Acclaimed soul artist TEEKS is in South Africa for the first time for a three-city tour in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.
Ahead of his performance, Sony Music held an exclusive Sonic Session with the “First Time” hitmaker, attended by select fans, media and industry mavens.
Hosted by radio and TV presenter Zanele Potelwa, TEEKS unpacked his musical journey, the music that earned him fans in South Africa and his emotions ahead of his performance in the country.
“I feel nervous. Because first impressions are important, but I’m also very, very excited to do my favourite thing to do. I mean, I love what I do, but performing live is my favourite part of, like, doing music.
“I’m very much aware of the responsibility and the privilege that, that I get to go on stage and sing songs and connect with people and have the energy reciprocated in that way.”
TEEKS wants audiences to walk away from his shows having felt some emotion. “I try to do the best that I can do in everything that I do.
“I just want people to be able to, like, escape and open up a portal where people can travel through and have an experience that I feel like can be spiritual.
“I feel like music is spiritual, and I feel like performance and witnessing performance of that experience can be very spiritual and sacred.”
South Africa is TEEKS’ number 1 market. His song “First Time” became an anthem for local fans, with it being the soundtrack to countless wedding videos, first dances, and love stories.
The song is Double Platinum-certified in South Africa. TEEKS explained that he wrote the song “First Time” when he was young and hadn’t necessarily experienced much life.
“I wrote this song coming from a place of, um, hope, desire and prophecy.”
The New Zealand native, during his time in South Africa, got to watch Rugby’s greatest rivalry match at Ellis Park, in which the Springboks were beaten 16 to 33.
TEEKS was proud to watch the All Blacks clinch victory. “It was a good game.
“The energy was crazy. The atmosphere was crazy. New Zealand, just like South Africa, rugby is a national sport. It was great to be there in person, and it’s always nice when your own team wins too”.
The New Zealand singer-songwriter will be performing at Old Biscuit Mill, Cape Town on August 27; The Station, Durban on August 28; and Parklive Jozi Festival at Marks Park, Emmarentia on August 30.
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