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Cape Town – Arno Carstens will once again be teaming up with local musos to produce the Blind Tiger Sessions. This year however, he is also combining powers with Urban Brandy.
In celebration of Urban Brandy Cocktail Route’s new summer cocktails and growth in SA over the last year, Arno is teaming up with them for his Blind Tiger Sessions featuring Toya Delazy, Laudo Liebenberg, X Factor SA’s Mikhail Jones, Little Giants as well as photographer Morné van Zyl.
We got to ask Arno a few questions:
Channel24:
This year you are combining the Blind Tiger Sessions with brandy, how did it all come together?
Arno:
I’ve been asked by Urban Brandy to do something with them, because we did the Blind Tiger Sessions last year and the year before that with my first art exhibition. It’s mostly just about combining different styles of music and then with the art vibe. My first one was with my own art exhibition. So it’s just creating visual plus audio and then everything with booze just makes everything wonderful and better, and it’s such a classic drink so, so I think it’s a good synergy.
Channel24:
What is your favourite Urban Brandy Cocktail Route summer cocktail?
Arno:
Rage.
Channel24:
Is that what you’re drinking now? What does it taste like?
Arno:
Yeah. It tastes like something out of a science fair, it’s sweet and lovely. It tastes like Asterix and Obelix, those potions, gummi berry juice. It’s like Jesus juice... heavenly.
Channel24:
What can people expect from the Blind Tiger Sessions?
Arno:
With the one last year in Jo’burg we had electronic mixed in with different styles of music, this year I’ve got Jazz. It’s very classical so I think it goes better with the brandy kind of thing, so there’s a jazz element to it. Then you’ve got Toya Delazy that’s super pop and electronic, but it will be more in an acoustic type of fashion. And Laudo from aKING who is just amazing and he’s blessing us with his great guitaring and wonderful voice. Then I’m an X Factor judge at the moment, and Mikhail, shame they threw him out and he is so talented, and he was born to be on stage, so I thought why not give the guy a chance.
Channel24:
Speaking about X Factor, what’s the experience been like so far?
Arno:
I’ve learned a lot. You know me, Oskido and Zonke, we’re not really TV people, so we’ve learned a lot, how to handle the TV vibes, how not to burst out screaming and swearing, taming the dragon... but yeah, it’s been interesting. It’s a fantastic show to watch live anyway, and at the end of the day, we’re musicians and producers, and we get to mentor the contestants, and I think deep inside all of us we know best what other people should do, but not what we should do ourselves! So, it comes very easy to tell other people what to do. At the end of the day, I think I might take it for granted all that I’ve learned. But these youngsters don’t know it’s the bare essentials and stuff.
Channel24:
How was it for you to travel up to Jo’burg all the time? How do you do it all?
Arno:
Oh, I’m still doing it, I’m leaving again tomorrow, it’s going on until 6 December. I’ve also been touring with the Springbok Nude Girls quite a lot this year. Ag, but now, If I don’t have to work, I don’t work. When I’m at home I just spend time you know, you just do what you do.
Channel24:
What’s next for you?
Arno:
Springbok Nude Girls are busy with a documentary and I just released an album, Lightening Prevails, and I’ve been rehearsing with the band now, we’ve been doing these big band shows. January I will be off to London for a lot of shows, and when I come back I’ve got a big tour.
Channel24:
Do you have any plans for the holidays?
Arno:
X Factor, chill out, work a bit in January and then to London beginning of January and a lot of work.
