The faces behind Surrender Hill – Americana duo’s Scottburgh connection
Robin and Afton visit South Africa once a year, just to visit family this side and play music around local joints when they can.
THE American country music duo, Surrender Hill, comprising husband and wife Robin Dean Salmon and Afton Seekins, came down to the South Coast just as the new year approached for some work and, of course, family time with Robin’s parents in Scottburgh.
Robin was born in Durban and later moved with his family to the Free State and then to Texas, where his music career began. “I was in boarding school and music was my escape and helped me express my youthful angst,” said Robin.
At the age of 15 he took up songwriting and, soon after high school, he formed the band ‘See No Evil’. The group moved to New York City for bigger opportunities and ended up landing a deal with Sony Music.
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Ten years later, Robin found himself drawn towards country music, as that is what he grew up with at the ranch in Texas. He turned to alternative country songwriting and met Afton while playing in a show in Sedona.
She had grown up in an Alaskan fishing village and then an Arizona frontier town. With a passion for dance, she had moved to New York to pursue her career as a choreographer. She then moved back to Arizona, where she used her personal journal as lyric inspiration for her songwriting.
Robin and Afton, were drawn to each other through music and that developed into love. They decided to become a musical duo and spread their positive energy through their music.
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“We’re in love and, as there’s so much negativity in the world, we hope to radiate that love to everyone just to put a positive spin on things,” said Robin.
They call themselves ‘Surrender Hill’ after the hill where the Anglo-Boer War came to an end.
“We’ve been through turmoil and everyone fights their own battles only to surrender at the end and live in peace,” explained Afton. “This is where the name came from. Something that meant there will be brighter and happier days once you’re at peace.”
Surrender Hill does covers of their favourite singers such as Dolly Parton, U2 and more, but likes to focus more on their original music.
In 2015 they released their first self-titled album; then in 2017 they made ‘Right Here, Right Now’ and finally with the success from those two, decided to make ‘Tore Down Fences’, which is to be released next month.
This third album still expresses their love for one another, but at the same time explains the challenges and good and bad that come with every relationship.
Robin and Afton visit South Africa once a year, just to visit family this side and play music around local joints when they can. The two play at venues from pubs to concert halls and even at weddings.
“One of the best and most memorable parts of our musical journey was when we played at a concert and we had everyone singing along to our original songs. That’s when we knew ‘hey, this is actually working’,” Robin said.
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The two will head back to Georgia in February and will continue touring and promoting their music, but with a little extra help on the way from a soon-to-be little musician.
Afton is expecting their first child in May and hopes that their duo can one day be a trio.
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