JEREMY LOOPS
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Since releasing his first album Trading Change in 2014, Jeremy Loops has been a favourite on the South African music scene. He dropped his latest single, ‘What Would I Know’ before leaving on his Mortal Man tour across Europe. He’ll be back in South Africa to headline Large on the Lawn in Joburg next Saturday and Parklife Festival in Cape Town on December 1. We asked him what’s on his cultural radar.
Place
Nepal. If “zen” were a place, Nepal would be it. I’m into the study of emotions and how people can have a better sense of self. The stories of Nepal, the monks and the people dedicated to understanding human nature and themselves has created an allure around it for me. I can’t wait to go.
Theatre
The Book of Mormon. I saw Matilda the Musical earlier this year in London, and if The Book of Mormon can match that, it has to be pitch-perfect.
Book
The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Aurelius was a Roman emperor and this collection of notes that he wrote to himself is, in many ways, the founding principles of stoicism. Stoicism is a branch of psychology that teaches one to care about and focus on the things in their control, and to relinquish the things that are not.
Television
Breaking Bad. Ten years late, I know, but it’s so gripping. The story is great, but the cinematography is next level. I think people can all relate to the narrative of running out of time but wanting to do right by those you’ll leave behind. It’s an underused storytelling archetype that’s executed incredibly in this show. It’s a slow burner for sure, but amazing television.
There’s a festival called Boardmasters in the UK which I hope becomes a template for festivals around the world. It’s part music festival and part lifestyle/ watersport festival in the truest sense. “Lifestyle” is not just a tagline they’ve tacked on like many festivals do, and you can tell. The music may be the big ticket driver, but the surf competition is the heart of the festival, and I’m a big fan of both.
Podcast
Making Sense with Sam Harris. Harris is a “contemporary” thinker who has zealot supporters swearing by his every word and hardcore naysayers in equal measure. A polymath informed in philosophy, psychology, politics and history, he’s a smart dude. While he’ll rub many up the wrong way, there are some golden ideas in his podcast.