music industry
Hitting a HigH note What do you do, in a nutshell?
Neil Potgieter
I perform, write, produce and play music.
Professional Musician / MeMber: Macstanley
Why music?
I’ve loved music from a young age and somehow couldn’t get away from it no matter what I did, so figured it was the right thing to do.
What training did you undergo?
I did a year of music theory at MIT in Los Angeles and the rest is self-taught using books, internet and, very importantly, my fellow musicians.
p h oto :
s u p p l i e d
describe a typical day in your World
It depends what gig I’m on or what stage of the process I’m involved in. For writing, it would mean just sitting and capturing ideas as they come and then working them until I’m happy with the result. For studio, when tracking for an album, getting in early and laying down the music with the right feel is vital, so no sleepy heads normally helps. Touring means early rises, lots of travelling, sound checks, the actual performance, packing up, travelling again and then hopefully getting some sleep.
aspects you love…
It’s very fulfilling. It gives me great pleasure and I think that somehow that pleasure is transferred to the people listening, so it’s a win-win situation.
any dislikes?
The activity when music is not played – the business end. This needs to be dealt with diligently and can take up a lot of time, which, in short, frustrates me a little, because, well, we could be playing something!
hurdles overcome? Ha ha! Many. All three of them: drugs, sex and Rock n’ Roll!
career highlights include…
Hearing my music on the radio, especially when it
hits Top Ten or Number One! Playing for 35 000 people. Touring Germany. Having a European label sign you based on a song you wrote. Simply just playing the guitar! It’s all good, but I must say that seeing people get off to your music is always the highlight for me. Then I know my work is done!
future goals…
Start a side blues/ rock project; learn to sing better; write and produce in other genres; keep learning guitar; get Macstanley’s third studio album out, then win a SAMA for it, and get a couple of hits both locally and abroad.
training versus experience?
Well, you can’t learn
experience, but getting a good education in music won’t hurt, depending where you get it.
What makes a successful muso?
Don’t get caught in the hype of light! Stay away from the party scene if you find that you have an addictive personality. Write from the heart, perform from the heart, and be completely honest with yourself.
advice for neWcomers?
Practice, practice and practice some more. Whatever it is you are aiming for, get in that groove and keep chugging away at it until you feel that you’ve got it. Persevere and believe in yourself. post matric 2012
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