My Kind of Country — reality TV show with heart

Orville Peck was a revelation when I discovered his galloping twang in his song Take You Back on the album Pony. It starts with a lonesome whistle and launches into a stately baritone. A mixture of Elvis and Roy Orbison with something unique, reminiscent of the freedom of wide open spaces evoked in songs by country music greats, icons such as Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. There's a sense of flippant satire and a tongue-in-cheek takeoff of the genre in the style of Dolly Parton flashing rhinestones and camp.

Peck, who shrouds himself in fringed leather masks that obscure all but a glimpse of grizzly blonde beard and, higher up, steely blue eyes, encompasses the contradictions of country music and then some. He taps into and counters the traditional conservative stereotype of the lonesome, macho cowboy pitting himself against the world in songs that talk of “riding into the night” and “chasing the horizon”, but his style and performance are almost as rooted in drag as the stars on Ru Paul's show.

Though he shrouds himself in mystery and never reveals his face behind the tassled mask, Peck's identity is easy to discover on a simple internet search. I hadn't bothered until someone told me that the contemporary country star, who's music I think is brilliant, was born in Joburg and grew up in South Africa. He trained in ballet for 12 years and performed in musical theatre, and in his spare timetaught himself music by playing an acoustic guitar and old Casio keyboard. Also easy to discover is that Peck moved to Canada in his teens and was a former punk musician who drummed in the Vancouver trio Nü Sensae.

Now Peck has hit the big time internationally as one of the judges alongside country singer-songwriters Jimmie Allen and Mickey Guyton on a new hit TV show for Apple TV+, executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and country star Kacey Musgraves.

The show is premised on finding new country stars who don't plug into the stereotypical Nashville mould. Allen and Guyton, both black, each auditioned for American Idol early in their careers and were cut before the voting rounds but have since become big success stories along with Peck.

Guyton is the first black artist to earn a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album and Allen was the first black solo performer (2021) to win New Male Artist of the Year at the Annual Country Music Association awards. 

The aim of the competition, and the mandate of the scouts and judges, is to broaden perceptions about the genre by giving the opportunity to performers outside the traditional mould to deliver playful visions of country as an outlet either for fabulousness and glamour or an expression of emotions not normally associated with it. For example, one of the contestants says that singing her songs helped her deal with the bullying she experienced as a child.

The show also attempts to break down barriers in country music by providing the opportunity for diverse and innovative artists from around the world to showcase their particular sounds according to their own style. The winner receives a life-changing prize from Apple Music, support and exposure on the platform that could potentially rocket their career and turn them into country music's next big thing.

Country music is as American as cowboys, rodeo and apple pie — so the fact that out of 12 contestants, five were scouted from South Africa is impressive. There's also a performer from India and one from Mexico as well as a few from the US. Throughout the show contestants are eliminated — after all, in competition-land there can be only one winner — but the performers are undoubtedly excellent and, along the way, experience what few other wannabe stars enjoy, the opportunity to feel at home on stage in Music City itself, Nashville. Each part of the competition takes place in an iconic Nashville venue. They begin at the humble, intimate 5 Spot, established in 1796, the oldest bar in the city, and take in other local favourites, such as Dark Horse Studios, where Parton, Taylor Swift and others recorded. 

Of the five South Africa acts, probably the best known is the Congo Cowboys, three members of the local band Freshly Ground. Simon Attwell grew up in Zimbabwe and plays the banjo though he studied classical flute; Julio Sigauque, on bass, is originally from Maputo in Mozambique and studied jazz at UCT; and Congolese singer Chris Bakalanga is on vocals and guitar. Attwell went to Nashville to record a Freshly Ground album and returned with boots, a hat and a banjo which he learnt to play by watching YouTube videos.

“We started experimenting, mixing Americana sounds with African guitar sounds,” says Attwell. “We also found that Chris can sing well.”

They produced two albums and were planning a tour to Europe when they were discovered by Peck and invited to Nashville to be on the show. The trio reimagines country through kwassa kwassa African rhythms and soukous guitar. Attwell says they bring the banjo full circle, returning the instrument to its African roots to accompany their performances in English and Lingala, the official language of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Justin Serrao started out playing punk and alternative rock, but the music he heard as a child on a country radio station broadcasting from out in the bush made a huge impression on him.

“I started playing music with my uncle, who'd fool around at the kitchen table with his guitar,” says Serrao. “I was taught to play guitar by Wonderboom's Martin Schofield and taught guitar myself but opted to follow my passion for live performance full-time.”

As well as being a live performer, Serrao is a talent scout. “Aside from everything else, the competition introduced me to the amazing talent of my fellow contestants,” he says. He rates the production team on the show as second to none.

“For the 12 acts in the show, there was a crew of more than 40 people, so the production alone is amazing,” he says. “With five of the acts from South Africa, we definitely dominated the talent.”

A highlight was working with producer Adam Blackstone, who's been the musical director of the Superbowl halftime show for two years and works with Justin Timberlake, Rihanna and Dr Dre. “It was nerve-racking performing for the millions of people watching the show, but Blackstone assured me I was going to smash it.”

Afrikaans sisters Zel and Landi Degenaar, who call themselves The Betsies, grew up in the small mining town of Witbank listening to their parents’ record collection, watching their uncles play guitar, singing in their church choir and loving Emmylou Harris. They moved to Cape Town and started gigging together, performing barefoot in hats, jeans and waistcoats.

“It was the harmonies and stories of country music that drew us to the genre,” they say, finishing each other's sentences. They play multiple instruments, including banjo, guitar, drums, keys, accordion and bass, and tour South Africa performing.

“The small towns have a real connection with the music,” they say.

The sisters felt at home in Nashville.

“We were so busy recording in these cute little bars that we didn't sight-see much, but we're dying to go back. We love country. It's for everyone, and that's what the show is endorsing. You can love old-school country or new pop country. There's no right or wrong.”

Wandile Mbambeni was raised in a family of music lovers in East London, and says nostalgia is the emotion he wants to convey in his songs. He says he loves analogue storytelling that uses his musical viewpoint to reframe his “not so good” memories into better ones. Based in Johannesburg, the singer/songwriter/producer is a guitarist who learnt to play by watching YouTube videos.

“The show had changed my perception of country music,” he says. “I was only exposed to the Americana, Dolly Parton-esque style. Now I'm considered a country artist. The heart and soul of the genre is storytelling, often stories that are hard to tell.”

Mbambeni says he's a songwriter first, a singer second and a guitarist third. “I'm inspired to write about love, pain, protest, self-improvement and acceptance. Writing is scary; it's very revealing.” 

Of the South African performers, Micaela Kleinsmith's life has been influenced by music in the most touching way. Bullied as a child, music became her escape and coping mechanism. When she discovered she could sing and that people were taking notice, she used her talent to make friends. She taught herself how to sing by watching competition shows and dreaming of being on stage.

“I felt so much freedom to be vulnerable in music,” she says. “I am so happy that people enjoy listening to me.” 

Aside from providing a platform for some of the world's most talented singers, My Kind of Country succeeds because it focuses on the backstories of the performers. They shine as bright as a cowboy’s pair of freshly polished spurs. Without spoiling the show, the winner has been announced and, sure enough, they are home-grown. But it's proven such a success that there will definitely be follow-up seasons.

Says Peck: “If your voice hasn’t been heard yet, just use it. And if you’re scared, tell them Orville sent you.”