Party time is abbreviated VCK

I entered the strange world of a band that emerged from the Fokofpolisiekar musical vending machine in a can of whip ass, a world where the term ‘fokof’ isn’t a verb, but a noun and where punch drunk love is not a film, but a lifestyle. I spoke to the hard rock three piece Van Coke Kartel and found out more about their next goals, Francois Van Coke’s lyrics and the religion debacle.

NepTunes: The problem in South Africa is that successful bands sometimes hit a plato, so after two critically acclaimed albums as well as a SAMA award, what is the next step for Van Coke Kartel?

Wynand Myburg: Yeah, at the moment we are actually pretty excited, because we are working on new stuff. It has always been important to reinvent, it is a massive challenge for an artist. We never do the same thing twice, even with Fokof we didn’t do it. So we’re now busy with a bunch of exciting stuff for the new album, ideas for new live shows and this and that. But in terms of hitting a ceiling, I think that with every album you hit a ceiling and then it is up to you to know where you made mistakes and where you can improve.

Francois van Coke: With the stuff that we are working on now we feel like there is a new fire. So we are fucking excited. It is our first goal to complete the album and to create something unique and out of the ordinary.

NepTunes: Wynand, why did you decide to play most of the songs on Waaksaam & Wakker with a contrabass?

Wynand: That is part of the whole thing of trying something different, to change the standard rock songs a bit by bringing in a bit of rockabilly. With the first album it was a bit balls to the walls. You know Kartel has that straightforward three chord rock sound, maybe not the new one (Waaksaam en Wakker), but definitely the first one.

NepTunes: Will you use it again in the future?

Wynand: When we started writing now I used an old jazz bass and I love it. I like its sound, it fits in better with the songs. I will definitely play around with sounds on the new album. I am looking at a Tom Waits vibe, those types of sounds. So yes, it will definitely be around.

NepTunes: Francois, which elements and events inspires your lyrics for Van Coke Kartel?

Francois: Jeez dude, I am trying to make a point of it not to just write about drunken parties for the next one. The first album was written in that break we had with Fokofpolisiekar. During that time we had a steady income from Fokof, but didn’t gig much. So we fucking partied ourselves into the ground. So that comes through quite strongly on the first album’s lyrics and I think there are similar songs on the second one as well. And then the hangover, obviously, and the depression of it.

Wynand: We wanted to write a party album in a way. The idea was van coke kartel. Understand. You know lets write party songs, not as serious as Fokof. We’ll see whatever comes out.

NepTunes: Francois with your different experiences as front man for Van Coke Kartel and Fokofpolisiekar, do you maybe prefer one over the other?

Francois: No, I think it’s fucking awesome to do both. Fokof is obviously much easier and I like the crowd interaction which is obviously difficult to do with Van Coke Kartel. But I think with the new album we are going to get another guitarist for live shows. I think that will give me more of a chance to be a bit crazier. But I like the dynamic of both.

NepTunes: You guys have extensive live experience, what are some of the weirdest experiences you have had on stage?

Wynand: Francois and I once had a fight. (Asks Francois) Was it a Fokof gig or a Kartel gig?

Francois: Fokof. On stage. Mid song. (Laughs)

NepTunes: Why?

Wynand: I thought he was drunk again and was going to sing shit or something and then he skipped a song and I kicked him on the ass. Then he got mad at me and when we started playing the next song he hit me in the face with the mic. But I don’t think the people even realize that happened.

NepTunes: I read that the first band that you both (Francois and Wynand) played in was the Christian band 7th Breed. Can you tell us more about that?

Wynand: Francois and I began playing together in ’96. But then it was more high school bands and it had nothing to do with Christianity or Satanism or anything. But we were all involved at the same church. I played in a band 7th Breed. He (Francois) played in another band and he (Justin) also played in another band.

Francois: I really wanted to play in 7th Breed but they didn’t want me. (Laughs)

NepTunes: What happened after that?

Wynand: Personally - and I think Francois and most of the guys with whom we make music…you know we asked questions and that’s how we ended up doing what we’re doing today. Then we moved from that extreme to another extreme. Rather than saying okay this isn’t working for us, we went and embraced it – They’re wrong and there is another way. The charismatic church went bezerk. After a while we realized that that isn’t really the answer for us. Absolutely nothing is a better answer.

Francois: I preach the gospel of I don’t know. Like in that Bill Maher film Religulous.

NepTunes: Do you have any advice for young up and coming bands in South Africa?

Wynand: The most important thing is to work on something original. I know it’s difficult especially when you’re young. Because it doesn’t matter what you play, it is always a copy of something. Try and break away from everything that is standard. Experiment, you have better chance of coming up with something cool rather than just trying to follow someone. You should have clear goals of what you want to do. But the music is the most important, if you can’t put something good or original together then you’re just another one in the bunch.

Francois: I think it’s fucking important that you play good together as a unit. It is important to practice and to get along with the other guys.

NM - Andre Kluyts