Growing up
Both grew up in the Western Cape, Arno from Worcester and Dave from Cape Town’s southern suburbs. They are now living in London and Joburg respectively, but each one considers Cape Town home!
When asking what they wanted to be when older, Arno said, “At one point I had the romantic notion to become an archeologist or astronomer. Later I became obsessed with the rush of creating cool paintings and later still, music. I never did dream of being a rock star.”
Dave replies, “The order, starting roughly age four, goes something like this… farmer, pilot, policeman, cartoonist, musician and tattoo artist.
Ironically, both spent formative years working in Spur steak ranches, Arno as a waiter at Sandiago Spur in Worcester for two and a half years and Dave singing covers at a Spur in Tokai before performing to a regular crowd every Tuesday at Acapulco Spur in Bergvliet for six years.
All grown up
Both are uber creative, Arno a sideline painter and Dave a web designer and amateur tattoo designer (and well decorated himself) as well as the web manager for SA’s leading golf retailer. Arno is a full time musician, launching his career in Europe with recent support tours for Ronan Keating and an April tour with Ultravox.
Both are married, Arno for three years after sealing the deal and celebrating on Zanzibar with 40 friends over 14 days and Dave has been married for six years and has two little boys as well! Both of their parents are also still married and living in the same houses since Dave and Arno were kids.
Going solo
Both are now in their thirties and making use of their vocal blessings. As is often the case in the music industry, they’ve even shared musos. Ex-Nude Girl Theo Crous, now turned producer, worked on Dave’s debut solo album entitled The Order of Things. Arno is on his third solo album entitled Wonderful Wild.
Says Arno, “Wonderful Wild represents the journey I’ve been on over the last two years making this CD. It’s been a wonderful experience with a lot of wild excursions! Wonderful Wild is a massive dark pop production, not what you would expect, which is great. I like doing something new and the fact that I am ever evolving.”
Dave’s album is definitely not as hard and angry as Lithium he says. Some of the tracks are stripped down without drums and others are full tilt rock songs.
Giving the lowdown
Arno on Dave’s music: I have not heard anything since Lithium, which I thought was great, so I can’t wait to hear his new stuff.
Dave on Arno: I’ve always had massive respect for Arno as a vocalist, performer and songwriter. He stood out from the start. We toured and played a lot with the Nudies, so I really had a chance to watch him grow and mature as a performer. I have heard one or two of his new tracks and I am really looking forward to hearing the full album. I am excited for him and the waves he is making overseas. He is a great ambassador for local talent and he will hopefully open doors for other SA bands and performers to also get the chance to be noticed.
Is there a defining moment in your music career?
Arno: Being a part of SNG and winning our first SAMA! Madiba magic was in the air and our country was moving forward in leaps and bounds and we felt as if we were part of something and moving with that wave. There have been many incredible solo moments since then – my debut album, Another Universe, opening for The Rolling Stones and being signed to Sony Music UK. In every show and every song it feels like the best time of my life and that continues to this day.
Dave: Touring with Iron Maiden in 1995 was our first real taste of the big time. The Bandslam tour in 1996 with Nudies, Squeal, Sugardrive and Nine was also one of the best times ever. Driving around the country in a big tour bus with five bands and crew… complete rock ‘n roll madness.
What do you most enjoy about being a musician?
Arno: To be given the opportunity to express myself through song. It’s like a mathematical equation where the end result is never a certainty.
Dave: I tend to be quite a closed person emotionally, but writing music allows me to open my heart and soul and pour out those feelings. When I am performing, I feel like I am doing what I was put on this earth to do.
