Traditionally South Africa enjoys a plethora of Afrikaans music whether it’s good old-fashioned country-style songs, ballads or gritty rock ‘n roll, the culture of “boeremusiek” has made a significant mark in the lives of local Afrikaners and English-speaking residents.

With stars like Patricia Lewis, Kurt Darren, and the darker Fokofpolisiekar and Die Antwoord, the Afrikaans music community is a force to be reckoned with. With loyal fans and continuing a heritage of patriotism, Afrikaans music enjoys a healthy listenership in South Africa and abroad.

Enter all-girl rock band Saarkie. These girls have got a definitive edge in the way they approach their music and fashion. They’re a group of independent girls, ready to take on the rock world with their carefully crafted tunes. They pride themselves on being responsible for every aspect of their music and its performance, and have just released the first single off their second album, Identiteit, set to be released in February 2011. The single, entitled “Oorlog in my Hart”, has been released to radio stations nationwide.

The girls believe the single contains a universally strong concept, and that anyone in a relationship can identify with the song. They commented that the single “is about someone trapped in a relationship. They don’t know how to get out of it and experience an inner conflict of emotions and realise that they have to face reality and make a decision”.

The girls are currently hard at work recording Identiteit at Manley Recording Studios in Pretoria. The new album is set to contain a continuously underlying theme of identity. With Identiteit, Saarkie made a conscious decision to move away from the “clean-cut” persona of their previous offering Luister, their first album. They want their music to appeal to a wider audience, so worked on songs that reflect their musical growth and are giving their new tracks a real rock ‘n roll edge.

Their lyrics are sung in Afrikaans, so English-speaking fans might struggle to fully comprehend the messages they’re putting out but the band want their music to go beyond just a literal understanding – they want their listeners to really connect to the music. I guess 2011 will open up interesting avenues for the edgy girl-band.

J.S