It’s never easy to leave the familiar behind for new adventures. But ever since Jaid River decided to move to Gauteng, her music career has only gone from strength to strength.
Her latest single, STAD VAN VERLANGE, was released earlier this year along with her debut album, Verlanger, and is all about the experience of leaving behind what you know and the uncertainty and doubt that come with being alone in a new city or place for the first time.
A music video for this powerful ballad, which has been very well received so far, has just been released and takes you on a nostalgic journey through the life of this talented singer-songwriter.
The video combines old home videos with more recent performance shots filmed at Jaco Smit’s studio (where 11 of her album’s songs were recorded) in Midlands Estate.
“This video is very nostalgic. We used old home videos of when my sisters and I were younger. It’s a memory of childlike innocence and shows bits of who I am, where I come from, and the people who played the biggest role in my life. Then and now,” she explains.
“In addition to my sisters (who inspired my stage name) and parents, I was also privileged to feature two of my best friends, Jaco Smit (my producer and band mate) and Manelisi Mdaka (bass player and band mate), in the video.”
Just like with her previous video and publicity shoot, GP van der Merwe, with Jaco van der Bank as second shooter, was once again in charge of things during this project, and she is grateful for the opportunity to work with people she knows well.
“I think when you work with friends, there’s a different dynamic that people from outside can pick up on. Being able to play with my band in the video was enjoyable and effortless,” she shares.
Watch the video here:
Jaid, whose real name is Jeanlie Minnie, was born in Potchefstroom and grew up in George.
The now Pretorian 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.
After obtaining her music diploma in 2021, she began to focus seriously on her music career.
Since the official release of her debut album in March 2023, she has been working on new music and projects with other musicians and plans to go on tour soon.
With STAD VAN VERLANGE‘s music video, Jaid shares a lot of herself with listeners, just like with the lyrics of her songs, and she hopes that it will remind people of what really matters.
“The message is that there are people who shape you and that there is a childlike quality that is sometimes lost as you get older, but there are also parts that remain, certain things you can never forget or lose,” she concludes.
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