|
atershed stamped its mark on the South African music scene with its previous album, ‘Wrapped in Stone’ and if the recently released ‘Mosaic’ (EMI) is anything to go by the band will become a firm favourite across the generations.
Comprising Tulsa Pittaway (drums & percussion), ‘Hodge’ Hodgetts (bass), Nic Rush (electric and acoustic guitar, e-bow, dobro and mandolin), Graham Smith (keyboard & piano) and Craig Hinds (vocals, piano and acoustic guitar) the band covers a diverse range of melodies from energetic rock to laid-back ballads.
As mentioned above, Craig is the lyricist – usually writing on his own but occasionally collaborating. (On the 12-track plus bonus ‘Mosaic’ there are six collaborations, which is quite unusual for this reticent man).
Craig is a loner who likes his space. He is an early riser who loves the mornings and often motivated by the beauty of the sunrise he is stimulated to put pen to paper. He likes to write a song in one sitting but can at times be found working on the lyrics a little later in the afternoon. ‘I don’t like disturbing the flow,’ he says, ‘and very seldom change what I have written – the first draft is usually the final one (when it comes to the lyrics).’ As he writes he works out the melody either on a piano or an acoustic guitar. ‘I like to have fun and let the lyrics take me in the direction I want to go.’
The song is then taken to the band members for tweaking. ‘Changes can happen at any time,’ he adds. ‘There have been times when I have been recording and seem to ‘hear another voice’ in my head singing a counter-melody. I will then add this to the song. Listen to tracks 9 and 11 on the album.’
Whether he is overseas or in South Africa it is immaterial as the themes for his songs are universal.
What seemed to stand out in my mind was the fact that many of the songs on ‘Mosaic’ seem to refer to dreams. Says Craig: ‘It’s more thoughts which flow through a man’s mind. To settle down or not – the eternal question – we are never satisfied – when we are in a steady relationship we want the freedom and yet when we are free we want to have the permanence.’
‘There’s something for everyone on this album,’ he continues. ‘That’s why it is called ‘Mosaic’ – scattered pictures gathered together into an album.’
Craig’s view of Watershed’s members
Tulsa: - ‘Expects really high standards – a really ‘interesting’ person’
Graham: - ‘Serious’
‘Hodge’: - ‘He’s the clown and incredibly intelligent’
Nic: - ‘He loves his job – he’s rock ‘n roll personified’
And the band as a whole: - ‘We live the music and thrive on the passion and emotion on stage’.
As far as performing in Durban – we are just going to have to keep an eye on the website www.watershed.co.za which is currently under construction. We do know, however, that Watershed will be playing at Krakatoa, Sibaya Casino before the end of the year.
|
