Wrestlerish
Walking up the stairs to a discreet studio in the up and coming area of Woodstock in Cape Town, you can already hear the music playing.The large white loft is filled with twenty-somethings, all looking very busy. In the center of the dim-lit loft, you see a set styled like a living room. Spotlights illuminate the faces of four musicians, each jamming to something different.The shoot for the music video is in between takes and the crew is making quick alterations to the set for the next scene. I ask the drummer if he has got ten minutes to spare, who looks over to the director, who in turn gives him the nod of approval. We step outside onto the sunny balcony.
Mr. Gavin Sean Flaks, when was the first time you have ever picked up an instrument?
“Well, originally I wanted to start guitar, which would have been a big mistake…”
Why that?
“Ag, I just wanted to start playing an instrument, and that seemed like the cool one to do, but I was wrong. Also I wanted to find a guitar teacher, but that never really happened. And then, I found this guy, drum teacher Alex Shuster, and he is still teaching now at the age of 83. So, he was my first teacher, then I finished with him, then I went to this other guy, Dan Pele, and now I’m still going to lessons with Neil Edridge.”
Do you think you will ever swap to guitar at some point, or even vocals?
“(Chuckles) You don’t even want to hear me attempt vocals. I don’t even think I can say I can play guitar. I do know how to play this one Nickelback song, I don’t think that counts though.”
Are you part of the whole Bellville music scene?
“No, not at all. I’ve lived in Joburg my whole life, don’t think I’ll ever move either, I love it there. Wrestlerish is actually considered a Pretoria band, even though Werner is the only one from Pretoria.
I guess it’s better to be called a Pretoria band than a Joburg band. It’s way better for your name, Joburg is part of the whole jock vibe, I suppose…”
When did Wrestlerish start getting attention from record labels?
“We’ve only been together for just over a year, and after about four or five months of gigging, Southern Pulse got interested, and they organized our signing with Rhythm Records.
Has Wrestlerish always been the Wrestlerish we know today?
“Not at all, it all started of with Werner and his guitar writing songs on his own. He went to London for a while, and when he got back, he started working with Jacques who played keyboard. So, it was more of an acoustic project at the beginning. They got in Dave on bass and a drummer, but he couldn’t stay because of varsity, so I started filling in a couple of gigs. Dave recommended me, actually. They sort of kept me on board, which was pretty cool.”
What do you consider your role is in the band?
“Apparently, I’m the clown. If I’m in a good mood, I try to get every one into a good, but when I’m in a bad mood, then no one really wants to be around me, not a good place to be.”
What are your main musical influences?
“I’m a big fan of the Dave Matthews Band, I would consider them my biggest influence, they’re just amazing.”
What’s the craziest thing that has happened to you since you have joined the band?
“Well, while we were on tour with Ashtray Electric in Bloemfontein and we had this van, and after we played this show, two of the guys from Ashtray Electric go and decide to chill in the van. So when we come back later to go drive off, the van’s gone and they’re gone. We look for them and we can’t find them, so we decide to walk down to blocks, and there they were, fast asleep in the van. Turns out while they were asleep, somebody tried to steal the van but realized they were in it, so the person ended up leaving the van, but taking a bottle of jagermeister.
What is your favorite venue in South Africa?
“Until now, I have never ever had a bad gig at Mercury. I’d probably say, for now, Mercury is my favorite place to play.”
Where would I find you on a Saturday night?
“I know I probably shouldn’t say this, but most likely at some jock club in Joburg. Ag, it’s a party.”
Is there a CD you’ve been killing?
“I would have to say the newest album by Dave Matthews Band, Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King. It’s absolutely amazing. The new Muse is really good, I can never get enough of them.”
This isn’t the first music video you’ve done…
“No, no it’s not. This is actually the third one off the album. The first one was Bad News. The other video, the one for Oliver Tambourine, was cool, because we shot it in Tokai Forest. It’s also been playlisted by 5fm, so things have been going pretty well.
What’s the theme behind this video?
“We were going for an old-school flash show sort of thing, you know the kind, where you put in the coin and you got to see the pretty girl dance.
Well, we were going for that in a non-sexual sort of way. People will put in a coin and watch us in the middle. We also wanted the people that you see to be very different from each other, to show that our music doesn’t just speak to one group of people. We definitely want more than one group of people to relate to our music.
Is there a chance of playing abroad?
“We’re actually planning a Germany tour at the end of this year, which is very exciting for us.”
One word to describe yourself?
“I’ll leave that up to you…”
For more photographs of the Wrestlerish shoot click HERE .
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