Simon Van Gend – Dream I’m A Bird [interview]

Описание: Feb 16, 2026: In this episode, Tim sits down with veteran songwriter and artist Simon van Gend to discuss his 2025 album, Dream I’m A Bird. After a decade-long hiatus since his last release, Simon reveals how a high-pressure “song-a-week” challenge in 2017 provided the raw material for an album that took nearly eight years to mature. We dive into the “musical archaeology” of his writing process, the respectful listening culture of Cape Town’s best venues, and why sometimes, the best album art is the piece you’ve already painted.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

👉 Quantity Leads to Quality: Writing 52 songs in a year allowed Simon to curate the very best 15 for the album, proving that bypassing the “inner critic” is essential for raw creativity.

👉 The “Frontal Cortex” Curse: A deep dive into why animals might have the edge on us when it comes to mindfulness and living in the moment.

👉 Creative Serendipity: How a watercolor painting and a 20-minute session in InDesign solved a months-long headache over album artwork.

👉 The Ethics of the “Murder Mouse”: A fascinating look at the cognitive dissonance we face regarding animals, vermin, and the songs we choose to sing (or skip).

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Introduction: The 8-year flight of Dream I’m A Bird

01:00 – Sold out at Café Roux: Creating a “listening” culture in Cape Town

02:28 – The Decade Gap: Balancing day jobs, recording costs, and Dirk Hugo’s studio

06:11 – Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: How painting transformed the album

10:11 – “Hope for Aging Folk” and the pressure of settling down

11:38 – The Plectrum Box: A Christmas gift and the mystery of lost picks

12:28 – The “Murder Mouse” Controversy: Why a song was cut from the setlist

16:44 – Animal Wisdom: What dogs can teach us about escaping our thoughts

20:51 – Standout Tracks: “Satellites” and the dream-logic of “Jet Lag Boy”

24:12 – Closing: Upcoming 2026 tour dates and where to find Simon’s art

LINKS

⭐️ Show notes: https://go.timsmal.com/simonv

⭐️ Website: https://simonvangend.co.za

⭐️ Bandcamp: https://simonvangend.bandcamp.com

⭐️ Instagram:   / simonvangend  

⭐️ YouTube:    / simonvangendband