Award-winning singer, composer, performer, multi-instrumentalist (piano, keyboard, organ, guitar, recorder), engineer and playwrighter Marthie Nel started her career in Welkom, South Africa on the steps of a temporary classroom: singing to her friends all the Girl Scout songs she knew, later refusing to attend choir practice because she wanted to sing alone. She would sing in, direct, and write for small chamber choirs while still in school. Marthie received classical piano and voice training, with a dream of writing and singing her own music. In her tours she found her voice and style…she would not just sing: she would sing cabaret! In cabaret, Marthie believes you have great musical freedom to think outside forever turning hooks and drum beats. To communicate life and mutual life experiences; to touch somebody’s life; to make people laugh and cry…She sings about being lonely and happy and lost and the joys of motherhood, perfect worlds that do not exist, and how to find yourself amidst the chaos that life brings. Marthie is currently in the process of recording her newest CD for release in the Canadian and South African markets, titled “A South African Woman in Saskatchewan,” about the ex-pat experience. It is the journey through new life experiences; trading your home country for a foreign country, and all the excitement that comes along with the ride to a higher level of happiness. It’s fresh and new and part of what is currently happening in the world – global migration in the global village! Her songs describe the thrill of watching the Northern Lights dancing in the air like a rainbow or experiencing the magic at Christmas when lights and snow create a glorious wonderland. “Canada has been good to me; I have come to love the snowscape and call it home. I have found the people here to be friendly and warm. This is truly the land of opportunity.” A children’s gospel CD was released in South Africa in February 2004 as part of the Kingfisher outreach drive. For this project she wrote eight songs and recorded the lead vocal in Canada in her home studio: the best part being 36 weeks pregnant at the time! Marthie’s songwriting accomplishments include a honourable mention in the Songprize.com International Songwriting Competition for “How Long Can Your Love Wait” (2003) and finalist in the Unisong International Song Contest for “Dance of Snow and Light” (2003). Her recordings have received airplay on online radio stations, been featured as “Saskatchewan Artist of the Week” on CJTR FM, Regina and received airplay on CBC Radio One. She has also been honoured to be included on several compilation CDs including Saskatchewan Tourism’s “Land of the Living Skies”, distributed throughout Canada (2004). Marthie has written several plays including “Enfer L’hiver,” performed at Regina’s McKenzie Art Gallery (2003) and for which she did the arrangement and performed. With a diverse range of writing styles covering pop, adult contemporary, rap, rock and folk, and performing in English and Afrikaans, Marthie’s music will takes you on a journey of scenery, emotions and stories. Through her eyes you will see the world. Instrumentation Marthie Nel: piano, lead vocals Discography Songs from the Land of Living Skies (2004) Compilation Commissioned by Tourism Saskatchewan to promote Saskatchewan and a Tourism trade show. “Prairie Love Song” was included in this production. Enfer l’hiver A recorded play of a magical, exciting, exotic, mystical, enchanting world of the winter people that awake during the winter to perform the ritual to ensure the return of winter each year. Stoot die blêddie bus (Push the bloody bus) (1998) Are you coming or are you staying? The bus is leaving for London detouring to Oxford. You’ll meet Jessie. in Stellenbosch and help push that bus all the way back to Cape Town, South Africa. Remastered with musical arrangements by Brahm Potgieter; recorded at Musicfront Studios.Unplugged version recorded at Musicfront Studios, Paarl, South Africa. Kingfisher Commissioned by Magriet Lotter by the Kingfisher outreach project: the goal is to reach out to Christian children and motivate them to catch fish for Jesus. Bubblegum Blues A bit more jazzy and with blues elements. I Love Regina A collection of songs celebrating the beauty of Regina and Saskatchewan, Canada A South African woman in Saskatchewan So what is a South African woman doing in Saskatchewan? Turns out to be whiter pastures! This is the story of living your life in a small town: it is not Cape Town but you will find everything you wanted right here. Perfect world You know everybody tells you what you should be doing and instead you find a less perfect world struggling to live the perfect life? Here you will find very honest songs. FAK kinderliedjies This came into existence because of a burning need for me to help my children keep their language alive. Especially in all the folk songs that they would never hear from their grandparents, as I did from mine! I recorded this CD with 68 Afrikaans folk songs from the well-known source ”FAK” (a folk song book). It includes 13 lullabies, one of which is my own composition.