DEBUT SINGLE THE START OF A MUSICAL LEGACY
Most people want to make their mark on the world and leave a lasting legacy. This desire to leave behind something meaningful is the inspiration for Jaid River’s debut single, DUISEND JAAR VAN NOU.
The adult contemporary track, penned by the young singer-songwriter and produced by Gideon Botes, was initially written in response to Jaid’s move to the city when she was eighteen. “I wrote this song within a few months of moving to Pretoria from George. I suddenly had this whole new world in front of me, and I wanted to capture that stage of my life,” she explains. “At eighteen I so badly wanted to make a difference.”
Over the past few years, however, the song has started to take on a different meaning for Jaid. “It started with the idea of leaving a legacy – what can I do that will make people remember me – but I have since realised that making your mark on the world is more about who you are than what you do. It is about making peace with where you are and knowing that who you are is enough.”
The single, she says, touches on issues such as being on your own for the first time in a city full of strangers, trying to figure out who you are and who you want to be, and ultimately embracing your journey and the people you meet along the way – all universal topics that will resonate with listeners.
While Jaid has been performing for several years, DUISEND JAAR VAN NOU is her first original release and the first single off her debut album, which is due for release later this year/early next year.
The single will be complemented by a music video, which was shot at the Big Red Barn in Gauteng, with the support of GP van der Merwe (videographer), Xander van den Berg (photographer) and Megan du Preez (stylist).
“Because the lyrics are deep and meaningful, I wanted the video to be quite simplistic,” Jaid says of the concept. “The woods in the video represent the unknown. It starts with me staring at the woods, scared and reluctant to enter and leave the open and familiar spaces behind. As the song progresses, my courage grows until I finally decide to run into the woods and embrace it.”
Jaid, whose real name is Jeanlie Minnie, was born in Potchefstroom and raised in George. She has three younger sisters, which is where her stage name stems from – Jaid is an acronym of their names, while River represents constant flow. “For me, my stage name represents unity. I would never have been able to go on this incredible journey without my family’s support. It also reminds me that we are always changing, shaped by our experiences and the people around us. This is perfectly captured in the saying ‘you can’t step in the same river twice’.”
The young singer-songwriter started performing in 2016, at the age of seventeen, initially playing at markets and restaurants. That same year she had the opportunity to perform at the Karoo Stilfees alongside artists such as Joshua Na Die Reën, Lizandra Winter, Len Muller, and Jaco Van Der Merwe, where she forged close friendships.
Before pursuing her Diploma in Music at Tshwane University of Technology in 2018, Jaid spent a year learning the ropes from Lizandra Winter and Joshua Na Die Reën. “I will forever be grateful to them for giving me those opportunities. They have greatly influenced not only how I write, but also how I approach the industry. There are many opinions about who and what one should be, and I count myself incredibly lucky to have had mentors like them.”
Having obtained her diploma in 2021, Jaid’s focus has since shifted to her music career.
Jaid enjoys collaborating with other artists, a passion she was able to pursue as one of twelve finalists in Jannie Du Toit’s Nuwe Baadjie competition earlier this year. “I was amazed by the talented people who took part in the workshop, many of whom I now call friends. I look forward to working with all of them again.”
Following the release of DUISEND JAAR VAN NOU and her debut album, the 23-year-old is looking forward to working with others – her wish list includes Deon Meiring, Almero, Joshua Na Die Reën, Thys Nortje, Jaco Smit, Leon Gropp, Liani Reynolds, en Jaco Van Der Merwe (Bittereinder – performing more shows, and touring the country.
Lauren McAfee said, “The joy in our life is not found in what we have or in worldly comforts, but in who we are.” Jaid’s debut single perfectly captures this notion and, by making meaningful music, this talented young artist is sure to leave a legacy.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaidrivermusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaid_river_music/?hl=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7IrhwC7T703Gf45SZKlSvA
Website: www.jaidriver.com