STOPSTRAAT BRINGS FRESH FIRE TO AFRIKAANS ROCK

Megan Grobler

@megan.gro_bler

 

“It’s like an escape from the real world… For that second, the world doesn’t exist.”

 

That’s how Anya “Filter” Botev, the Bulgarian-born lead singer of the newly reformed student band Stopstraat, describes the thrill of practicing and performing with her bandmates.

 

With Christophe “Kurt” Kruger from Namibia, Kelson “Plate” Bridges from Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng on the guitars, Wian “Rys” Kerry from Kempton Park, Gauteng on the drums, and Zane van Niekerk from Republic of North Macedonia on the bass guitar.

 

With roots stretching from the Republic of North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Namibia and South Africa, and a sound as diverse as their backgrounds, Stopstraat is redefining what it means to be an Afrikaans rock band in 2025.

 

The male bandmates explained that having a new female lead vocalist allows for a more unique sound and more range when it comes to the Afrikaans Rock genre.

 

“Stopstraat” was formed as a way of entering Laureus Men’s Residence into the Bourbon Street bar’s “Battle of the Bands” in 2024, with 8 members and little time to come up with a catchy name. After much consideration, and many futile attempts at coming up with a name – one of which was “Potjiekos” – the name “Stopstraat” emerged from Plate’s high school days of wanting to form a band with the same name, and it stuck. According to Plate, the name worked because there were 8 band members and 8 sides on a Stop sign.

 

Since then, the newly reformed student band has considered changing the name, but decided against it, as four of the original members still remain. The band members all described Stopstraat’s sound and genre as resembling that of “Afrikaans”, “Punk”, and “Grunge”. “We’re keeping the Punk rock scene alive,” Filter stated.

 

Even though being a Afrikaans Rock band, Stopstraat tries to stray away from typical Afrikaans-sounding music to appeal to a wider audience, and hopefully make music that appeals to the masses internationally.

 

When asked who their musical inspirations were, each of their answers varied greatly and may come as a surprise to some.

 

Plate’s individual inspiration, as stated by him, is lead guitarist Mick Mars from the heavy metal band Motley Crue. His inspiration for the band is the well-known and loved rock band Paramore.

 

Van Niekerk said that his inspiration comes from the rock band Polyphia’s bassist Clay Gober. He then went on to say, “In terms of the band, I’m what they need me to be. I fill in the gaps.”

 

Rys explained that his drumming inspiration stems from drummer The Cool from the rock band Green Day. His inspiration for the band is a blend of Afrikaans bands Spoegwolf and Fokofpolisiekar.

 

Filter stated that she writes lyrics inspired by the American Rock band Fall Out Boy’s sound, and that her stage presence resembles that of Hayley Williams from Paramore, with elements of Gerard Way from the rock band My Chemical Romance.

 

Kurt brings more of a “metal influence” into the band, as his inspiration comes from lead guitarist Synyster Gates from the heavy Metal band Avenged Sevenfold, as well as from Ray Toro and Frank Iero, lead guitarist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band My Chemical Romance. He describes his inspirations in terms of the band’s sound, as that of the bands My Chemical Romance and Paramore.

 

This variety of influences and tastes contributes to their unique sound, which is created by their diverse tastes and backgrounds. “We’re trying to create our own genre,”Plate stated.

 

While Stopstraat is revolutionising the Afrikaans Rock genre, the band has had a few minor mishaps along the way. Whether it’s Rys’ drum set falling apart in the middle of their opening song at Battle of the Bands, a guitar strap snapping, causing Plate’s guitar to fall on stage, or Filter forgetting the words to the song “Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon… every time. Through all the chaos, the band members have still managed to maintain their love for music.

 

Apart from the stage accidents, Stopstraat have expressed their most pressing challenge is combined struggles with finances and busy schedules, making practice times and planning much more difficult and later at night. “We’d gladly offer up some sleep to practice together,” Plate said.

 

They went on to explain that when they do find the time to practice during what they call “jam-sessions”, after all the residence activities and responsibilities have died down, they play around with melodies and add Filter’s poems where they fit.

 

“We do it for fun. Really. At the core, we want to make music. All of us do love music in our own way,” Filter explained.

 

As of today, Stopstraat’s main priority is “getting on stage and performing, getting our name out there, and just doing what we love,” as stated by Plate and Filter.

 

Stopstraat is a band that wants to be seen, heard, and relatable to people who heavily identify with their sound. “Music is blatant honesty,” Kurt stated as he was describing the reason for his love of music. He went on to say, “I feel like it’s that honesty that makes people feel.”

 

When asked what Stopstraat as a student-band wants their audience to experience when they hear their music, Rys said, “When someone listens to the lyrics at 1 am, alone in their car with a McDonald’s Big Mac, a McFlurry and a Coke and they listen to the song, I want them to feel something unique and relate to the song and feel like it brings back a memory or creates a visual where they can feel what we feel in their own way.”

 

To all the Afrikaans, Punk, and Rock lovers, keep an eye and ear out for this up-and-coming Afrikaans Rock band, if you in any way resonate with their motto: “Afrikaans. Rock. Revolusie.”

 

Follow Stopstraat on Instagram, @stopstraatband, and stay tuned for their soon-to-be-released and first-ever single.

 

A picture of the members of Stopstraat (Source: Megan Grobler)

 

Edited by Mhlengi Khumalo