By Lilja Flohr
On 13 October, the German-speaking rock duo, Treptow from Berlin, performed at Aandklas, blending music, language, and culture. Their South African tour is part of the “German as a Foreign Language” initiative, supported by the German Embassy and Goethe Institute. The performance was initiated by Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Modern Foreign Languages Department. The band, made up of singer and guitarist Philipp Taubert and drummer Lukas Lindner, formed in 2017 and has already played more than 350 concerts in multiple countries and across continents so far.
The rock band gave a very energetic live performance. Students from Cape Town also joined SU’s German learners and music enthusiasts to fill the venue, turning it into a cross-cultural space. Afterwards, Die Matie spoke to the musicians about their experience of touring South Africa. Their Aandklas performance was a milestone for the Berliners, as it was their “most southern concert ever”. Their first South African gig had taken place that Monday in Johannesburg.
Treptow’s name originates from a district in Berlin. Taubert explained, “It is where we recorded our first studio album. We didn’t even have a name yet, so we just called ourselves Treptow.” The two musicians have been performing together for nearly eight years and credit their friendship. “Luckily, we have each other, otherwise we would never have lasted this long,” Taubert said. Their lyrics often draw on their surroundings. “Most of our songs are inspired by Berlin, the different places, the people, the history,” he explained. “Berlin brings together the west and east of Germany, and that mix is reflected in architecture, culture, and our music.”
The duo has not settled into one specific genre yet. Taubert said, “We just make music. We like rock, we like a little bit of everything.” They are currently working on a new album that will feature “a new sound” and continue their evolution as artists. They even wrote their latest song mid-flight “on the way from Johannesburg to Cape Town,” Taubert added.
This Southern Africa tour is also based on personal connections. Lindner shared that his father is from Mozambique and that “Southern Africa has always fascinated” him. He hopes to travel further into the region one day. Over the past few days, the pair said they have also discovered several South African and international artists, mentioning Die Antwoord and Rodriguez as their favourites. When asked about the difference between performing in Germany and South Africa, the musicians immediately noted the atmosphere. “People are more open and friendly. In Germany, it’s not always that relaxed.” Lindner added that audiences in South Africa “are more outgoing and dance more”. The band agreed that “giving people a good feeling works everywhere, but here the response was warmer”.
Their show at Aandklas, they said, might just have been “the coolest one ever”. Taubert reflected that “the spirit of the Stellenbosch crowd really stood out”. Treptow’s story is one of persistence and friendship or, as Taubert put it best, “It’s all about dreams. One dream was to play in South Africa, and now we’ve done it.”
