In 2020, Centurion singer Willem van der Ryst made headlines with his song, Knipmes Aand, which is still a favourite on everyone’s social music playlist. Now the singing sensation, who grew up on a farm in the the Northern Cape, is back with a brand-new single that promises to conquer the hearts of even more Afrikaans music lovers across the country.
“NIKKELS EN DIE WYN is about a man who falls in love with a woman, but circumstances force her to wait for him. He does not know how long she will wait… but in the meantime they regularly drink wine together and she is worth more to him than money (nickels),” he reveals about his third release, which he believes will appeal to audiences of all ages.
This catchy folk-pop song was written by the artist, who has been working in the music industry for the past fourteen years, himself and perfectly showcases his deep soothing voice. “I think it is a strong song with a good story that all people will be able to relate to, because we have all had similar experiences in life,” he says.
A music video of the single will also be released soon, but he does not want to give too much away about it at this stage.
Although he was more interested in sports for most of his school career and had no formal music training, there was a boy in his hostel who always played guitar. One day he decided to give it a try and discovered that he had a knack for playing guitar and he has never looked back since.
The artist enjoys listening to modern Country and credits Keith Urban, Kip Moore and Zac Brown Band as having the biggest influence on his own musical style. He also reveals that he would love to work with the likes of Mauritz Lotz, David Classen, Denny Lalouette and Vinnie Henrico someday.
About his music, he says: “I sing simple songs that tell stories. Anything can inspire me, from a bum to a guy in a Ferrari. It’s not something specific that makes me write songs, I just know when it happens.”
Willem is passionate about flying and would have been a pilot if he had to choose a different career. He is currently in the process of getting his commercial flying license and is also working hard on creating new music for the future.
NIKKELS EN DIE WYN is a beautiful result of the hard work and passion that he has already invested in his career and is one of those songs that is going to remain popular for a long time.
The single is now available on all digital platforms. Download it here: willemvanderryst2.hearnow.com/nikkels-en-die-wyn
