South African Singer-Songwriter Basson Laas is set to captivate listeners with his latest release, 'Worth Loving.' Known for his blend of indie folk, alternative, and pop influences, Basson's music transcends genres with its feel-good factor and catchy melodies. In this interview with The Sound Café, we explore the inspiration behind 'Worth Loving,' delve into Basson's musical journey, and discuss how his unique South African background influences his artistry.
Q: 'Worth Loving' has a distinct blend of indie folk, alternative, and pop influences. How did your South African roots shape the sound and themes of this song?
Basson Laas: I wrote the first lyrics to this song down in my notebook in early 2011. Over the years, 'Worth Loving' has morphed through various live performances, capturing audiences with its evolving charm. Deciding to record it as the first single after my debut EP from 2023, along with producer Werner Kahtz of Good Morning Sweet Songbird, who embraced the song's rhythmic, feel-good nature, giving it a positive, Disney-like vibe. A song and video full of joy.
Q: The music video for 'Worth Loving' features a heartwarming narrative between a dog and its owner. What made you choose this storyline, and how does it resonate with the song's message?
Basson Laas: For the music video we wanted to try a different visual angle than a romantic love between two people and a bond between dog and man just seemed like a fantastic idea. It kind of suited the lyrics in some verses and hopefully could be something many animal/dog lovers can relate to. Luckily Jannes de Villiers from Moving North Media has just the right combo in mind and it added that extra hint of fun as you see the dog (Galadriel) and her owner (Marius Schoombie) go out for a day of playing.
Q: South Africa has a rich musical landscape. How has growing up in this environment influenced your musical style and storytelling?
Basson Laas: It can sometimes be intimidating to know who has been making waves in the industry before my meagre attempt to share my first songs. But I’m glad that there is so much talent to learn and be inspired from. I know that South Africa has a long and tough history of cultures clashing that could bring this country to its knees. But in my opinion, most South Africans are positive and eager for reconciliation. That starts with sharing positive messages in art and culture that look forward instead of looking back.
Q: Your music is often described as having a feel-good factor. How do you infuse positivity into your songs, especially with tracks like 'Worth Loving'?
Basson Laas: To be honest. Since I started sharing my first songs, I’ve chosen my favourite ones that have a feel-good factor, or have at least a positive message. But many of my early songs and written pieces, that probably will neither see the light nor be recorded, started out by asking myself difficult life questions and heartbreak. Sorrow and misery are at the base of every human narrative, but so are love, relationships, fun and positivity. I’m just trying to feed the latter.
Q: Please elaborate on the collaborative process behind 'Worth Loving,' specifically in terms of working with your song-and-video producers to shape both the song's production and its accompanying video?
Basson Laas: I’m first of all so grateful to have these guys in my life.
I’ve been building a good relationship with Werner Kahts from Good Morning Sweet Songbird Studios since the production of my debut EP, Good Morning Dreamer early last year. We’ve been finding an ideal groove on every song we’ve been working on so far. He’s a multi-instrumentalist with percussion as his first love and knows his way around recording techniques and software. Not to mention his theoretical knowledge and the beautiful studio he literally built with his own hands that creates the space to be creative. He understands patience and kindness and having him in my corner brings the raw acoustic songs to life. Jannes de Villiers from Moving North Media has an extremely keen eye for videography and visual storytelling. The music video idea for Worth Loving was his and he went the extra mile to help me pull this project off. It was our first project together but I’m positive it won’t be the last.
Q: In 'Worth Loving,' there's a strong theme of appreciation and emotional clarity. How important are these themes in your overall artistic narrative?
Basson Laas: I’d say it’s been relatively well received so far, but I don’t think it’s vital. As far as its possible I will always try to write lyrics with some form of catharsis and emotional clarity, but some stories might be tough to tell and, I suppose could go in a different direction in the future.
Q: What do you hope international audiences will take away from 'Worth Loving,' and how do you envision your music resonating with listeners outside of South Africa?
Basson Laas: I just hope that Worth Loving would serve as a corner stone track to my music career and be listened to by people from all walks of life. It would be a massive bonus if it would take me to those places in the world so I could perform my songs to them live and experience more of that treasure.
Q: Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for your music career, and how do you see yourself evolving as an artist in the global music scene?
Basson Laas: In the short term I would love it if I can expand my horizons to perform to people in every single town, city and music venue South Africa has to offer and would love it to release my first album soon. In the long term, I’d like to try and keep the consistency and perhaps perform in multiple other countries and enjoy it as far as its possible. That, and that my will to write songs never dies.
Experience the uplifting melodies and heartfelt storytelling of 'Worth Loving' by streaming the single and watching the music video, available now on all major platforms. Discover Basson Laas's unique blend of South African charm and global appeal and stay tuned for more inspiring releases from this talented musician.
'Worth Loving’ available on all platforms 19 July HERE
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Growing up on a farm in South Africa, Basson had a playful and happy childhood that fuelled his imagination. Teaching himself how to play the guitar, he started writing his first songs at just 17 years old. However, after spending his 20s mainly pursuing other interests, he decided to take a leap of faith and try his luck as an independent musician, without the backing of a label, to see if it could bear fruit.
After his first year performing full-time in bars and restaurants, he had the opportunity to record his debut EP, 'Good Morning Dreamer,' which was released in August 2023 and featured his first single, 'Tightly Bound.'
This year, he has two singles lined up. The first, 'Worth Loving,' is set to be released on Friday, July 19th, and the second, 'Smile,' is planned for release in November.
“I’ve learned a lot from the release of 'Good Morning Dreamer,' and I hope to push the boundaries a little more with the next releases,” he says. “I realise how difficult it can be to get music heard in this day and age, but if that’s the case, my only wish is that it remains fun to work with like-minded creatives and that my songs somehow reach and touch just the right audience.”
So far, his music style can be described as an adult contemporary mix of folk and pop with a dash of alternative. He has shared the stage as an opening act for many well-known names in the industry and recently started putting a band together, featuring drummer Jannie Labuschagne (Mantra, Ruiter Piet) and bassist/pianist Callie van der Merwe (Wolfgang Marrow, Kirkland). They aim to showcase his songs at many South African festivals in the coming years.
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