Making a relationship work takes commitment and perseverance, especially in the face of ever-growing challenges. However, the result of going the distance is not only worth the effort but is beyond what most people think possible.
This is the message at the heart of seasoned musician Wouter van de Venter’s new single. Inspired by his wife and muse, Anita, MY BOK is about looking back on their life together. “After so many years you tend to look back at the ups and downs, the shared dreams and the difficult times. Seeing how things turned out makes me realise that no matter what, we will always be there for one another,” says Wouter. “My have always referred to my wife as my “Bok’ and I am her ‘Beer’, that is just the way it has always been.”
The track, described as a little bit country and a little bit rock, was written by Wouter and produced by Weskus Studio and Coolerbox. Its release follows hot on the heels of Ek Val, a touching duet featuring award-winning artist Nianell, which encapsulates the lessons learnt during the uncertainty of the past two years.
“March 2020 was a difficult time for everyone and irrevocably changed the lives of people everywhere. As a musician I couldn’t work, the cost of living increased, and I honestly didn’t know which way to turn,” says Wouter. “I reached out to old colleagues and friends, including Nianell, and Ek Val was born. It is meant to bring hope and give listeners strength when things get tough.” Like Ek Val, MY BOK has a universal theme that will undoubtedly resonate with listeners.
As was the case for most people in the entertainment industry, Wouter was severely affected by lockdown. However, he has made the most of the unprecedented challenge – MY BOK is the singer-songwriter’s third single in six months. “My goal for 2022 is to make up for what was lost during lockdown,” he explains. “I am constantly working on new tunes and new ideas. I love a challenge, and not knowing how things will turn out inspires me to keep going.”
His new single is complemented by a music video, which was shot by Vonk Musiek on his friend and fellow musician Dozi’s farm.
Having spent the better part of 30 years in the music industry, Wouter, who studied music, performing arts, and jazz at Pretoria Technikon, has amassed a wealth of experience. The award-winning artist was Laurika Rauch’s guitarist for around six years and was a founding member of the guitar sensation Ses Snare. In addition to performing locally and internationally, he has written innumerable hits for several artists. While boasting a stellar career, he singles out accompanying Laurika Rauch at the Royal Albert Hall in London as the highlight of his career.
Renowned for doing his own thing, Wouter admits that he is inspired by international artist Peter Gabriel. He also has a soft spot for all things Afrikaans – as long as it is done well.
A family man and self-confessed foodie, the singer-songwriter loves cooking, a good braai, and spending time with friends. He also runs the successful Weskus Studio. He shares: “I was born to make music and I still enjoy it fully every day.”
MY BOK is available for download from https://linktr.ee/woutervdventer
“I believe that the song will appeal to a broad audience, because we have all been in the same situation over the past two years and have all been in special relationships,” he concludes.
Wouter van de Venter Vier Die Liefde Van Sy Lewe Met Nuwe Enkelsnit
Verhoudings vat baie werk en uithouvermoë, veral met al die uitdagings wat die lewe na jou kant toe gooi. Wanneer jy dit regkry, is dit uit en uit die moeite werd omdat dit oneindige voordele inhou.
Dít is die boodskap agter die gesoute musikant, Wouter van de Venter, se nuutste enkelsnit wat geïnspireer is deur sy vrou en muse, Anita.
MY BOK is ’n terugblik op hulle lewe saam. “Na so veel jare saam kyk ’n mens terug na al die hoogtepunte en laagtepunte van ’n verhouding. Na al die drome wat julle saam gehad het en al die moeilik tye wat jul al saam deur gemaak het. Wanneer jy sien hoe dinge uitgedraai het, besef jy dat julle altyd daar sal wees vir mekaar – ongeag van wat gebeur,” verduidelik hy. “Ek noem my vrou al vir jare ‘Bok’ en sy my ‘Beer’, dis maar hoe dit is in ons huis.”
Die snit, wat beskryf word as ’n bietjie country en ’n bietjie rock, kom uit Wouter se eie pen en is vervaardig deur Weskus Studio en Coolerbox Records. Dit volg in die suksesvolle voetspore van ’n hartroerende duet saam met die bekroonde sangeres, Nianell, getiteld Ek Val.
Net soos MY BOK, het hierdie liedjie ’n universele tema wat gaan oor die lesse wat ons oor die afgelope twee jaar moes leer.
“Maart 2020 was ’n moeilike tyd wat ons lewens vir altyd kom verander het. As ’n musikant, kon ek nie werk nie en die onkostes het nie minder geraak nie. Ek het eerlikwaar nie meer geweet watse kant toe nie. Maar ek was nie alleen nie,” vertel Wouter. “Ek het uitgereik na ou kollegas en vriende, waaronder Nianell, en so is ‘Ek Val’ gebore. Die doel daarvan was om vir luisteraars hoop te gee in moeilike tye.”
Inperking het ’n groot impak gehad op Wouter se lewe. Hy het egter die meeste gemaak van hierdie uitdagende tyd. MY BOK is dié sanger en liedjieskrywer se derde enkelsnit in ses maande. “My doelwit vir 2022 is om op te maak vir dit wat tydens inperking verlore gegaan het,” sê hy. “Ek werk konstant aan nuwe liedjies en idees. Ek hou van ’n lekker uitdaging en gee nie op wanneer onsekerheid my oorval nie.”
Sy nuutste enkelsnit word gekomplementeer deur ’n pragtige musiekvideo wat op mede-musikant, Dozi, se plaas verfilm is deur Vonk Musiek.
Met dertig jaar se ondervinding in die musiekbedryf, kan Wouter – wat musiek, uitvoerende kunste en jazz aan Pretoria Technikon studeer het – beslis as ervare bestempel word. Hierdie bekroonde kunstenaar was vir ses jaar Laurika Rauch se kitaarspeler en ook die stigterslid van Ses Snare. Buiten vir talle optredes plaaslik en oorsee, het hy ook al treffers geskryf vir verskeie kunstenaars. Alhoewel hy al baie hoogtepunte in sy loopbaan beleef het, sonder hy sy vertoning saam met Laurika Rauch by die Royal Albert Hall in Londen uit as sy gunsteling-herinnering.
Bekend daarvoor dat hy sy eie ding doen, erken die sanger dat hy groot bewondering het vir Peter Gabriel se musiek. Hy het ook ’n sagte plek vir alles wat Afrikaans is – solank dit natuurlik goed gedoen is.
Verder is hy ’n gesinsman en kosliefhebber wat mal is oor kook, braai en kuiers saam met vriende. Hy is ook die eienaar van Weskus Studio. Hy verklap: “Ek is gebore om musiek te maak en geniet elke dag ten volle.”
MY BOK is nou beskikbaar op digitale platforms. Kry dit hier: https://linktr.ee/woutervdventer
“Ek dink mense sal aanklank vind by die lied omdat ons almal die afgelope twee jaar in dieselfde bootjie was en die meeste van ons al in ’n spesiale verhouding was met iemand,” sluit hy af.
