystique along with the low hum of the city. It’s peaceful. In contrast, when the South-Eastern wind blows, it can be apocalyptic, especially in the summer months. This is also true for the big storms of winter. I found this imagery to be wonderful metaphors for life in general and wanted to write it into the song.

7. Belong (Crescent Moon Remix)

The idea for this remix came to me whilst Sergio and I were busy mixing the original track. The latter is multilayered, and I wanted to give each musical element a chance to shine.

8. Next Rodeo

“And the echoes of hooves, announce tones of rhythm and blue.”

At some point in your life, one becomes aware of your own mortality. The proverbial penny, drops. In many instances, this gets triggered by an event, e.g. losing someone close to you.

One then realises that time is not infinite, and that if there are items on your bucket list you’d still like to tick, it’s time to carpe diem!

That realisation brought ‘Next Rodeo’ to life, in which the author is ‘negotiating’ with the angel of death (‘Reaper’) not to take him just yet as there are still things he wants to do. 

The analogy of a rider performing his next, and potentially last rodeo, is used to bring the sorry to life. The “Great Unknown” refers to life after death. The author hereby implies that time is short and will pursue his dreams before time runs out…

9. Broken Bridge

“The forgotten generation.”

Cape Town always had vagrants, locally referred to as ‘Bergies’ (plural). ‘Berg’ is an Afrikaans term which means mountain. A Bergie therefore implies someone who lives in the mountains. The term is used loosely though.

Covid substantially increased the number of vagrants dwelling in the city. One typically sees them at traffic lights asking motorists for donations, especially peak hour. They tend to live in open areas, parks, fields, next to main roads, and the famous Foreshore Freeway Bridge or ‘Unfinished Bridge’. The bridge was built in the 1970’s but construction stopped in 1978. The reason given was that the city ran out of funding for the project. Urban legend has it that the engineers got the measurements wrong…

‘Broken Bridge’ not only refers to the physical structure that has become somewhat of a tourist attraction in Cape Town, but is also used as a metaphor for a society where equal opportunity does not exist. It implies that the political system of governance (‘bridge’) built after Apartheid to propel the country forward and elevate millions out of poverty, has become broken.

10. Blinded

“Stillness of dawn, like a patient saint. You mesmerize and I wait.”

In life, people cross your path with whom you share a special connection, be it friendship or a romantic encounter. These experiences may be brief, or longer, but they always leave an impression. 

This song honours those connections. 

11. Cosmic Aeroplane

“Honey rays of the sun, make room for things to come.”

Being in love is one of the best feelings one can experience. That mixture of excitement, anticipation, dreaminess, optimism and maybe a bit of nervousness, but in a good way! Not only is your head in the clouds, but it also feels like you are walking on them.  

I wrote this song after observing an acquaintance who at that stage had met someone and was clearly in love. The change in that person’s behaviour was noticeable – from having a generally serious demeanor, to being light and bubbly! 

I wanted to capture that lens through which one sees life when you are in love. So, the ‘Cosmic Aeroplane’ is the proverbial rose-tinted glasses.

12. Free Vagabond

“Where love is real, and people are beyond. Judging the life of a free vagabond.”

A song for the restless.

I wrote this song after my path crossed with someone who was quite restless. She wanted her life circumstances to be different to what they were at that stage. It meant that she not only had to break the bond of a codependent relationship, but also face her suppressed inner demons.

13. Streets of Old

“I know that life will revolve. We’ll return to the Streets of Old.“

For Leana.

The Streets of Old is a metaphor for memories. A place where we can go to connect with those whom we loved at some point during our life. The dearly departed.

I wrote this song for a childhood friend who passed away when we were teenagers. We grew up together and were very close.