John Aubit

New Age troubadour at large.
The door opens and in steps the troubadour, guitar in hand and a song ready on his lips. He is ready to sing of love, of despair, of children and of amoral real politick. The troubadour has wandered a long road to get here, but there can be no shorter path. Everything he knows is from the road. Its grit, its relentless hills, the welcoming wayside inns where he stops for a drink, a rest, a paused timeless moment for a ballad or a story to a child.
All these moments, these memories, those hard and soft learning's, are notes in a new song. The troubadour unfurls his guitar and begins to play…
John Aubit (aka AJ) was born to be a musician. His father conducted orchestras, sang in operas and played trumpet and french horn on the side. His mother’s family, of Welsh origin, contributed the resonant singing genes of that region. An uncle was an acclaimed baritone and an aunt an award-winning violinist.
John grew up in a home filled with musical instruments, choir practices and stage rehearsals. At an early age his superlative voice was discovered and before reaching his teens, Aubit was playing leading stage roles such as ‘Tiny Tim’ in A Christmas Carol. As a youth Aubit toured South Africa with Protea Stage Productions, and was in the production of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ that was controversially banned in Bloemfontein in 1976.
Yet it was only during his military national service at the age of 18 years that John picked up a guitar for the first time – and the rest is history.
With a clear vision of where he wanted to be, Aubit began his journey through the world of South African bands. Initially sought-after for his front man vocals and driving guitar, Aubit earned growing respect as a songwriter with genuine talent for an edgy lyric or intriguing tune. Then, just as it was all beginning to peak, with John's band having a huge South African following and opening the show for globally popular performers – the curtain fell on Act One.
Aubit fell in love and got married. Within 3 years the happy-go-lucky muso bachelor was the responsible father of 5 (not a fertility drug – 2 adopted, plus identical twin boys and a surprise gift of a daughter). For years the guitar lay quiet, the songwriting giving way to bedtime stories.
But now the curtain has risen on Act Two. The guitar is back in hand, the troubadour again sings his song. And listen – now his notes are richer, the voice stronger, the stage presence mature and commanding, the songs deeper in meaning and texture.
Aubit is well and truly back. He can be a solo artiste or a team player in a band. He sings commercial jingles (remember Energade in 1997) or tracks for TV/AV commercials. His first album for several years – and his first as a solo songwriter/singer – is now underway.
His song has barely begun…