RHP#038. Simon van Gend, Founder of Simon Van Gend Band

Jun 29, 2018

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Musician. Thinker. Artist. Brave Man. South African. Teacher. Microbiologist. Typesetter. Band Member. Courageous Human. Convalescent.

We like to talk about important topics which need to be discussed, depression is one of those. While our intent is to spread a positive message, it is also to highlight the realities of life and get people talking about things. Depression is something which can grip and squeeze the life out of you.

Musicians and other creative people, often use their skills and talents as a way of releasing the pain and anguish they experience. Our guest this week, Simon Van Gend, is a South African musician who shares his story with us. We go deep and raw, he exposes himself and makes himself vulnerable, which we are grateful for.

Simon grew up in East London, South Africa, with his folks and older brother. He has memories of feeling very abandoned as a youngster. In order to survive and get the love he needed, he had to completely bury his anger. What eventuates when that happens, is you get a depressed adult. Playing music, ended up being one of his saving graces.

There was a particular serendipitous moment, which had a profound impact on his life. He met an Italian lady in South Africa, who he taught English to. She happened to be a psychoanalyst and someone who ended up mentoring and helping him through his tough times. He went to Italy for a few months, started his healing and restoration and began playing more music. It was also when he recorded his first album.

We discuss very important topics in this conversation; evolution, religion, science, serendipity, anger and depression, our formative years, catharsis through music, vulnerability, polyamory and most importantly, the light at the end of the tunnel.

Simon is a very brave man. He has a story which is more common than we may think. A musician finding his way in life, trying to crack the music industry. Simon, thanks for laying yourself bare and putting everything on the table. Your message is going to touch many more than you will ever imagine.

We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

Let’s find out what it means for Simon Van Gend, to be Ridiculously Human.

Your fellow beings,

Craig and Gareth

SHOW NOTES

Background, Context & Reference

Connect with Simon Van Gend: Website | YouTube | Instagram | FaceBook | Twitter |Reverb Nation| Band Camp |
Simon’s Albums:

Other relevant points discussed and mentioned:

Cape Town Water Shortages - Day Zero
Desalination plants
Logic Audio Recording
Typesetting
Microbiology
Cosmos Series - Original
Cosmos Series - New
Radiolab Podcast
University of Cape Town
Creationism
Christopher Ryan’s podcast - Tangentially Speaking
Christopher Ryan’s Book - Sex at Dawn
Polyamorous
Simon & Garfunkel in Central Park
Google Song
Bruce Springsteen - The River

People Discussed

Places Mentioned

Cape Town, South Africa
Camps Bay, Cape Town
Table Mountain, Cape Town
Rosebank, Johannesburg

Music By

The Bambuseae Rhythm Section - Check them out here

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