Going, going, gone!

I was very sad to see that the iconic Roxy's in Melville and the Victory Theatre in Orange Grove are both going on auction. Amazing musicians like Dave Matthews played at Roxy's in Melville, and the Victory Theatre brings back wonderful memories for me. I first saw the Rocky Horror Picture Show there.

Hope the new owners will turn these two wonderful Jo'burg venues into entertainment hot spots for the city.

PS This is my 100th post. Is that cool or what!!!???!!!

Baccalaureus Musicologiae

YIPPPEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! I just found out that I passed the first two subjects of my Bachelor of Music degree WITH DISTINCTION. I considered doing a BMus when I first started university 20 years ago, but I wasn't sure I wanted to do it and I didn't think I'd finish it. Ah well, better late than never. Besides, I think I'll do it justice this time around, now that I'm older and wiser...

Encouragement again...

This is like my own big online personal diary, and what is it about my exhibitionist nature that propels me to post tidbits about my music career here? Ego, no doubt...

Anyway, on 11 June, the start of the World Cup in SA, I went and saw Crighton Goodwill, a SAMA-winning producer (the SAMAs are the South African equivalent of the Grammys). I'm thinking of working with him to do a track or two. He listened to my stuff and said, though the production lets me down a bit and my style of writing is a bit dated, that I am a good songwriter!
Then on 16 June, Youth Day in SA, I saw one of my students, Lisa Bornman, for a singing lesson. Two things she said in conversation really stuck with me: 1. "Rob, you're a massive talent." 2. I am not the corporate bunny type, and it's so NOT me, therefore I should never consider returning to such a career. Not that I had ever intended to...

I'm so encouraged by these things, and the reason I share them is that I am insecure about my musical talent, and I often feel like I have not yet achieved the great heights I have set for myself. Sometimes it really is just good to stop and take in those roses...

Mind the gap!

Today I travelled on the new Gautrain, Jo'burg's rapid rail project, from Sandton to OR Tambo International Airport. Anybody who's ever travelled on the London Undreground, the Los Angeles Metro, the Paris Metro or the New York Subway will have noticed the similarity to Jozi's new system. It really is world-class, opened just in time for the FIFA 2010 World Cup.

Of course this has absolutely nothing to do with music, but I just have to comment that it really is helping turn Jo'burg into a world city. It's wonderful to see the tourists all piling on with their bags on the way to the airport. Of course, there are other parts of the city that are not so world-class, like their crappy billing system for water & lights. But for once, I am proud of the city I grew up in, and it really is a thrilling time to be in SA. I'm proud of my country on occasion. This is one of those occasions. Well done to all concerned.

Now my big question is: will we see buskers at the stations, peddling their musical wares, like we see in London and New York? As Katie Melua says, it's a rite of passage for a musician - but it requires such guts! I remember doing it for a few years at The Zone in Rosebank. Bleak days, with little money, but man I had such fun. A very cool guy at the Musica store in Rosebank said to me one day, "You lend such an air of class to the joint" (I used to stand and sing musical theatre numbers). Wow! Be still my enormous ego! Thank you sir.

I'm Encouraged

Today after class, a student of mine came to me and asked me if maybe I'd be interested in doing some vocals on one of his tracks. I listened to the track and I enjoyed it, and then I played him my track. He said, "This is really good. Are you serious that you've only sold like five copies?"

I was so encouraged...

It's my favourite track on my first album, and it just goes to show: you never know how your music impacts others. I just love singing and making music. It gives my life such purpose.

Cindy Alter

I spent some time with the fabulous Cindy Alter yesterday. Cindy was the lead singer of Clout, a girl group from South Africa in the 70s. They had a huge hit with a song called "Substitute," but because of their shady manager they never made much money. In 1990 Cindy decided to move to Los Angeles, where for many years she worked to get her career moving forward, making huge sacrifices.

While in LA, she got cancer, and she decided to move back to Johannesburg once she felt a little better, to recover, to heal, to rest, to contemplate, to work. She was able to do music full-time in SA, which meant she was able to follow her dream. "Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to sing," she told me yesterday. We've had her back in Jozi since 2005, but she may be on her way back to the States, this time to Nashville, with her new band, Alter Irving.

Cindy is one of my mentors. Her years of experience, her pain and her joy, the heights that she has achieved and the lows into which she has sunk, have both sobered me and inspired me. Our 90-minute consult reminded me that I am just trying to be who I am by living my music dream, by following my heart and my passion - because, like her, as a little boy, I also always wanted to sing.

Cindy is the coolest rock chick on the planet. Having her in my life has helped me see my own dream that much more clearly...

The Spirit Within

Spent most of the day working on my album art for my new album, The Spirit Within. It's my first release of the year, a mixture of covers, mostly Josh Groban stuff. Such beautiful music! And I get to sing it with an amazing talent - my friend, Heidi Kruger. What a voice.

Tomorrow, if all goes according to plan, I'm performing at Cindy Alter's monthly Songwriter Night in Jo'burg. After many years in LA, Cindy is back in Jo'burg, but will probably be heading for Nashville soon. Best to hang out with her whilst I still can...

I have to work on my doctorate now, and I'm so not in the mood. It's been a long day!