Serendipity means finding something good without looking for it. While it wasn’t unexpected good luck that led to the release of singer-songwriter RudiTheOutsider’s debut single, the recognition of his talent is certainly fortuitous.
The track, titled SERENDIPITY, is about unexpected and unanticipated love – about fate bringing soulmates together against all odds.
According to Rudi, the song was inspired by his wife and long-time muse, Lezaan, whom he recently officially married.
“This song is about my utter disbelief at the outcome of my life,” says the singer, who has faced overwhelming obstacles in his life. “I still can’t believe how lucky I am, after all I have done and all that has happened to me, to have found this wonderful person to share the rest of my life with.”
Rudi believes that the single, which was written to mark the couple’s 10-year anniversary, will resonate with listeners as it is a positive, feel-good track. “I hope that people will find motivation in the song,” he says. “It isn’t a one-dimensional, sugar-coated, happily ever after love song. It expresses the uncertainty and self-doubt that accompanies being in love, which is something I believe listeners will identify with.”
Although Rudi has written and performed many original songs – he has spent the past ten years playing on the streets – he has never had the opportunity to have any of his songs professionally recorded until very recently. He believes that having a dream can alter any person’s life as it can push them towards a better future. His own life bears testament to this.
The singer-songwriter was born in Waterval-Boven and after a turbulent childhood, homeless at the age of fourteen. Forced to fend for himself on the streets, he turned to petty crime to survive. Because he lived on the streets from an early age, Rudi struggled with substance abuse and was admitted to rehab for six months at the age of 34. Shortly thereafter he met Lezaan. Together, they still practice meditation and self-love on a daily basis.
Rudi’s unique nom de guerre – RudiTheOutsider – is shaped by his history and the fact that he has always felt like an outsider among his own people. But he isn’t bitter about his past. In fact, his motto is Amor Fati, which means ‘love of one’s fate’, or accepting that everything that happens in life, including pain and suffering, is necessary.
The singer, who now lives in Pretoria with his wife and two children, passionately believes that it is his perseverance through hardship that has opened doors for him. Despite the odds, he has discovered himself, his identity, and his abilities, and is more determined than ever to achieve his aspirations.
“The challenges that once seemed insurmountable, no longer do. In fact, they paved the way for a better future,” says the artist. “I want to use my music to convey my battles and how I overcame them to prove to people that it is possible. I want my music to uplift and inspire people, so that their dreams can also come to fruition one day.”
Following the release of SERENDIPITY, Rudi plans to perform as many gigs as possible, culminating in a tour at the end of the year. He also intends to release a few more singles and hints that the release of his first album is on the cards.
Through SERENDIPITY, he is sure to secure a steady following on his road to success.
The singleis available for download. Listen to it here: https://open.spotify.com/track/6Iu7qfxVS6U2sGytTkMBV5?si=Nm97U4UVTxyb4Nh1m0KGgw
Van Die Strate Na Die Ateljee – Plaaslike Sanger Stel Aangrypende Enkelsnit Vry
Die woord “Serendipity” beteken om iets goeds te vind sonder om daarna te soek. Alhoewel dit nie onverwagse geluk was wat gelei het tot die vrystelling van RudiTheOutsider se debuut-enkelsnit nie, is sy talent heel toevallig ontdek.
SERENDIPITY gaan oor onverwagte en onverwagse liefde – oor die noodlot wat sielsgenote bymekaar uitbring, ten spyte van die uitdagings op hulle pad.
Volgens Rudi, is die liedjie deur die vrou in sy lewe – Lezaan – geïnspireer is met wie hy onlangs amptelik getroud is.
“Hierdie liedjie gaan oor my volslae ongeloof oor hoe goed my lewe uitgedraai het,” sê die musikante, wat al hewige struikelblokke in sy lewe oorkom het. “Ek kan steeds nie glo hoe gelukkig ek is om, na alles wat ek gedoen en wat met my gebeur het, hierdie wonderlike persoon te vind om die res van my lewe mee te deel nie.”
Rudi glo dat die liedjie, wat geskryf is om die paartjie se tien jaar herdenking te vier, sal aanklank vind by luisteraars omdat dit ’n positiewe, goedvoel-snit is. “Ek hoop dat die liedjie mense sal motiveer,” sê hy. “Dit is nie ’n een-dimensionele liefdesliedjie oor gelukkige eindes nie. Dit gaan ook oor die onsekerheid en twyfel wat ’n mens ervaar wanneer jy verlief is, wat ek dink luisteraars mee sal identifiseer.”
Alhoewel Rudi al baie oorspronklike liedjies geskryf en gesing het – hy het die afgelope tien jaar op straat gesing – het hy eers baie onlangs die geleentheid gekry om van sy liedjies professioneel te laat opneem. Hy glo dat ’n droom iemand se lewe kan verander, omdat dit hulle na ’n beter toekoms kan lei. Sy eie lewe getuig hiervan.
Die sanger en liedjieskrywer is in Waterval-Boven gebore en na onstuimige kinderjare het hy homself op veertienjarige ouderdom op straat bevind. Omdat hy vir homself moes sorg, het hy klein misdade begin pleeg om te oorleef. Lewe op die straat het ook veroorsaak dat hy met dwelms deurmekaar raak en hy het, op die ouderdom van vier-en-dertig, vir ses maande in ’n rehabilitasiesentrum beland. Kort daarna het hy en Lezaan ontmoet en hulle fokus daagliks op hulle emosionele en geestelike welstand.
Rudi se unieke verhoognaam – RudiTheOutsider – is geïnspireer deur sy verlede en die feit dat hy nog altyd soos ’n buitestaander gevoel het. Maar hy is nie bitter oor sy verlede nie, inteendeel. Sy leuse is nie verniet Amor Fati nie, wat beteken om jou ‘lot lief te hê’ of om te aanvaar dat alles vir ’n doel gebeur en dat selfs pyn en lyding nodig is.
Die sanger, wat tans in Pretoria woon saam met sy vrou en twee kinders, glo dat dit sy deursettingsvermoë in was wat vir hom deure oopgemaak het. Ten spyte van sy probleme, het hy homself en sy vermoëns ontdek en is hy meer vasberade as ooit om sy doelwitte te bereik.
“Die uitdagings wat eens op ’n tyd vir my onoorkombaar was, is dit nie meer nie. Trouens, hulle het die weg gebaan vir ’n beter toekoms,” sê die kunstenaar. “Ek wil my musiek gebruik om my uitdagings en hoe ek dit oorkom het met luisteraars te deel, sodat hulle besef dat dit moontlik is. Ek wil hê my musiek moet mense ophef en inspireer, sodat hulle drome ook eendag waar kan word.”
Buiten vir die vrystelling van sy debuut-enkelsnit, beplan Rudi om soveel as moontlik op te tree en om moontlik aan die einde van die jaar te gaan toer. Hy wil ook graag nog ’n paar liedjies uitreik en verklap dat sy eerste album ook reeds in die pyplyn is.
Met ’n liedjie soos SERENDIPITY, gaan hy beslis baie bewonderaars inpalm op sy pad na sukses.
Die enkelsnit is nou beskikbaar op alle digitale platforms. Luister na dit hier: https://open.spotify.com/track/6Iu7qfxVS6U2sGytTkMBV5?si=Nm97U4UVTxyb4Nh1m0KGgw
