Coming Home Tour 2024
The thoughts behind the songs
From 4 October to 22 November 2024 I embarked om my first national tour in a very long time. The purpose of the tour was to share the music from my two latest albums with fans (old and new) across country and to celebrate a comeback to the music industry after three years outside of the industry. In the Coming Home Show I shared insights gained during my three-month adventure in Europe (June-September 2024). These insights were interwoven with stories about the origins of the songs released on both albums. I played with the concept of coming home – of what home really is to us. 
I performed in venues across five provinces – the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, North West and Gauteng. It was incredible to experience the diverse and breathtaking landscapes that each province has to offer, to drive through the vast and imagination-evoking Karoo, and to reconnect with the hospitable people of each district I performed in. I once again realised that it is in real life that one gets to find the gems. We spend a lot of time in the digital world where we are bombarded with bad news on a daily basis. Sometimes it fills us with so much fear that we find it hard to step out and venture into unknown parts of our country. What a pity. I am so grateful my music took me on this journey. It is wondrous out there.
When you perform there is an energy exchange between yourself and the audience. It is always different – never quite predictable. What I can say, is that my experience on this first journey in a while was absolutely humbling and life-changing. I needed a positive reaction from audiences and I got it. It felt that the content of my work (the songs and the stories I shared) somehow hit a nerve. As a songwriter and storyteller you hope that you can somehow capture what people are feeling and experiencing at the time. Sometimes it is a hit, sometimes it is a miss. This time around I felt it – people responded. My honesty was met with unexpected honesty from the audience too – people sharing their experiences and stories with me after the show, people walking up to me and sharing their opinions and ideas for the first time ever. I felt emotional after almost every show and incredibly motivated to continue on this path I have chosen – knowing that it touches people, affects people in a good way – in a time where we really need to be affected in a good way.
It is because of this that I decided to share the titbits I wrote and spoke about, followed by a link to the song that inspired it. I am doing this for all those who did not get to experience the show. I know there are also some audience members who would like to be reminded of a song or story or two.
I want to thank every single audience member and venue owner who contributed to this inspiring experience. I will treasure it and do my best to approach each future show and tour in the same way – as a privilege and something really sacred.
10/12/2024
To book the show – see CONTACT PAGE.
Harmony
I recently pondered about what harmony means to me. Not harmony in the musical sense, but in the way we live our lives. I did, however, draw insight from the fantastical musical world of harmony. To me it means sitting in oneself with comfortability – knowing one’s light and dark side – loving it all and finding harmony in the dissonance within.
Should one not come to shine a light on your own fallibility and love it, one tends to seek fortitude in all the wrong places. It can be a shady place to cower in. I would rather seek harmony in my own dissonance. It is true that the world holds its own similar conundrum – the push and pull between light and dark. Having balance in your own inner world allows you the ability to walk this tightrope we call life.
(Parts of this song are inspired by philosopher Heroclitus, and author Amor Towles – specifically his novel ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’).
10/12/2024
Sweetness
Wat maak jy wanneer jou joie de vivre met eensaamheid trou? En jy gooi so klein bietjie wyn en musiek in die mix? Dan kry jy die Jeanne Goosen gedig, Sweetness.
‘n Ode aan daai aande waar jy net eenvoudig nie alleen wil huis toe gaan nie – wanneer die kurwes van ‘n vreemdeling se lyf meer aanloklik as die koue gewig van die nag is. Soms vind ons kortstondige tuistes in vreemdelinge, met ‘n klein hupstoot van ou staatmaker, Bacchus. En moenie Apollo vergeet nie.
11/12/12024
Translation
What do you do when your ‘joie de vivre’ marries loneliness? And you throw a little bit of wine and music into the mix? Then you get Jeanne Goosen’s poem, ‘Sweetness’.
An ode to those evenings where you simply don’t want to go home alone – when the curves of a stranger’s body are more enticing than the cold weight of the night. Sometimes we find short-term homes in strangers, with a little boost from old stalwart, Bacchus. And don’t forget the magic of Apollo.
Red
Immediate Molly
Gelukkig volg die dag altyd op die nag. Tog kom die dag ook maar met sy eie probleme. Dit is juis in die dag wat Immediate Molly verby kom. Wie ís Immediate Molly? Sy is die een wat altyd smile, wat nooit ‘n voetjie verkeerd sit nie, nooit kwaad raak nie, en nooit ‘nee’ sê nie. Die een van wie almal hou, want kom ons wees nou eerlik – wat is daar om nié van te hou nie? Behalwe miskien die feit dat daar niks is om nie van te hou nie! Die samelewing stoot so om die uur Immediately Molly’s én Mike’s uit. Hulle loop in die gange van skole en besighede. Hulle sit elke dag vir drie ure in die verkeer sonder om ooit hulle gaskets te blaas. Hulle sit vier aande van die week tot laatnag gebuig oor keyboards in hulle tuiskantore. Jy kan hulle ook vind in hospitaalbeddens weens onverwagse hart- en angsaanvalle, of geknoopte derms van al die stres. So lyk die Molly’s en die Mike’s van die wêreld wat almal please tot in hul eie afgrond in. Al wat ek sê – is dat ‘n ou se werk nie sy huis behoort te wees nie.
13/12/2024
Translation:
Fortunately, the day always follows a scoundrel of a night. Yet the day also comes with its own problems. It is precisely in the day that Immediate Molly comes by. Who is Immediate Molly? She is the one who always smiles, who never puts a foot wrong, never gets angry, and never says ‘no’. The one that everyone loves, because let’s be honest – what’s not to love? Except maybe the fact that there’s nothing not to like! Society produces Immediately Molly’s and Mike’s by the hour. You can see them walking in the corridors of schools and businesses. They sit in traffic for three hours every day without ever blowing their gaskets. They sit hunched over keyboards in their home offices four nights a week until late at night. You can also find them in hospital beds due to unexpected heart and anxiety attacks, or knotted intestines from all the stress. This is how the Molly’s and the Mike’s of the world look – the ones who please everyone into their own abyss. All I’m saying is that one’s work should never be one’s home.
Die baadjies wat ons dra
Wanneer laas het jy ‘n onsigbare gesien? Daardie ou wat hom tuis vind tussen verwaaide tjipspakkies, plastieksakke en leë koeldrankblikke. Gepantser met ‘n vrot baadjie, ‘n broek vol gate, korsige voete en vuil hare. Hy blend in met die gemors. Ek het in Merrimanlaan in die verkeer vasgesit en ‘n man so in ‘n hoek sien slaap. Ek kon nie help om te wonder wat maak dat hy dié plek as sy huis kies nie. Dit moet die onsigbaarheid wees, het ek gedink. Die misgekyk word. Want kom ons wees nou eerlik – ons almal trek party dae die krae van ons baadjies hoog op en gooi ‘n koue skouer teen die wind. Ons almal loop soms met ons oë op die grond, met die hoop dat niemand oogkontak maak en begin praat nie. “Net nie vandag nie”, dink ons. “Net nie vandag nie”.
In die land van ons waar geld of die gebrek daaraan grense tussen gemeenskappe trek, dra ons maar almal ons baadjies met trots, maar nie sonder skaamte nie. Met Kersfees om die draai – kom ons maak die knope van die baadjies wat ons dra net so bietjie losser om die lyf.
‘Die baadjies wat ons dra’ is ook beskikbaar op Spotify en Apple Music – versprei deur Distrokid. Ek het die liedjie geskryf na ek Daniël Hugo se vertaling van Dimitri Verhulst (Belgiese skrywer) se ‘Die helaasheid van die dinge’ gelees het. Wat ‘n besonderse boek!
19/12/2024
Translation:
When was the last time you saw an Invisible? That guy who finds a home among old cardboard boxes and the trash of the day. Armored with a rotten jacket, trousers full of holes, crusty feet and filthy hair. That guy that blends in with the rubbish on the street. I was stuck in traffic on Merriman Street when I saw a man sleeping in such a corner. I couldn’t help but wonder what makes him choose this place as his home. It must be the invisibility, I thought. The ability to be overlooked. For, let’s be honest – some days we all pull up the collars of our coats and throw a cold shoulder against the wind. We all sometimes keep our gaze toward the ground, hoping no one makes eye contact and starts talking to us. “Not today”, we think. “Just not today”.
In this country of ours – where money or the lack thereof inflicts borders between communities – we all wear our coats with pride, but not at all without shame. With Christmas around the corner – let’s loosen the buttons on the coats we wear just ever so slightly. Let’s keep an eye out for the human who hinds behind invisibility.
I wrote the song after reading Daniël Hugo’s translation of Dimitri Verhulst’s (Belgian writer) ‘Die helaasheid van die dinge’ – to translate – ‘The misfortune of things’. What a special book!
Little Lies
And so it is. We hide. Divert our eyes. Smile our smiles. Build our towers. Stick to our side of the town. Tell our little lies. We survive.
This song was inspired by the book and series ‘Big Little Lies‘. It made me think of all the many ways in which we lie to ourselves and those around us – all in the name of ‘keeping up appearances’ while trying to maintain our homes. The strange thing about saving face is that we’re not seen for who we really are. Isn’t that what we really need in life? To be seen, not only for who we are, but for who we have the potential to be. No one can help if they do not know.
Actor Dorette Potgieter and her beautiful daughter Lia Luna Li performed in the music video. My friends Pieter and Melissa’s beloved Hannes also played the cutest role in this video. Video by Hanno Matthysen.
The song is currently only available on YouTube.
Have a look and a listen to the video here. Want the song? Why not pop me an email and I will gift you with the song!
20/12/2024
Thank You
Dis die dors
My reise in Europa in 2024 was ‘n lewensveranderende en onvergeetlike ervaring. Ek probeer so hard om vas te hou aan daardie lewenslustige ervaringe en die impak wat dit op my gehad het. Ek bly dink wat ek volgende kan doen om daardie dors vir avontuur en opwinding te les.
Terwyl ek in stede soos Madrid, Barcelona en Amsterdam gewandel het – het dit my opgeval hoe ons natuur eenkant toe bly skuif. Die mens wil alewig die koue, hitte, creepy crawlies en die vlieëndes beheer. Tog, wanneer ons wil ontspan, uitspan, vakansie hou, uitkom – is dit dikwels die natuur wat ons loop opsoek. Ons is bereid om duisende rande daarvoor te betaal.
Gevaar, opwinding, uitdaging – dis wat ons soek. Fisies en geestelik.
Dit laat my toe dink aan ons heinings en ons grense. Hulle laat ons veilig voel, ja. Maar ook afgestomp, rusteloos, ontevrede. Altyd hunkerend.
Dis die dors waarna ek hier bo verwys. Die dors vir die lewe – soos dit bestem was op daardie dag toe ons almal ons eerste oergil gegil het by geboorte.
Met almal van ons wat nou weer regmaak om die nuwe jaar aan te pak, in ons ou of nuwe roetines in te skakel en weer volstoom ons drome na te jaag en na ons naastes en geliefdes om te sien…hier is my wens…
Kom ons bly altyd bewus van daardie inhirente dors vir die lewe – die hunkering. Kom ons wees eerlik met onsself oor wat dit is wat vir ons belangrik is, wat ons siel voed, wat ons laat ontspan, wat ons gelukkig maak. Kom ons kommunikeer dit aan mekaar en maak seker dat ons mekaar aanspreeklik hou om tyd te maak vir hierdie dinge. Ons almal draai soms in die verlede en fokus daagliks op die bou van ‘n beter en veilige toekoms. Kom ons maak seker ons maak tyd om die glorieryke hede behoorlik te ervaar.
06/01/2025
Translation
My travels in Europe in 2024 were a life-changing and unforgettable experience. I try so hard to hold on to those life-giving experiences and the impact they had on me. I keep thinking what I can do next to quench that thirst for adventure and exhilaration.
While walking in cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Amsterdam – it struck me how we keep pushing nature aside. Man always wants to control the cold, heat, creepy crawlies and the flying creatures. Yet, when we want to relax, take a holiday, get out of the mundaneness of life in the fast lane – it is often nature that we seek out. We are willing to pay thousands of rands for it.
It reminded me of our fences and our borders. They make us feel safe, yes. But also dull, restless, dissatisfied. Always yearning.
That is the thirst I am referring to above. The thirst for life – as it was destined to be on that day when we all screamed our first primal scream at birth.
With all of us getting ready to start the new year, settling into our old or new routines, chasing our dreams and working to take care of our nearest and dearest…here is my wish…
Let us always remain aware of that inherent thirst for life – that craving. Let’s be honest with ourselves about what is important to us, what feeds our soul, what relaxes us, what makes us happy. Let’s communicate this to each other and make sure we hold each other accountable to make time for these things. We all at times turn to the past and we all focus daily on building a better and safer future. Let’s make sure we make time to properly experience the glorious present.
Video by Lukas Stander.
Geleende tyd
Die Groot Dors stuur my toe op ‘n 3-maandelange avontuur deur Europa se mediterreense lande (en natuurlik ‘n stukkie Nederland). Ek het my reise in Europa afgeskop met 13 dae op die Camino Del Norte (Noordkus van Spanje). Ek het so 310 kilometer gestap tot by Santiago de Compostela.
Voor die Camino het dit gevoel of tyd deur my lyf trek. Nie net tyd nie, maar ook die lewe en al sy stressors. Ek was nie gesond nie – ek het te hard gewerk, te min gespeel en definitief nie na myself gekyk nie. Elke nuwe kreukel, vlekkie, die effense stadiger opstaan as ek kruisbeen sit – het my angstig laat voel. Dis snaaks hoe vrees al nader kruip soos mens ouer word. Hoe smag mens nie na die sorgeloosheid en die vreesloosheid van die jeug nie!
Na die Camino voel ek anders. Ja, ek is steeds op geleende tyd. Dit ontduik ‘n mens nooit, maar daar is ‘n groter bewussyn…
van hoe my kop (vrees ten spyt) krag uit my bene tap, hoe bloed deur my hart en lyf pomp, my lewendig hou, al voel ek nie altyd so nie. My ervaring langs die Camino het my gehelp om weer die wonder van nie net die wêreld nie, maar ook, die wonder van die liggaam, en die vasberadenheid van die kop te waardeer.
Meer as dit, die belangrikheid van die enigheid tussen die verstand, die siel en die liggaam. Dit is lewe. Dit is waar ons krag en wonder skuil.
Ek het die reuke van Spanje se landelike gebiede daagliks ingeasem. Die velde het vir my soos chamomile tee geruik.
Die groot moeder se asem (koud en warm) het ek 24-7 teen my vel gevoel. Die son het my gebak, reën het genadeloos op my neergesak en my tot in my tone in natgemaak. Dit is in daardie oomblikke wat ek op my gelukkigste en lewendigste gevoel het. Toe ek bloot moes aanstap, lag, vertrou dat my liggaam my van binne sou warm maak, en my bene doodeenvoudig net moes hou! Koffie en sjokelade het nog nooit so goed geproe nie!
Ek het op ‘n ander manier kennis gemaak met my kop. My kop verstaan nie altyd alles nie en hardloop meestal van my liggaam af weg.
Na dese weet ek dat dié plek, onse Aarde, dié huis wat ons almal op geleende tyd deel – die grootste geskenk is waarvoor ons kan vra.
Eintlik gaan dit maar net oor wat ons met hierdie geleende tyd maak. Ons sit die pot meeste van die tyd so mis.
Die groot uitnodiging is dat ons met pens, pootjies, hart, siel, gesonde verstand en absolute oorgawe met hierdie lewe omgaan.
En basta met die res!
07/01/25
Translation:
The Great Thirst sent me on a 3-month adventure through Europe’s Mediterranean countries (and of course a section of the Netherlands). I kicked off my travels in Europe with 13 days on the Camino Del Norte (North Coast of Spain). I walked about 310 kilometers to Santiago de Compostela.
Before the Camino, it felt like time was passing through my body. Not just time, but also life and all its stressors. I wasn’t healthy – I worked too hard, played too little and definitely didn’t look after myself.
Every new wrinkle, stain, the slightly slower getting up when I sat cross-legged – made me feel anxious. It’s funny how fear creeps closer as you get older. How one yearns for the carelessness and the fearlessness of youth!
After the Camino I feel different. I’m still on borrowed time. It never eludes one, but there is a greater consciousness…
of how my legs draw strength from my mind (despite fear), how blood pumps through my heart and body, keeping me alive, even if I don’t always feel that way. My experience along the Camino helped me appreciate again the wonder of not only the world, but also, the wonder of the body, and the determination of the mind.
More than that, it reaffirmed the importance of the unity between the mind, the soul and the body. This is life. This is where our power and wonder as humans lie.
I breathed in the smells of Spain’s rural areas daily. The fields smelled like chamomile tea to me. I felt the great mother’s breath (cold and hot) against my skin. The sun baked me, rain poured down mercilessly on me and soaked me up to my toes. It is in those moments that I felt at my happiest and most alive. When I simply had to walk, laugh, trust that my body would warm me from the inside, and my legs simply had to keep going! Coffee and chocolate never tasted so good!
I got to know my mind in a different way. My head doesn’t always understand everything and mostly runs away from my body. After this, I know that this place, our Earth, this home that we all share on borrowed time – is the greatest gift we can ask for.
It’s all about what we do with this borrowed time. We miss the point most of the time.
The great invitation is that we engage with this life with everything we’ve got – body, heart, soul, common sense, and absolute surrender.
And basta with the rest!
I'd rather be alone
Whose life is it anyway
Gee my ritme
News of the day
The River
My own “theatre of the absurd” song.
Hi Luna
Where was I? Only learnt about you by buying the Huisgenoot to exercise my brain with crossword puzzles (what an excuse for someone to buy Huisgenoot) Immediately went to Youtube to search for your music, and I like your voice/music styles very much (added your songs to my master playlist)
I see that you also added to your repertoire by going through the trials that life throw at us. I have also started dabbling in poetry after similar tribulations many years ago(it seems life coaxes our best thoughts from us, by taxing our emotions) I have no musical skills(except that I know when I hear a good song), but hope one day that one of my attempts at poetry will make the lyrics of a good song, over and above the few poems I had published in poetry competitions.
Keep up with what you are doing. I am sure you have a legion of fans built up over the years.
PS Am I the first to comment?