SA Music News Magazine chats with Gareth Haze

SA Music News Magazine chats with Gareth Haze – SA Music News Magazine is honoured to sit down with Gareth Haze. Gareth is a Cape Town native who powered the drums and supplied backing vocals for Mark Haze’s rock quartet 12th Avenue, before planting roots in London – to discuss his journey from band stalwart to solo singer-songwriter. With his second single, ‘Never Have I Ever’ due for release on Friday 9 May, Gareth opens about lyric-writing, multi-instrumental creativity, the evolving music industry, and why every performance feels like a new adventure.

Q: You spent years behind the kit with 12th Avenue, sharing stages with your brother Mark and many rock icons. How did that period inform your sense of groove, dynamics and storytelling when you moved to centre stage?

Gareth Haze: The experience I gained from performing with my brother for so many years is priceless. Practically speaking, it’s taught me to deal with anything and everything that can, and does go wrong during a performance. Honestly, nothing surprises me because I’ve already seen it all. I’ve even had lights catch fire above my head on stage, so I feel prepared for just about anything. I’ve taken plenty of songwriting and production know-how from those days into my solo work. I picked up countless tips and tricks from the various producers we worked with, and I apply them wherever they suit my own projects. There’s a percussive, rhythmic element to my guitar playing too, which I believe comes from being a drummer. It makes me feel unique in a city brimming with singer-songwriters.

Q: In ‘Never Have I Ever’ you sing “the photos might be faded / but the feelings never die.” What’s your process for turning a simple emotional moment into a memorable lyrical image?

Gareth Haze: I strive to balance the literal and the figurative in my lyrics. In a way, I want to wear my heart on my sleeve, yet I don’t want the song to be solely about my own experience. Music is made to be shared, so however personal the lyrics, they must remain relatable – perhaps even generic enough to speak to whoever is listening. I also avoid making my lyrics too obvious, so they can be interpreted in different ways. It’s always refreshing to chat with audience members after a show and hear what a particular song meant to them, often very differently from the feeling I had when I wrote it, yet it still makes perfect sense.

Q: You command guitar, drums, piano, marimba and beyond. When you sit down to write, which instrument do you reach for first – and how does that choice colour the song that follows?

Gareth Haze: Ninety-nine per cent of the time, it’s the acoustic guitar. It’s the melodic instrument I’m most comfortable with, and I’m constantly discovering new chords and techniques that influence my songwriting. The guitar usually forms the basis of the track, and I build from there. Sometimes the original guitar part ends up buried beneath a heap of other instruments; other times it remains front and centre, driving everything else. I’m currently working on a new track that’s simply guitar and vocals, and I’m hesitant to add anything more, as I worry it might lose its essence. The recording process is a game of addition and subtraction – like fitting together puzzle pieces and choosing those that make the picture you most enjoy.

Q: The indie scene has shifted dramatically with streaming playlists and social-media snippets. How do you build genuine, lasting connections with listeners in an age of endless content?

Gareth Haze: I wish someone could tell me! I’m a bit of an introvert, so it takes me time to warm up to new people – a slight disadvantage when trying to connect with strangers and build a fanbase. Social media can help by allowing you to plan your words carefully, but it can sometimes feel less genuine. I believe honesty, friendliness (even when uncomfortable) and a touch of entertainment go a long way. In a world where social media demands you reveal as much as possible, there’s something special about a performance that retains an air of mystery. It’s about being yourself, but not so much that you become forgettable.

Q: ‘Never Have I Ever’ invites movement as much as reflection. If you were to choreograph a bespoke performance – light design, staging, even dancers – what would that live experience look like?

Gareth Haze: I love the idea of a cross between a flash mob and a parade. Perhaps it would start with a single performer – or a handful of singers and dancers – then grow, as more performers join in, into a full-scale parade with floats, marching bands and mascots. I imagine leaving a trail of flowers behind, either petals strewn like at a wedding or handed out to bystanders as a lasting memento.

Q: Your sound uniquely blends punk’s defiance, folk’s storytelling and Americana’s soul – all while living in London, a city pulsing with its own musical heritage. How do these influences collide or coexist in your songwriting, and has London’s scene challenged or reshaped the way you hear and create music?

Gareth Haze: Growing up in Cape Town exposed me to countless musical styles. South Africa is unique in that we consume lots of American media, yet we’re deeply invested in British and European culture, all the while holding fast to our own folk and jazz heritage. Those influences naturally shaped my style. Living in London has elevated it. It’s far more accessible to see your favourite artists perform. There are so many opportunities to showcase songs at open-mic nights or busk in the streets.

Q: As you assemble your upcoming album ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’, how are you thinking about track order – does each song serve as a chapter in a larger story?

Gareth Haze: Initially, I envisioned a full-length album, but as I write more, it’s looking more likely to be an EP, with another EP to follow next year – owing to the increasingly introspective themes of my recent tracks. I do have a track order in mind. While the songs don’t form a strict narrative like a concept album, they will, I hope, take the listener on a journey. Navigating life in a place where I’m not always sure I belong, yet somehow feel so at home.

Q: As an independent artist wearing many hats, from songwriter, multi-instrumentalist to co-producer and self-promoter, how do you juggle the creative and business sides of your career? What strategies keep you centred?

Gareth Haze: Honestly, there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Not putting too much pressure on myself helps significantly. You can’t force creativity, so if I’m not feeling it, I take it as a sign to rest. Surrounding myself with good people is crucial. My brother co-produces, giving me peace of mind about the quality of my recordings. Making friends with fellow musicians in London has led to some fun gigs. I’m poor at time-management. I write things down. There are too many notes on my phone. I use task-tracking software to organise release campaigns and the recording process.

Q: Revisiting your role as drummer in 12th Avenue, how have you translated that full-band energy into your solo recordings and stripped-back live sets?

Gareth Haze: I channel 12th Avenue in my recordings, applying the songwriting and production techniques we used as a band. In solo sets, I maintain our ethos: give everything you’ve got, regardless of venue size or audience. In the end, every stage is the same. It’s down to the performer to play as well as they can, have fun, and not overthink it.

Q: Beyond chords and melodies, what non-musical sources have recently sparked new ideas for your songwriting?

Gareth Haze: London itself is a big influence: its architecture, weather and unique atmosphere. Even after nearly eight years here, I’m still surprised by elements of its culture. Film and TV inspire me too. I recently finished watching Arcane: League of Legends. Here, I was struck by its use of colour. Great fodder for album artwork. I also watched the series Maid This moved me to tears. Some of those feelings formed songs I’m working on now.

Q: You’ve played intimate London venues and festival stages. Can you share a moment when you had to completely rethink your performance to suit the crowd and the space?

Gareth Haze: I played a pub gig at the end of 2023 in Gosport, near Portsmouth. It was packed, and a few rather rowdy patrons seemed unprepared for a solo acoustic set. Before I began, someone warned me in a menacing tone that they “didn’t want anything depressing”. I knew I’d have to crank the energy up. I played many songs twice as fast and extended several numbers. The audience loved it – it was a fantastic night.

Q: Silence can be as expressive as sound. In your songwriting, how do you use negative space or intentional pauses to heighten emotional impact ? Can you recall a moment where absence spoke louder than any note?

Gareth Haze: When performing solo, it’s tempting to fill every moment with sound to compensate for not having a full band. In recording, I’m mindful that not every second needs to be filled. Often, I’ll record more parts than necessary. I remove and re-add them one at a time to see what works best. On a recent track, ‘Living With Ghosts’, the song ends with the vocal alone. It creates a haunting effect after a final chorus of strings, horns and full-band instrumentation. For those last few seconds, it truly draws the listener in.

Q: Ultimately, what does music mean to you? Not just as a career, but as a way of living. What do you hope listeners carry with them after hearing your songs?

Gareth Haze: Many say music is an escape from reality, but for me it’s a tool to engage with reality on a different level. It helps you acknowledge your feelings and know they’re valid. I hope listeners use my songs to connect with their own emotions.

A heartfelt thank-you to Gareth Haze for guiding us through the beats, the verses and the vision behind ‘Never Have I Ever.’ Mark your diaries for 9th May and be sure to stream the single.

Pre-save ‘Never Have I Ever’ here

Follow Gareth Haze @GarethHazeMusic

Stay tuned to SA Music News Magazine for more in-depth conversations with the artists shaping our scene.