NEWS UPDATE - 23 September 2025

40 YEARS OF GRATITUDE AND REFLECTION ON THE PARENTS WHO ADOPTED ME, GAVE ME A HOME, GUIDANCE, AND THE CHANCE TO GROW INTO THE PERSON I AM TODAY

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Life begins with moments we do not choose, yet those moments shape everything that follows. I came into this world on 2 June 1985, unaware of the paths my parents would take and the love that would surround me. From the very start, my story was marked by courage, sacrifice, and hope, threads that have woven together to create the life I live today.

I was born on 2 June 1985. My biological parents were so young, standing at the edge of adulthood themselves. My father was called away to serve in the army, and my mother faced a choice no mother or father should ever have to make. With a courage I can barely comprehend, my biological parents placed me into an orphanage, entrusting me to a future they could not give.

In the letters my biological parents left behind, folded into my adoption papers and blurred by my own tears over the years each time I return to them, I feel the weight of their love and the ache of their sorrow. Each word trembles with the pain of goodbye, yet glimmers with the hope that somewhere, someone would give me the life they longed for me. Every time I read these letters, it breaks my heart, and I find myself crying uncontrollably, feeling both the loss and the love that brought me into this world. I cannot even begin to imagine what it must have been like to be in their shoes at that time, or at any point in their lives.

On 23 September 1985, that hope was fulfilled when Jacobus and Dirkie Muller adopted me and officially became my parents. From that moment, their love became my foundation. They held me when I stumbled, guided me when I lost my way, and gave me opportunities that shaped the life I live today.

Turning 40 has always held a profound significance for me, and this year I want to honor the love, guidance, and sacrifices of the parents who truly raised me. I carry Jacobus and Dirkie in my heart every day. They gave me not just a home, but a life shaped by patience, belief, and unwavering support. This year, I want to honor them with all the gratitude, love, and admiration I have, for the parents who made me the person I am today.

A CHILDHOOD FILLED WITH LOVE AND OPPORTUNITY

Forty years is a milestone not everyone is granted. For me, it is a reflection of life’s fragility and the boundless opportunities I was given. Born in Boksburg, Gauteng, I was adopted shortly after birth and raised in a home where love and support were abundant. My parents, Jacobus and Dirkie Muller, drove me to countless shows as a child, nurtured my musical talents, and supported my dreams in every way possible. They taught me manners, values, and compassion, the foundation of the man I have become.

Without their unwavering support and love, I cannot imagine what my life would have looked like. The home they provided was not just a house, it was a sanctuary, a place where I could grow, explore, and learn the meaning of family and belonging.

PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND PAST TRIBUTES

I originally wrote and released the song Maak Dit Nie Seer, which translates to Doesn't It Hurt, in 2006. I was still a young child when I wrote it, filled with the uncertainty, frustration, and longing that comes from not knowing why I was placed for adoption and not fully understanding my story. Music has always been my therapy, a way to process those emotions and make sense of my experiences.

In 2011, when the media made my adoption public, I re-released the song, and that moment inspired me to express my gratitude in an even deeper way to the parents who raised me. Their unwavering love, guidance, and sacrifices gave me a home, a foundation, and the life I have today, and I wanted to honor them with every bit of my heart.

 

GRATITUDE IN LYRICS: A HEARTFELT THANK YOU

There are no words that can fully express the love and gratitude I feel for my parents, Jacobus and Dirkie Muller. They gave me more than a home; they gave me a life filled with love, guidance, and unwavering support. I remember my parents staying up late to listen to new music I had written or produced, their eyes full of patience and encouragement whenever I doubted myself. I remember the way they held my hand when I fell, the warmth of their hugs that made the world feel safe, and the quiet moments when just being near them made everything feel possible. Every lesson, every sacrifice, every gentle word shaped the person I am today.

As I write this, my eyes are full of tears not just from gratitude, but because I never imagined my father would not be here to see me reach this milestone. His absence is a weight I feel every day, a reminder of how fragile and fleeting life truly is. It makes me cling even tighter to the memories of his love, his guidance, and his unwavering belief in me. It reminds me to cherish every moment, to honor those we love while we can, and to carry their spirit with us always.

They know that I express my deepest emotions through lyrics and music. Where my words fail, my songs speak. Every note, every melody, every lyric carries the love, the guidance, and the unwavering belief my parents have given me. My music is my voice when the depth of my gratitude cannot be contained in words alone

To my parents: Thank you for choosing me, for opening your home and your hearts when I had nothing but hope and uncertainty. Thank you for loving me unconditionally, for seeing me, truly seeing me, and giving me a life that so many children never get to know. You gave me safety when the world was unknown, comfort when I was afraid, and a home where I could belong completely. Every hug, every word of encouragement, every quiet sacrifice you made has been a lifeline I carry with me every day. If my life were a song, every chorus would be about you. Every beat of my heart carries your love. I am who I am because of you, because you welcomed me, believed in me, and gave me everything I could have ever needed. I can never repay the depth of what you have given me, but through my music, through my life, and through every moment I carry your love, I hope you can feel just how deeply, fiercely, and endlessly I thank you.

To The Ones Who Chose Me

You called me when I couldn't speak
You heard my silent cry
You held me like a lullaby
And made the broken whole

Your grace first taught my heart to weep
You stilled my trembling soul
Your grace has saved, and led me home
So I was lost no more

You came like rain on thirsty soil
You broke the chains I wore
You found me in my darkest hour
Now peace has filled my soul

Now I am lost no more…

© KOBUS MULLER 2025. All rights reserved.

HONORING MY FATHER AND THE LEGACY OF LOVE

In memory of my father, Jacobus Johannes Philippus Muller, who passed away in 2021, I recorded and released Die Onse Vader on the fourth anniversary of his passing. This piece is more than a song; it is a prayer, a memory, and a celebration of a life that shaped me in ways words alone can never capture.

My father’s wisdom, faith, and quiet strength were the foundation of our family. From the framed words of Die Onse Vader hanging on our living room wall, lovingly prepared by my mother and my father’s hands, to the countless moments of guidance and encouragement, he taught me what it means to lead with love, humility, and conviction. Music has always been my way of expressing the deepest parts of my soul, and through this recording, I hoped to channel all the gratitude, love, and longing I carry for him.

Losing him during the pandemic, unable to say goodbye in person, left a silence and emptiness that has been impossible to fill. Recording this tribute allowed me to speak to him through the only language that can truly hold the depth of my heart: music. Every note, every melody, and every phrase of this prayer carries the love, lessons, and enduring presence of my father. This song is my way of keeping his spirit alive, of honoring his legacy, and of letting the world feel the man he was and the father he will always be in my heart.

You can read more about this tribute and listen to the piece here.

SYMBOLISM IN IMAGERY: MOUNTAINS, LIGHT, AND THE CARNATION FLOWER

The visual for this special project is deeply symbolic, telling the story of my life. Dark clouds loom over the mountains, representing the uncertainty, fear, and unknown I faced when I was placed for adoption. The valley beneath, a shadowed space of doubt and grief, reflects the moments of fear I have walked through, the times I felt lost and alone, and the challenges I have had to overcome. It is my personal valley of the shadow of death, a reminder of Psalm 23, where even in the darkest places, we are guided and protected.

Piercing through these clouds, a light shines down, guiding the way and illuminating a single white carnation, my mother’s favorite flower. The carnation represents me, nurtured, seen, and held in the warmth of love. My parents are that light. Their unwavering guidance and love have illuminated my path, transforming uncertainty into hope and fear into security.

Just as I express my deepest emotions through music and lyrics, this visual captures the story of my heart. The mountains, the light, the carnation, and the valley are all notes in the song of my life. Each element is a melody of love, resilience, and the enduring strength my parents have given me. Through them, I have known safety, guidance, and the sustaining light of God’s love in my life, and these images carry that story into every expression of my art

A VERY SPECIAL RELEASE

A very special release is coming on 9 October 2025, a project that continues this journey of gratitude and love. This date is deeply meaningful to me, as it would have been my father’s birthday, his fourth in heaven. My lyrics of The Ones Who Chose Me are written on the melody of a song that holds a very special place in my heart, the first song I ever taught myself to play by ear on the organ as a child. My parents bought me that organ when they saw my curiosity and passion for music at a very young age, nurturing a spark that would grow into a lifelong love for creating, expressing, and sharing my emotions through sound.

This release is a tribute to the foundation my parents gave me. It carries the love, guidance, and inspiration, and it is my way of honoring them, of feeling close to them, and of letting the world hear the echoes of their influence in every note. It is my way of saying thank you to my parents for giving me a home where I was always seen, always heard, and always encouraged. I remember them staying up late to listen to me play, their eyes filled with patience and pride, guiding me when I doubted myself, holding my hand when I stumbled, and celebrating every small victory as if it were their own. Their belief in me, their patience, and their unconditional love shaped the course of my life in ways I could never have imagined.

My parents love changed everything. This release is my heartfelt expression of that gratitude, a song carrying all the moments, lessons, and warmth they gave me into the world. Through it, I hope others can feel the light my parents brought into my life, the love that held me, and the foundation that allowed me to grow into the person and artist I am today. Every note is a thank you, every lyric a reflection of the home, the guidance, and the enduring love that will always be with me, and of my eternal gratitude.

GRATITUDE TO THE ORPHANAGE AND ADOPTION AGENCY

Baby photo of Kobus MullerI want to express my deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to the orphanage, the adoption agency, and the case workers who guided me through the earliest chapter of my life. Their care, compassion, and dedication made it possible for me to be welcomed into a family that would change the course of my life forever.

For reasons of privacy and out of respect for everyone involved, I cannot name them individually. The media can so easily distort memories, and it is vital to honor the privacy of my biological parents as well. But please know that this does not lessen my gratitude in any way. I carry with me a profound thankfulness for their patience, their guidance, and the love they showed in helping me find a home filled with warmth, opportunity, and hope.

Their work, often unseen and unspoken, shaped the foundation of my life. Without their commitment, their hearts, and their unwavering care, I would not be who I am today. Every day I live, every note I play, every song I write carries the quiet echoes of their compassion. For this, I will be eternally grateful.

REFLECTION ON TURNING 40

Turning 40 is more than a milestone; it is a profound reminder of life’s fragility, the power of second chances, and the love that sustains us. Reaching this point in my life, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the greatest gift anyone could ever give a child: the gift of life, the gift of being welcomed into a home filled with love, care, and opportunity. Being chosen, being loved, and being given the chance to grow and thrive is a blessing I carry with me every day.

I am deeply aware that not every child in orphanages or vulnerable situations receives this chance. That awareness drives my commitment to giving back, to advocating for adoption, and to supporting children who are still waiting for someone to choose them, to see their potential, and to offer them the love and guidance that can change the course of their lives. Through my career and charitable work, I have had the privilege of contributing to orphanages, vulnerable children, and communities in need. Whether through music, fundraising, or personal engagement, I strive to bring hope, comfort, and opportunity to those who need it most, just as it was given to me.
To learn more about my ongoing charitable work and the causes close to my heart, please visit here.

As I reflect on these 40 years, I am reminded that the life I have is built on love, on sacrifice, and on the extraordinary generosity of those who believed in me. Through my songs, my performances, and my work in the community, I hope to honor that gift and to shine a light for others, encouraging families to open their hearts and homes, and reminding the world that every child deserves a chance to be loved, seen, and guided. My journey is a testament to the power of love to transform a life, and I carry this gratitude not only in my heart but in every note I play, every song I write, and every life I am privileged to touch.

ONCE AGAIN, TO MY PARENTS, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME EVERYTHING I COULD EVER NEED AND MORE...

 

© KOBUS MULLER 2025. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material, including derivative works, without express and written permission from Kobus Muller is strictly prohibited.