If ever there was a band that gave life to that weird South African music phenomenon which has everyone who hears their music assuming they are an international act, then Joe Niemand – Conference Entertainers is it.

For months now, the four piece’s melodic rock has dominated airwaves, with songs like “Words” and “Simple Truth” easily slipping into the hearts and minds of music fans now rapidly cottoning onto the fact that Niemand is proudly South African – a truly homegrown group that makes music of a global standard.

That Niemand crafts songs so effortlessly memorable has much to do with the group’s namesake and frontman.

Joe Niemand has been quietly moving behind-the-scenes of the South African music industry, becoming an in-demand songwriter and performer for those in the know – credited for his intuitive gift for a melody and knack of crafting lyrics that speak of universal themes of love, struggle and redemption.

Joe Niemand

Put this to Joe, however, and this unassuming singer and songwriter is reluctant to make too big a fuss out of his unparalleled reputation in the South African music business, professing to hardly remembering his impressive slate of work.

“I feel like my musical life is beginning with Reborn. It’s the album that I have been waiting to make for years because before this, my songwriting took the form of whoever I was writing for.

With Reborn I wrote every song specifically for this album, with each representing something extremely important in my life.”

Much of Joe Niemand’s low-profile has to do with Joe’s belief in letting the music speak for itself. And thankfully for fans of perfectly on-point rock music, Reborn’s set of 14-songs is gaining momentum, on the back of solid radio-play, the selection of “Rise” as Supersport’s official theme for last November’s UK Springbok rugby tour and plenty of word-of-mouth buzz around the group.

What sets apart Niemand’s debut is the intense journey the album represents – a representation through words, music and visuals (check out Reborn’s artwork) of Joe’s personal journey of the past 10 years.

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Zak van Niekerk was born in the heart of Namaqualand (Springbok) where he also went to school. As a farm boy he ran after sheep in the Boesmanland (his family still lives there) and tried his best to be a farmer like his father and brother, but with no luck, because his first love was always music.

He had his own band during his high school years, but he was the only one who was serious about music. He then decided to do his own thing since then until now.

During his matrix year he was assigned SANA church choir en concert group, also known as the Canaries, for a period of two years.

At the end of his first year the government decided to close the department and Zak van Niekerk was forced to make plans for the sudden future.

He then decided to study further and luckily Tygerberg College accepted him, although it was a late appliance.

He received a record deal the same year. At the age of only 19 his debut album (Bekfluitjie Boogie) was released on the 14 January 1999.

Zak van Niekerk | Singer

Zak van Niekerk second album (Springbok toe) saw the light in 2000 and he left BMG a year after the album was released, because he decided to do his own thing again.

For nearly three years he toured through South Africa and showed in different places for an income.

In 2003 he made his breakthrough! He signed contract with Leo Music en things started to happen.

His third album “Lekkerkry” was then released and the album has Gold status. Two other album followed “Byt My”, nearly gold and “Oe Na Na” going strong.

Zak van Niekerk is certainly one of the best comedians and that includes his party and listening music. With his unique way he plays the harmonica, many agree he is one of the best!

With his humour, music and comedy, he always gets a party going!
As he always says: “GOOI MIELIES BROER TOT ONS WEER ONTMOET!!”

3 FLUTES

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