#MusicExchange: Acoustic Element

20 Feb 2018

Jody Abel and Callen Petersen formed the dynamic duo that is Acoustic Element on Christmas Day in 2010.

Eight hard years later, we could see the band breakthrough and become a household name.They are on an upward curve having shared the stage with the likes of Chad Saaiman, the Black Ties, and Auriol Hays.

The band released their debut album called Alt Ego, late last year. I caught up with the duo, last week.

When are you happiest?

I’d say we’re at our happiest when we’re halfway through our set and the audience is feeling our vibe. There’s no better feeling than grabbing the attention of an audience with the violin and guitar.

What does music mean to you?

Music is our lives! We’ve been very fortunate that since the inception of Acoustic Element we’ve been blessed with a huge number of gigs. We average between five to seven gigs per week and have been doing so for a number of years now. Although this is hard work, and very tiring, we don’t feel like we have worked a day in our lives (since leaving our corporate jobs in 2014).

Any funny moments on stage?

Once, we were playing at a big market in Constantia and the wind was howling. We were playing in front of a huge umbrella and at one point the wind took it off its weight and it came flying and just missed Jody’s head – he only realised it once it was too late but he definitely would’ve gone off to hospital.

I guess that’s not funny, though.

Once in Durban, at a show, women were groping at our legs while we were jamming in front of a few thousand people. That was quite awkward to handle.

We also once saw a naked man from a New Year's Eve gig at the Mount Nelson, the stage was set up next to the pool, in front of the windows of many of the rooms and an old man came out of the shower to get some fresh air and we were unfortunately in plain site! It was classic!

Your heroes?

Goldfish. Goodluck. Clean Bandit. Alan Walker.

Which living person do you admire most and why?

Callen - There are too many and for vastly different reasons.
Jody – Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson – I admire his career, from being a wrestler in the WWE to becoming one of the biggest movie stars of our time. He’s also a huge fitness inspiration and all round nice guy and great humanitarian.

It’s your round, what are you drinking?

Callen - Amarula.
Jody - Whiskey, the best you’ve got!

Dream gig to do?

Tomorrowland.

If you were not a musician, what would you do?

Callen – Fashion buyer.
Jody – Marketing manager.

Pick five words to describe yourself?

Callen – I only need one: Virgo.
Jody – Passionate. Humorous. Critical. Sarcastic. Naughty.

Favorite fashion garment?

Callen – Changes all the time, but, currently, ripped jeans.
Jody – My romper.

Give us some real proper slang and what it means?

Callen – Stay woke, fam. (Millennial for 'be aware/alert, friends'. I think.)
Jody – Hey fam! (means hey friend, bro, bestie)

Your greatest achievement?

Jody – Making a living from my passion.
Callen – I could not agree more.
Jody – And our degrees. I have two from UCT – an undergrad in media and a postgrad in marketing.
Callen – And I have a BComm in financial accounting from UCT and a diploma in fashion from the Design Academy of Fashion.