top of page
Writer's pictureVita Lu

How did it happen that Jason Bradley sang "Versekerd"

The question is: How did the famous Country singer, Jason Bradley, end up singing on my new song, before he passed away in August 2022?



It was in 2017 when I was given the opportunity to write some demo songs for a famous musician. I made haste and quickly as possible sent 2 drafts to Bruce Wallace. (Bruce is the owner of the music studio "Beat in Time Studios" and a drum player who has played on many famous musicians' performances and recordings.)


I could only record 2 demo songs because that was all I could afford. People, you will fall on your back when you realize how much money it costs to make a demo, let alone how much it costs to have a full professional song recorded. It's not with money just lying around. It's your saved holiday money!


The idea of ​​the 2 songs, of which " Versekerd" was one of them, was to create ballads. This is what the musician requested.  Bruce started as fast as he could with the music arrangement and added the necessary instruments to turn it into a full professional demo. I only wrote the piano tunes/chords, the voice tunes, and the lyrics.


Bruce asked one of his friends, who was busy recording his own music with him, to sing my songs just on the fly, while he was still in the music studio. His friend help out and recorded my song out of the goodness of his heart.  I paid him a fee through Bruce.


After, I don't know how long, but it was quick, probably a week, which is super quick, Bruce sent me the demo songs back, and I sent them to the musician.


After regular follow-up and trying to wait patiently (something I'm not very good at), the musician finally got back to me and told me that unfortunately he wasn't going to use my demos.


Terribly disappointed, I just had to get on with my life, and so these two songs ended up on the shelf. I went on and released my own songs with the help of singers that I then 'feature' in my songs. These singers are also called 'session' musicians.


The following songs I released with Bruce Wallace as my Producer and Co-Writer:

  1. Two EDM (electronic dance music) songs: "Woeste Oseaan" and "Herfs Blare";

  2. then two Afrikaans Pop (Popular) songs: "Noorder Kleure" and "Oproep na die Hemel";

  3. and finally I took one of my 'vital curv' songs and made a Remix: "It Shows - Remix". By that time the money was scarce. And a Remix worked out much cheaper than a whole new production.


So now it's the beginning of 2023, I'm sitting with much less money, and with no music income. But the bug - releasing songs - won't let me go. That's when I remembered the two demo songs. They are half way created, half way paid. So the costs will be little. I soon listened through them again to make sure which one of the two I wanted to finalize. I contacted Bruce and ask what he thinks about my idea of ​​releasing the demo songs myself... and he agrees. His friend, who sang my demo songs, sang so beautifully that I didn't even think it was necessary to get another singer in and re-record it. But that's when I found out that Bruce's friend, who sang my demo songs, had passed away. :'(


It was Jason Bradley, the famous Country singer.


I thought of getting another singer to sing. But I loved Jason's voice on my song "Versekerd" and Bruce offered to contact Tina, Jason's wife, to see if there wasn't a possibility that we could keep Jason's voice and release the song that way.


Tina was very excited with the idea. Even Jason's mother really liked the song. I contacted her later and also met her, and what a friendly person she is! I was very grateful.


I can't remember now if it was Bruce's idea or mine. But we made the decision to register the song with Samro with Jason as one of the songwriters, so that a portion of the royalties will go to Tina.


I also just want to mention... Even though Tina really appreciated it and, as we, saw it as a beautiful afterthought to Jason, it did make me feel uncomfortable. I was afraid that people would think I was exploiting these sad events to benefit myself. But with Tina's expressed gratitude, I pushed that feeling aside.


So that's how my song "Versekerd" was released with Jason Bradley singing it. I wish I met him. I wish I could tell him how exquisitely beautiful his voice is. I wish he could sing all my songs.


Bruce and Tina, I am grateful to know that I have such warm-hearted people in my life who have become part of my musical family. Thank you very much for all your support and care!

7 views
bottom of page