#MusicExchange: Donovan Copley raises funds for Covid-19 Feed a Child Coalition

The music video features appearances from celebs such as Passenger, Jeremy Loops, Jules from Goodluck, Arno Carstens, Sandra Prinsloo, David Kramer, Zak Hendrikz, Majozi, Jack Parow, and many more.

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the world’s people and economies to its knees and it’s still unfolding, as we well know. South Africa faces her own challenges and right now hunger seems to be an even bigger threat than this invisible enemy.

Filmmaker Uga Carlini from Towerkop Creations and artist Donovan Copley from Hot Water got on their phones to see what could be done with what they know best – filmmaking and music, but like all of us – from their home(s).

They reached out to an incredible group of people from all over the world – some known, some not – to join them. And they did. People from various countries (USA, Spain, Italy, UK and as far as Fiji) participated in the video - some located in those countries that have been hit the hardest by Covid-19.

They now ask that you join too. Everything helps: sharing the video, watching it, loving it, donating.

Donovan Copley is a father to three young boys and when he heard there were kids going hungry during this crisis - it really struck home. “I wrote this song last year as a way to deal with challenges in myself and what I saw others dealing with and in the world.”

From recording the song to getting the video made, Copley explains how it all came about, saying: “When I was confronted by the massive challenge that we are all facing at this time in so many different ways, “Home” rose to the surface as an answer to the question ‘How can I be of service in the face of this?’”

I caught up with him last week.

The new decade means:

Having fun (no matter what happens).

Fame is about:

Opening a can of worms.

Retirement will happen when:

Huh?

I don't do:

Aubergines.

What does music mean to you?

Satisfaction.

What makes you stand out?

High levels of energy, madness, bravery, colour, my Hot Water can guitar and currently a very large pair of blue glasses from The Oculus.

© Deborah Rossouw

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your work?

When the magic happens.

Any funny moments on stage?

All the time. I once split my pants all the way down the back playing to an audience of 15,000 in a medieval courtyard in Spain.

What is your most treasured possession?

A 150-year-old sea chest that I got when I was 15 years old.

It’s your round, what are you drinking?

Cranberry juice.

Dream gig to do:

Robben Island.

Nicknames:

Vitamin D, Magic Hands.

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

Masseuse.

Pick five words to describe yourself?

Intense. Energetic. Deep. Passionate. Warm.

Five favourite SA albums of all time: 

Mathaka - Makgona Tsohle Band
Loliwe - Zahara
The Best of Johnny Clegg
Baningi Abangithandayo - Moses Nabafana Bengoma
Graceland - Paul Simon (it’s enough South African for me to call it an SA album)

Favourite fashion garment:

My Chappies T-shirt.

Give us some real proper slang and what it means 

Kak = trouble/shit
Gatvol = fed-up (and on the verge of being angry)
Klap = smack
HKGK = Hier kom groot kak (translate: here comes big sh*t)
F*k-Voort = Covid-19

What is your favourite word?

Wamkelekile.

Top of your bucket list:

A trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Your greatest achievement:

Making a living from doing what I love.

What do you complain about most often?

Having too much to do.

What is your fear?

Not fulfilling my life.

Happiness is:

A choice.

On stage, I tend to?

Have fun and feel free.

Do you do charity work and, if you do, what do you do?
Yes, a lot. At the moment, all proceeds for the duration of the pandemic from my current song and video “Home” are going to the Covid-19 Feed A Child Coalition.

Wishes and dreams:

A world that works for everybody.

Social media links

Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | Twitter | TikTok: @HOTWATERSA