Keagan van Rooyen on Gear Malfunctions, Balancing Work & Music, And Being Peasant’s Bassist

If there's one thing that fuels the South African alt scene, it's passion, and Keagan, the bassist of everyone’s favourite Metallic Hardcore band, Peasant, embodies that passion both on and off stage. In this exclusive interview, we sit down with him to discuss his journey into music, the challenges of performing live, and how he manages to balance a demanding profession with his creative passions.

Playing Bass: From Reluctance to Passion

Keagan's journey to playing bass kicks off at the tender age of 13 and is surprisingly preceded by reluctance.

‘As a 13-year-old there was nothing I wanted more than a guitar, but unfortunately, all of my friends had the same idea and had better skills and gear than me. Some friends of mine had formed a band and played at our school hall during a break one day, and I was sold. All I wanted to do was play in a band. My friend’s dad's throwaway comment was like "Dude, all these guys play guitar, and they’re going to need a bass player; if you play bass, you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a spot". At the time, I was reluctant, but after a friend loaned me his bass, I was immediately sold. Something just clicked. And yeah, that same 13-year-old kid was inspired by a bunch of classic punk bands (Rancid, Anti-Flag, and AFI), which naturally led me down the path to hardcore and metal.’

Joining Peasant

Keagan has been a part of Peasant for a significant stretch of time, and his journey with the band began in an interesting way.

‘I was living in Durban before making the move to Cape Town, and two of my previous bands actually opened for Peasant when they’d toured to Durban. The local music scene is pretty tight, and I ended up making pals with the Peasant dudes, apart from Pete Reynolds, whom I knew from Durban HC. After I moved down to the Cape, timing worked out that Peasant needed a new bass player, and I was already a huge fan, so it was impossible to say no.’

Consistency and Precision in the Midst of Intensity

In a band known for its intense live performances, keeping the bass playing consistent and precise is no easy feat. Keagan attributes their success in this regard to a classic adage:

‘It’s admittedly one of the classic tropes of "practice makes perfect". We have all been playing together for a while now and have invested our time and efforts into making our rehearsal space a second home. So that takes care of the consistency part, at least we hope so. As for the energy, that’s all thanks to the people attending the show; the energy the crowd brings is directly responsible for pumping us all up; it would be nothing without them!’

Memorable Moments and Gear Malfunctions

Performing live is an adventure filled with memorable moments and, occasionally, challenges. For Keagan, the most challenging experiences often revolve around gear malfunctions.

‘I remember an early show for me with the band; I broke the E string on my bass and was saved by the bassist of Bottom Feeder, but quickly had to adjust to playing a 5 string instead of my usual 4. Lately, the most challenging things have been dealing with loadshedding. Ain't it fun?’

Balancing a Day Job And Music

Keagan's life isn't just about music; he's also an architect. Balancing a demanding profession with creative passions can be tricky, but Keagan has found a way.

‘This is a balance that I’ve spent a long time trying to find. It’s all about ensuring that the time you’re investing is worth it. We are all a little older now, and work and life in general are more demanding of our time than they were in our 20s, so the time afforded to Peasant is important. We all have a responsibility to be prepared and rehearsed and not waste each other's time. That being said, we’re all pretty understanding of the fact that life happens and some accommodations need to be made. Just value everybody’s commitment and return the same energy.’

Breaking Into the Alt Scene

Keagan offers valuable advice for anyone looking to break into the alternative music scene.

‘Man, all I can say is, no matter what level your band is on or where you’re trying to get to, it will always be a fact that "you get out what you put in.” There’s still such a huge element of DIY, especially in South Africa. So all I can say is, work on your songwriting, practice your sh*t, book shows yourself, make connections with other like-minded artists, and don’t pigeonhole yourselves by genre or vibe. Some of our favourite shows have included a varied bill that has a bit of something for everybody. Just get out there and make it happen; it’s so much more attainable than you think. I can’t say much more than check out a band called Cistamatic; in my opinion, they’re doing everything pretty much perfectly.’

Conclusion

As our interview with Keagan comes to a close, it's evident that his passion for music, dedication to his craft, and ability to find balance in a busy life serve as an inspiration for aspiring musicians and creatives alike. Peasant has continued to make waves in the hardcore scene with their latest visuals for ‘Cape Death’ and being on the Ramfest lineup. We simply cannot wait to see what they have in store for us next. Stay updated on all things peasant here.

Images by Vanartist, Pierre Rommelaere, Nicolas Rix, Christelle Duvenage