At the start of 2013, the singer songwriter spent a lot of time thinking about the direction she wanted her music to take. Having previously done two albums,
Love Is and
This is Me, Rungan decided to go out on her own as an independent recording artist. The songstress felt the need to be more transparent both in her writing as well as performances. This took much thought and careful consideration to not stray too far from the profile already established. A year later she penned this new album, which is an expression of her journey over the past two years.
Rungan came up with the idea of Up Close and Personal (UCP)
©, which is concept that is all about how the audience feels while they are taken through this musical journey. She wrote new compositions for the concert, which were different in style and lyrical content and based on its success decided that she wanted to share them with fans both nationally and those abroad. It was her desire that
Heart Aflame would capture the energy and synergy that she had on stage with her band each time they performed.
For the concept to work, the artist had to have musicians with her that would follow her every move and who could read her like a book. Rungan certainly has that with her long-time friend and keyboardist Mark Royeppen who over the years has learnt to predict Rungan’s musical heartbeat. The final and certainly most crucial member in bringing this concept to life is drummer extraordinaire Bruce Baker. He introduced a reduced drum set that is centred on a percussion instrument the ‘Cajon’ featured on
Come Dance. Baker’s incorporation of drums and percussion, together with his in-depth knowledge of rhythm, perfectly balances the trio.
Rungan, Royeppen and Baker went into studio and recorded these eleven songs live. The process of making an album like this is both exhilarating and a little daunting, as songs have to be performed perfectly from start to finish. There are no overdubs and tweaks like one could have in a programmed album. As the listener hears it, is exactly how it happened in studio. It took hours of planning and practicing before going in to track the album but a year later the final product is one that Rungan is very proud of.
Joining the trio on
Africa and
Come Dance is Ian Alexander Reid; an acclaimed bass player, and friend of Rungan’s, who is based in London. Brent Quinton, owner of Hit Record Studios who engineered the album, also features on guitar on
Love Began When You Smiled. For the very first time, Rungan has been able to credit someone other than herself for lyrical content on one of her songs. Media and radio personality Alan Khan co-wrote the lyrics to
I Still Remember, which is inspired by a prose written to his wife.
Tickets can be purchased
here at R85 or R100 at the door. CD’s will be available for sale on the night.