Ruan Nel rocks it out

With a fresh face and the talent to match, Ruan Nel is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry.

The 21-year-old is anything but a one-trick-pony. Through spare time and natural talent, Ruan taught himself to play piano, Djeme, acoustic, set piece and bass guitars.

“My grandfather encouraged me to sing from a young age. I never really took it seriously until high school, where I took music as a subject.”

Sparking a fire in his soul, Ruan fell in love with unique harmonies and tunes.

Since finding himself in song, he has become more grounded and calm.

“Music soothes the mind, you know?” he explained. “It has changed my lifestyle completely.” The rising star describes his style as soft, unique and jam-packed with emotion. “Music isn’t something anyone can explain; it’s something you feel. You can’t touch it, but it touches you.”

When asked what inspires him, Ruan simply replied, “Every day.”

Having had his fair share of ups and downs, he attributes the beauty and meaning behind his original songs to ‘bad days’.

“It might not always be a good day, but it could turn into the best music.”

Ruan often has ‘jam sessions’ in his room, where he experiments with potential lyrics and melodies.

Ruan looks up to artists like Kenny Rogers and Theuns Jordaan.

“We have similar styles and unique voices. I think I have quite a deep voice like them.” Ruan’s most memorable moment in music was when he performed with the Youth Choir at the Music in the Mountains festival in 2010.

“My grandfather passed away that evening. I put all my effort and emotion into that performance.”

Walter Butt also played an invaluable role in Ruan’s budding career.

“He passed away almost a year ago. He was my best friend; my tutor. He made me who I am today in music. In a sense, he filled the void left by my grandfather’s passing.”

In the last two months, Ruan took to the stage at several weddings, the Vodacom Newcastle Winter Festival and the South African Boerperd Show in Standerton.

“I enjoyed performing at the Boerperd show. I was on stage for four hours straight and sang songs I hadn’t prepared for. The experience taught be that preparation is the key to success.”

Forgetting the words to a song is something Ruan knows all to well.

“The best thing you can do is not let the music stop. You need to be so calm that people think it is part of the song. You have to manipulate the crowd,” he said, his method almost foolproof.

If all else fails and music is no longer an option, Ruan plans to pursue either teaching or radio presenting.

In 10 years time, Ruan sees himself successful and able to provide for a family.

“That’s my main goal. I believe every person is the writer of his own story.

A writer doesn’t always put his full story on paper. Sometimes words written in hidden ink mean more those that are visible.”

The musician’s advice for aspiring artists is wildly profound, yet simple.

“Accept criticism and if you don’t enjoy it, don’t do it.

“There are times you are going to feel like you want to give up; I feel like that a lot. I’ve been through a lot in my life, and that’s the reason I persevere,” he concluded.

Ruan’s determination and God-given talent is somewhat captivating. With the world at his fingertips, the community looks forward to seeing what the powerhouse will bring to the table in the near future.