How are you and what have you been up to recently?
Tip top, thank you. The Dirty Skirts have just finished the launch tour for Daddy Don’t Disco, here in South Africa. The tour has been fully sold out across the nation so we are content and spent.

What are the five albums that have most influenced you?
Surfer Rosa – The Pixies, Ritual de lo Habitual – Jane’s Addiction, Unknown Pleasures – Joy Division, The Bends – Radiohead, For Screening Purposes Only – Test Icicles.

You grew up in Cape Town. What was that like for a budding musician?
During the nineties the dance scene was primarily the focus of many people’s attention. Most rock bands were simulating American style power rock – so it wasn’t particularly interesting, apart from one or two notable bands. This all changed around the turn of the century, where a surge of original acts emerged and an entire scene was created. Right now, there is an unbelievable music culture, which I think the world will take note of soon.

What’s the best concert you have ever been to?
I think that the atmosphere at the original Nelson Mandela 46664 concert in Cape Town would be hard to beat. It’s a relatively small stadium that was packed with 22000 people, but the sense of unity meant that it felt under control. I also had the pleasure of catching Radiohead headline Glastonbury in ‘97. It was a still night with low cloud cover and you could hear every note. It was sublime.

If you could have been a musician in any era when would it be?
Probably when you could still make money from selling records.

What’s the best gig you have ever performed?
Tough question! It’s the magnitude of some shows that is overwhelming. But I also have to credit smaller clubs where you have a really intimate experience with the audience. We played Snitch in New York City en route to play SXSW in Austin. We had no sound check and no sound engineer and half a drum kit. The club was heaving and loved our vibe.

Have you ever played a show when everything has gone completely wrong?
A power cut would probably have been the worst. Men’s underwear is not ideal either.

What was your first musical instrument?
My ass.

What books have you read and films have you seen recently?
I recently watched a documentary called Bustin’ Down the Door, it’s a retrospective on how a South African and a couple of Aussies infiltrated the Hawaiian surf scene during the seventies. And I just read the Captain Scott biography, which is fascinating.

If not a musician, what job would you have had in the real world?
What! Being a touring, signed band in South Africa doesn’t cover all the bills. So we all have jobs for now. I have a web design business.

Do you prefer playing live or recording in the studio?
The Dirty Skirts are known for their live performances. We feed off that energy.

Any burning ambitions?
Play a role in getting South Africa’s music scene recognised and enjoyed by the rest of the world.