Graeme Watkins

Bio

Graeme Watkins, frontman of beloved South African groups The Graeme Watkins Project and Swing City, has returned to the studio in 2020 and bringing a fresh new approach to his solo project.

After a decade of fronting popular South African groups, as part of collectives, Graeme Watkins ventured out into writing in a solo capacity.
He explains it as a "Journey to discover what he is capable of as an individual in the studio". Whilst he still teamed up with bandmates, Matthew Marinus, Ryno Zeelie, and Tjaart Van Der Walt, for inspiration, validation, and co-production elements, he is proud to present a body of work reflective of his solo songwriting style.
Over the last three years, Watkins has been fine-tuning his producing skills and working closely with bandmate Tjaart Van Der Walt, investigating driving forces behind pop music.

Whilst the original idea was to drop the pop version of the song first, as South Africa grappled with lockdown and an alcohol ban, Watkins released a ballad version of Sober primarily, accompanied by a lockdown video shot in his home, by his wife and mother. The ballad version was recorded in Watkins' van. When asked about the difference between the two songs, Graeme delves deeper, "When I first wrote the song, the subject matter was addressed in a major key, packaged in a lighthearted manner, with the subject still being of a sensitive nature. During the lockdown, I started playing it in a minor on my piano, and the whole message changed shape, about those dealing with serious addictions, and partners having to grapple with being a constant support base. I decided to record it and played it to a few people, and we decided to release that version first."

Lockdown has been a challenging time for Watkins, just weeks before the president's announcement, he purchased a share in Marshall Event Gear and had to quickly put his creative business chops to the test with watching all the business opportunities vanish, whilst keeping the company above water. He has since sunk his teeth into transforming the space into a streaming venue, aimed at young and upcoming artists who want to stream from professional studios, with access to great sound and lighting. He has also transformed his office space into a satellite Marshall Music Store selling ICT (Information communication technology) and home studio setups.

Watkins is excited to release music fluidly throughout the year, building up to an EP by the end of 2020. With more time to focus on studio life, with performing now taking a backseat due to Covid-19, hold on to your seats for what's to come.

Posts

Graeme Watkins's picture

Graeme Watkins added 6 new tracks

Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Dance the Night Away
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
All Said and Done
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Lock You Up
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Sex on Fire
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Giving Up on Me
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Love Is a Fire
Deezer

Music

Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
The Last Night (Remix)
03:34
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Bloodshot Eyes (Acoustic Version) (Live)
03:46
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
All Said and Done
03:38
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Giving Up on Me
03:11
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Dance the Night Away
03:39
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Love Is a Fire
03:10
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Stand Here by Myself
03:23
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Heart of Glass
04:50
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Walls Around Me
03:16
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Fight When We're Young
02:43
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Lock You Up
03:34
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Overcome
03:36
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Fly Away
03:59
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Soldier On
03:46
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
You Come Running
03:54
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Love in Abundance
03:45
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
All Said And Done
03:38
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Giving Up On Me
03:13
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Dance The Night Away
03:40
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Love Is A Fire
03:11
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Heart Of Glass
04:51
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Stand Here By Myself
03:24
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Walls Around Me
03:17
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Lock You Up
03:35
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Fly Away
04:00
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Soldier On
03:46
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Overcome
03:38
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Fight When We're Young
02:44
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Sex on Fire
03:17
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
London Bridge
03:31
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Little White Rabbits
03:05
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
The Last Night
04:29
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
You and I
03:50
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
God Bless
04:40
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Holding On
04:06
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Real World
04:00
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Music Affair
03:35
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Bloodshot Eyes
04:07
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
I Gotta Know
04:03
Deezer
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
London Bridge
03:13
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
I gotta Know
04:13
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Music Affair
03:38
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Little White Rabbits
03:06
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
You and I
03:51
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
God Bless
04:45
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Holding on
04:07
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Bloodshot eyes
04:04
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Sex on Fire
03:17
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Music Affair
03:38
SoundCloud
Track artwork
The Graeme Watkins Project
Real World
04:03
SoundCloud

Videos

GWP - Overcome - Live at iHeartJozi
You Come Running - The Graeme Watkins Project
Love In Abundance - The Graeme Watkins Project (Official Video)
Love In Abundance - The Graeme Watkins Project BEHIND THE SCENES
The Graeme Watkins Project - Lock You Up
The Graeme Watkins Project (GWP) - Fly Away
The Graeme Watkins Project (GWP) - Overcome
Fight When We're Young - The Graeme Watkins Project (GWP)
The Graeme Watkins Project EPK - GWP in USA
The Graeme Watkins Project EPK - Road to the USA
The Last Night - The Graeme Watkins Project
The Graeme Watkins Project - Exploring The Corridors (EPK)
The Graeme Watkins Project - MK Kraakvars Teaser
The Graeme Watkins Project - Music Affair Official Music Video
GWP: Webisode 2 - Idols Performance
GWP: Webisode 1 - Nightlife/Bar Expo, Emperor's Palace
Graeme Watkins Project GWP - 94.7 Highveld Stereo & 94.5 KFM Full Interview
Durban July - Lady (Acoustic)
Graeme Watkins Project GWP - Music Affair
Graeme Waktins Project GWP - Band Interview
Graeme Watkins Project GWP - Photoshoot feat. Bloodshot Eyes
Graeme Watkins Project GWP - Joking with Rudo and Dave
ZAJohannesburg, South Africa
In operation since: 
2010

Contact

0825796882
Kim Coppen-Watkins

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