Getting down with Al Dirty

We must have all had that moment when your favourite song plays and the part of the song you most anticipating is when the guitarist plays their epic solo.

There you are, in the comfort of your own home playing that air guitar to the best of your ability, and in that moment you literally are the greatest rock star, yet sadly no one gets to see it. Unless you are Aldert du Toit.

He has toured the world, travelling across Asia and Europe and has been a permanent band member for chart-topping singer, Lira. You’ve heard him play his guitar on Idols SA as part of its band which he sees as a huge honour. He has also been part of the band for other hit shows such as Celebrity Game Night and The Voice SA.
The guitarist, who goes by the name Al Dirty, grew up surrounded by music. “My grandfather, who’s name I had inherited, was a violinist, choir master, and educator many, many years ago, even though I sadly never got to meet him,” he said

A Brixton resident, who has been performing at gigs for the past 16 years, Du Toit described himself as understated, disciplined and versatile, and prides himself on the ‘less is more approach’, all while making sure to incorporate various styles of music that would make him a better musician.

From a young age he always played some instrument or another ‘starting with piano and recorder, which I really didn’t enjoy, and was admittedly pretty bad at’. It was after this introduction that he considered following in his grandfather’s footsteps and picked up the violin but he also quickly realised it was not for him.

His passion for music ignited when he got a drum kit when he was about 10 years old which helped him to find his groove. “I thought that was it, I had found my calling, however, it was not meant to be. When I was 12 years old, we moved into a secured complex where the demographic was more on the ‘senior’ side. One or two drum rolls later the neighbours made it clear that that was the last.”

This would then lead to him laying his hands on his father’s old acoustic guitar to which his ultimate calling was answered.

The guitarist also writes his own music and he just recently recorded his EP under his own project, The Pocket Syndicate titled Hear, We Are which is in its final stages and will soon be available. He described the project’s sound as being groove-based art music.

Throughout his career he has played alongside great local musicians who he has found great inspiration through.

In all these years you may wonder what has kept his passion for music still churning. It’s because he likens his relationship to music with a romantic one. “There’s always that initial infatuation that fades away after a while, then you realise it actually takes a bit of effort and work, but profoundly rewarding, so you think okay, let me commit.”

He added that he kept the commitment alive by keeping it fresh, constantly challenging himself with new styles and techniques.

One of his many hopes is that people do not accept the status quo but challenge it at every level.