Brilliant Insights

 Since 2016, I’ve made it a tradition to share my top songs of the year on my Instagram stories. But as anyone who uses the app knows, those stories vanish after 24 hours. I’ve decided to take those annual lists out of the archives and give them a permanent home here on Brilliant Insights . 2016 was the first full year of being a father, and while life was focused on new milestones at home, music remained my constant companion. Looking back at this list of 30 songs, I can hear the exact moments they soundtracked. It was a year of legendary South African releases and some heavy-hitting international rock returns. The "Brilliant 5" Highlights These five tracks were the essential pillars of my 2016 playlist: "As die Hippies begin Dans" – Wouter van de Venter There is something about this track that captures a specific South African mood. It’s nostalgic and catchy—the perfect start to the 2016 list.  "Friends and Enemies" – Biffy Clyro 2016 saw Biffy Clyro r...

It has been 14 years since my last entry. When I last sat down to write here in March 2011, I had just turned 30, was recovering from the dust of RAMfest V, and mentioned that the party "really started" once my girlfriend arrived at the festival. Looking back at that post now is a bit surreal. Since then, the "intermission" in my writing was filled with the kind of life-changing events that deserve more than just a bullet point. That girlfriend I mentioned? We got married in November 2012 . And in 2015 , our lives changed forever when our son was born. Watching the world change from 2011 to 2025 has been a wild ride. The internet has shifted from personal blogs like this one to giant, noisy social media feeds. I’ve realized that while life got busier, I missed having a place to park my thoughts—somewhere away from the "scroll." So, what’s the plan for Brilliant Insights 2.0? I’m picking up where I left off, but with the perspective of someone who has a lo...