Music
Awaken The Legehness with Van Pletzen
Their new release and South Africa’s first Kung Fu film is a satirical collaboration with Early B.
We spoke to Van Pletzen’s Groot Hond AKA Big Dog about their latest project with band member Nik Nax, featuring rapper Early B. The Johannesburg based duo have made it their mission to spread good vibes since 2017. This new single, from their upcoming album, is proof. You can expect to see dramatic homage and a throwback to weekends spent watching old Kung Fu films in their latest music video for "Awaken The Legehness".
What's the collaboration process like when you're working as a duo?
It is different for every song – communicating one's vision is always key.
What does legehness mean to you?
It’s an end to bleakness and comes down to finding the good or positive in every day, and in yourself.
How would you describe your sound?
We’re not really a genre band. We explore any sound that is right for the specific song – it’s usually upbeat and has a feel-good quality about it, but sometimes it’s also legeh gangster.
You guys seem like a lot of fun – how would you describe yourselves?
Masters in the sacred art of Legehness.
What was the inspiration the music video for "Awaken The Legehness" and who did you collaborate with to create it?
Old Kung-Fu films. I used to love them growing up and it’s always been a dream to make something with that energy. We worked with our friend PJ Kotze, who we also collaborated with on Zaberfluten
What’s the message behind the track?
To remember that the leghness comes from within. You can bring it to anything and everything that you do. The world needs a lot more legehness and that process starts within all of us.
The music video looks rad – what was it like to make it and did you enjoy that process?
We had a blast making it! It was the middle of winter, so it was pretty cold but also kakwarm!
What was it like working with Early B on this track?
As always, it was fantastic, we are friends and he is awesome to work with. Talent literally pours out of him!
When did you awaken your own sense of legehness?
It is something that needs to be awakened every day, sometimes several times.