Meet Jamie Barthus, the musical genius that gifted the internet its latest viral hit song, titled ‘ Hugo bel die polisie’.
Jamie created the song based on a viral video of white men and women fighting in their yard and in the street, which the female neighbour opposite the road records on her cellphone, all the while urging “Hugo” to call the police.
Jamie says after the video of his remix went viral, he noticed that most people who posted it online did not credit him, and this is why many people are still not aware that he created the song.
Jamie is a third-year nursing student at CPUT with a passion for music, and is also currently employed at Victoria Hospital as a male nurse.
I believe that after years of investing into his musical talent, this hit song is his moment to shine and make that shift into the mainstream music industry.
The 27-year-old from Steenberg says he is no stranger to music.
“I have worked on stages with (cabaret singer) Natalia da Rocha and started digital production at the age of 16,” he says.
When asked how his viral video of Hugo came about, he says: “Someone on Facebook texted me asking me to make a remix, so I took the audio from the original video, made a beat, added some comedy and that was that.”
He makes it sound easy, but any music producer will tell you it takes talent and time to create a song.
“Music will always be my passion and a part of my life,” adds Jamie.
HIS LIFE: Jamie tributes songs to his son. Picture: Supplied.
Another reason why mense may not know that he did the remix is the fact that he didn’t mark it with his tag, like DJ Khalid does for example, to which Jamie replies: “I have a tag and won’t sacrifice it for fame, it’s actually my son saying ‘daddy’.”
So if you guys ever hear a little boy saying ‘daddy’ in a song, know that it was created by Jamie Barthus.
According to Jamie, he wanted his tag to be meaningful to him, and what better way than his song calling him ‘daddy’, “because I love being a dad,” he says.
Jamie also spent some time in Saudi Arabia as a child, where he met Filipino friends.
He says their love for karaoke inspired his passion for music.
He was only 10 years old at the time and it was then that he learned how to play the guitar.
Back in SA a few years later, he joined the band at Heathfield High School in Grade 8, where he broadened his musical skills.
Since “ Hugo bel die polisie”, Jamie has gone on to produce a song for the Bokke and his own version of Biggy’s hit song, Dames, which has enjoyed nearly 150 000 hits on Facebook since he posted it last week, proving this young man is not a one-hit wonder.
In my opinion, Jamie Barthus is a hidden musical gem in Cape Town, he’s given us a lekker festive monster hit song and turned Facebook onderstebo.
He has a natural feel for music that resonates with not only Capetonians but also South Africa while maintaining a Kaapse feel.
He is possibly one of the best producers with regards to club music I have seen and deserves to work with the best in the business.
Jamie is that guy who can come up with the hook of a song that sommer sticks in your mind.
SNAAKS: Check Jamie out on his Facebook page, Jamie’s Comedy. Picture: Facebook.
So to all the artists out there, if you have a song that you want to change it into a respectable yaardt hit with international appeal, then Jamie Barthus is the man for the job.
His work can be viewed on his Facebook page, called “ Jamie’s Comedy”.
You can also catch him at the Laugh Online Fest on 1 November at the Joseph Stone auditorium in Athlone at 8pm.
Book your seat via Whatsapp on 072 714 9887.