With his gripping poetic lyrics, unique sound and passionate stage presence, South Africa’s latest rock sensation – Zaan Sonnekus – has managed to impress local music enthusiasts from the get-go.
Now they have even more reason to celebrate, because his long-awaited debut album has finally been released!
According to the Pretorian, with his long dark hair and artistic collection of tattoos, ZONNEBLOM is a very personal album. “The content was inspired by various aspects of my own life,” he explains. “The challenge was to find the right sounds and words to make it universal and keep it personal. It is a puzzle of the experiences I have had so far in my short time on earth.”
This alternative Afrikaans album was created over the last eight months with Tertius Human of Coolerbox Brothers and consists of twelve magical original tracks that captivates listeners from beginning to end.
Two of the songs (accompanied by impressive music videos), Ek Kan Net Bid and Hoog, have already been released earlier this year and caused quite a stir in the Afrikaans market. Both can be heard on national radio stations and are charting on several hit parades. A third song, Tienerkwaad, was also recently taken from the album and released digitally with an amazing music video.
Zaan reveals that the album almost didn’t materialize after his mother’s death. Fortunately, the team at Vonk Musiek was able to rekindle his passion for music and he is now able to honour her memory with this remarkable release. “Because my mom was such a big part of the album (she was also a songwriter and I learned so much from her) it was something I would have wanted to share with her and because I was no longer able to, it felt like it wasn’t worth it anymore. I deleted all my demo recordings from my computer and had to start from scratch when we decided to record the album.”
Although each song tells a part of his story, he finds Vingerverf very therapeutic and hopes that it will have the same effect on everyone who hears it. According to him, Ten Minste Vir My also has the potential of become a bona fide radio hit, because he finds it such a pleasure to listen to.
This versatile musician grew up in Bloemfontein and has always loved music. After school the singer studied Music Production at COPA, after which he released his first single in 2017.
In addition to performing, he is also part of a recording studio called Son Studios, as well as Son Sound Productions that sells and rents out audio equipment and lighting. He also shares a business, INNER INK, with his best friend which manufactures hardened glass on an industrial level and does ceramic printing.
ZONNEBLOM is one of those albums that will give you goosebumps when you listen to it. Each track was composed and produced to be unique and make you think about life.
“The album is dedicated to someone who loved sunflowers. There are still many songs to go, but for now I wanted to share the ones that tell the first part of my story. My biggest achievement so far, is that I never gave up on my dreams,” he concludes.
The album is now available on all digital platforms. Download it here: https://snd.click/ikxo
- Dis Fyn
- Tienerkwaad
- Ten Minste Vir My
- Hoog
- Ritalin
- Plastiek swaard
- Krapmerke
- Ek kan net bid
- Soos hel
- Dis jy (Live)
- Verander
- Vingerverf
