While pursuing music is usually accompanied by a back-up plan for some, it is music or nothing for 21-year-old Bay singer Amaron Borchards.
More than a year since earning her Bachelor’s degree in live performance from Afda in Cape Town, Borchards is set to release her first commercial EP, New Glow, in November.
Technically New Glow is actually the singer’s second EP, after Bubblegum Town, which she completed as a school project before graduating from Afda.
The singer said her first EP was more of an experiment, as she had not yet established her musical identity.
Borchards feels New Glow is a reflection of her as a person.
“The first EP [Bubblegum Town] has one commercial track that has a video out, but with this one [New Glow] I discovered that this was the kind of sound I’m wanting,” she said.
Borchards has developed a working relationship with Bay band Afrotronix, with whom she recently shot a music video for musician Zani Sizani’s single, Good Thing.
The video was shot by Bay videographer Ashwin Christian at the Summerstrand beachfront and is set to be released on YouTube (Bubblegum Town) on Saturday September 29.
“Afrotronix record my music for me and whenever I perform they back me, so they shot this video for me and Zani. It’s her song that I feature in but it’s not in my EP,” she said.
“It’s been a challenge to get music played on radio and sometimes you’ll get booked to perform somewhere, but then they say they can’t pay you but it’s for exposure only.
Borchards’ musical journey began in church and school, as she is from a family of good singers. She performed her first solo in Grade 2 after her teacher picked her out during group singing activities.
Although the former Alexander Road High School pupil has an interest in acting, her heart is set on a music career.
“I believe in myself so much that I feel it’s okay if I fail at this or that. But I will always keep pushing myself to do what I love,” she said.
Borchards’ music is available on Soundcloud (Bubblegum Town).
Follow her on @bubblegumtown on Instagram.