’n “Clarens Winter” het hierdie maand nuwe betekenis gekry met die bekendstelling van die wenner van die OFM Trok Talent-kompetisie, wat in samewerking met Select Musiek (’n afdeling van Sony Music Entertainment Africa) aangebied is, Rudo Schwim, se debuutenkelsnit wat as deel van sy prys op Vrydag 4 Julie 2025 uitgereik is.

OFM se ontbytprogram, die Good Morning Breakfast, het regstreeks vanaf Clarens se plein, oorkant Schwim se restaurant, Firkin Pub and Grill, uitgesaai vir die geleentheid, en saam die speelknoppie gedruk vir die eerste radio-uitsending van die liedjie. Schwim het ook later die aand “Clarens Winter” amptelik vir die eerste keer voor ’n gehoor gespeel.

Die liedjie het tydens sy bekendstellingsnaweek ook groot aftrek gekry by gehore. Dit het binne die top tien op die OFM Top 30-treffersparade gedebuuteer en ook binne die top 60 op die Apple Music Afrikaanse stromingsranglys geland.

Clarens Winter se musiekvideo, wat deur oud-Bloemfonteiner Gerduan Kemp vervaardig is, is ook op dieselfde dag bekendgestel en meer as 5 000 keer gekyk.

“Die afgelope tyd het my hele lewe begin verander as die wenner van die kompetisie en toe ek deel van die Select-familie geword het,” vertel Schwim. En dit was amper ’n storie wat nooit gebeur het nie. 

“Ek wou glad nie deelneem nie. My vrou het by my werk opgedaag met my kitaar, dat ek kan deelneem aan die oudisie op Bethlehem.”

Die liedjie is geskryf deur Emil Paul en Schwim self; Murray Lubbe het dit vervaardig en Schwim se klank een honderd persent vasgevang. “Hierdie liedjie beskryf my lewe en hoe ek liefde gevind het by iemand van die stad af en haar oortuig het om weg te breek van die stad se geraas na Clarens.”

Om Schwim se musiekloopbaanoorgang te kon aanskou, was ’n voorreg vir OFM, sê OFM-programbestuurder, Tim Thabethe. 

“Van een man en sy orkes tot ’n trefferlys-sensasie gemanifesteer deur Select Musiek, was hierdie lewensveranderende proses van die begin af vir Rudo bestem, en die liedjie ‘Clarens Winter’ is ’n bewys daarvan. Hierdie is nie net ’n liedjie nie, hierdie is ’n ode aan een van die mooiste plekke in Sentraal-Suid-Afrika.”

Kemp vertel hy’t met die musiekvideo probeer om die siel van die Oos-Vrystaatse dorpie vas te vang in beelde. 

“Toe ek hoor die liedjie se naam is ‘Clarens Winter’, het ek geweet ek moet iets besonders maak. Ek het nog nooit self sneeu daar beleef nie, maar dis ’n plek wat ek my hele lewe lank wou ervaar in die winter.”

Die natuurlike skoonheid van Clarens – van goue velde tot yskoue berghange – vorm die ruggraat van die visuele storie. “Ons wou die gevoel vasvang van wat Clarens is. Daai koue wat jy letterlik in jou bene voel, maar ook die warmte van saamwees voor die kaggel saans.”

Wees deel van Schwim se reis en beleef ’n Clarens-winter deur sy oë. “Clarens Winter” kan hier geluister, gekyk en afgelaai word.

Vir verdere inligting kontak: marketing@ofm.co.za.

EINDIG

Waarom OFM

OFM, die klank van jou lewe, is Sentraal-Suid-Afrika se voorste handelsradiostasie, wat ’n verskeidenheid musiek, nuus en vermaak bied. Die stasie vier vanjaar reeds 39 jaar in die uitsaaiwese. OFM is deel van die Central Media Group, met sy hoofkantoor in Bloemfontein.

Die stasie bedien die welvarende SEM 7-10 ekonomies aktiewe mark met ’n uitsaaigebied wat die Vrystaat, Noord-Kaap, Suid-Gauteng en Noordwes insluit. OFM is sinoniem met die mense van Sentraal-Suid-Afrika, en sluit ’n volle spektrum van luisteraars in, van stedelike werkende ouers, tot korporatiewe professionele persone, sowel as landelike gemeenskappe en landbouprodusente.

Die stasie het ’n ongelooflike lojale en ondersteunende gehoor. OFM se luisteraars spandeer van die meeste tyd wat luisteraars in Suid-Afrika spandeer om radio te luister. Dit word bereik deur die stasie se gepaste musiekaanbiedinge – luisteraars kan hul gunstelingliedjies op die Request Network versoek en op Saterdae kan hulle inskakel om saam Sentraal-Suid-Afrika se 30 grootste treffers op die Central SA Top 30 af te tel.

OFM bied verskeie nisprogramme aan – insluitend ’n toegewyde landbouprogram met drie bykomende landbounuusberigte per dag, asook as ’n toegewyde sakeprogram.

Sport lê OFM-luisteraars na aan die hart en dit is wat baie Sentraal-Suid-Afrikaners bymekaar bring. Die stasie is ’n trotse vennoot, borg en ondersteuner van die Cheetahs-, Griekwas- en Luiperds-rugbyspanne, asook die Knights, Heat en Dragons krieketspanne. OFM is daartoe verbind om die waarlik goeie lewe te lei, en terselfdertyd Sentraal-Suid-Afrikaners te help om hul beste lewens te lei.

OFM Truck Talent winner releases first single

Rudo Schwim, Central South Africa’s own new Afrikaans music star, has just released his first single.

A “Clarens Winter” took on new meaning this month with the launch of the winner of the OFM Trok Talent competition, presented in collaboration with Select Musiek (a division of Sony Music Entertainment Africa), Rudo Schwim, whose debut single was released as part of his prize on Friday, 4 July 2025.

OFM’s breakfast show, the Good Morning Breakfast, broadcast live from Clarens Square, opposite Schwim’s restaurant, Firkin Pub and Grill, for the event, and simultaneously pressed the play button for the first radio broadcast of the song. Schwim also officially played “Clarens Winter” in front of an audience for the first time later that evening.

The song also received a lot of attention from audiences during its launch weekend. It debuted in the top ten on the OFM Top 30 chart and also landed in the top 60 on the Apple Music Afrikaans streaming chart.

Clarens Winter’s music video, produced by former Bloemfontein resident Gerduan Kemp, was also released on the same day and has been viewed more than 5,000 times.

“Recently, my whole life started to change as the winner of the competition, and when I became part of the Select family,” says Schwim. And it was almost a story that never happened. 

“I didn’t want to participate at all. My wife showed up at my work with my guitar so I could participate in the audition in Bethlehem.”

The song was written by Emil Paul and Schwim; Murray Lubbe produced it and captured Schwim’s sound one hundred percent. “This song describes my life and how I found love with someone from the city and convinced her to break away from the city noise to Clarens.”

To have witnessed Schwim’s music career transition has been a privilege for OFM, says OFM Programme Manager, Tim Thabethe. 

“From one man and his band, to a chart-climbing sensation manifested by Select Musiek, this life-changing process was destined for Rudo from the start, and the song ‘Clarens Winter’ is proof of that. This is not just a song, this is an ode to one of the most beautiful places in Central South Africa.”

Kemp says he tried to capture the soul of the Eastern Free State town in images with the music video. “When I heard the name of the song was ‘Clarens Winter’, I knew I had to do something special. I’ve never experienced snow there myself, but it’s a place I’ve wanted to experience in winter my whole life.”

The natural beauty of Clarens – from golden fields to icy mountain slopes – forms the backbone of the visual story. “We wanted to capture the feeling of what Clarens is. 

“That cold that you literally feel in your bones, but also the warmth of being together in front of the fireplace in the evening.”

Be part of Schwim’s journey and experience a Clarens winter through his eyes. “Clarens Winter” can be listened to, watched, and downloaded here. For more information, contact: marketing@ofm.co.za.

ENDS

Why OFM

OFM, the Sound of Your Life, is Central South Africa’s premier commercial radio station, offering a mix of music, news, and entertainment. The station celebrates 39 years in the broadcasting industry this year. OFM is part of the Central Media Group, with its head office in Bloemfontein.

The station serves the affluent SEM 7-10 economically active marketplace with a broadcast footprint across the Free State, Northern Cape, southern Gauteng and North West. OFM is synonymous with the people of Central South Africa, and includes a full spectrum of listeners, from urban working moms and dads to corporate professionals, as well as rural communities and agricultural producers.

The station has an incredibly loyal and supportive audience. OFM enjoys one of the highest occurrences of time spent listening to the radio in South Africa. This is achieved by the station’s great music offerings, such as playing listeners their favourite songs on the Request Network and counting down Central South Africa’s 30 biggest hits on the Central SA Top 30.

OFM offers several niche features – including a dedicated agricultural programme with three additional agricultural news updates a day, as well as a dedicated business programme.

Sport is close to OFM listeners’ hearts and is what brings much of Central South Africa together. The station is a proud partner, sponsor, and supporter of the Cheetahs, Griquas and Leopards rugby teams as well as the Knights, Heat and Dragons cricket teams. OFM is committed to living the real good life, while at the same time helping Central South Africans to live their best lives.