Andre G Nel - Hou My Vas [Official Music Video]

Artist: Andre G Nel, Song: Hou my vas, Director/Designer: Dee Lourens, DOP: Shaun Smith

André G Nel is an award winning graphic designer,singer, song writer, composer and poet
Biography
Composer, poet and designer André G Nel released his debut CD called wegkruip tussen lyne (translation: "hide between the lines") in 2007. The music is sophisticated, fresh, and -- above all -- doesn't easily fall into any known category. With more than 30 live performances André G Nel has firmly established himself in the South African music industry.

André G Nel launched this self-designed 40 page, 12-track CD -- including 10 Afrikaans and two English tracks -- at an informal performance at the Centurion Theatre to a packed audience. Within just a few weeks many of these songs have been approved for playlisting on all major radio stations, including Jacaranda FM, RSG, 94.7 and Rippel FM.

Hou my vas was number 6 and Wonderland number 16 on Rippel 90.5 FM's Top 20 in May/June 2007 and Wonderland number 4 on 90.6 FMs SA Top 10. Jy't my naam vergeet (translation: "You forgot my name") was number 10 during the week of 30 July 2007 and the week thereafter it climbed to number 9 on MK89s Top 10. Jy't my naam vergeet soon appears on MK89s compilation CD, and the brand new, and third, video -- of Joshua/I can't wait for the rain -- started showing on television.

Diane de Beer, journalist at the Pretoria News, writes shortly after the CD launch: "Andre's magic lies in the lyrics, the poetry of his words, the music and a unique delivery."

Cornelia le Roux of Huisgenoot describes it as "André G Nel's music is a jewel to the ears."

Johrné van Huyssteen of the ATKV Taalgenoot (and member of the band Ddisselblom) says "André G Nel . . . establishes himself amongst the big names."

Mariana Malan, journalist at the Die Burger is convinced that "Even though this is his first album, he deserves to be ranked alongside the big names in the music industry." Other reviews appeared in the Pretoria Eastern, Tjil, Insig, SARIE and on Litnet.

Ina van Rooyen from DeKat says "André G Nel oozes quality -- from the design, right through to the recording."

André G Nel was nominated for three categories in the Huisgenoot Tempo-awards in 2007, among them "Favourite contemporary artist", "Favourite contemporary album" and "Favourite newcomer".

André G Nel had his first performance in 1999 at the Moonbox Theatre and his poem Duised (Translation: "Thousand") was set to music and recorded by SAMA winner Anna Davel on her debut album Te Diep (Translation: "Too Deep").

Although André G Nel penned all the songs himself (with the exception of Voshaarnooi by Louis van Rensburg) and also executively produced and financed the album, he had the support of South Africa's top musicians and studio to ensure one of the best productions. wegkruip tussen lyne is produced and arranged by Juan (Floors) Oosthuizen, and the recording and mixing was done by Marius Brouwer at Pop Planet, both having collaborated in the past with great artists like Nataniël, Nianel, Heinz Winkler and Lize Beekman. Other musicians who contributed are Vinnie Henrico, Devereaux van der Hoven, Jaco du Plessis and Susan Mouton.

The genre can roughly be described as pop-folk and strong resemblances can be drawn to artists such as Johannes Kerkorrel, Koos du Plessis, Stef Bos, Tori Amos, Alison Krausse and Coldplay.

André G Nel was born in Pretoria in 1973 and grew up in Middelburg. He studied at the Potchefstroom University and received a degree in graphic design and communication, and was recently appointed head of the Design Division at the award-winning architecture firm Mathews and Associates Architects in Pretoria.

André G Nel has shared the stage with artists like Anna Davel and Bianca la Grange and has performed at various theatres like Centurion, Lier, Dorpstraat and Moonbox. He had a very successful debut run with his production Single White Male at KKNK in 2001. Other performances were held at Déja Vu, Shelanti, Blue Crane, Lucit Candle Garden, Stellenbosch Word Festival 2007 (on invitation) and Etali Lodge (Nedbank Corporate; on invitation), to mention but a few.

André G Nel's television interviews include Kwela and In Pas (KYKNET), Gons and Jip (MK89) and his video's of Hou my vas (Translation: "Hold me tight") and Jy't my naam vergeet are very popular on MK89. His radio interviews include Radio Helderberg, TUKS FM, 90.6 FM Stereo, Radio Rippel, Radio Pretoria as well as MFM (Stellenbosch). His magazine interviews include Get It May 2007, Insig July 2007 and Tjil! July 2007.

André G Nel is an award winning graphic designer, and some of his clients include Anna Davel, Annake de Villiers, EMI (Steve Hofmeyr, Nedine Blom, Danie Niehaus, Bobby Angel and Pieter Smith), Jannie Moolman, UNISA, Revlon, Edrien Erasmus, Pieter Mathews, Bettie Cilliers-Barnard and Rooi Rose Supermodel.