Send a text Bright lights can hide hard truths. We sit down with Mark Vaniedon, a South African guitarist who left home with his band after winning LA awards and chasing a label-fueled dream, only to land in a cramped Beverly Hills apartment, hustling tickets on Sunset and selling CDs by hand. The myth of Hollywood met the math of survival, and what followed is a rare, unfiltered look at how ambition, culture shock, and timing can collide for expats and artists alike. Mark walks us through t...
Show Notes
Bright lights can hide hard truths. We sit down with Mark Vaniedon, a South African guitarist who left home with his band after winning LA awards and chasing a label-fueled dream, only to land in a cramped Beverly Hills apartment, hustling tickets on Sunset and selling CDs by hand. The myth of Hollywood met the math of survival, and what followed is a rare, unfiltered look at how ambition, culture shock, and timing can collide for expats and artists alike.
Mark walks us through the grind behind the glamour: recording with a respected Manhattan Beach producer, learning the limits of indie distribution before streaming took off, and realizing that the “right” city isn’t always the right launchpad. He shares the lessons he’d apply today—why the Midwest might have been smarter for rock, how local scenes can nourish momentum, and how perception from afar often misses the small rooms and big disappointments. When the band splintered, each member reinvented: animation, touring production, academia, and a return to South Africa. Mark’s reinvention took a stunning turn.
A volunteer project filming a helicopter ride for a documentary opened a door to aviation. After scrubbing hangar floors and trading work for flight hours, Mark earned his wings and now manages a San Diego operation with five helicopters, serving the power grid and fighting wildfires. It’s a story about purpose over applause, competence over clout, and the radical hope of a second calling. We also talk about the pull of South Africa—family, food, landscapes—and the complex truth of home when your heart lives in two places.
If you’re drawn to stories of reinvention, expat life, and creative grit, this one’s for you. Listen, subscribe, and share with someone who’s weighing a big leap. And if this episode moved you, leave a review—your words help others find the show.
join our Facebook page South Africans Abroad the podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/5237575539627532/
Listen On
Also Listen
-
Balancing Two Worlds: How Rob Built a Business Connecting South African Talent
Send us a text What does it mean to truly come full circle in your expatriate jo -
Trading Cape Town for Costa Blanca: Simona's Spanish Adventure
Send us a text What happens when a devoted Cape Town resident who "would never l -
Trading African Sun for Nordic Winters: Roy Bowden's Swedish Journey
Send us a text Roy Bowden's journey from the sun-drenched beaches of Port Shepst
Comments & Upvotes