Brain Cloete – die Oukie van Namakwaland

Singer-songwriter and shepherd Brain Cloete brings to mind a biblical yarn with particular theological dimension. Those who read the bible will relate with the story. Brain was born in Springbok where folks settle well into plain life. He had a salt of the earth upbringing and from a young age music was a constant feature.

“When I look back at my baby album I notice that the guitar was always there.” At the age of six his father taught him basic guitar chords. He says his brothers were jealous that he was good at it. For him it came naturally. He started playing with three chords. His song writing started at school. He wrote songs to charm girls and grew from there. He dropped out of school in grade 9 because school was far and on cold winter days he couldn’t make it because he only had shorts to wear to school.

Brain writes about his immediate environment. Babalas, the song he wrote when he was 18, easily wins hearts every time he strums it. He wrote it in response to the alcohol problem he witnessed in his area.

He plays music to his sheep and goats out there in the field. He takes along his pen and book and writes songs while his flock grazes. To date he has written more than a hundred songs. Brain is close to his flock and says he can’t explain the feeling when he is around them. He has about 68 sheep and goats.

Brain’s guitar skill is decidedly brilliant and his performances are plain electricity. He is a full on self-taught guitar player, songwriter and carpenter.

Just maybe this is the artist we have been waiting for who might bring in the irresistible appeal. Maybe his arrival on the big stages will be music to the ears of fans that have been waiting for a long time for the ONE.