On the brink of musical success

If you weren't a musician, what do you think you'd be doing today?

When I started out, I loved music and was passionate about it. But in another sense I didn't take it too seriously, as your average 16-year-old is kind of distracted by anything. I was very much into art and design as well. And I still am. I like to think I would have become an architect. That's something that I still appreciate. Architecture has some cool correlations to music. It's a visual thing but it's all about harmony and structure. And even rhythm, just like music.

What's been tough for you as a band?

When we first started out, the three of us had a terrible name. We called ourselves Nice. But that was bad. We had to explain it to everyone; it was too tongue in cheek. It was also noncommittal. So we changed it.

And what's been your best experience?

We visited New York for a week together to suss out the scene. That was incredible; good for us as a group of friends. But also our gigs in Botswana and Swaziland have been cool. Every single gig, when we play the first note of something like Pluto or Raphael, and everyone screams because they recognise it from the first beat. That's quite something. I guess it's hard to pick just one thing. I'm quite keen on everything.

The South African Music Awards XXI takes place at Sun City on Sunday, 19 April (Beatenberg received five nominations). Watch it live on SABC1 at 8pm.