1. Present the band to our readers
Jen: Hey whazzup? I’m Jen [19], I play bass in Neshamah, we are a hardcore band straight oudda Cape Town, South Africa... Matt [23], my boyfriend, is on vocals, Justin [25] on drums and Juan [21] on guitars.

2. When I knew Neshamah was the first time that I listened something about the South African HC scene. How is this? Talk about the HC scene in your country.
Jen: Our hxc scene is looking pretty healthy at the moment, we get on average 150-500 kids at every show... there are only 3 hardcore bands in South Africa, 2 [including us] are in Cape Town, the other one is up country in Durban, they are Aftertaste and Crossing Point... Neshamah and Aftertaste play often together, and are still trying to build a hxc scene. Seeing we are the only hxc bands ever in Cape Town, people are still clueless on what hardcore is... but are getting into it each show... which is awesome... the kids that are in the scene are really united, and support all hardcore and punks bands every show... I also do a zine, with info on hardcore and punk, and the roots and stuff, so kids knowledge can broaden..

3. You sent me your CD, is this your sole release? Talk about your discography.
Jen: “The grass withers and the flower falls” is our first album, recorded march 2000. We have a new 5 song EP coming out in February, there are some songs up on www.mp3.com/theonewholovesyou. We are recording more new stuff before march for a 3 way split with Outsight and Falling cycle to be released on Realhope and Facedown Records. We are also planning in recording another full length before the end of the year, so recording wize we are really busy...

4. This CD I think that it was release by yourself, isn't it?
Jen: Yip, it was all DIY, though all expenses were paid by a sponcer... our EP is also going to be a DIY release...

5. You are a Christian HC band, and so your lyrics talk about Christ... What is your reason to write these lyrics?
Jen: Yeah, we are Christians in a band... and we sing about what we believe in... our lyrics aren't always talking about Christ though, we also sing about other issues that mean a lot to us, we want to reach kids, and what better way than through the music style we love best...

6. To Jen: You make a zine, isn't it? Talk about this.
Jen: Yeah, it’s called Silent Screams, a paper zine, I have an index page to my zine on my website www.punk.co.za/silentscreams. It contains info on all scenes around the world, and includes short stories, interview, poems, reviews, social/political and religious issues, etc, etc. Actually anything that hxc and punk kids would be interested in, and are into...

7. To Jen again: Are there many girls playing/singing or doing fanzines in your country?
Jen: Actually I’m the only one in South Africa doing it at the moment, there are hardcore bands in practise, one of which might have 2 vocals, one being a female... and well the girls in the scene sometimes help me with articles and interviews for my zine, so that's rad... I wish there were more girls into it tho... although the dance floors are always girl dominated, hehehe.

8. What do you know about Spanish HC scene? And what about the European?
Jen: Actually I don't really know much at all... all I know is that it’s pretty huge... there’s a few European hardcore bands that I've heard that kick ass... I'd love it for someone to write me a scene report on the European or Spanish scene... that would rock my world!!

9. Do you know others HC bands from others African countries?
Jen: Yeah, me and Matt [vocals] are always on the internet, so we have met loads of people all over the world, and chat with them over AIM daily, if you'd like to chat to us I’m xjen24 and matt is MattNeshamah on aim... also when we played Cornerstone and Peoria in Chicago last year, we met up with some of our favourite bands, and have made good friends with some of them...

10. I think that somebody in Neshamah are SxE, isn't it? Talk about SxE people of your country.
Jen: Yeah, we're all sxe, due to the fact that we choose not to drink/smoke/drugs... the sxe scene here is pretty big, because the Christian scene is half of the scene, but there's a pretty rad balance, and luckily all the kids support all the bands no matter what their beliefs... because we have been in the scene from the beginning we are friends with all the kids and bands, which makes me real happy, seeing new kids come in is the best!! ;)

11. What the meaning of the name of the band?
Jen: Neshamah means breath of God in Hebrew, though none of us speak it, Matt just heard the translation at home cell one night and thought it would be a rad name for us...
 

12. Talk about the future of the band.
Jen: We plan on coming to the States again June/July, maybe doing a short tour, although flight tickets are so expensive because of the dollar going up nearly daily... if we can find sponcers and ways to raise enough money by then, we will be there... deffinately!!

13. Well, that's all. Say that you want to finish.
Jen: Hey, thanx 4 the interview, I can’t wait to hear something on your guys scene... and even to come play there one day... if there are any promoters, etc. That would like to get hold of us, you can mail us at neshamah@truthmail.com and check out our site at www.neshamah.com, don't forget to say hello on AOL... keep it real. 

If you want to read Spanish version of this interview click here.