Can you share your musical journey with us, from when you first discovered your passion for music to where you are today as an independent musician?
I started writing and producing music as a teenager. I started off learning to play the guitar but, as soon as I could afford them, I bought a synthesizer, a drum machine and, eventually, a sampler. I was really inspired to start creating songs using electronic instruments after hearing early electronic music such as New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’, the original version of the Pet Shop Boys ‘One More Chance’ produced by Bobby Orlando and Cabaret Voltaire’s ‘Sensoria’.
What motivates you to create music, and how do you stay inspired to continue making new and unique music?
There are really two streams. The first is wanting to use and experiment with interesting sounds that I come across and apply them in musical compositions, in much the same way as an artist would create a collage. The second stream is wanting to write about topics that interest me. These are usually anthropological and social issues, often focusing on the unfairness of our societies, hypocrisy, substance abuse and the abuse of power. I recently write songs about Harry & Meghan and about the corrupt politicians of Southern Africa, as examples.
As an independent musician, you wear many hats – from composing to marketing. How do you balance these different aspects of your career, and what challenges do you face in the process?
I find it impossible to switch between composing music and marketing it on a day-to-day business, as they require very different mindsets and moods. So, I’ll dedicate months to just writing and composing music, where I don’t think about the marketing and business side of it at all, and months where I focus on marketing my music without writing or composing anything.
Could you tell us about your creative process? How do you come up with new ideas for songs, and how do you go about turning those ideas into finished tracks?
The foundation is normally a hook line, which could be a musical riff or a chorus line, or part of a chorus line. I’ll then embellish it and add either words to the melody or a melody to the words. I then typically start searching for a sound palette to use to develop all the other parts of the arrangement, including chords, drums and percussion etc. That’s normally followed by a process of refinement and going over what I’ve created again and again, adding to it and improving it, until I’m ready to go into the studio with a rough mix and record the vocals. We normally record a number of vocal tracks and arrange them afterwards, before the final mix and the master are produced.
Independent musicians often face financial challenges. How do you manage your finances to sustain your music career while also covering your personal expenses?
I’m fortunate in that I spent a number of years working as a management consultant and I have a Doctorate is Industrial Economics. I’m able to supplement my music career with consulting assignment that pay me enough to support myself and my love for music.
Can you share a particularly memorable or challenging experience from your journey as a musician that has had a significant impact on your career and personal growth?
Every musical release feels like such an accomplishment that motivates me to do it again and to try to do it better the next time. It’s very hard to single one of them out but I really feel that our forthcoming release, She has a way, is our pièce de résistance.
With the rise of digital platforms, the music industry has changed significantly. How do you navigate the digital landscape, including streaming services and social media, to promote your music and connect with your audience?
It’s become easier to promote music over the last decade or so, on the one hand, because there are so many more tools and platforms available. However, it’s become a lot hard to stand out and to get played and listened to because so much music is being released now. I read that Spotify often release over 100,000 new titles every day now. This means that you really have to box clever in order to stand out. I try to follow the classical marketing mix strategy of using all channels, including PR, advertising, playlisting, radio and video, to reinforce one another and create a ‘whole’ that is bigger than its constituent parts.
Collaboration is a key part of the music industry. Have you worked with other musicians or producers, and how have these collaborations influenced your sound and career?
I think that collaboration is absolutely vital to the process of creating new music and pushing boundaries. I also think that the application of different perspectives, ideas and skill sets to musical projects yield much better results. I’ve been fortunate enough to collaborated with a number of very talented producers, singers and engineers, including Philipp Lauer, Jamie Sellers, Richard Wolff, Stewart Irving, Marvin & Guy and my partner in The Badly Behaved, Colé va Dias.
Your music likely reflects your unique style and perspective. Could you describe your musical identity and what makes your sound stand out in a crowded industry?
The Badly Behaved’s current musical style is inspired by an eclectic mix of artists, from commercial giants, such as the Pet Shop Boys, Röyksopp and William Orbit, to niche artists, such as Lauer, Marvin & Guy and Zombies in Miami. The band’s music making philosophy is to build on existing music that inspires them, as well as what has worked in the past, while always daring to try new things and always being original. The lyrics explore the good, the bad and the ugly in life, often focusing on the underbelly of the world we live in. I think the musical styles and sources of inspiration, as well as the unique lyrics serve to create music that is strongly differentiated from anything else.
What role does live performance play in your music career, and how do you approach planning and executing your live shows, especially in light of recent challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic?
Unfortunately, we’ve been a studio band exclusively to date. We would like to start playing live but we need to work out how to create an exciting live performance, given that the music is completely electronic!
Many fans are interested in the stories behind the songs. Could you share the backstory or inspiration behind one of your recent tracks that holds special meaning to you?
The Demagogues of Azania is a song about the corrupt politicians of Southern Africa who are motivated by nothing but self-interest and really have little or no interest in improving their countries or uplifting the poor masses. As Gore Vidal said, “Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically by definition be disqualified from ever doing so.”
Looking ahead, what are your future goals and aspirations as an independent musician? Are there any upcoming projects or exciting developments in your career that you’d like to share with your fans and the audience? I really think that our next release, which is a 5-track EP with five different versions of the Bobby Orlando classic ‘She has a way’ is our best work yet and I hope it will be enjoyed on the radio, in clubs and in homes across the world! We’re planning the release of an interesting song I wrote about a drug dealer and hedonist for later in the year too. It’ll probably be released in November or December.
