THE YOUTH OF TODAY Singing for Change

Published Date

04 June 2009

Author / Submitted by

Sue Northam

Website

www.channel24.co.za

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Usually expressed with exasperation when talking about ‘the youth of today’, in the case of Sam Kaase it is with utter delight that this young chap is using music as a vehicle to drive home the message that South Africans need to change and work together for a better way of life.

2008 was a busy year for this now 19 year old Р finishing high school and recording a very special song which he wrote in 2007 following the loss of both of his parents.  “I remember the first time my pianist and I performed it to the rest of the band. Most of them cried and that moved me so much that I wanted to see the song reaching as many people as possible.”

2009 has seen this song, entitled Insurgence, start to take flight Р to be officially launched on Youth Day, 16 June. The chorus echoes Sam’s thoughts ‘I’m calling my country. I’m calling Africa. I’m calling those people with passion for change. I’m calling all leaders to come. Let’s unite now.’

“When I wrote Insurgence, I wanted it to be a voice for the people in and out of our country who cannot be heard in their horrific daily circumstances Р people who have no one to turn to. The inspiration for this song is to make people realise, even the ones who are inflicting hurt and crime of the damage that not only affects the victims, but the country at large,” states Sam.

But while Sam’s singer songwriter skills are showcased in Insurgence, the project would not be where it is today without the loving input and go getter approach of Laurika Steenkamp who runs the studio where Sam recorded the song. Known for her love of working with young people, not only did she record the song, but she took it a whole lot further. “I really hope that this will establish Sam in the music industry,” smiles Laurika.

While Laurika was sitting in church one day, God told her ‘you have to get SA singing together’. Her thinking was that if you could get people singing together, surely they can live and work together. This a lesson Laurika has learnt over 20 years of working with choirs, ensembles and instrumentalists in prisons, schools and churches!

“I had the idea to involve MPs as a way to show South Africans that they are willing to lead by example. We need our leaders to call for moral regeneration!” enthuses Laurika, when saying how she sent letters to all political party members in Parliament, inviting them to take part in this special project. Four MPs replied Р Helen Zille (DA), Bantu Holomisa (UDM), Patricia de Lille (ID) and Mangosutho Buthelezi (IFP) Р and collaborated on this song!

With a studio and record label called Music@Work, it is Laurika’s passion to employ the amazing power of music to make an impact on and work in people’s lives Р to bring change! And for Sam this project stands for his motto in life ‘we make a living by what we get and a life by what we give’.

With immense singing experience from his school choir to the SA youth choir, with which he has toured to Canada, Sam is now wanting to focus on singing and songwriting Р and to share his vision of using music to heal and teach. “I would also like to get involved in projects where I can speak to young children and the youth around the world about issues that are affecting us!”

Go to www.channel24.co.za to listen to the song.

 

Questions for Sam

– What does Samkele mean?

Samkele means ” We have accepted”.  When my mother fell pregnant with me she was very young and therefore made it hard for my grandparents to accept the situation.  Then I came (sweet bundle of joy) and my grandparents named me Samkele to show their acceptance.

– What is your dad’s name – SS?

Sello Sidwell Kaase

– What did your parents do?

My dad was a soldier and my mom a nurse.

– What do you think they’d say to you today to see your song doing so well?

They would be very proud, especially my mother.  She and I were very close.

– Did you sing as a boy? What did you sing?

Yes. I was a soprano in primary school.  I used to lead songs in assembly and loved imitating Dolly Parton who was my grandfathers favorite female singer.

– What did you dream of doing when you were little?

When I was a child I loved everything that had to do with the spotlight and I also loved being a teacher because both my grandparents were teachers and their passion in their work fascinated me.

– What do you want to do with your life?

– Tell me more about Tirisano School Comp – where was it? which schools competed? what were you competing for?

Trisano was a competition where SA schools could compete in classical and choral music.  We competed for prize money, instruments for the school’s band, a scholarship for the soloists to pursue a career in classical music and place in the competitions grand finale in the dome, Johannesburg.

– How many people are in the SA youth choir?

When the choir was established in 2005, we were 50 members and with more funding the choir has increased to 85 members this year.

– How old were you when you joined the SA youth choir?

– Who did you live with when you relocated to CT – and how old were you then?

I was 14 when I joined the choir.  I lived in the choir’s boarding school for members who came from far.

– What was actress Petro van de Heever most famous / well known for?

Petro van den Heever is a teacher at Stellenberg High School but she is most famous for her contribution in theatre in SA.  She specializes in “one woman plays” which she performs Nationally and other theatre productions for big festivals in SA.  She is one of the most influential Afrikaans actresses in Cape Town.

– Tell me more about the acting you’ve done

When I was in primary school I was part of YASHA (Youth against spread of HIV and AIDS) community theatre group where we did a lot of theatre shows around communities to educate the youth against HIV, AIDS, crime, drugs and other issues that affect the Youth.  I have done several productions in my High School career including an advertisement for Sanlam.

– Where did you tour to?

In 2005 we had a national tour and in 2006 the choir toured in London where I could not go because it was a week before my mother passed on.  In 2007 the choir was due to tour Internationally again bur our sponsors (Fidentia) were being investigated.  In 2008 the choir toured Canada (Vancouver) and Gauteng as a token of appreciation to our sponsers (perto SA)

– How did you get to tour Canada?

– Is Power River a town in Canada – what big city is it near?

– What is Kathamixw?

– What is 3 ring circus?

3 ring circus is a company specializing in reaching the youth market in SA and educating them about making the right choices in life and reaching their full potential whatever they are doing.

– So, what have you done since leaving school – studying? songwriting?

I have been writing, travelling and trying to figure out my purpose in life in this gap year.

– Have you written any other songs?

Yes I have written a lot of other songs that I haop to share with other artists both in SA and abroad.

– What inspired you to write Insurgence?

When I wrote Insurgence I wanted it to be a voice for people in and out of this country who cannot be heard in their horrific day to day circumstances. People who experience endless tragedies and have nobody to turn to.  The song is also a tool to help those who abuse others, whether physically or emotionally because they are different or less powerful than they, are to realize the bigger picture of the damage they are causing and how it  not only affects the victims but the country at large.

– How does it feel to have not only one, but four MPs involved on this?

Its very humbling and come to show that Laurika and I are not alone in the development of “Sing for Change”.

– When you wrote this song, what made you feel it was something special?

I remeber the first time my pianist and I performed it to the rest of the band.  Most of them cried and that moved me so much that I wanted see the song reaching as many people as possible.

– How do you feel about this Sing for Change campaign?

This project stands for my motto in life ” We make a living by what we get and a life by what we give”  Its about sharing strong messages with other people which God has used me as a vehicle for.

– What do you want to change in this world?

It would take me the whole day to answer that but I would like to see every person being free because without freedom one can never experience the true joys of life which I believe we are all entitled to.

– And what do you want to do next?

I would like to get signed under a record label that will share my vision to use music to heal, teach and entertain the world.  I would also love to get involved in projects where I can speak to young children and the youth around the world about issues that affect us.  I feel I have a lot to share through music and other forms of communication.

South Africans Encouraged to Sing for Change

Cape Town Magazine, 8 April 2009

A young South African boy, Sam Kaase, has written a song called “Insurgence”, to change South Africa

Sam Kaase, 18, who is a former member of Cape Town’s South African Youth Choir, is using music to plead with South Africans to speak out for a better way of life. “Don’t fear – together we can fight crime and initiate change,” he says.

Politicians Patricia de Lille, Helen Zille, Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Bantu Holomisa have all added their voices – quite literally – to his recording, showing that they also truly care about South Africa and its people.

Buthulezi, who contributed to the song by singing the chorus and providing a voice-over message about crime and moral regeneration, has a strong musical connection in his family.

His mother, Princess Constance Magogo kaDinizulu was a respected composer and singer of Zulu music.

Part of the song’s lyrics go as follows: “I’m calling my country, and I’m calling Africa. I’m calling those people with passion for change. I’m calling all leaders to come let’s unite now.”

All the artists performing with Sam (on keyboard, drums, flute, trombone, violin and back-up singers) are children still at school. “We wanted to preserve the fact that this project was done by the Youth for the Youth, and whole of SA,” said Laurika Steenkamp of Music At Work, who arranged for the song to be recorded.

“This project was inspired by God saying to me that I must get SA singing together. I had no idea how to even start such a project. Then Sam came to our studio to record a demo of Insurgence. Immediately I knew this was the song!” said Steenkamp.

“When I wrote the song Insurgence, I wanted it to be a voice for the people in and out of our country who cannot be heard in their horrific day-to-day circumstances, people who experience endless tragedies and have no-one to turn to. The overall inspiration of the song is the unstable political situation of this country and how it affects the citizens and the country at large,” said Kaase.

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Contributors

Mr Buthelezi with Henk Steenkamp (sound engineer Music@Work) in his office at parliament where his contribution was recorded. Mr Buthelezi also sings in the chorus.