Johannesburg - This week we feature South African singer and songwriter Werner Bekker.
Bekker made a name for himself in 2018 when he joined forces with producers Deon Dee and Ruan Graaff to record his debut EP, “Parts of a Broken Man”.
That same year his internationally acclaimed single “Run” was selected to be part of the BalconyTV compilation CD.
Bekker has shared the stage with major South African acts, including Jeremy Loops, Matthew Mole, Prime Circle, Ard Matthews, and international heavyweights A-ha.
In February 2018, he released his first professionally recorded single, “Alive Again”. His next single, “I’m with You” followed in June of that year. These releases garnered the attention of industry heavyweights and secured him prime spots on major South African festival line-ups such as Splashy Fen, Mieliepop, Lush Festival, Oppikoppi, Large on the Lawn, Parklife, White Mountain Festival and Smoking Dragon Festival.
In 2019 Werner achieved a major breakthrough when he released his single “Open Spoken”, which reached number two on the Jacaranda SA Top 20 chart.
This was followed by his critically acclaimed eight-track EP “In My Cluttered Head” in 2021, which boasted singles such as “To Memory”, which reached a number one spot on the RSG local charts, as well as “Daydream” and “It’s You”, which landed multiple editorial playlists on Spotify and Apple music.
You are able to collaborate on a song with any SA musician. Who do you choose to collaborate with?
Alice Phoebe Lou.
The biggest regret you have in your life is…?
Not going to a big university and missing out on student life.
The meal that most reminds you of your childhood is…?
ProNutro Breakfast Cereal. We used to eat this every day, sometimes more than once.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be?
I would most probably be a carpenter. I love doing woodwork. But then again, maybe a scientist.
You are going to be stuck on an island for a year but can have one celebrity with you, one book, and a song with you. What are your choices?
Bear Grylls, “The Lord Of The Rings”, “In My Life” by the Beatles.
How would you like to be remembered?
As kind, caring and friendly.
You are on death row. You are given one last meal and drink. You can have anything. What do you choose to have?
A toasted cheese and tomato sandwich with Fanta Grape.
Your celebrity crush growing up was…?
Cameron Diaz.
The biggest misconception people have of you is…?
That I am a pushover. People think because I am kind, I don’t have a backbone, but in reality I can be very assertive when I need to be.
The one thing that has caught your attention on social media in the last week is…?
The South African Music Awards. Congrats to all of the winners. Well deserved!