Howie Combrink on solo career move and new single I See You: Interview

Singer-songwriter, music producer, and businessman, Howie Combrink is ready to kick-start his solo-career as he took the decision in November 2021 to part ways with multi-platinum selling rock-band, Watershed after ten dynamic and exciting years.

He intends to pursue a direction that allows him to do more for others, by releasing music as a solo-artist and working closely with a non-profit organization, RADA with the aim of empowering the lives of others and making a real difference in the world.

Impulse Africa Magazine Team recently caught up with the Howie following the release of his single I See You.

• Briefly tell us about yourself?

I’m a singer-songwriter from Johannesburg. I grew up in a recording studio and can’t remember a time not making music and recording it.

I started my career as a drummer and then moved on to become a front man and solo artist who also produces music for many other artists.

• How would you describe your music sound/genre?

I would say my music, for the most part, is an uplifting sound but I have been known to do more heartfelt tracks in collaboration with RADA, the NPO that I work with.

These tracks like my brand new single ‘I See You’ are designed to create awareness around hard topics

• How did you decide on which genre to take?

I think it was more a case of, I make music a certain way, naturally and that would define my sound and whatever that sound comes out as, will be my genre. So, for now I see myself as an adult contemporary, folk, pop artist.

• Where do you draw inspiration from as a creator?

I draw my inspiration from life, love and hard topics to speak about. Life is full of good and bad things and I think as an artist, I have a platform to create awareness about the good and the bad stuff we experience daily, in this life.

• What inspired your latest single I SEE YOU?  

The song was inspired by many cases where people have come from an abusive past but haven’t found it within themselves to acknowledge what had happened to them. I feel like this is caused by others in the world downplaying these cases and not making it easy to speak about.

People tend to have doubt at the first hearing of a case of abuse instead of listening to the person who has been abused without doubt. We need to give victims of abuse time and support to open up about it.

We need to see each other more in life and not one human is more than another and the song highlights the idea of being there for one another more.

• What are you hoping to achieve with this song?

I want the listeners to feel uplifted and inspired and if anyone has gone through something in their past.

I want this song to encourage them to accept what has happened to them and know that its ok to have gone through a bad thing and you can work to get over it, it just takes time and with the help of others by way of support and care, it can be conquered.

• 2020 was a year like none of us have ever experienced. How did the pandemic change you or influence your decisions going forward?

It made me more socially conscious and more aware of what other people may be going through in life.

The time we had to stay at home opened many internal conversations within myself and made me realize what I really want to focus on going forward.

I want to write music to make a difference and music that can inspire people to work through whatever challenges life may present us with.

Covid lockdowns were terrible but making it through the lockdowns has proven we can endure a lot more than what we think we can in this life.

• Any upcoming projects you are currently working on? And what can your fans expect this year.

I have a whole host of new music coming out and this year is the year of focusing on my solo arts. I want to get back on the road and tour again.

My focus for this year and the years ahead is to also work closer with RADA and assist them where ever I can to make a difference in the world.

• Have you ever doubted yourself? And how did you take care of your wellbeing during that time?

I did doubt myself at the beginning of Covid lockdowns. It felt like everything I knew had been stripped away from me and for a few weeks, I had a sense of nothingness going on.

I spent a large part of the last 18 years touring and not being at home very often. This is where my studio came into play.

I would go in alone and just continue to make something artistic and I tried my best to ignite an online presence and try new things online with my company, The Hit Lab.

It was as a strange and weird time and I still feel like our industry hasn’t recovered yet but we will get there and at least shows are back on and artists are able to do what they do.

It was a tough time but we got through it.

• Did you notice any difference in the way people consumed your music during and after the lockdown?

Yes, I felt like people became hungry for more music as time went by. I started doing a lot of online concerts, solo acoustic concerts and those were well supported where in the past, live stream concerts where not always well supported but overall.

I think people went into survival mode as well so, any version of decent entertainment was welcomed.

• Three things people do not know about you?

I enjoy Computer programming. It’s a new endeavor but I enjoy it very much.

I love to fly drones as a hobby for some pass time.

I’m also a photographer and videographer. I make music videos and do many photoshoots as well.

• What are you most grateful for right now?

I’m grateful to have a loving family and an incredible wife who always has my back and I’m grateful for my health in a time like this.