Hope and positivity

With their debut full-length album nearing completion, their name proliferating throughout the South African hardcore music scene, and a tour with legendary American screamo outfit Underoath on the calendar, New Altum are riding the crest of the wave and are not about to let it slip.

Jonhenry Wilson chatted to vocalist Rasheed Ferguson, with drummer Nic Smal adding his two cents now and then...

Three years and a couple of months into your collective career, you've evolved quite a bit as a band. Tell us of this transition.

Rasheed Ferguson: I think the key word here is definitely ‘progression’. Through all the member changes, it could've been quite discouraging as a band but I think taking on those changes and embracing them has made us a lot stronger as a whole, just band chemistry-wise. I think we are now also more confident in playing the music we feel coming out of us naturally, as opposed to ‘writing for the crowds’.

Undoubtedly the highlight of your career, touring with Underoath must be a spectacular prospect. Tell us what’s going on in the New Altum camp in preparation for September?

Rasheed Ferguson: To be honest, it has been a rollercoaster of various trials and issues over this time period — sickness, finances and time constraints to name but a few. What we can say on a good note is that we have been writing some new material and if all goes well, we'll be 'busting it out' to the Underoath crowds as we launch our album as well. A lot of time has gone into preparing our debut album, in order for us to be able to tour with it on this life-impacting tour. A dream come true, to say the least.

Nic Smal: We are trying our hardest to get our album done in time for the tour. I just think it’s so great that Underoath are flying all this way to play on our album launch tour [laughs].

How did the stint supporting Underoath come about?

Rasheed Ferguson: Basically, Authentic Ideas just called us and said: ‘We've spoken to tons of people and they all said New Altum would be the perfect support band for the Underoath tour'. I paused for a bit and said ‘Underoath?!’

Your debut full-length album is almost ready for distribution to the masses. Will it be ready in time for the tour? And what can fans and the unschooled expect from it?

Rasheed Ferguson: It’s called ‘Grace Forbids a Hopeless Case’ and God-willing it will be ready, it is looking good at the moment. The album will be a mix of old and new songs for the old and new fans. We're pretty happy with the final mastered version, I think the biggest thing for us though is the fact that it’s going to be completed and we can now focus on writing a completely new set of songs. If people want to hear the old stuff they have a CD.

Nic Smal: People can expect an album with songs that range from the very first New Altum song ever written to the most recently written songs. It is definitely a mix, but a good representation of the growth and journey the band has gone through. Once it is out the process for the next album with entirely new songs will get put into motion.

Like Underoath, New Altum are a Christian act and have a message of hope and positivity to spread, a so-called difference to make. Explain…

Rasheed Ferguson: Yes, we are a Christian act and whether or not people believe ‘Christian’ to be a ‘style’ of music, we cannot separate it from what we do. Our Faith is the core of who we are and what we produce. People can take it how they want, it doesn't offend us in any way, but what we are promoting is positive and does carry an element of Hope, something that all of us can do with.

Your MySpace profile states you are out “to raise the standard of a humility versus rock star” attitude. Explain…

Rasheed Ferguson: We're not out there to tear apart the competition, have promiscuous sex, promote alcohol and drug addiction or curse from the stage. We're just normal guys who love music, love people, love hanging out and are trying to make a positive difference in this world by not trampling on people to get there.

New Altum are clearly cut from a different cloth in terms of onstage act, dressing ‘the part’, and branding for example. What’s the thought behind this?

Rasheed Ferguson: We just believe in excellence. People pay money for entertainment, so we don't want to rip anyone off. We try our best to be as professional as we can be but we still have a lot to learn, but it’s good to know that people do notice and appreciate it.

The tired question that has to be asked in every local interview: What’s your view on South Africa’s music scene?

Rasheed Ferguson: The moment there is so-called ‘competition’, you've already lost. The SA scene is interesting to say the least, the only thing I have to say is that people should try be a bit more open-minded when it comes to what is played on the radio. Otherwise, to the bands out there, keep writing the music that comes out of you and stay true to that.

Five men of different backgrounds, dissimilar schedules and diverse musical interests all attempting to progress as a unit — this must prove tricky at times. How do you guys go about handling in-house differences?

Rasheed Ferguson: We beat each other with steel poles and he who is still standing at the end has the final say. Sometimes we have a meeting and sort out our issues, then 'high five' each other and move on.

Nic Smal: Rob [Shaw, bassist] and myself settle our differences by shouting lame comments at each other. Usually, I will criticise his ginger-coloured hair and he will struggle for a comeback quip, leaving me one up.

You get to share the stage at an intimate, 1000-strong club show with three international acts. Which trio would you choose and why?

Rasheed Ferguson: Thrice, Underoath, Muse: passion, conviction and pure brilliance.

Nic Smal: I always answered this question with ‘Underoath’, purely because they just rock so hard and have such an awesome stage presence. Then, for similar reasons Norma Jean, and MeWithoutYou.

Finally. Sum New Altum up in three succinct phrases.

Rasheed Ferguson: Passionate and strangely Progressive.



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