With their lively, emotional performances, popular folk-rock band Van Der Aven have steadily been making a name for themselves around the country.
And Stellenbosch music fans will have the opportunity to be transported on that emotional journey when the band, comprising Roelof van der Merwe, Theunis van der Merwe and Paul Avenant, takes to the stage of The Daisy Jones Bar at Stellenhill Wine Estate tonight (Friday 17 June).
Van Der Aven, previously known as BrotherBrother, stepped into the limelight when they won Texx and the City’s Band Or Bust competition at the Toyota US Woordfees in March 2020. A tough competition, with more than 250 entries, the band’s performance at the finals won them the unanimous winners’ vote from esteemed judges Theo Crous, Karen Zoid, Wynand Myburgh and Tecla Ciolfi (Texx and the City).
Ciolfi said: “I knew from the first moment I listened to their Band Or Bust entry that there was something very special about Van Der Aven’s music. They have a unique ability to connect on an emotional level with their audience, and they’ll leave you feeling light after a show. That’s why I choose them.
Crous loves the way Van Der Aven uses three-part harmonies. “Their sound is distinctive in that way,” he pointed out.
“Heimwee”, originally a poem written by Afrikaans author and poet JRL van Bruggen, was penned when the poet was studying in the Netherlands and missed the wide-open spaces of South Africa.
Van der Merwe came across “Heimwee” while in isolation during the first 34 days of the national lockdown in 2020. Growing up on the plains of the Karoo, he felt homesick in his small Stellenbosch flat during the time.
After not being able to remember the Afrikaans word for “homesick”, Van der Merwe turned to Google and stumbled upon the lyrics of “Heimwee”. He was so moved by it, he sat down and wrote his own music to the words.
When Covid-19 restrictions eased at the beginning of this year, Van Der Aven chose to record “Heimwee” at the world-class Sunset Recording Studios in Stellenbosch, alongside Jürgen von Wechmar who has worked with some of the country’s biggest artists like Beatenberg, Die Heuwels Fantasties, aKING and Albert Frost. It is the first single from a six-track EP by Van Der Aven that will be released in August.
A classic version of “Heimwee” was originally recorded by the legendary South African singer Mimi Coertse. “We planned to release our single Friday 10 June and were surprised to hear that it is Mimi Coertse’s 90th birthday on Sunday 12 June, only two days after our release,” Van der Merw related.
“It’s quite amazing how these things work out! We respect the fact that her version of ‘Heimwee’ is an absolute gem in the treasure chest of the heritage of Afrikaans music. We hope she has a wonderful birthday.”
“Heimwee” was also covered by Coenie de Villiers and his muso friends Jan Blohm and Mauritz Lotz on his album Hart van Glas. De Villers sent word to the group that he loves the new Van Der Aven version: “I particularly love the kick-ass instrumental bridge. Well done and good luck with the launch!”
