The Afrikaans rock group, Wit Kasteel (Clemond Dartnall -lead vocalist and guitarist, Ernst Nieuwoudt -lead guitarist, Reinard Kruger -bassist and back-up vocalist and Waldemar Behr –drummer), are getting more and more popular by the day with their unique rock sound and chart-topping singles like Toegewyd and Herinnering released from their second album, TOEGEWYD, which has just been released!
“This album includes a good combination of original songs, as well as some well-known covers. We wanted to compile a playlist that has something for everyone to listen to,” they reveal about the content of this album which is a collection of upbeat melodies, with meaningful lyrics, that listeners will be able to identify with. A few emotional ballads were also included to ensure that there is something on the album to suit everyone’s taste.
They released their self-titled debut album in 2015, which received a Ghoema nomination for Best Rock Album and shot to fame with the release of the first single that was taken from that album – a unique rendition of Laurika Rauch’s Die Nostalgie, which at that time, topped the charts of stations like Groot FM and Suidkaap FM for several weeks.
“We have learned a lot since the release of our debut album and felt that it was time to share something new with fans to showcase how much we have grown,” they explain. “Every song is written with a message in mind and there is something on the album that will appeal to everyone’s lives.”
“We all wrote the album together and also had help from Josh Oosthuizen and Hugo Ludik at Muse Studios. One of the songs was also written by Karl Bremer, who wrote ‘Die Nostalgie’,” they say.
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Some of the songs that listeners can definitely look forward to are the two unique classic rock covers on the album, but the one that will make you gasp for air and sit right up is the mind blowing remake of “House of the Rising Sun”, a duet with super talented and well-known theatre performer and actress, Elizca Coetzer (Hairspray, Live in Vegas, Rhythm of the Night).
The title track was released in June 2020 and it was very popular from the get-go. It was created with the help of Muse Studio’s Hugo Ludik. This commercial rock track is about staying positive in tough times, which is why they chose it as the title of the new album. “It was the perfect name for our album, because despite the circumstances, we are still ‘committed’ to a bigger dream and a better future.”
Watch the video here:
Wit Kasteel, which was named after an iconic building in Erasmuskloof, was founded by Clemond and Jurie Schoeman in 2011, because Clemond felt that he did not really fit in the corporate industry. Neither of them could play guitar, but bought instruments and a sound system and started practicing. Waldemar and Reinard went to school with Clemond and after a chance encounter and an advertisement on Facebook, the two members joined the group in 2012.
Today, Clemond, Reinard and Waldemar are still part of the band, but in 2017 Ernst took over as lead guitarist.
To date they have performed at many private functions, venues and festivals such as soos Innibos, Bieliemielie Fees, KKNK, Aardklop, Moepanie Oesdag, Rocking Potch and more.
The group still has many plans and dreams for the future, which includes more live performances and a tour to the Netherlands.
They are currently busy preparing for their official album launch which will take place at Padstal in Pretoria https://www.facebook.com/PadstalPTA on 20 November 2020 at 19h00 and tickets will be available at the door. Make sure you don’t miss this electric album launch! No under 18’s allowed.
“We feel that we are bringing a very unique sound to the market. We enjoy playing classic rock music, because it tells the best stories and we want to share the best stories with our listeners,” they conclude.
TOEGEWYD has a fresh and unique sound and marks the start of a very promising chapter in this talented group’s music career.
TRACK LIST:
Toegewyd
Nog een
Herinnering
Jy Maak My Mal
Deel Dit Uit
Elke Mens
Gee My Dorp Terug
House of the Rising Sun
Laaste Keer
Bloedoog Bottelboer
Great Balls Of Fire
Meisie Sonder Sokkies
*House House of the Rising Sun – ft. Elizca Coetzer
Download the album here:
https://smarturl.it/Toegewyd-DieAlbum
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WitKasteel/
Instagram: @witkasteel
Twitter: @witkasteel
Website: www.witkasteel.co.za
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/witkasteel