Nothing Reckless about this big hit
Former Idols SA competitor attributes the success to high hopes and hard work
THREE Durbanites have hit the big time on the pop charts. The single, Reckless, by SNAPBVCK (Rhys Fataar and Ryan James), featuring Durban artist NidaalXO, climbed to number two on 5FM’s Pop Chart last week.
The former top 100 Idols SA competitor, Nidaal Hassim, 23, said he learnt a lot from the competition.
“I was 18 at the time of auditions and walked away (after his participation) knowing that I had a lot of work ahead of me.”
He was born in Polokwane, Limpopo, and attended Westville Boys’ High School and Eden College in KwaZuluNatal before graduating from UKZN Westville last year with honours in marketing.
He developed his love for music at an early age when he and his mother went on long road trips to visit family.
“My mother and I used to travel to Polokwane on a ninehour drive when I was a child. Listening to album after album, she played the likes of Carlos Santana, Justin Timberlake, Verve, Tracy Chapman, Akon, Michael Jackson and The Black Eyed Peas.
“It became a symbol for our happiness as we faced trying times. I loved to sing and started to think I was quite good at it,” he said.
“At the heart of an existential crisis, when I was 17, I asked my father for a piano. I learnt how to play my favourite songs using video tutorials and developed an understanding of my musicality.”
Seeing music as an instrument to implement change, Hassim said: “With it, one can speak for those without a voice, one can move people and change their perceptions and ideas. Music has been crucial in the struggle against oppression all over the world.”
Reckless was completed more than a year ago, and it had taken the intervening time to make sure NidaalXO and SNAPBVCK were ready to release.
“In my case, I needed to develop my artistic identity. I had to figure out who NidaalXO was. I needed to know what he smelt like and how he walked before I could figure out what he sounded like. Discovering the right creative direction is something that is crucial,” said Hassim.
Creating music takes time and dedication.
“I have spent more than a year with Skatta (producer), starting and scrapping projects until we found the direction that was appropriate for NidaalXO. Crucial in the development of my artistic identity was Xylon (Li Joshua, visual artist).”
Their recipe for success was high hopes and hard work.
“I occupied a studio with SNAPBVCK at the beginning of 2015. On a summer day one year ago Rhys, Ryan and I sat under a tree and uttered the words: ‘We have a song on the radio.’ Of course, we didn’t, but we knew what we were setting out to achieve and now it is finally all beginning,” said Hassim.
“We worked on music and recording for two years since we went into the studio, without affirmation that we’d get on radio. It was tough. You find yourself down and doubting yourself, because of the intangible hours of work nobody will ever see,” he said.
But, every second was worth it for Hassim.
“It was indescribable hearing our song on the radio. I called my mom and dad. I called my girlfriend. I wanted to call all the people who did so much for me in so many ways. It means the world to me to have South Africa receive Reckless in the way that they have,” he said.
New music, collaborations and videos are on the horizon for NidaalXO.
“I’m working closely with Skatta and Xylon. These artists inspire me every day. I feel blessed to be collaborating with them. We have massive plans. The next release will happen by mid-February,” he said.
As for the impact he hopes to have on the South African music industry, Hassim said: “We want to remain true to our artistic ideas and we want to change the way people create.
“Our collaboration boasts a romance of the audio and the visual. Our hope is to develop this concept so we can create using pioneering ideas and truly leave our mark on the South African industry.”