by Louw Mulder

To have your heart broken, is most probably one of the most difficult things any person has to deal with. It is something we mostly keep to ourselves, trying to heal on a way unknown at that point in time. But then comes a talented artist, who represents his own heartache through music, and gives you that comfort that you are not alone. I am referring to Daniel Baron’s new hit single, One More Good Bye. After the music video was released earlier, I caught up with him to get to the story behind the song.

I first met Daniel during the fifth season of South African Idols on M-Net, when he came eighth in the competition. Ironically, his last song was Save the last Dance for Me, and even though this was his last performance, it was not the last dance yet. In his interview after being eliminated, he said that he wanted to first finish Matric, and then hopefully get a recording contract. If only he knew then how his career would blossom. Recently, he released his brand new album Weekend of Mass Destruction, but the initial plan with this album was interrupted, when life brought some unexpected detours along the way.

Daniel came to the end of his relationship which he describes as a ‘phenomenal four years together’, where nothing went to waste. “When it’s not God’s will, it kind of happens that you accept it and you move on” he said: “The break-up was devastating, and I went through a lot of pain. It was the girl I wanted to marry, and it just ended where you both realise you want different things, and it is the end of the road.”

“From there I just went into my studio, and I did a lot of writing, I just poured my heart out, and wrote so many songs, and one of the first ones I wrote, was One More Goodbye. At the time I didn’t even think I would release it. I thought it was just for me to pour my heart out, and no one was ever going to hear it” he says as he carefully took me through his healing process: “I know God gave me the gift of music, and my music just helped me to turn this ugly pain into something beautiful”.

It was a very fast process, until One More Good Bye was released. “It turned out very beautiful, especially for people who relate to it” he told me: “The theme of the song is me coming to terms with the fact that it is over, but before we never see each other again, can we just say one more good bye.”

On Daniel’s Facebook page, messages were posted in abundance where people wrote how much this song means to them, how they can relate to what the lyrics speak of, and it just showed how many people around us in our everyday lives go through the trauma of a painful break-up.  “I believe whole heartedly that this song was for a purpose. I grew a whole lot through this breakup, and as I saw all these messages, I realised that this thing was bigger than just me,” he says as he tries to explain the bigger picture: “I need to tell people going through their own heartache, to just stay close to God, and they will be fine.”

One More Good Bye is not a track on Daniel’s latest album. “I could have waited with this song, as there are definitely a few more singles I want to release on Weekend of Mass Destruction, but I was going through this heartache now, and I realised I didn’t want to wait, I want to release this song while I am experiencing all these emotions” he said, confident in his decisions. He further told me that he is quite aware that music is a direct extension of his soul, and it was with this soul he poured into the song, that added a degree of emotion.

After the success of the single, Daniel knew he had to work fast with the music video. The music video was dropped, and it features Daniel, alone with his grand piano, in various settings. From on the Stage, to a dirt road in the middle of nowhere, this video perfectly symbolized all the emotions he went through discreetly, but yet so obviously. “The piano is my companion, even when I am alone” he confirmed my analysis of his music video: “The piano will always be with me, when I am alone, and even when I am Heartbroken.”

On a lighter note, he explains how happy he was with the final product. “I am a perfectionist, and normally when I get the first draft of a video, I can pick up stuff that has to change” he said, not being shy of his desire to always produce perfect material. “This music video was right the first time” he said proudly: “I worked with this guy who is an absolute genius.” Not taking all the credit for himself, he told me of the amazing work Ruan Kotze from The Real Thing did in this video production. “They are an exceptional production company, and I am so grateful for them.”

Daniel adds that with this video, he wanted to show that by travelling all over the place, by having the theme of sharing, he wants to spread his experience with the world, hoping to inspire people. “I have a lot of touring coming up. I am busy at the moment packing for our next tour with Tjaart van der Walt. I love travelling, and I love driving, so I am looking forward to a great road trip” he said.

Daniel admitted to me that his mind never stops, it works overtime, creating music all the time. “I can’t keep all this music to myself. I need to release them” he said excitingly: “I write all the time, and I have this whole album planned in my head for future release, and beyond that, I am already playing with the ideas of the next album.” Knowing well that he can’t release and produce all his material himself, he is also proudly writing songs for up and coming artists, who he wants to help break through. “It is all about the message, the message will get out. It doesn’t need to be in my voice.”

Feeling a sense of pride towards this artist, being there since he stepped on the music scene way back during Idols, I realised that if you want to make it, if your goals and your motives are set at the right destination, as is with the case of Daniel Baron, the sky is the limit. Just as his last song on Idols was about his last dance, and this latest hit about one last good bye, I am certain to say that it is by far not the last you will see of Daniel Baron.

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by Louw Mulder

‘Special’ – Google defines the word special as “Better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual”.

With a blossoming South African music Industry, it will really take something extraordinary to be better, greater, and different than the ones before.

On the 13^th of June, Daniel Baron launched his new album, “Weekend of Mass Destruction” at one of the penthouses at the Da Vinci Hotel in Sandton. Everything about this event was special; from the design of the invitation, to the venue, to the launch, and most importantly, his album.

The launch event was classy and intimate, and provided for the correct interlude for the music that was to come. With about 150 guests, this is what Daniel Baron wanted for the launch of his third solo album. Family, friends, and names in the music industry were cocktailed and dined, but mostly entertained in true serenade fashion, during an event that was per definition, very special.

It was when the Pyrotechniques of the saxophonist stopped, when the human mannequins came to life, the first sounds of Baron’s intimate and carefully selected repertoire began. With the backdrop of the sun setting over the traffic in Sandton, Baron introduced himself and launched his new album.

The live performance of some of the tracks on his new CD, created the best appetite for what is on this album. Daniel Baron created sounds on this project, which would be hard to categorise under one genre. It’s electronic, sometimes with a rock element, other times with House and dance infusions, which reiterates how special this album is.

Baron admitted that he did not want to be bound by one style on this CD. “I truly believe that these are the craziest yet possibly the best songs I have created yet. I have always believed in breaking musical boundaries, fusing genres and even generating new sounds” he said: “Most importantly I believe that music is here to inspire and bring joy to humanity. Music is a gift from God, and I think I have accomplished a bit of the above.”

His love of music, and musical instruments are evident in the album, and in the titles of some of his tracks. With this I refer to Pink Atomic Symphony, the intro track, Piano off the Roof, Beautiful Noise, and Blood and Violins.  All these tracks were composed and written by Baron himself, with a collaboration with Sketchy Bongo and Aewon Wolf, on the track Private Show. He was assisted by the very talented Tjaart van der Walt, who has done some additional compositions on this album.

As explained by Daniel Baron himself, the theme of this album is the destruction of any negativity and hate. With this album, his goal is to prove that music can create peace and love, and bring enemies together in one dance. It is clear that a lot of special time went into this album, to set this theme to the music he produced. “I have never been so proud of anything in my life as I am of this album” Baron Said: “I have never worked this hard. I’ve put everything behind this project and I have all faith in it.”

Personally, my favourite track of this album, is Children of the Sun, because I can once again mention that it is something special. Daniel Baron explained during the launch how this tune came to him one day in traffic, and how this song opened up so many possibilities. The addition to children’s voices, builds up to a catchy tune and a nice dance feel to it that gets stuck in your head for hours after. With compliments of Daniel’s YouTube channel, you can listen to this track at the bottom of this article.

Weekend of Mass Destruction is not for the faint hearted. It is a Special product, of a Special artist, with a very Special sound. With this album, Daniel Baron moves the boundaries, and through 13 special tracks, opens up so many possibilities of how South African Music can be a trendsetter internationally.

Weekend of Mass Destruction is now available on Itunes and Apple Music.

The review was edited by Bronwyn Kerry.

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