Congrats again on winning a SAMA. Live in KwaZulu has enjoyed an incredible journey so far.
Very much so! It feels like the kind of album I've wanted to do my whole career. Many of the tracks existed solely in a live environment before, and I felt it was time to document them.
We also only had two days to record in, so my approach was quite different to something I would have put together in a studio.
One of my favourite tracks is Smithfield, which features myself on eBow, loops and on a musical saw. It's a rather ambient affair and certainly quite different to everything else in my set.
I remember performing it at the Cape Town Fringe Festival last year. A kind gentleman came up to me after the show to buy a few CDs. He distinctly asked which album “the saw song” was on.
He then continued to purchase all the other albums around it on the merchandise table!
I believe you recently had a pretty nifty new guitar built for yourself as well?
Yes, I'm very excited about my Casimi African Blackwood guitar. More importantly, however, I see it as a relationship I've started with one of the finest guitar builders on the planet.
Casimi Guitar, based in Cape Town, took almost a year to build. But, when it arrived I was literally knocked over. Every single day that I've pick the instrument up since has left me surprised by its immensity.
I would even go so far as to say that it has helped me take my playing to the next level. I am deeply honoured to have this Casimi as part of the family.
How many instruments do you play during any given concert?
Hands down, my first instrument of choice would now be the Casimi. Tone-wise nothing touches it. If a sitar comes on the road with me, my acoustic Singh will usually be my first choice. I prefer Elixir Strings on my guitars, specifically their NanoWeb Phosphor Bronze 11 gauge.
How would you describe your playing technique to an untrained ear?
I get asked this often, but I honestly have very little idea of what I'm actually doing. I am a terrible teacher and have never really been able to verbalise my ideas.
I do, however, love a good groove and a strong melody - both of which are massive pulls for me when I listen to any musician. When one tunes any instrument away from its standard tuning, the patterns and approach has to involuntarily change too.
This intrigues me to no end as you almost have to start from scratch again if you're trying to place a particular chord or harmony.
In doing so it then forces one to search for, and rediscover, unique sounds.
You recently kicked off your biggest local tour to date. What's the vibe behind it?
It's called the Gathering Fiction Tour. We'll travel over 5 000 kms and gig in nearly 20 venues.
I remember each one of my tours over the past 14 years fondly. Quite often my music is inspired by the stories I pick up while on the road.
The people, the accents, the calamities, the laughter, the technical melt-downs and the potholes; I take it all in.
The tour's name identifies exactly what happens to me while travelling as a musician. And, considering the scale of this tour, I know this time won't be any different. We'll be performing at a House Concert in the Bo-Kaap tonight (at 5 Leeuwen Place, 73 Upper Leeuwen Street, Bo-Kaap from 8pm. Book: R150 door, R120 pre-booked, 078 7555 402, [email protected]) and also at The Forge in Kalk Bay alongside guitarist Derek Gripper tomorrow (at 12 Windsor Road Kalk Bay, from 7.30pm. Book: R155, 083 666 96 99 / glenday@telkomsa)
You'll also be heading into the studio after Gathering Fiction. What do you have in mind for the new album?
I haven't been as excited for a collection of pieces since my album Fox Hill Lane came out back in 2009.
I really believe the material to be strong and that it will offer a very dissimilar angle to what came before. 75% of the tunes will feature Gareth Gale on drums.
In addition, there are going to be many guests featured, none of which I'm able to reveal just yet.
But I'm aiming for an amalgamation of many styles and cultures.
The good news for fans is that they'll be able to get involved through crowd funding, so keep an eye on my social media pages for more details.
l To listen to Guy Buttery’s album, or to purchase Live in KwaZulu, or to see Buttery’s upcoming live gig schedule, see www.guybuttery.co.za or www.facebook.com/GuyButteryMusic, or search for Guy Buttery on iTunes.