Biography | Eugene Jensen history and life story | eugenejensen.co.za
Eugene Jensen is ‘n sanger/liedjieskrywer, akteur en danser, wat reeds die afgelope 13 jaar in professionele musiek betrokke is. Die musiek van hierdie energieke jong man met sy innemende persoonlikheid herinner aan die Engelse sanger, Jack Johnson, van wie hy ook sy inspirasie kry. Hy geniet dit om voor gehore op te tree en om musiek te maak – om sommer net sy kitaar op te tel en ‘n nuwe melodielyn op te maak. Hierdie proses stimuleer sy kreatiewe denke. Sy ander passies sluit goeie kos, goeie geselskap en veral goeie koffie in!
Hy is tans te sien in die nuwe Afrikaanse musiekrolprent, Pretville, wat die 23ste November in teaters landswyd begin draai het. Hier speel hy die rol van die plaasjaap, Dawid de Wit, wat verlief raak op die dorpsmeisie, Serah Somers (gespeel deur Marlee van der Merwe). Sy karakter is maar skaam en weet nie eintlik hoe om dadelik met die lieflike Serah ‘n geselsie aan te knoop nie. Hy is egter vasbeslote om haar hart te wen en stof in die oë van die dorpsjaap, Frank Fouche, te skop!
Die rolprent is deur Paul en Emma Kruger van Hartiwood vervaardig, dieselfde vervaardigers wat Liefling – Die Movie aan die land bekend gestel het. Die liedjies is deur Machiel Roets geskryf en gekomponeer en Linda Korsten was die regiseur. Van sy mede-akteurs is Reinhardt Hugo, Steve Hoffmyer, Lizz Meiring, Marno van der Merwe en Annette Engelbrecht, om maar net ‘n paar te noem. Vir Eugene was dit as ‘n groot voorreg om deel van dié produksie te kon wees. “Dit was beslis groot pret op die stel van Pretville!” noem hy. Wees verseker dat jou voete gaan juk nadat jy Pretville onder oë gehad het!
In 2011 het Eugene sy debuutalbum, Genoeg, vrygestel. Dit is ‘n gospel album wat hom baie na aan die hart lê. Die liedjies daarop is oor ‘n tydperk van twee jaar uit die harte van hom en sy vrou, Odette, gebore. Hy het die produksie van die album geweldig baie geniet en is tans besig om aan ‘n sekulêre album te werk, wat hopelik in Maart 2013 vrygestel sal word.
Meer oor Eugene
Hy is in die Vaal Driehoek in Vanderbijlpark gebore en het aan die Hoërskool Driehoek, waar hy ook hoofseun was, gematrikuleer. Eugene het in ‘n musiekgedrewe huis grootgeword en het met sy ouers se aanmoediging met dromlesse begin, maar later oorgeskakel na kitaar. Ná skool het hy Ligte Musiek (Jazz) by die Tshwane Universiteit van Tegnologie gaan studeer. Hy was deel van Calendar Boys wat by die Performer Teater opgevoer was. Sy eerste TV-rol was in die telenovelle, Hart van Staal, wat op Kyk-Net te sien was.
Hier het sy pad met Robbie Wessels, wat sy boetie in die storie gespeel het, gekruis. Robbie het hom gevra om as kitaarspeler deel van sy ‘band’ te word en het saam met hom getoer. Hulle het gehore in Suid-Afrika en die buiteland vermaak. Daarna het Eugene vir ‘n ruk uit die vermaaklikheidsbedryf beweeg, maar is nou volstoom terug.
Hy geniet dit om gehore op kreatiewe maniere te vermaak en probeer altyd aan iets nuuts te dink om op die verhoog te doen. Dis vir hom belangrik om die gehoor deel van ‘n optrede te maak. “Dit moet vir die gehoor ‘n ervaring wees – mense moet kan huis toe gaan en voel hulle was deel van die show; hulle het nie net na ‘n show gaan kyk nie,” sê hy. Hierdie talentvolle kunstenaar is beslis een om dop te hou! As jy dus op soek is na ‘n vars nuwe klank en unieke vertoning, maak seker jy is daar as Eugene in jou omgewing is.
Eugene Jensen is a singer/songwriter, actor and dancer, who has been involved professionally in the music industry for the past 13 years. The music of this vibrant, energetic young man reminds of the singer, Jack Johnson, from whom he gets his inspiration. He loves making music and performing in front of crowds. He enjoys picking up his guitar to figure out a new melody line. The creative process of it all stimulates him. His other passions include good food, stimulating conversations and really good coffee!
Currently Eugene can be seen in the new Afrikaans musical, Pretville that started showing in theatres throughout South-Africa on November 23rd. He plays the role of farm boy, Dawid de Wit, who falls in love with the pretty town girl, Serah Somers (played by Marlee van der Merwe). His character is very shy and doesn’t really know how to start a conversation with the lovely Serah. He is however determined to win her heart over from Frank Fouche, the ‘macho man’ of the town.
The film is produced by Paul and Emma Kruger from Hartiwood productions, the same company that brought us Liefling – Die Movie. The songs were written and composed by Machiel Roets and Linda Korsten was the director. Some of his fellow actors are Reinhardt Hugo, Steve Hoffmyer, Lizz Meiring, Marno van der Merwe and Annette Engelbrecht, to name but a few. He considers it a great privilege to have been part of this film. Your feet will be itching to get to the dance floor after watching this movie!
Eugene launched his debut album, “Genoeg” in 2011. It is a gospel album which is very close to his heart. The songs on this album were born in the hearts of Eugene and his wife, Odette over a period of two years. He enjoyed the whole process of making the album and is currently busy with a secular album, which will hopefully be released in March 2013.
He was born in the Vaal Triangle in Vanderbijlpark and matriculated as head boy from Hoërskool Driehoek. He grew up in a musically gifted family. His parents encouraged him to take drum lessons, but he later ended up playing guitar. After school he decided to study Jazz at the Tshwane University of Technology. He was part of Calendar Boys, which performed at the Performer Theatre. His first TV role was in Kyk-Net’s tele-novel, Hart van Staal.
Here he met Robbie Wessels, who played his brother in the story. Robbie asked him to play guitar for him and toured the country with him. They entertained crowds in South Africa and internationally. After that Eugene left the entertainment scene for a while, but is happy to be back.
Eugene enjoys entertaining crowds in creative ways and always tries to think of something new to do on stage. It’s important to him to involve the crowd during a show. “It has to be an experience – people must feel that they were part of the show and did not just watch the show,” Eugene says.
Be sure to see Eugene touring the country and entertaining crowds in his unique style and approach to making music! If you are looking for something new and fresh, then book your seat when he is in town.
Photos taken by GingaNinja Photography
Pretville movie premiere
album debut Eugene events gallery Genoeg ginganinja photography Hart van Staal Jazz Jesus Kyk-Net live music Paul Kruger photos Pretville shows Steve Hofmeyer
Copyright © 2013 Eugene Jensen