We recently had the opportunity to attend a media night and screening of Cellz’ ‘The Voice In My Head’ rehearsal music video at KAYA Café to kick off the soulful Berlin-based R&B artist’s second South African tour of the same name. The track serves as the titular number to Cellz’ debut album, an explorative project packed with stellar instrumentation, expressive vocals and gripping storytelling. At the beginning of the night, I was able to have a revelatory chat with the man himself about his album and the tour. The process behind the album began with Cellz producer sending him a selection of beats for ‘The Voice In My Head’ including the one that would become the titular track.

Whilst relaxing by the lake with his ex-partner, who was reading a book, Cellz took the opportunity to work on lyrics for the project. Whilst working on lyrics for the lead track he came up with the line ‘Every time I ran she would follow me’ initially being unsure whether the “she” in question was his partner or his own mind. He later came to the realisation that the she was his subconscious, something that is initially ambiguous in the track before being answered in the chorus where he sings ‘I love her the voice in my head’. The message about the importance of our relationship with ourselves is one that really resonates and a great example of the meaning Cellz imbues into his songwriting.

After the interview we had the pleasure of witnessing the ‘Voice In My Head‘ rehearsal video, and what a performance it was, the comfortable almost natural feeling evoked by the vocals of Cellz and Cape Town native Kila G helped bring the audience into the moment being shared by them and The Hii ROLLERS band. The airy yet punchy guitar by Keanon MacCurry in the background of all the tracks had added a certain weight to the music in the rehearsal, a weight that was only further punctuated by the live arrangements of Trulybles.

The Hii-Rollers were overall the perfect choice for the band to provide the canvas for Cellz and Kila G to paint masterful strokes of gold onto with their superb vocal delivery that captures the pain, desire and questions of identity that are central to the album. What I feel added to the feelings of life in the small City Centre apartment this rehearsal takes place in is not just the music but the masterful camera work and direction from Raoul Dyssell, who Kila G stated “allowed them to make magic”.

The chemistry on set from everyone is evident in how every moving part so effortlessly synergises, a synergy that wouldn’t be possible without the impact of figures such as the producers, Ross Rayners and Cellz himself. This rehearsal video works well at feeling like a living, breathing production that we are seeing behind the scenes and witnessing the result of, all at the same time.

Cellz’ ‘The Voice In My Head Tour’ has been off to a scintillating start with incredible performances at the Up The Creek festival, Athletic Club & Social, The Commons, Sunday Show and Open Wine. We highly recommend catching one of his engaging and intimate performances, alongside The Hii ROLLERS, Kila G and Crunchy Sweater, if you haven’t been able to yet. You’ve still got two opportunities to catch Cellz in Cape Town at his shows at the Waterfront Amphitheatre on the 22nd of February and The House Of Machines on the 28th – RSVP/get your tickets here. For our Joburg-based readers, you can look forward to three performances with Cellz performing at Souncheck Narrowbi on the 6th of March, Black Labone on the 12th and Your Weekly Touchup on the 18th to round off ‘The Voice In My Head‘ tour.