Blog posts from the Ryan Calder Band
This song was the first one penned for the new album, about four years ago. It was one of those songs which very quickly had a structure, but developed slowly lyrically… so much so that it was only completed last year.
So for those who don’t know, my beautiful wife Tamlyn Mary is the inspiration behind this tune. Without boring you with too many details, Tam and I met at a time when I was fairly rogue. Continue reading Behind the Song: Loving Every Day
A new series begins on ryancalder.co.za, which will take the form of various stages… and we at the RCB are inviting you along for the ride.
We want your input, your ideas, your feedback… rate it, comment on it, share it – whatever you do, we encourage interaction on whether you think it rocks or whether it sucks. Tell us.
As you know, I am a budding animator and am looking to create a series for this website called “Life in South Africa”. Continue reading Life in South Africa: A Background on the Series
This was a song which was birthed out of the music. The songwriting process is a strange one, because there’s never any true way of knowing when and where inspiration will come from. I’ve resolved to follow Bob Dylan’s advice and make a conscientious effort to hang around the ink well.
When I penned this song, it came out of a Continue reading Behind the Song: Leave It Behind
Two years ago, I attended a small media conference with a German journalist who came to South Africa to enlighten South Africans as to what to expect from Fifa bringing the World Cup to Africa. He was talking about his newspaper’s experience during the same tournament hosted in Germany in 2006.
It was basically a five-week party, he said. Life carried on afterwards. There was no major economic boom that was predicted… all that happened is Fifa walked away with all the loot.
Follow the money, he said. Those are the stories that will sell your newspapers. Expose Fifa for who they really are.
Now, I’ve long been milling over the question of “what happens after the world cup?” and reflecting on what our response should be as South Africans. Continue reading South Africa is the place to be in 2010
There really is nothing like the sounds of Africa… particularly African rhythm: that lilted 4/4 which most of us wit ous know through the likes of Johnny Clegg.
Yes, he was a big musical influence on this song… rhythmically it was Spirit of the Great Heart and musically it was also Scatterlings of Africa. I thought we only just started to Continue reading Behind the Song: Alive
It’s a new week, and time for a new round of funnies.
If you don’t know how it works, it’s simple: look at the pic, think of something funny, post it in the comment box below.
My good mate Brad and I were sitting on the patio outside at my in-laws’ farm near Albert Falls, jamming and fiddling around on our acoustic guitars. It was one of those real lazy afternoons, where kids and adults were all over the place doing their own thing in the afternoon winter sunshine. Continue reading Behind the song: Feels Like Home
It was around-about August 2009, I think, when the band had just finished a practice and we were talking about that thing that makes some bands so special. After going through all our various likes and dislikes, Roberto pointed out that the common denominator in all of our favourite songs and bands was that they had groove.
I remember milling over this for quite some time, because Continue reading Behind the Song: Let It Rise
This week’s Caption Competition photograph is supplied by Rudi. Pic was taken while waiting around for soundcheck at the Royal Rock concert 2010. Continue reading The Royal Rock Stage
It takes a split second to push through from paralyzing fear into the confidence that makes you step out on stage and try own it. Waiting for the moment when we would kick off the Royal show concert was much like getting wax treatment from a snail with narcolepsy, as the deadline kept being moved back in 10 minute increments to accommodate the sloth like arrival of what would ultimately become the crowd Continue reading Royal Rumble
