Piano

My housemate bought a keyboard. It's sitting in my lounge. I'm excited because I sold my piano a while back, and I can't wait to start composing again. 

Here is a snippet of something totally beautiful and totally inspiring. It's called Winter Circle, by Balmorhea. I want to go home and play now.

with tea and chocolate digestives. and this song too (featuring some great banjo and violin - Bowspit.

Takumi

Last night I went to Takumi. What a place. I love the simple lines and unassuming decor. The wooden floors and tables. You can sit outside or in.

The Sushi itself is Amazing! So fresh and, suitably large portions which makes me happy.

We had the Endamame Beans to start, Aubergines dipped in honey & sesame seeds, Salmon Roses, the Orignal Special and The Mexican. You can take me back there Anytime.

You can find it at 3 Park Road, Gardens, Cape Town

Call 021 424 8879

Today I bought a ukelele

new jeans for winter, a turquoise yoga mat, and a ukelele. Stoked.

but i wonder if I'll use any of these things?

A beautiful Wedding

This was my most favourite wedding of all time. It was in Constantia, in a garden, with close friends and family. This couple radiated joy and love. It reminds me that weddings don't have to cost the earth. But that the important thing is to have the people around you that you love, doing the thing that you love the most.

Namibia

I went to Namibia last week. I loved the skies the most. and rollercoasting the sand dunes. and the songs of the Kalahari, sung by the bushmen of that region. I recorded their songs and hope to put it in one of my songs one day.

Deni & Carlin's wedding

My friends got married and asked me to do their photos. They got married in idealic Greyton, amongst the Peech Rains, which is very good luck. There were treasure hunts, and swimming, canoes and dancing, and we slept in teepees under the stars. What a beautiful weekend. I was honoured to be a part of it. Here are a few snaps -

 

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Summer Houses

In February I went to Cape Point with a few friends. my sanctuary. my Summer house. I walked the coastline from end to end, and explored the wrecks. I found a washed up whale, in which I lay - the bones had been bleached by the sun. We played musical charades and guitars and our childish selves delighted in the sun.

 

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Travelling - Wilderness

I have been traveling...

I went to the forests of the Tsitsikamma. I met some wild folk. I spent my time at Wild Spirit Backpackers which was food for the soul. I hiked the Crags, the forests and a 4 tiered waterfall. I ate beautiful food made with love, and played music on the deck. This place leaves me dreaming...

I went to Wilderness with my best friend Dave. We stayed at Far Hills Lodge. Words can't descibe it. This  is my home away from home. I met some beautiful people, mandolin players, guitarists, didgereedoo players, drummers. These people feel the same as me, or, I feel the same as them. Wilderness, you are my spiritual home.

 

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Why I do it

Q/ Why do you do, what you do?
A/ Because I can't do anything else.

Q/ What are you doing right now?
A/ Editing my photos to Felix Le Band. (i like music)

Q/ Why do you take photos?
A/ Because I'm obsessed with capturing moments through my lens.

Q/ Why?
A/ Because it makes me happy. Because I remember life and the way it made me feel through my photos.

Q/ Cool.
A/ Cool.

 

me on the mandolin

Up the Creek

Four days on the Breede River. Sun, Swimming, and great music. I will need therapy, it was such a good party. It is Wednesday and I still have no voice. Good thing, or bad? These are the highlights of my party:

• Getting 2 blokes to pitch my tent
• The Iceburgs
• The Titanics
• Leon’s lumo tent
• Sailor Jerry for breakfast
• Swimming in The Breede
• The floating raft with full bar and braai.  Being braaied kudu boerie in the middle of the river
• The lamb spit braai
• Albert Frost, Machinery, Shadow Club & the Kongos sets on Saturday night. = Smokin’
• Being stage dived on by a 6 foot dude
• Being in the middle of the moshpit and main instigator during Shadowclub's set
• Sitting on the embankment all Saturday talking kak to strangers.
• The drunken pile on (witnessing 5 people wearing one t-shirt)
• Leon falling off the embankment
• Making new friends
• Peechy Keen and Holiday Murray on the River Stage
• Akkedis’s set and the AC/DC tribute show. Equals Amazing.
• Seeing the sky lighten on Sunday morning and you thought it was only 2am
• Finding half a bottle of Johnnie Walker under your chair. Bonus.
• Sharing  a long board with 4 strangers and cruising down the river
• Sitting in a blow up pool with 4 young hot dudes screaming "I'm on a boat!"
• Losing ur bikini to the river
• Realising your ride is too broken to drive you home on Sunday so you stay another night

Hello Sailer

I finally managed to eat at Hello Sailor last weekend. It has a Nice menu, nice food, nice service, nice price, and nice music. All in all a good experience. I think the burger and chips with extra basting sauce is the best deal. That's all I have to say today. i'm keeping it simple:) oh and the Disco fries, you've gotto try those.

Music Synergy

 Photography by Haylee Beth Maltz

Gigs are coming around like sushi on a converyer belt! Once I made the decision to commit to playing music, the world cracked open. Things on the horizon: I'd like to buy a vocal processor that loops and makes harmonies, will see if I can afford one.

Gigs that I've done recently and been booked and paid for are: the Sunday Market at the Cape Quarter (I borrowed Steve's acoustic Laney Amp and put my vox and my Fender through, it sounded great and was a great lesson for me on how simple things can be and still sound good.) The other Market I played at last weekend was the new Hout Bay Night Market (they had their own PA system which was good) A couple of people asked if they could buy my cd, which was fantastic feedback for me, but regrettably I had to say that I'm still in the process of recording one:)

Exciting news on my album is that I've laid 5 tracks down with Ashton. They are Guide tracks only but we're half way there. Other wonderful news is that Cooked in Africa wants to use my track 'Deeper' on their show. Oh wow.

On Sunday I played at Angelico's in Harfield, around the corner where I live.
Some lovely Italians representing:) I met some old faces from the Barleycorn. I'd like to play a proper gig there, maybe call in my band of brothers (namely my dad, uncle and cousin) on Ovation and Fiddle and Banjo:) it'll go down well I think.

My favourtie musical moment of this weekend was playing drums for the band Kombat Fudge at their acoustic session at the Armchair Lounge. it was good fun. They are a tight set and their harmonies are great. I liked that I got to experience them in an acoustic setting. I find that drumming always grounds me, I feel more 'me' if that makes sense?

I'm also looking at starting rock band with two of my mates, I will see how that pans out and if not well it's always good to jam with other musicians, you learn alot. i learnt a kiff new skank rythm from my friend Caleb on Sunday, who writes very good songs, kinda Bob Dylan stylee. I went to bed with new songs in my head.

So all in all I'm a happy camper. It's the end of January and I already feel like I've accomplished so much. C'mon Universe, I'm ready for you:)

Up the Creek Music Festival

Is happening soon! get ur tickets here - http://www.upthecreek.co.za These are the guys I am waiting to see, KONGAS. A band of 4 brothers. Originally from here. Check out their extremely hot video:

Down South

This was a great night in December. sitting on the curb of the corner of Down South Food Bar. taking pictures on a hot night. 3 musicians that changed my world: Tombstone Pete, Miles Sievwright and Joshua Grierson. soul brothers whom I adore. Here are my pics of them.

hello January & The Foundry

hello JAnuary. it's been a while. i have: survived xmas, new years, a few puffadders, a heat wave, and done a lot of gigging around cape town. it's been good. today is monday and it is raining a sweet thermal rain on the mother city. i have moved my offices to The Foundry in Woodstock, a beautiful old building with some fellow creatives. i am happy here. i am content. this year i hope to: carry on taking photos that makes me happy, complete my album, play music and travel. those are my goals. easy as pie. i wish for you a pleasant journey as we ride the wave of 2012. peace, love and good vibrations.