The Return of John Graayenstein
- Ashley Allard
- Mar 14, 2023
- 4 min read
If you are familiar with Moyé, you are familiar with the exceptional talent of John Graayenstein; A 21-year-old drama student becoming a force to be reckoned with. Since his last single, FLY, John has been climbing higher and higher up in the South African music industry.
Graayenstein plays with genre and takes risks, and it all comes together in a melancholic, dramatic, and invigorating ensemble of separate singles, which you can all find on YouTube. Planning on releasing his first EP in June, Graayenstein told me about his newest single, HIGHER, released on March 14th 2023.
HIGHER is the continuation of his previous song, FLY, which explored the need to let go to blossom. HIGHER now tackles a new subject matter; once you’ve let go and you’ve begun to fly, what’s next? HIGHER is “about a boy, growing up to become the person that he always wanted to be”, overcoming obstacles and becoming better, reaching new heights and growing as a person. It is a tribute to his previous labours and is a perfect knot to tie off the story he has been telling. Lyrics from Flowers for His Heart, Graayenstein’s first single, are taken and twisted into an ode to self-love in his newest track. These flowers have now grown from his labours, and he picks these for his mother. He also plays with his lyrics from Not in Love, which details: “I’ve loved, and I’ve lost, but I’ve grown”. This continues into FLY, where he begins to soar, but he must go higher, something he has only been able to achieve with the help of his mother.
Graayenstein is incredibly thankful to his mother. John knows he is safe, that he "can make it through", knowing that his mother, who prays for him and his safety daily, has his back. With all her help and support, John says, “How can I not pay tribute to her?”.
Graayenstein wanted to add a gospel element to this song, paying homage to his higher power. He sees the gospel genre as ‘interaction’, and strongly believes in connecting with the audience when performing. “What are we doing here if there is no connection?” John says, “We are people, we have to connect.” And what better way to form that connection than through something so close to his heart as gospel? Weeks before the interview, John told me, excitedly in a voice note, that this piece will be magnificent because he had added a choir. But, what makes this even more unique, is that he enlisted the help of the church choir he has been a part of since he was 11 years old. This adds to the tribute element, having women, who have witnessed him grow as a musician and as a human, featured on his newest track.
Graayenstein is always anxious before his new releases: “Every time I release something, I will always be a bit nervous because you are taking something that was in your heart and you’re presenting that to people”. This form of vulnerability is scary, but it is also exhilarating for him.
“I have news,” Graayenstein announces, “I am getting a TV show!” The trial episode is yet to be filmed, but everything has already been organised. They have a whole band ready, so full that the current stage selected for the trial episode is not big enough. Graayenstein is also hoping to have the entire choir perform. It is also no surprise that Almost Alive will collaborate with him.
It is impossible not to mention Almost Alive when speaking about John Graayenstein. Henko Uys, John’s executive producer and very dear friend, is the leader of Almost Alive, of which Graayenstein proudly calls himself their biggest fan. Uys and Graayenstein work incredibly well together, as Henko knows precisely how to execute John’s ideas. But, Graayenstein has also formed meaningful relationships with the rest of the band. In fact, all of Almost Alive (except for Timothy Hurn – John apologises) has played a role with HIGHER; Timothy Fortes on drums, Matthew Marais on guitar, with Hanju Potgieter helping with sound engineering. (By the way, Hanju, if you are reading this, John says he will pay you back that R100 he owes you). Together, Almost Alive and Graayenstein have not only produced incredible songs but have also created unforgettable performances.
At his sold-out concert last year -partly due to Henko’s mother, who booked up two full tables- Graayenstein received a standing ovation. When asked about his emotional state, John explains it was better than after his first concert, where he had been so overwhelmed with his passion for music that he contemplated dropping out of university to pursue just this: All he wanted to do, was be on stage. However, he recognises how dangerous this thought process was: “It really messes with you when you realise this isn’t reality. And you can’t live a fake life. Even though I sometimes do,” he jokes.
For his EP release in June, Graayenstein feels it is necessary to add a fifth song. He wants to make it a duet with his twin sister and have it explore the notion of getting older. His inspiration for this piece strays away from his previous ones -Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey and Sam Smith- as he wants to make something reminiscent of Billie Eilish’s genre. “It is important as an artist to show contrast,” Graayenstein says, “If you do the same thing all the time, you’re going to get boring.” He teases that maybe, one day, he will do something in the style of Nicki Minaj’s Anaconda.
When asked about his future, Graayenstein says that he does not see himself as the frontman forever. Instead, he has recently discovered his passion for teaching while completing his PGCE. He sees himself as a choir and drama teacher, inspiring the youth within the “mean business” of the arts. “Don’t keep skill and information and talent to yourself,” he says, condemning it as selfish. He knows he will continue producing music, but he would love to watch his students grow up and give their own concerts.
But as for the present, John Graayenstein is riding the wave of success, “happier than [he’s] ever been”. He plans to watch his single release from the Stellenbosch University student centre, as there will be loadshedding at 08:00, something we can’t help but laugh at. HIGHER is a revolutionary work; I know it will give you goosebumps. Stream HIGHER on YouTube, and keep an eye out for more fantastic music to follow.
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