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Cape Town – We recently had the opportunity to try some delectable cakes with Jimmy Nevis at Smak, a delicatessen, pattiserie, restaurant and coffee bar located on Bree Street in Cape Town.
And while we were trying some delicious cakes, we got to ask Jimmy Nevis 24 questions.
This is what he revealed:
1. What was the first thing you did when you got up this morning?
Checked my Instagram... ja it’s really sad actually, social media is my first thing in the morning. I also went to the gym early this morning. It was quite an early morning... Actually I complained first, and then I checked my Instagram and then I went to gym!
2. What was the last thing you ate?
Uhm... I had scrambled eggs this morning.
3. Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone?
My sister.
4. What was the last live show you watched?
Hmmm... it’s quite ironic, I’m a performer, but I don’t recall. Oh! Actually my friend Janice, she’s a new artist and she performed at this club, and I went to see her perform.
5. What’s the most exciting thing in your life right now?
The most exciting thing in my life right now is pending projects. Aside from my music and the studio, which is always fun and exciting, there are also some new things on the rise with regards to fashion. So that’s been taking up a lot of my time, and it’s been very exciting.
6. What is the thing you are most bored with in life right now?
Uhm, I don’t know, I’m thinking, probably negative people.
7. What is the last movie you watched?
The last movie I watched was My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. It’s very embarrassing, but yeah... It’s funny because part one was like a family thing for us. When I was younger we used to watch that film together as a family and we loved it so much as a family we got the DVD, and we would always like make jokes about the film and whatever.
8. What is your favourite instrument to play?
My main instrument is piano, so it should be my favourite, but I think my favourite instrument to play is drums.
9. How old were you when you performed in front of people for the first time?
Possibly like five-years-old. I did this show at the Baxter once, I was like 6 or 7, and it’s so funny because when you’re young you don’t remember a lot, but I do remember the standing ovation I got after I sang.
10. What is the one song that you don’t like to sing live?
I don’t know actually, it goes through seasons; sometimes I get bored of singing the same repertoire, so I change it up a lot... I’m always changing up my set. My band knows we change it every two to three months.
11. What is the fondest memory of your childhood?
You know when something bad happens in the moment but then you can laugh about it later on in life? I don’t think I would’ve answered this if I was 12 years old, but looking back it is really funny! My sister, who is 6 years older than me, she always played piano for the church, and I sang with the rest of the worship team. And eventually she left to do her own thing and stuff, and naturally I took over on the keys. My piano skills... I could play but I wasn’t as good as her. Our church is very like, they just start singing and then you have to follow them. And my dad was like the main instigator of that. He would put in songs and I would just like give him death stares all the time, because I couldn’t figure it out on time and I always felt like such a fool on stage. Looking back it’s probably been one of the greatest things ever because now I can play anything by ear.
12. What has been a career highlight?
There have been so many great moments, I think whether it was singing at the Currie Cup Final, opening for Pharrell... I don't know there’s been many great moments. But I think for me the highlight, and this doesn’t happen all the time, but the moments on stage when the performance becomes an outer-body experience and the atmosphere is being lifted to a spiritual level and you can feel it, and everybody feels it, not just you. For me that’s, like I said it doesn’t happen all the time, when it does happen it’s truly mind blowing, and so special, I think that trumps any of the other moments. That just reminds you of your purpose and why you do music and what it’s really about. It’s something that’s so personal yet it is something you get to share with so many people.
13. What is your favourite beverage?
Cappucinos.
14. What do you order at a drive-through?
It’s not like there are that many items! So it’s usually a burger and chips.
15. What do you never travel without?
Chargers. I have so many different pieces that need to be charged. I feel like chargers are needed for everything, so I never leave without a charger or without a two point plug.
16. Do you have any rituals before going on stage?
Yes, I first force everyone around me to say good things about me... that’s a joke! We pray, that’s a big part. Depending on the type of gig, if it’s a fine evening gig then we’ll usually have a drink together, but all the band guys we just chill together, and we just kind of go over the set again.
17. How do you keep fit?
I eat all this cake! Uhm, I gym. And I enjoy climbing the mountain. I try and do the mountain every week, with my friends, which is a great way to see everybody. Last year I did my first half marathon, the Two Oceans. It was amazing. I mean even training for it was awesome.
18. What’s been the best advice you’ve ever received?
A really big musician once told me, nobody cares about you. So you need to take care of yourself, in all aspects. You have to be a part of everything and know exactly what’s happening all the time. And the essence of what he’s saying is that you can’t always trust everybody around you, at the end of the day everybody is going to care about themselves first, in this industry especially. Once I adopted that attitude I changed completely, I found myself being a lot more in control of what I wanted.
19. Who is the one person you would still like to collaborate with?
In South Africa it would be Lira. I think she’s always just been a good example of authenticity and just original music, and part of certain artists who have made an impact in SA in their own special way. She hasn’t gone and copied anyone else. When I think of Lira, I think of Africa, and her songs and her music. Yeah, she’s a great person as well. I just hope that I get to work with her at some point.
20. Have you ever Googled yourself and what did you find?
All the time, all the time... I mean what type of artist would I be if I don’t Google myself? I have found some terrible things actually, hahahah, no, but to be honest whenever I do Google myself it’s not as weird as it sounds. I’m usually looking for pictures of myself, so weird! Because I’m always looking to print pictures of myself for fans and people that I know. I don’t really keep it on my PC like I should. I’ve also seen some cool blogs now and then, what the world thinks of me, a confidence boost here and there... haha not really! But also, what’s cool is what Google has given me, they see me as a musician, they’ve given me the whole lay out, you know Jimmy Nevis, born in 1992, these are his songs. It’s pretty cool because it wasn’t there a year ago.
21. What’s your favourite TV show of all time?
It’s probably The Big Bang Theory.
22. If you weren’t a singer, what would you be doing?
I’d either be an architect or a journalist.
23. What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?
I’ve had people comment on my voice and that’s really great. I think someone once said I had nice toes. Because for a long time my friends made fun of my toes, when somebody does come along and compliment your toes, you hold on to that.
24. If you could go on a holiday right now, where would you go?
It would be somewhere between... I don’t know I’m such a sucker for New York, but I mean when it comes to relaxing I love anything exotic, so probably like Bora Bora.
To find out more on Jimmy and his upcoming shows and projects like his Facebook page or follow him on Instagram.
