Willim Welsyn
| Willim Welsyn (William Welfare) |
|
|---|---|
Willim Welsyn performing at Zeegunst, Vleesbaai. Photo by Jessica Botha.
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | John William F. Barnard |
| Born |
17 September 1984 Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, South Africa |
| Origin | Ladismith, Western Cape |
| Genres | Rock, folk, Sunshine rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist, podcaster |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Next Music Welfare Records |
| Associated acts | Willim Welsyn en die Sunrise Toffies |
| Website | www |
Willim Welsyn aka William Welfare (born William Barnard: 17 September 1984), is a South African rock singer/songwriter, filmmaker and podcaster originally from Ladismith in the Western Cape. He is better known as the lead singer and guitarist for the Afrikaans Rock band, Willim Welsyn en die Sunrise Toffies and as former photographer, features writer and podcast host for the South African Rolling Stone magazine.
Willim Welsyn recorded his first self-titled solo EP in 2002 at the age of 17. In 2004 he recorded his first full-length solo album, "Feromoon Rose'". In the same year Welsyn met up with Panna Dekker (bass guitar) and Etienne Nel (drums) during a SABC 2 television interview where Welsyn asked Dekker and Nel to pose as his backing band for a promotional music video clip that would air with the initial interview. After the interview they formed Willim Welsyn en die Sunrise Toffies and recorded their first full-length album, "Buikspraak in 2005.
Willim Welsyn en die Sunrise Toffies started touring and shot two music videos for the songs, "Toastersport" and "Coca Cola Sunrise". Dekker left the band soon hereafter. For three months Welsyn and Nel performed as a two-piece band, when Welsyn approached a bass guitar player from Jeffreys Bay, Gerhard Grobler, to join the band. In 2007 they recorded their second full-length album, Kompos en Kraai. Shortly after the Kompos en Kraai recording they signed a record deal with Next Music. Shortly after the release of Kompos en Kraai they released two music videos from the album, "Soos ’n Skoolhoof" en "Die mooiste van dit alles".
In 2008 drummer Etienne Nel was involved in a serious car accident in Stellenbosch. He suffered multiple injuries and was temporarily replaced by Tim Rankin, the sound engineer who worked on Kompos en Kraai and the drummer for the Cape Town-based band, Bed on Bricks. In the same year Welsyn recorded his second full-length solo album, Maanplaas, with Schalk van der Merwe, also from Bed Bricks, on bass guitar and Tim Rankin on drums. Van der Merwe also produced the album. Maanplaas`s sound differed from Willim Welsyn en die Sunrise Toffies's previous high-paced rock albums, taking a more relaxed, country and folk direction.
In 2009 Welsyn enrolled at Stellenbosch University, Grobler enrolled at the Cape Audio College and Nel started working full-time. Willim Welsyn en die Sunrise Toffies still kept performing occasional live shows, while Welsyn also pursued his solo career.
...
Wikipedia