Neil Sandilands has graced our screens in classic soapies and Hollywood blockbusters. And now he’s back on the local stage. With Neil, what you see is what you get, and that down-to-earth vibe is exactly why we loved having him back home.
He really wanted to make the most of his visit. And oh boy, did he. Between all kinds of interviews and catching up, Neil Sandilands was busy filming kykNETS’s Die Groot Niks and rocking his 40 days and 40 nights Winter tour across the country.
And in this whirlwind of activity, he also managed to drop a new album. This despite the clock and circumstances working against him. The album, Land & Sand, was put together with his long-time friend and producer, Theo Crous, in just three weeks. And it was, as Neil would say … main.
“With the tour, we wanted to keep the live performances fresh. And so it made sense to get new writings to the studio as quickly as possible, to let it fall on listening ears, in tandem with the tour. And this, I feel, really lent a crisp element to our shows. Though we didn’t forget to sprinkle in some famous classics as well.
“The songs on this album were literally all I had in my back pocket, which I could present more or less in completeness, between producing series and films and all kinds of other activities. It’s perhaps a more direct and personal look at the immediacy of my recent existence.
“I’m just loving how the songs sound, possibly precisely because there wasn’t really time for too deep thinking or tierlantyntjies. My thinking was something along the lines of … here it is, it’s what we managed to put together in the rush of things, hope you like it.”
Well, to say we loved it is putting it mildly. Think a series of captivating, rustic songs, that keep you hooked from the first strum to the final note. Clad in his signature floral suit and a majestic beard, he’s a master storyteller … telling the tales behind each song, keeping us hanging on his every word. We couldn’t help but tap along all the way through.
For Neil, the cover of the album is a historic moment too. An old Polaroid he found in his Sandbaai storage shows his first-ever live performance, doing a Hak Hom Blokkies solo at just six years old. Because once a performer, always a performer, right? And now, this performer has gone full circle. There was an immediate connection between the album cover and the track Gooi Kole, Neil admits.
“The most wonderful thing about the Gooi Kole music video specifically, is that we made it during the filming of Die Groot Niks in the Kaokoveld, Namibia. The fun guys in the video are the team that embodied the series. They agreed to jive around the fire after hours, in the evening, after a long day of filming. The enjoyment shows, and it’s just been loads of fun.
His personal album faves are Hephzibah and Lei my na die Water. But like a parent, he loves all his creations equally.
He was also adamant to create the works in such a way that he could involve the band – Schalk Joubert, Frank Freeman and Ronan Skillen … who very recently became known as Die Haaspille. Seeing as everyone had their own professional trajectories, and Ronan had migrated to Ireland, this small window of possibility was all they had.
“It was a matter of do it now or not at all. Other musicians on the album are Melissa van der Spuy, Inge Beckmann, Theo Crous and David Jenkins. I am overwhelmed with the outcome. Miles Davis said something like ‘there is no inspiration such as a deadline’. The process taught me that there is much value in working more intuitively and instinctively than cerebrally. With this album, I think I’m getting closer to primitive impulses. And I’m super excited to see what the future holds.
“As for the tour, it went shanana. Regardless of the many challenges that come with it. I believe the country needs more of this … guts to take on something challenging and see it through. I had an absolute blast of a time. Thank you to each and every person who was a part of it.”
Now, Neil’s off to Los Angeles for The Surrender and then to London for London Calling. From the sets of Hollywood to our very own stages, he’s brought with him a wave of authenticity, creativity, and sheer passion. So, here’s to more music, more movies and more unforgettable moments.
His album is available from vyd.co/LandEnSand
Details: Follow @Neil Sandilands on FB, realsandilands on Insta, or visit neilsandilands.com.
Images: Think Films.
