Introduction
I was born in 1986 in Carnarvon in the Karoo in the Northern Cape province and grew up in a small town in South Africa called Humansdorp. For those who are into surfing, you may know J’Bay or Jeffreys Bay in South Africa. Humansdorp is about 10 minutes from J’Bay.
Who was Cobus before YouTube?
I was very inquisitive from a young age and wanted to understand everything. I never particularly excelled at sports or any other extra-curricular activity, and although I had a wonderful and happy childhood, I never really had a lot of confidence.
When I was 16 years old, I played the drums for the first time and that gave me an outlet and a source of confidence I had never experienced before.
Long before YouTube and drum covers, I enjoyed playing the drums along to my favourite music.
COBUS & YOUTUBE
How were you introduced to YouTube?
As most people my age, I was quite active online and had a good idea about which websites were gaining traction and what was happening on the Internet.
I can’t remember exactly where I heard about it for the first time but I remember finding out about YouTube before most of my fellow South Africans did, mostly because broadband access in South Africa at that stage was very limited and very expensive, making it very difficult for a video-sharing website to gain traction.
I remember loving the idea of such an open platform, being able to post anything for the world to see.
Even though I was quite a shy and introverted guy, there was something inside me that responded to the possibility of performing for people – from the comfort of my room, in a very controlled way.
What do you think are the benefits for using YouTube to build a music career (or any other career)?
YouTube (or any social media website) makes it possible to share anything within your comfort zone.
You don’t have to travel to a TV station, speak in front of thousands of people or even be trained or qualified to do so. You can connect with people in a way that suits your personality. This widens the playing field enormously. Shy and introverted people might discover an amazing talent for performing that they would have been completely unaware of otherwise.
It also enables people to build a following and possibly a career without sacrificing their day-job, which is an amazing opportunity.
It’s played an important role in your career todate. What role do you think it will play in the future?
The most important aspect of any social media platform is that it connects you to all your supporters in a very seamless and efficient way.
I am able to share my drumming and interact with those watch it, and get to know the people who support me. I don’t think that will ever change.
Some parts of my career are moving in a slightly more conventional direction but being able to connect with those who support me most is an invaluable tool on so many fronts, and something that I foresee being a big part of my career in future.
OTHER CAREER MILESTONES
In the latter part of 2011, Cobus was invited to join by 2Cellos, another YouTube sensation at Google’s Inspiration Night concert in Tel Aviv. At the time, the 2Cellos were touring with Elton John. Cobus was joined by another young YouTube music sensation Maria Aragon who performed with Lady Gaga.
Spanish collaboration
In 2010, Cobus Potgieter joined independent Spanish music producer Iago Pico Freire in Spain to co-produce and record music.
First American clinics
I travelled to America for the first time in 2011 to attend National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and conduct three clinics. The clinics were unbelievable and it was one of the first times where I experienced face-to-face contact and conversations with people who support me and like what I do.
It was quite overwhelming but also incredibly inspiring and motivating. Click here to see an interview at the event.
THE YTBP PROJECT
Producer
Canadian Steve Klassen of The Sound Suite has worked with such notable acts and artists as Canadian Idol finalist Shane Wiebe (The Wiebes), Laurell, Hedley, Faber Drive, The Februarys, These Kids Wear Crowns, Andy Park, Sheree Plett, Lance Odegard, Hasting,Freedrumlessons.com, Railroad media and many more. This diversity of artistry has given Steve experience across a wide range of musical genres, each one with its own unique challenges.
Backed by the strong recommendations of its artists, and Steve’s unique and inspiring music vision, The Sound Suite is the premier recording studio on the lower mainland and boasts a comprehensive collection of equipment to accommodate most any application.
Laurell’s Fears Aside EP, produced and mixed by Steve Klassen, was nominated for Best Pop Album by the Western Canadian Music Awards.
Project timeline
The writing and recording sessions take place between 15 February and 15 March at Drum Channel Studios, Oxnard, CA.
Other important supporters, partners & funders
Kickstarter
The MyYouTubeBandProject is funded through the Kickstarter, a funding platform for creative projects such as films, games, and music to art, design, and technology.
Kickstarter is full of ambitious, innovative, and imaginative projects that are brought to life through the direct support of others. The sum of $52,000 was raised for the project through the generous investments of 680 backers from throughout the globe.
Drum Channel
Drum Channel, and more particularly its founder Dom Lombardi, has been Cobus’ partner since 2011.
It has assisted YouTube’s most-watched drummer with a presence in the States such as the 2011 clinics.
The recording of the MyYouTubeBandProject album will take place in Drum Channel’s recording studios in Oxnard.
COBUS & MUSIC
What are your earliest recollections of music?
My parents always listened to a big range of awesome music. Everything from mainstream South African pop music, to Bread and The Beatles, hits from the 60′s, and classical music. Even though not musicians, both of my parents love music and it definitely rubbed off on a very young age.
I remember once hearing All The Small Things by Blink-182 when I was in the 8th grade, and my heart just raced. That was the first time music became a very big part of my life. I then ventured into more mainstream pop music, as well as house and trance music, before I started playing drums a year later… after which my taste started changing quite dramatically.
What kind of music do you enjoy the most?
I love heavy rock music, with honest lyrics and soaring choruses. I also really like groovy and funky music, folk rock, I love some pop music, a little hip hop, I really like metal and post-hardcore. Even though everything has its time and place in moderation, I don’t really like superficial and thin music. I like thick and heavy grooves and songs, music with weight.
What other instruments have you played?
I have never really played any other instrument seriously. I learnt one song on the acoustic guitar years ago, but I never gave it enough time to properly catch on. I am very keen to learn piano, though.
I think I might be able to write music, and I really want to get a good understanding of a melodic instrument such as piano or guitar to see if I am able to express myself melodically.
Tell me a little more about the other bands have you played in.
From the first time I played in a band I realized that no music instrument is every meant to be played alone, I have played with many bands and many friends and I’ve learnt so much from all of them. My most significant and important experience playing with a band was when I played in the church band for the Bloemfontein Student Church for four years. It was there where I learnt most of what I know today about playing with a band: playing with discipline, listening to other musicians, being adaptable and being able to improvise. It was an amazing experience, and writing original music within that band and recording it ourselves was an experience that I will never ever forget, and that served as a very big inspiration for my YouTube band project.
Name the artist who has most influenced your career and why.
I can’t really think of any artist who has influenced my career, but in terms of my approach to music, I think Angels and Airwaves had an enormous influence on what kind of music I like and what kind of music I like making. Atmosphere, dynamics, tension, resolve … they definitely gave me a deep appreciation for those things.
COBUS & DRUMMING
Your first drumming moment?
In 2001, I was on a church outreach with a group of friends, and after one of the worship sets, I had a go and was able to play the groove without too much effort, which was incredibly surprising and inspiring.
I remember feeling like my hands were itching to play again, it was a passion and excitement I had never experienced before.
Name the artist who has most influenced your drumming career and why.
Travis Barker. Starting out, Travis inspired me no end. Not because of his technical skill as much as because of his creativity behind the kit, the grooves and phrases he wrote for songs blew my mind and I could never figure out how he thought of them.
He just always got me to the kit, every time I heard something new from him I had to go and try it out on my drums.
Some other very big early inspirations were Mike Portnoy, Thomas Lang. Tony Royster Jr, and Derico Watson.
What kits have you used in the past?
In my first recordings, I borrowed my church’s Pearl Export kit. After six years of playing, I bought my first brand new drum set, a Tama Superstar Custom kit.
Through one of my first endorsements, Udrum, a small custom drum set-building company in Canada, sent me a custom built kit that I used in some videos.
I have also played a wide assortment of cymbals, ranging from Sabian to Paiste and Istanbul cymbals.
And your first drum set?
After a ton of saving and selling and asking my parents very VERY nicely, they helped me buy my very first drum set, a “Thunder Percussion” kit.
It was an epic piece of garbage and it sounded even worse than it looked, but I was captivated beyond measure: I couldn’t get enough.
My first memory behind my own kit was putting on headphones, playing Sweetness by Jimmy Eat World, and having the time of my life.
What kit are you using now?
At the moment, I am playing my dream drums: DW. My main kit is a PDP Concept Maple kit. The kit I will be using on the YTBP recording is a Performance Series.
I also play Sabian cymbals exclusively. I have been such an incredibly big fan of these companies since I started playing the drums, so to be endorsed by them is an amazing blessing and something I am endlessly thankful for.
COBUS, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL NETWORKING
Are there any other technology platforms which aspiring musicians should be considering? What are these and why?
The biggest technological aspect of music that I feel too many musicians are overlooking, is what happens on the production side of things.
Teaching myself production techniques has made me a much better drummer, especially in terms of sound. These days, 95% of the time if people hear you play, it is via a recording of some sort. Having some basic knowledge of recording and mixing is invaluable in today’s age of easy recording and publishing. It helps enormously in attaining your ideal drum sound.
Most people these days are taking social media quite seriously but I feel musicians always put themselves many steps above the rest if they learn some production techniques.
What technology and social networking developments are you the most excited about?
YouTube has recently introduced a few new features that I am excited about and which streamline the overall user experience. I also like how Twitter and Facebook have been rethinking their strategies and tools available to brands and musicians.
That said, technology and new developments has never excited me more than what people DO with those developments.
Some musicians and bands have been doing amazing things that make me go “man, I wish I thought of that first!” It’s an incredibly exciting time for music and technology, especially where those two things meet.
It’s like the boundaries are being pushed and the playing field for creative types is just growing and growing.