Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician, Steve Louw, active since 1984, is recognised as one of the most respected and accomplished talents in the South African music industry.
Headlight Dreams, produced by Kevin Shirley, was released in May 2021 and nominated for a SAMA in 2022. Thunder And Rain is scheduled for release on 11th November 2022.
The geography of where I was coming from crept into the music; fire, wind and rain – Steve Louw
Written from the point of view of what we face in the aftermath of the last two years, the character in the song walks the line between right and wrong, unsure where that line is drawn and the consequences of following a moral imperative.
We are all making our way and, on our journey, trying to surpass the physical and spiritual roadblocks we encounter with grace and love for ourselves and our fellow travellers.
The geography of where I was coming from crept into the music; fire, wind and rain – Steve Louw
The world is navigating through a fraught time, economically and politically. Democracy is a deal between the people and the people in power, and that contract is under threat. Outraged but impotent, we consider our choices.
Written from the point of view of what we face in the aftermath of the last two years, the character in the song walks the line between right and wrong, unsure where that line is drawn and the consequences of following a moral imperative.
We are all making our way and, on our journey, trying to surpass the physical and spiritual roadblocks we encounter with grace and love for ourselves and our fellow travellers.
Standing, waiting for the lights to change Yeah, I’m filled with rage Choppers are beating down Broken signs blowing across the ground.
Thunder and rain in our town I can’t understand the pain in our town.
A burning match lights a cigarette This flame won’t catch the fight that’s in my head In the window of a black and white My face reflected in the burning night.
Thunder and rain coming down I can’t understand the pain in our town.
Where I was raised, we knew no hate An open door and an unlocked gate Tried to live by the law I don’t know ‘bout that anymore I never crossed the line One that’s always been in my mind I’ve given truth to lies I see it written in my eyes.
Thunder and rain coming down I can’t understand the pain in our town.
In a concrete room under the ground This was all sent coming down The lights go out on a man who hates The book he holds, holds his fate.
Thunder and rain coming down I can’t understand the pain right now.
We’re all born, we all bleed We’ve all been torn, we’re all in need We all live, we all die We all wanna get high.
Thunder, rain coming down Can’t understand the pain right now.
Under a rain of protests and storms in the heart, this sound builds itself, in images and tones, to show its point of view and its emotions, struggling to raise awareness in its important message.
The guitar and the vigor of the vocals will convince you to listen to the end, to decide whether to take sides or not.
The official video for “Train Don’t Run”, created by Jacqui van Staden. From the album “Headlight Dreams“, released 7 May 2021.
… my favourite track on this album is the almost proggish “Train Don’t Run”. Clocking in at seven and half minutes this is an epic tune that you hope never finishes. There is a soaring guitar solo by Rob McNelley that David Gilmour fans will love. No surprise to discover that this track was mixed on the same console as the classic “Dark Side Of The Moon“.
My grandfather was a railroadman and in the 1930s my father rode trains looking for work. To me, trains symbolise our attempts to bend nature to our will – and we’re seeing that trying to do that will never work. Silence will always return to the plains, the wind will blow, tracks will crumble and the earth will breathe again. This song has the wide open plains in it; dry cracked earth and a broken land.
The song builds from a driving acoustic guitar and hypnotic bassline to a haunting guitar solo by Rob McNelley. The production (by Kevin Shirley) brings out the relentlessness of the song and of what we inflict on our planet.
Steve Louw
TRAIN DON’T RUN (Recorded February 27, 2020)
The wind blows across empty plains That hold so many bones The rails glow years since the rain Horses roam on broken stones Train don’t run round here no more Train is gone for us all
Put down a coin on the track Saw silver turn through black Seeds thrown all come back Haunt the earth broken and cracked Train don’t run round here no more Train won’t come for us all
I can help you cross if you’ll let me Spirits roam across this broken land What’s been lost you can see Count the cost can’t understand Train don’t run round here no more Train is gone for us all
Steve Louw 