We Talk To Stephen Gawking About His New Single and Inspiring People With His Disability And Music

Interviewed by Duzzy Clayton

Intro

What if Cheslin Kolbe listened to the naysayers, and didn’t pursue Rugby? He would’ve been discouraged, working in an office cubicle, hearing a voice deep within, as the song plays like his destiny calling. In real life, Kolbe never listened to the naysayers, and is one of the greatest Rugby players of his time. How many people listen to the naysayers, losing out on their potential because they don’t try?

Rather than be discouraged by his own disabilities and challenges, Ijay Swanepoel is a shining symbol of hope and inspiration to those who are disabled, different, oppressed, bullied, and everyone in-between. Via his Hip-Hop/Pop project, called Stephen Gawking the Nuclear Lyricist, he offers inspiration and hope. On 20 January, Stephen Gawking will release a massive motivational collaboration, a power Hip-Hop/Pop track called ‘Cheslin Kolbe In An Office Cubicle’ featuring HemelBesem, Loufi, Gazelle and Vicus Visser. 

This track is an anthem to motivate and inspire everyone to pursue their dreams, as the old cliché states “rather try and fail, than fail to try”. Ijay Swanepoel personally lives by this motto, and has learned so much by doing so (who would’ve thought he would meet and work with such prominent artists)?

Ijay shares that “I feel like Nick Fury bringing together the Avengers for the first time, and like them, I feel that this song will be iconic, especially for the Stephen Gawking brand. I still can’t really believe it, it feels surreal. Everyone featuring on this track, and everyone behind the scenes that made this possible, is scattered across South Africa, and as far as New York. For me, this whole Stephen Gawking project is, and continuously aims to be, the ultimate embodiment of the Rainbow Nation, and what South Africa has to offer!”

Ijay is one of the most inspiring people I have met and I look forward to presenting this interview to you

Enjoy The Read

 

Questions

Hello, Ijay Welcome to Fanbase Music magazine, can you tell us where you are from and also where you grew up and what music you grew up listening to?

I’m from a small town called Leandra in Mpumalanga. I grew up on a farm just outside of Leandra called Brakfontein, listening to all sorts of music and genres. My father listened a lot to Neil Diamond and more like adult contemporary music most of the time, and my mother has always been more into Pop, Dance, and her favorite Reggae music. All of it has influenced me in a way and then I discovered MTV (when they still played music) through my cousin Jean-Marie. It opened a new world to me, I watched TRL religiously hehe. Eminem, 50 Cent, Black Eyed Peas, Snoop Dogg, and many more. Locally MK also influenced me a lot, especially Jack Parow, Heuwels Fantasties, Polisiekar, Jax Panik, etc.

How would you describe your genre and sound for people who haven’t heard your music?

I would say our genre is ultimately a pursuit of finding a balance between Hip Hop and Pop, but also open to any other genre elements.

You are known as Stephen Gawking The Nuclear Lyricist, which is a play on the words of Stephen Hawking, can you tell us how you got this name, and can you tell us about your disability?

Stephen Hawking is most probably the most well-known disabled person and inspiration for other disabled people so I thought just take away the H and add a G because I am going to make everyone Gawk lol.  My disability is Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 2, Definition: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a group of neuromuscular disorders that result in the loss of motor neurons and progressive muscle wasting. The severity of symptoms and age of onset varies by the type.

You are known to use your disability and music to inspire other people going through similar challenges, can you explain more about this?

There are so many people and things that are causing division in this world. I want Stephen Gawking to be the opposite of that, and bring people of all cultures, backgrounds, and more, together. A symbol of hope and inspiration to those who are disabled, different, oppressed, bullied, and everyone in between.

You have been inspired by rugby player Cheslin Kolbe, can you tell us about his story and how it fits in with what you are trying to do?

I read an article about how people always told Kolbe that he was too small to play Rugby and that he is wasting his time, how wrong they were! They looked down on him so he decided to turn it up, Few years later he won an Olympic medal and the Rugby World Cup!

Okay, let’s talk about your new single, Cheslin Kolbe In Office Cubicle, can you tell us how that song came about and where was it recorded?

The concept of the song is like an alternative universe where Cheslin Kolbe listened to all the naysayers and didn’t pursue rugby. Ultimately he would have been dissatisfied and discouraged, working in an office cubicle and hearing a voice deep within, as the song plays like his destiny calling. In real life, Kolbe never listened to the naysayers, and is one of the greatest rugby players of his time, and arguably ever. How many people have and do still listen to the naysayers? How much potential is being lost just because people don’t try? I want this track to be an anthem to motivate and inspire everyone to pursue their dreams, as the old cliché states: “Rather try and fail, than fail to try.

 

You have collaborated with some really cool names in the industry, can you give a shout on who worked on the track and how I did it come about that you got to work with them on the track?

Who would have thought that I would eventually meet and get to work with such prominent artists like HemelBesem, Loufi, Gazelle, and even upcoming ones like Vicus Visser? I still can’t really believe it, and it feels so surreal. Everyone that features on the cut, and everyone behind the scenes that made this possible, is quite the army scattered across the whole of SA, and as far as New York, US. For me, this whole Stephen Gawking project is and continuously aims to be, the ultimate embodiment of the Rainbow Nation, and what South Africa has to offer.

What was the recording process like?

The only featuring artist that recorded in Bobby’s studio (Re-Birth Music) was Vicus, all the others recorded from across the whole of SA, and as far as New York, US. As mentioned above. Luckily we live in the digital age lol.

Will you be releasing other singles or an album in the future?

Yeah definitely, we have a few singles in various stages of production already and hope to release a few in 2023.

Can you give us your social media links, where can people get hold of you, what pages should they go like, and where will the new track be available?

All Links 
Facebook
Instagram 
YouTube

Thank you for doing this interview, do you have any last messages for your fans and our readers?