Music star Arno Carstens got rock lovers buzzing when he recently released online ‘Two Dogs’, the first single from his upcoming album. Written for his fourth solo album, the Springbok Nude Girls frontman composed the song while on tour with SNG last year, saying that  it “and the whole album in fact, deals with the beauty and intricacies of life; triumphs of spirit and turbulence of everyday living.”

He chatted over email with Zalebs about ‘Two Dogs’.

Hardly a year went past between your third solo album and the latest Nude Girls release. Now, six months later, you are verging on the release of the fourth solo album. Not that you haven’t been busy before, but that is pretty prolific. Any reason for this or is it as simple as you loving what you do?

It might seem prolific, but I believe if you wait too long in putting out material the stuff gets old. Plus its been two or three years since my last solo album and the last SNG album was just a little experimental EP. End of the day I like being busy and, yes, I love what I do.

What’s the story behind the single’s cover photo? Was that a groupie you found in your bath?

Ha! Ha! Love the way you think. No, we shot a video for “Two Dogs” with this girl and I loved her look,so that is a screen grab from the vid. Unfortunately we were not happy with the feel of the vid, so we shot a new one. The whole feel of the new album visually, I think, is gonna be random about whatever I find beautiful or interesting in the spur of the moment.

“Two Dogs” is about a couple in a slump and fighting. Considering your career, not everything you write can be based on personal experience. Is Two Dogs based on a true story or the observations of a songwriter?

No, I think that song is quite personal. All my relationships have been spirited, shrouded in heated debates that sometimes felt like animals fighting. But then we also love each other with the same passion, I guess. This song deals with that topic.

Were any of the other Nude Girls guys involved in the song?

Not in the writing, but Theo Crouse mixed the song for me – which was fun. It was the first time he helped me on my solo stuff, so yes, always good working with a old Belville girl.

Arno Carstens’ next album is due later this year. You can listen to the song at http://soundcloud.com/arnocarstensofficial/arno-carstens-two-dogs

By James Francis