"When can we expect a new CD from you.. it's about time Irene!"
I am currently in studio busy recording my new CD. One Afrikaans and one English CD single will be released early
January and the CD (which consists of 14 original tracks)should be ready for release by the time I perform at the
State Theatre, Pretoria with Steve Hofmeyr on 5, 6 and 7 February.
Why do you live where you live, in a remote area of the country?
I stayed in Johannesburg until March 1996. On 9 February 1995, one of my
closest friends, Lauren de Groen, was shot dead in a jewellery store
robbery. It changed the way I looked at the quality of my life and that of
my family as well as the way I viewed my relationships with other people.
I became quite paranoid about the violence in Gauteng and was not prepared
to raise my children in a world of fear, therefore Louis and I decided to
move to Shelly Beach on the Kwazulu-Natal South Coast in order to have more
peace of mind and offer our children a better quality of life. It is truly
an amazing place to live; our life is very simple but stress-free.
What/who inspires/d you?
When I was about 6 years old, my brother (then 17) used to listen to bands
like Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Black Sabbath, etc. and I must confess this
instilled a serious love for heavy rock within me. During my primary
school years, I was an Abba freak and dreamed of singing like Agnetha
Faltskog. Unfortunately, I don't have that sort of voice, but it took me a
long time to come to terms with the fact that I was never going to sound
like her or Olivia Newton-John! As a teenager, I started listening to
bands like Heart, Europe, Toto and Pink Floyd. I was tremendously inspired
by Anne and Nancy Wilson, the two sisters who sing for Heart. I also quite
enjoyed Joan Jett and Patty Smythe. Today I listen to a wide variety of
music, but basically my preference is rock.
Any strange fans out there?
There is this guy who writes to me who is obsessed with women who smoke. I
used to smoke, but now only do so occasionally (usually when I am
over-stressed, like when recording a new CD!). He sends me poems about
women or girls who smoke and loves my song "My Naam Is Nie My Naam Nie"
because it contains the words "dood die sigaret in die asbak, neem 'n
slukkie dop". Every now and then he writes and asks me to put red lipstick
on, then put an unlit cigarette into my mouth and then send the cigarette
to him. I don't understand why it is so important to him, but I have sent
some cigarettes to him, because it does seem quite harmless!
Fave music?
Heart, Abba, Toto, Def Leppard, Alanis Morisette, Aerosmith, R.E.M.,
Bon Jovi, Skunk Anansie, U2, Pink Floyd, Eagles, Mariah Carey, Journey
Food
Pizza, Mexican food
Movies
Pulp Fiction, Natural Born Killers, Legends of the Fall, Seven,
Angel Heart, True Romance, The Piano, Bitter Moon,
The Lover, Reservoir Dogs, Henry & June,
Interview with the Vampire, Dracula, Scarlett Letter,
The Professional, Dances with Wolves
