Van der Want and Letcher make music again
JOBURG - Singer Matthew van der Want has teamed up with former music collaborator Chris Letcher and songstress Nechama Brodie for a few gigs.
Van der Want rose to prominence on local airwaves in the mid ’90s, after the debut of his first release, Turn on You.
He and Letcher received critical acclaim for their albums, Low Riding and Bignity.
Apart from a few sporadic gigs, the singer-songwriter took a hiatus from the music industry. Using this time wisely, Van der Want focused on his family and returned to university.
“Apart from Oppikoppi a few years ago, Letcher and I haven’t played together in a long time,” he said.
“He left for London to further his music career, and because I had children, I stayed here and enrolled for an LLB at Wits University.”
Van der Want has practised as an attorney for 10 years, and started his own firm.
“I’ve found time to do music again. I bought a digital piano, and am writing and recording at the moment,” he said.
“It’s good to play with Letcher again, even though I feel like the ugly sister. We’ve been rehearsing some of the older stuff, and bringing in some new stuff.”
The singer-songwriter, whose song, Pianist, featured in the 2010 film The Bang Bang Club, described his relationship with music as “complicated, unsettled”.
He said he often wondered whether his work as a musician was pointless or not.
“It’s a strange form of self-revelation, and it was all cathartic,” said Van der Want.
“My music has always been raw, upfront, and honest… There’s usually a healthy distinction between the person and his music, but I just bleed into my music. That caused problems, because I struggle with the distinction between what’s public and what’s private.”
Despite this fraught relationship, Van der Want said it had all been worth it.
“We often realise these things in retrospect,” he said.
“The highlights were real highlights… I remember when Letcher and I came offstage after playing a good gig at Splashy Fen, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo gave us a standing ovation. That was special.”
Catch Van der Want/Letcher and Nechama Brodie on 15 November at the Troyeville Hotel, 25 Bezuidenhout Street, Troyeville, at 8pm.
Details: 011 402 7709; www.troyevillehotel.co.za; www.matthewvanderwant.bandcamp.com
LISTEN: Van der Want & Letcher – Misheen:
