© We Are All Fossils, used with artist's permission
We Are All Fossils’ latest single ‘Rapture’ blends nature’s beauty with personal reflection to mark a new chapter in his artistic journey: one marked with grief and growth.
South African musician Deist Oelofse, known professionally as We Are All Fossils, has welcomed his newest single ‘Rapture,’ marking the beginning of a new era for the indie-folk artist. The track, which narrates evolving alongside grief, is charmingly ambient and has a critical emotional depth in its lyrics which evoke a quiet reflection in the listener.
Oelofse spoke to INJECTION about the single and shared an insight into his inspiration for the track, citing nature and movement as monumental influences to ‘Rapture’ and the subsequent album.
Can you tell me a bit just about the single?
My wife and I decided that we were going to go to the Lake District, and I made a point of not picking up my guitar, just leaving it there to the side to have a little break. Walking around that place is just so beautiful. It inspired me to write a track that didn't feel like something I would normally write. I pursued that feeling of being playful with creation by changing the tuning of my guitar.
The day before we left, I had this enjoyable morning. Those were the beginning embers of ‘Rapture’ and it really started to grow from there. I wrote the chorus that morning and as we drove home, I kept thinking about it. The next day, the rest of the song found itself. It was really nice, I didn’t feel like I was forcing anything. I was unravelling how I felt at that time, and I was able to put that to music. I wanted to share it with everyone straight away, but I needed a lot of help from really close friends to get there.
Do you find that you are particularly inspired by nature and places like the Lake District?
Yes! I spend as much time as I can in nature, walking and doing all that kind of stuff. It balances the chase and rush of life. Finding the time to immerse yourself into something that is quietly doing its own thing, you just reflect on that. A lot of my music is a way for me to process my emotions and how I feel within my life and my journey, and when I go into nature, I can just reflect on what I want to express.
Where else do you find inspiration from?
I'm from South Africa and I try to go back as often as I can. I can't explain the feeling, but as soon as the plane doors open, I feel something special. It might just be the sun because there's a lack of sun in the UK! I’ve spent some time in Cape Town, and I've written quite a few songs there.
I have also spent quite a lot of time in the Kruger National Park. The safari out there is absolutely amazing, and when I get home from that I try to channel that feeling. I find it ‘charges the batteries’ for when I come home, and I’m in the writing sessions. You can't always digest how you really feel in the moment, but perspective and time can give you a different feeling towards songs. I grew up when Mandela came into power, and the forgiveness and love he championed really found me.
How do you feel like ‘Rapture’ fits into your wider discography?
‘Rapture’ is going to be part of an album that's due for release later this year. Sadly, I lost my mother two years ago and the album touches on how grief is a very strange place. You don't go through it; you learn to live with it.
‘Rapture’ is the middle part of that story. The songs are nearly chronological, and this song is the point where I highlight how I had to move outside the numbness I was living in - a place that kept me safe for a while. After going to the Lake District, where I wrote ‘Rapture’, I could now immerse myself in living. I could see that change is part of life - it's the only constant, as they say - but your resistance to change is something that to a degree, may be your choice.
The funny thing is that as a musician, you go on stage and play things that are from the past, and we rekindle what that is to us. To a certain degree, artists live in the past quite a lot with their creativity. Once the song is done, you're not normally the same person you were before.
The song is a reflection of myself, and the whole album sounds quite different to what I've done before. I think that's just the kind of writer I am. I enjoy the progression of life and how it's going. I wouldn't be able to repeat the things I've done in the past. I don't really know what the next project will be but I know that I have to be excited about it. I have to feel that there's something that needs exploring.
What's it like for you performing alone versus when you’re playing with the band?
I love them both dearly, and I think that they're quite different. The solo ones allow a very intimate space to exist between myself and whoever's at the show. It’s a nice place to be, as people are sitting there, ready to hear the intricate stories behind some of the songs, so I delve into that more in my solo performances.
Then, the shows with my band have this gravitational energy. Through the years, we've understood how to play these songs together, because they're quite minimalistic and restrictive in some places, but they need these big peaks. We have a very low floor but a very high ceiling with those shows. I love that, and I get to play with my best friends!
© We Are All Fossils, used with artist's permission
Do you ever feel guilty when playing shows alone?
Not really. I like to call it a project because sometimes it’s a band, but sometimes it's solo. The door's always open to whoever wants to play. I have had different lineups of people who've come in and played because it was cool for them. I think that's maybe how I'm avoiding the guilt!
What's the vision for future live shows?
I'm currently in a unique space because I'm independent. I have to be careful in how I approach that. There aren't many places for me to perform in between the grassroots and the big touring spaces. I have to try and find the support slots like I did last year. I was very fortunate to support an amazing artist called Árný Margrét, and I also supported Canyon City. We have a mutual love of each other's music. I think for the first time, I'm going to try and be a bit reactive with what the shows are.
I think after a few years of lots of shows and doing things, I realized that I had to prioritize putting that money back into the studio to be able to record albums rather than to do shows. I would love to do both, but the way music is these days, it doesn't really allow the growth that you need.
I've learned that you’ve got to be patient, work hard at the things you can and then hopefully an amazing booking agent comes along, and they're like, you're the best thing I've ever seen!
© We Are All Fossils, used with artist's permission
We Are All Fossils is a project that has an incredible depth of emotional intelligence, and Oelofse has presented a beautiful track that depicts a wide dichotomy of feelings. ‘Rapture’’s charm is in its relatability, so it’s no surprise that We Are All Fossils has had such success with a dedicated following. Thankfully, he has plenty more earthy folk songs to come.
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