Singer/songwriter and guitarist Vaughn Ahrens has always been surrounded by music. He has learnt so much over the years that he refuses to make mediocre music.
“Music has always been a part of my house growing up because we’re a very musical household. I’m the only one that plays an instrument but I’ve probably got the worst voice in my house,” he jokes. He was surrounded by many different genres growing up and that influenced the type of music he makes today, which he refuses to box into one category.
“I wouldn’t classify my music as a certain genre because I don’t only listen to one genre – therefore I don’t just emanate one genre,” he says.
Vaughn is one of the few Namibian musicians who pursues his passion on a full-time basis, spending his days in studio and performing live at the growing list of gigs he is getting booked for.
And when he’s not mesmerising crowds he shares his talent by teaching music in his home town of Walvis Bay.
Songwriting is another part of music that he treasures as a way of expressing himself. When penning songs, he is not only inspired by things that he has grown up witnessing and experiencing, but also things that other people go through.
“Challenging the status quo of things, it’s not always easy growing up if you’re always questioning things. Just writing about the same old same old is going to kill me inside so I’m also inspired by other people’s stories and life in general,” he says.
After releasing his EP in 2017, he followed up with his debut album titled ‘Music for Wednesdays’ in November 2018 and this year, his hard work paid off as he was awarded the Namibia Music Awards (NAMAs) for ‘Best Afrikaans’.
He has also cast his net beyond the world of music by lending his talents to the creation of the official soundtrack for the #LandOfTheBrave movie.
Check out his music on Youtube or follow him on Facebook @VaughnAhrens.
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