South African band Seether are returning home this weekend, and bassist Dale Stewart says he is missing this beautiful country and talked about some new music.
Stewart, who started the band with singer and guitarist Shaun Morgan back in 1999 in Pretoria, says no matter how long they stay in the US, South Africa still feels like home.
“All or family are still here and I try to see them whenever I can. It’s a great feeling every time we land – the energy, the anticipation, and you get see mom and dad.
“The downside is leaving. Goodbye is always the worst part. But our love for South Africa never dies.”
The band, which started out as Saron Gas all those years ago, was one of the first alternative bands to venture to the other side of the Atlantic. But Stewart says they still consider themselves local boys, who have tattoos of the flag.
“We grew up in South Africa and we are still a South African band.
“We’re definitely not American. We are so proud, we wear our flag on our sleeves.”
From Saron Gas to becoming Seether, the band has had plenty local success, starting with their debut album under their original name, called Fragile.
“Wow,” Stewart says. “Since then it’s been a pretty crazy ride. It’s been great. We’ve made good friends, and had some great experiences.”
Not all rosy
Given Seether’s tumultuous history, not everything has been rosy. “It’s been hard work. The hardest part is leaving family to keep heading on straight. Nothing can prepare you for it.”
Morgan, whose surname is really Welgemoed, dropped his last name for stage purposes.
“When we left, we felt like people were saying we sold out. There was borderline animosity that bothered us. But then we came home to a lot of support. It’s an affirmation that you’re doing things right.”
Now, made up of Morgan, Stewart and drummer John Humphrey, the band has been through a name change, location change, five studio albums and one live album. And they now have a Greatest Hits compilation.
Stewart says the journey has evolved them.
“We’re a much different band to where we started. Music changes as people change, as we working together has changed us as people.
“You evolve as a band and you cope better. As we’ve been growing, we’ve become much more comfy in our own skin and we know ourselves better.”
‘We don’t limit ourselves’
Stewart says they did what they knew and then branched out. “We don’t limit ourselves. We have all kinds of fun and experiment as much as possible.
“The band might as well split up if we sounded like we did on Disclaimer.”
Their upcoming tour to South Africa is going to be slightly different to their usual shows. This time, it’s acoustic.
“We’ve never done a proper acoustic show in South Africa. It’s going to be different. It’s going to have a very different energy and focus.”
The band’s new album is a collection of greatest hits, which has been a long time coming, according to Stewart.
“It’s about giving something back to the fans. A greatest hits album should never be a re-hash of your old stuff, but carefully chosen singles that people love, and we’ve included b-sides.
“But just because we’re releasing a compilation, there’s no slowing down. We’re still writing new material.”
Festivals
Last year, Seether played the annual Oppikoppi Music Festival in Northam, Limpopo.
“Oppi wad electric – it really felt like a homecoming. We’ve always partied there and we always know it’s gonna be fun whatever you’re into. And we did just that.
“We saw friends. We forgot about the dust. It’s almost surreal being in middle of the bush playing music,” says Stewart.
“Oppi definitely stands out. Our favourite is definitely Splashy Fen, though. We also loved Woodstock.
“Festivals were our favorites when we were starting out. We never brought a tent. We would rage out of control one day and play our set the next. There was loads of booze, and an almost suspension of time that we could barely handle.”
Jolling on cheap whiskey
We were a young band then. We didn’t have money. I remember we used to go to shows and walked in with cheapest whiskey possible, play and get wasted.”
However, the band had to grow out of those days. Stewart says they’re still big kids but they have to take it seriously.
“Now feels like we have to take this seriously. We can’t really drink too much. We actually have employees! Can you believe that? It’s not just us.
“The nature of the beast changes. We can’t walk around the festival – one person spots you and it’s over. That’s abig part if growing up and growing as a band.
“I think being a smaller band and dreaming and jamming in the garage was the most fun. As a band, we had all these aspirations and wanting to get a record deal and play a festival. But when you get bigger it’s easy for it to become a job.
“And what you have to do when it does become a chore is take a break, get off the road and remember why you do this. Remember why this is fun again.”
Making it
Stewart, having been through the motions of getting playlisted, getting gigs and making it big in South Africa, says it’s much more difficult here, not because of location, but because of the market.
“In the US, there are so many fans to go a round. It’s not a matter of country. It’s a matter of space. Where you fit in. What audiences do you play to?
“The market is hard, and there is no real set way to follow. Everyone is different.”
But, Stewart says, it’s most important to do the work. “Promote yourself. Use social media. Get out there. Radio is important. Barney [Simon, former 5fm DJ] had a hand in that.
“Thanks to Barney for playing the demo we sent!”
He says local bands need to play as much as they can. “You have to have a good product and reveal it to people. Tell a friend. Tell them to bring their friends. It’s also a combination of luck and timing. Don’t be scared. You have to sacrifice your personal life. If it’s what you’re willing to do, this scene is for you.”
Growing up with the greats
Having come up with some of South Africa’s greatest bands, Stewart remembers their days in South Africa and the bands they looked up to.
“The [Springbok] Nude Girls definitely. Just Jinger, Sugardrive, Squeal, Wonderboom, Jimmy 12-Inch … Wow. We still listen to these guys. Not many of the others are around these days. It was an excellent time for local music. And I think it’s just getting better.”
Seether’s impact on the South African music scene has extended to bands nowadays looking up to them, having being playlisted on MTV, having American Idol contestants perform their songs and being known as a South African band internationally.
“I quite like that,” Stewart says. Being the ones who people want to emulate is a great, great feeling. And with that kind of support, I am looking forward to coming home.” – Nikita Ramkissoon
