---

In this interview he shares his most defining moments. He talks music, the possibility of directing and he also discusses what the SA music industry needs or lacks. Emmanuel Castis was one of those actors who really made me watch Isidingo/TheNeed and I remember when he came to the deep with his jeans, leather jacket and guitar. I guess the music thing was always in him, just waiting to burst out in a bang.  Oh... wait am confusing Emmanuel with Steve....well it's a good thing I did this interview then. Enjoy....

Ladies and gentlemen, Emmanuel Castis, The Interview

How long have you been acting?
I have been in the industry for some ten years now.

Are you still acting or have you put that part of your life on hold?
I am still acting. I have just finished filming series 2 of Erfsondes. SABC 2 was showing the re-run of Series 1 in November and I will be going on to film series 3. I play the lead – a young man from a well to do family. It's a great series, full of drama.

What is it that you love or loved most about acting?
It’s quite hard to put my finger on this one. I suppose the challenge of getting into someone’s mind and submerging myself in that character so that I give a credible performance. I know I’ve got it right when I finish a scene and I realise after the fact that I wasn’t thinking about what I was saying or doing during the scene. It’s difficult to explain this - you’re so in character that the real you is just not there – I love playing and finding the little nuances, that make a character who they are.

I first saw you singing on “Strictly Come Dancing” and at the time I did not know what to make of your performance since I’ve been a fan of your work on Isidingo for so many years. How long have you been a singer?
I started out singing. My family tease me – I had my first toy guitar at age 3 and entertained everyone with renditions of Michael Row the Boat Ashore. I even sported a Beetles hairstyle to make the picture complete. My passion for the stage was ignited at school when I was cast in the Sound of Music and the Pirates of Penzance. My first roles were almost exclusively musical theatre roles – I was cast in the roles of Rocky in the Rocky Horror Show, the Prince in Cinders and Her Fella and I did a long stint with the Doowah Boys. The Doowah Boys featured songs from all the well-known boy bands from the 50's up to the end of the 90's. I also played Danny Zuko in Grease. I was still a rookie actor so I wasn’t particularly known then – very few people remember that’s how I started out.. I’ve also had my own jazz band for a few years now. The late Ashleigh Callie gave us one of our first breaks and we used to play at her restaurant in Melville.

There have been comments out there along the lines of another soapie star piggy backing on his rep to make it into music. It was what I was most afraid of. I think people set the bar higher when they have the perception that you are moving from one performance field to another. I didn’t take the decision to do a music album lightly because of this issue – I also don’t want to let down the people who have supported me over the years. I’m hoping my fans will have an open mind and listen to my music.. It’s honest music and has integrity – we didn’t compromise in the production of the album at all. I worked with some of the best songwriters, singers, musicians, sound engineers and producers in the industry.


Has it been something you did because of your acting career or is it one of those things you really love?
This is a bit of a catch 22 – I do love it. From a career perspective though – it is a small market and it really helps if you can have more than one string in your bow – the more you have to offer the better – I sing, dance and act.

I found out that you were also part of the Isidingo CD recordings. Did that create an opportunity or idea for you to consider going professional, as in “a recording artist”?
I've come a long way since then vocally and musically. I like to think that I’ve grown. In fact I’d be disappointed if each performance, whether I am acting, dancing or singing, isn’t better than the last. We all have off days but I like to stay on top of my game – and improve all the time. I'm sure the album created some awareness that I was a singer, but I think people need to hear me now.

How has the market received your music, in terms of sales not reviews?
Sales have gone well in the first two months. We’ve already pulled our strategy together for the first quarter with the record label (Next Music) and I’m really excited. One of the key things will be to start doing gigs so we can get the music out there. I know you’re not asking on the reviews side but the reviews go hand in hand with sales. And that’s been quite interesting actually. There has been a lot of positive feedback. In fact one of the greats of the musical theatre industry who turned me down for a role because I couldn’t play guitar to the required standard phoned me to tell me he was very impressed with the music and in particular the vocal work. You and Huisgenoot gave it a 4/5. There has also been some negative feedback. I think one must expect it. Not everybody will like your acting or your music or your dancing. You can’t be all things to all people. Mark Pilgrim very generously called me SA’s answer to Michael Buble – wow!

Was it your idea to do the album or were you asked by fans?
Actually I gave a demo to Neill Solomon – he is a legendary “old timer” – yes Neill an “old timer” – in the industry. He used to be with the Passengers and he has his own recording studio now. He heard the demo and called me to say he thought I had something and we should do an album. I then bumped into Peter Pearlson at one of Neill’s album launches and he suggested we do an album and so it went. It just all fell into place so easily and the people worked well together, the energy in the studio was incredibly positive despite the long hours and the exhaustion. I probably sound like a nutter when I say this but when things fall into place so easily it’s hard to believe that it won’t all turn out okay.


Would you say being a recognizable face made it easier to launch your music career?
Not sure – it might make it harder to turn people into believers. And this is where it gets tricky – people so often write off an artist because they don’t like the type of music and they don’t distinguish between someone who can sing and someone who can’t. There are many musicians out there who I think are vocally phenomenal but their music is not my cup of tea. I think people might be a little harder on me because they think I might be jumping on the band wagon, and using my profile to do the music. What people don't know is that I started my professional career singing in musicals. I've been singing since age 10.

Why did you leave Isidingo?
It was time for change and the show was moving in a different direction.

Will Steve Stethakis ever come back to the show, hopefully played by you?
Anything is possible

Does performing as a singer versus an actor hold any degree of difference as far as you’re concerned?
I think singing – not musical theatre – singing your album or covers is more challenging – you have to give the music life and meaning and character – especially when it’s new music and people are getting to know it. Of course the two disciplines have their differences when it comes to the technical side. But where they are similar, is in the need to be true to the art form. One needs to connect with whatever one is singing or whichever character one is portraying.

What do you think requires the most work, between singing or acting?
Now there’s a question. I go to singing lessons regularly, I keep up with what’s going on with filming techniques and new acting directions – it’s constant – you have to keep your eye on the ball because things evolve so rapidly. I guess it’s like every profession – knowledge has only so much currency – you have to keep updating yourself. Just as a doctor or businessman keeps up with what is current in their professions, an artist has to keep working at their craft! After all there is the old saying ; "You're only as good as your last performance"

What is the craziest thing that has happened to you as a singer?
The bit where I had to prance around in a g-string in the audience during the Doowah Boys. It’s not quite the same as Alice Cooper killing a live chicken on stage but boy …. You do that when your audience is all female … yeah yeah ladies – it’s not a man’s dream – it’s daunting….


Have you suffered any thing similar or worse from fans of Isidingo?
I have been lucky – I played a sympathetic role.. Some of my co-stars in Isidingo weren’t so fortunate though. They would be reprimanded by members of the public for doing something that was out of line in the show. I was actually stopped recently to talk about the Isidingo. Even though I've been off the show for two years, people still think I'm there.

I’ve had a stalker once; it was not a cool experience. I could so understand what Colin Moss was going through. Have you had one?
Oh yeah – and it got ugly. She threatened to kill herself and all sorts. Don’t want to go there again – it was awful – wreaked havoc on my relationship at the time. I can’t say I am any wiser – I don’t know how I would deal with it if it happened again.

Isidingo has been a part of your life for quite some time. Has there been a single defining moment during your Isidingo career which you can share with us?
I think there have been a few defining moments. One I can recall is when we had representatives of the Gay and Lesbian society on set to watch the story line of Steve coming out. After I finished one of the scenes, one of the representatives said to me that I had sent them right back to the time when they were experiencing their coming out. They thanked me for portraying such an important story line with such integrity. Of course I couldn't have done it without the fantastic team at Isidingo. The producers, the writers, director, crew and my fellow actors. I guess that was when I realised I was doing something important with my art.

How do you personally find the music industry in South Africa?
I’m still learning … I have been fortunate though that most of the people I have met and worked with have been really great. I have been warned that there are some not so nice people out there – hope we don’t meet. It's not an easy industry. I would like to see our radio stations playing more local content, percentage wise, because we have phenomenal world class talent.

What inspired “South of Nowhere”?
The name of the album or the album??? I was going through a bit of an emotional time as I had just come out of a relationship. And as we all do at such times – I was becoming reacquainted with myself. I guess it’s just how I saw the world at the time and what I was dealing with.

I am currently enjoying cut number 5 titled “Fall At Your Feet”. I am very picky, so for me to like this song as much I have is a big deal. Who wrote the song and who plays the piano?
It’s one of my favourites too. The track was written by Neil Finn and performed by Crowded House originally. It was arranged by Sasha Sonnbichler. Piano is Paul Hanmer and Christine Conradie.


What do you listen to, besides your album of course?
I love jazz – so I love to listen to the rat pack who inspired me. I love John Mayer. I really listen to anything that is inspiring. I have quite an eclectic CD collection of many different genres.

Any genre in particular you like, more than the others?
jazz jazz jazz …and Blues

Are you on iLike yet?
To be honest, i've just discovered it so I'm working on it. My music is on I-tunes, Exact Mobile, Kalahari, Amazon and we’re working with MTN and Vodacom now.

You or your management has been very pro-active in getting your album out there. Do you think technology including certain websites, when used very well; they can influence success for an artist? If so how have you seen that with your musical career?
It was one of the decisions that informed our choice of record company. Next Music have an arrangement with Orchard who are linked into all the big electronic music distributors. The internet is certainly making inroads into the music industry and has had an impact on actual CD sales. So, yes I think it is important but you still need to do the marketing work to become known – it can’t stand on its own.

What’s your favorite song on the album?
Now that's a hard one to answer. I love all the songs. I chose them and wrote some of them because each and everyone means something to me. But if I were to pick one……..? I just can't. I love them all.

If you were to recommend a song to any of your fans, which song would it be and why?
'Stay' is the first single we released. It has some great slide guitar (played by Jim Neversink the writer of the song) and it’s catchy and great to sing along to. “Fall at your Feet” is a very simple stripped down and jazzy arrangement of the original – it has a beautiful almost haunting quality and tugs at the heartstrings.

Any shows planned? And how can fans get information about your gigs!
We’re busy planning a tour for next year. The information will be available on my web site www.emmanuelcastis.me

I understand that you speak English, Afrikaans, Greek, and Italian? Which of the languages do you find more exciting and expressive?
Not Italian – …. I think my mother tongue is my emotional language …There is just no other language I can think of that is so expressive. I think some of the best lyricists are the Greek song writers. The images they paint with word are indescribable...unless you understand Greek.

Obviously there is a great difference between a soap and drama. How have you found playing Chris Spencer in the SABC2 drama series Erfsondes?
Great – it has really stretched me …I have been able to play so much more. The character has taken me to some amazing and interesting places. Season three is going to be even heavier...I can't wait.

How long did it take you to record the album?
A good two three months in the studio but the work started about eight months before that – looking for songs etc


Where was it recorded?
At the SABC funnily enough – we used one of their studios

Who worked on your album?
Where to start:
Neill Solomon – exec producer;
Peter Pearlson & Sasha Sonnbichler – producer;
Songwriters – Lionel Bastos, Jim Neversink, Neill Solomon, Ed Jordan, Cincy Alter, Neil Finn, Auriol Hays, Estelle Kokot, C Dodds, Grant van Dyk, Nathan Waywell and me
Musicians – Graeme Currie, Sasha Sonnbichler, Rob Watson, George Spencer, Paul Hanmer, Christine Conradie, Piet Botha, Bob Wade, Marcus Wyatt, Jim Neversink;
Backing Vocals – Ed Jordan, Cindy Alter, Angie Peach

Did you write the songs yourself?
Yes I co-wrote three songs – My Hometown with Neill Solomon, Angel Without Wings with Ed Jordan and One Last Breath with Cindy Alter

I have often said to my colleagues that you have that “thing” which translates to “actor turned supernova director”. Have you taken the director’s chair yet or is it something you don’t care for?
I have dabbled in directing, editing, script writing – I’d be keen to take it on some day – but for now I have my hands pretty full.

In your opinion, what do you think the South African music industry needs the most to advance the careers of recording artists? If you think there is anything to improve.
I don’t want to harp on the common conception that we don’t always support our homegrown artists as we should. The Afrikaans speaking public are by far the greatest supporters of South African artists. I think perhaps we don’t promote our local talent nearly as strongly as we should so the public doesn’t really know how many very talented people we have in this country. Radio for example could increase local content and push SA artists more -

In your blog you wrote, “this album is a journey of the soul, from love to the place I live, to just plain enjoyment of life. 'South of Nowhere' that's where I live.”
I live in Fourways – if you listen to the song My Hometown it says … there’s only four ways out … rather cryptic. The song is a commentary on how we lose focus sometimes and become driven by the exterior attributes, the status symbols, and lose sight of what really matters. Sounds corny I know but to quote someone (I read this in Advanced Banter – cool book) on your tombstone they have the date you were born a dash and the date you died – in the end what counts is the dash – what you did in between. Life is about connection and people and giving and sharing about family and friends …. and it is so easy to get sucked into the fast lane where it is all about image.

Where can fans buy your album?
Its available at Musica, Look and Listen, most independent stores like Music Mix, SuperCD, Music Moods, also at CNA, Shopright, Kalahari, Amazon, I-tunes, Exact Mobile. If people experience problems they are welcome to contact us through the web and we’ll do what we can to assist them.


A special thanks to Terri and of course Emmanuel for this interview. To watch Emmanuel’s music video as well as special behind the scenes video of his recording, please CLICK HERE.



By The TV Observer

---

---

---

3 Comments