Versatile guitar virtuoso Loki Rothman’s talents know no bounds.
He has already mastered most guitar genres, has a compelling voice, paints pictures worth a thousand words in the imaginations of listeners with his original lyrics and is a successful music producer, as well.
Now, Loki’s work will also feature on the soundtrack of the latest teen romcom, “Jou Romeo”, and his hit, ”Ons op ons eie”, is set to be released to radio stations across the country during the week of October 17. This song is also available on the “Afrikaans is Groot Vol. 9″ album, currently available in music stores.
The song lyrics, as well as the creative mix of electro-dance music, acoustic and pop-elements, describe a tragic love scene in the film.
The producer of the film, Danie Scholtz, tells us: “I’ve been following Loki on YouTube for a while now, but I could never actually meet him, even though we went to the same high school!
”Then Loki contacted me on Facebook, out of the blue, and told me that he wanted to be involved in films. It was an easy decision for us to start working with him on the ‘Jou Romeo’ project straight away. It was the first time that we produced a soundtrack specially for a film.
”Loki is an amazing talent and we look forward to working with him on the next film.”
Loki is equally excited, saying: “Dries asked me to produce original music for ‘Jou Romeo’.
”It was challenging to write a whole series of songs by using only the visual material from the film as a reference. I couldn’t write just anything, because the lyrics and melody had to blend in with what happens on screen.
”The songs are divided in such a way that half of them are English and the other half Afrikaans, and various singers were used for each track.
”The last song that I wrote, ‘Op ons eie’, was my favourite and I really wanted to sing it myself.
”This song was also my first original Afrikaans single that was released. It’s something completely new to me as an artist and to those who know my previous music, even though the production and sound quality still resonate to that of my first album, ‘The Way Back’. In a way it’s like the Afrikaans version of it.”
“Jou Romeo” is a film for the whole family. Marko Marais (Ruan Wessels) is the most popular guy in Hoërskool Monument – not only is he a jock, but also a cricket star and heartthrob.
He and the drama geek, Yvette (Elani Dekker), are two worlds apart, but true love prevails in this story about romance, Shakespeare, cricket, friendship and unconditional acceptance.
When Romeo and Juliet, the play that Yvette and her best friend Tyler (Christopher van der Westhuizen) have been planning since the eighth grade, is jeopardised by the sports-fanatic principal, Mr Kirby Potgieter (Pierre Breytenbach), who cuts the arts and culture-budget, Yvette decides to call in Marko’s help.
But she doesn’t have Marko’s best interests at hear. She later realizes that there is more to him than just being a jock with a charming smile and loads of fans. And, suddenly, Marko also starts seeing the fiery redhead from a different perspectiv.
Does it mean that Marko is actually Yvette’s real-life Romeo and she his Juliet?
Diaan Lawrence, Dirk Stoltz, Row-Lean, Sarahann Doherty and Carmin Coetzer also feature in the film, which explores interesting themes about belonging, recognizing the value of others and the ability to see unusual qualities in others. Add a dash of romance with a sprinkle of love and this is the perfect summer film to enjoy.
“Jou Romeo”, which was produced by The Film Factory, opens in theatres countrywide from December 23 and is released by Ster-Kinekor Entertainment.
*Press release supplied by Alishia van Deventer from Starburst Promotions.
