Dave van Vuuren (born 30 June 1990)[1][2] is a South African singer-songwriter and guitarist from Westville near Durban. He first gained popularity through winning the seventh season of Idols South Africa after a close public vote in the finale held on 4 October 2011, with Van Vuuren getting 50.49% of the votes,[3] against 49.51% for the other finalist and eventual runner-up Mark Haze. He was the first series winner who came back after landing in the bottom 3 in an earlier performance.
Dave van Vuuren | |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 June 1990[1][2] |
| Origin | Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Genres | Rock, indie |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 2011–present |
Before Idols edit
David fronted a South African underground Metal-Core band called Freedom for Your Life.
Idols controversy edit
Unable to embrace the pop star mould, and unsettled by the post-Idols album he had to record, he soon went his own way. David was invited to perform on the finale of the eighth season of Idols as is a tradition when the new Idols winner gets announced. In a move to try and shake the Idols image, and as a rebellious act against his label, David and his band Free the Animals went on live national television before Khaya Mthethwa was announced the winner of the new season and performed an original, Progressive Rock song called "Feels Like the Ocean" which spanned 6 minutes.
David and his band had rehearsed with the Idols production team two days prior with a different song chosen by the label. Without telling a soul, they went on stage and wreaked Rock n' Roll havoc upon the stage in front of a live television audience. The video of the performance was completely removed off the internet the next day by M-Net, but over 3 million people saw it that night on live TV.
After Idols edit
This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (November 2019) |
After releasing a compulsory, post-Idols record through Universal Music, he then toured Southern Africa extensively as a solo acoustic artist, releasing an independent, fully original and self-funded folk EP, entitled "The Raging Sea" in the process.
David has since gone on to form a critically acclaimed[according to whom?] Rock band called Southern Wild. They have played at some of Southern Africa's most prestigious festivals including Oppikoppi, Rocking The Daisies, Up The Creek, and STRAB. They were chosen as one of four Deezer Next artists for South Africa in 2017 and released their debut album a few weeks later in May. The album is titled, "Lead Role in a Classic Horror". It was recorded by Raiven Hunter at Popsicle Studios in Woodstock, Cape Town and has gone on to be streamed over 1,000,000 times on Deezer, in countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Brazil, France, Australia and South Africa.
His band Southern Wild has since opened for Incubus on their "8" world tour and more recently opened for The Cure in South Africa. Southern Wild is now signed to Bellville Records, a famous studio run and owned by South African musician Theo Crous of Springbok Nude Girls and Kobus!. Bellville Studios has produced many famous records from South African artists including Karen Zoid, Arno Carstens, Prime Circle, Hog Hoggidy Hog, Chris Chameleon, Parlotones, Fokofpolisiekar, Dan Patlansky, and more. His band is currently recording their highly anticipated second album at the legendary studios, with no release date announced as of yet.
Personal life edit
Van Vuuren has been married to his wife, Jessica, since 8 March 2013.[4]
Discography edit
Singles edit
- 2011: "Hall of Mirrors"
- 2017: "Time Eraser"
- 2017: "Lead Role"
- 2017: "In a Classic Horror"
Albums edit
- 2011: Free The Animals[5]
- 2013: The Raging Sea EP
- 2017: Lead Role in a Classic Horror
Track listing
- Disc 1:
Track 1 – You Will Leave A Mark 3:26
Track 2 – Hall of Mirrors 3:47
Track 3 – Utopia (Find Me) 3:52
Track 4 – Lovers Fight to the End 3:40
Track 5 – Killing The Innocence 3:15
Track 6 – Soul Boy 4:38
Track 7 – Amazing 3:18
Track 8 – Troublesome Mind 3:19
Track 9 – Never Say Never 3:49
Track 10 – If We Don't Fear 4:12
Track 11 – Streets of Philadelphia 3:44
- Disc 2:
Track 1 – Vincent 2:44
Track 2 – The Blower's Daughter 3:48
Track 3 – Day Old Hate 3:58
Track 4 – Cowgirl in the Sand 3:43
Track 5 – I Shall Be Released 2:41
Track 6 – Swing Low, Sweet Chariot 2:53
- 2017: Southern Wild, Lead Role in a Classic Horror[6]
Track listing
Track 1 – Intro (The People)
Track 2 – The People
Track 3 – Time Eraser
Track 4 – Lead Role
Track 5 – In a Classic Horror
Track 6 – Darkness at My Heels (Live in Studio)
Track 7 – I'm So Happy I Could Die
Track 8 – Dirt Horse
Track 9 – Emotion Electric Love
Track 10 – Feels Like The Ocean
References edit
- ^ a b Van Vuuren, Dave [@davevanvuuren__] (30 June 2020). "Sweet lawd, I'm 30! Thanks to my wife, family, and friends for keeping me alive this long. I love you". Retrieved 2024-03-20 – via Instagram.
- ^ a b Van Vuuren, Dave [@davevanvuuren__] (30 June 2018). "People get older. We age, that's how it goes. Don't hide. I'm 28 years old today, and all I have to say is that if I had to die right now I'd die a happy man. Not because I am content, I don't think anyone could ever feel content. I'd die a happy man because I know deep down that I'm not alone and I never have been. The people I've met in this life have added to it with inexplicable value. Negatively or positively, I'm happy to have met you all. I truly am, and I've met some extremely bad people. I have no solutions. All I have is moments, moments that have turned into everlasting memories. What are these memories and what significance do they have? I'll never know, I'm just glad to be living, I'm just happy to feel the things I feel". Kalk Bay. Retrieved 2024-03-20 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Dave Van Vuuren wins Idols 7". Channel24. 4 October 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
- ^ Van Vuuren, Dave [@davevanvuuren__] (8 March 2024). "Happy 11th year wedding anniversary to my beautiful bride! You're an exceptional human being, and you mean the absolute world to me. I love you with all that I am and will cherish you with everything I have forever. Not a single day passes where I don't realise how truly blessed I am to go through this crazy life with you ✨️". Retrieved 2024-03-20 – via Instagram.
- ^ David Van Vuuren (1 December 2011). "David Van Vuuren, Free The Animals, CDs, Musica A World awaits – 6009143495036". Musica.co.za. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
- ^ David Van Vuuren (16 March 2017). "Southern Wild, Lead Role in a Classic Horror". triplejunearthed.co.za. Retrieved 17 June 2017.