Durban musician Dani Niewoudt has already worked with a number of international artists, but she’s passionate about the South African music industry.
|||Durban - Durban has produced some of the best artists in South Africa from the Gangs of Ballet, The Kickstands, Big Nuz and musicians of the Wolf Pack.
And it’s also home to Dani Nieuwoudt, who started her musical career at the age of 3, says her first taste of music was when she would harmonise with her mother.
“My family has always been musical. That does something to your musical ear. I played the violin at the age of 6, gave it up for guitar at 9, wrote my first song at the age of 12. It was awful but that didn’t stop me as I had 50 better songs in the bag by the age of 16.”
She released her album in 2011 called Open Spaces a remastered album from when she was 17.
Dani studied in the UK where she completed her BA honours degree in song writing at The British and Irish Modern Music Institute. She says that the city is an incredible place for an arts student.
Her soulful voice stems from musical influences that include blues, country and a bit of acoustic pop.
Dani has already worked with an array of international artists which include opening for Milky Chance alongside The Kickstands and working with well-known cinematographer and creative director Cale Glendening from the United States. Glendening also directed two of her music videos which she shot in Ireland.
She says her best moments as an artist include hearing her album debut for the first time at her Brighton launch and hearing her music in movie trailers and films. But she says it’s jamming with other artists that she most enjoys.
Dani believes that South African artists should be educated on the value of their own culture and creative sector especially in Durban.
“Help local people to recognise and value great local talent and promote,underpin and educate artists. Help investigate and learn about the worldwide music industry so that they can take SA music out there and draw investments and attention back to the wealth and creative diversity of SA culture.”
She loves the creative diversity and music history that South Africa has, but says that SA needs a wake up call especially as we are behind in terms of recognising local talent.
“There is such pure joy in South African music, I wouldn’t change it. It is far behind in terms of recognising the value in its own local artists and educating them for the music business and working with them for greater creativity and value instead of through them(musicians) for whatever they can take.”
At the moment Dani is busy working on her music and hopes to one day work with Gangs Of Ballet.
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