Dominic Adriaanse
RICHARD STIRTON feels on top of the world after winning The Voice SA, but still can’t believe his new reality.
A Rondebosch resident and BCom management student at UCT, Stirton, 22, beat James Freedom, from KwaZulu-Natal, walking away with a prize package worth more than R800 000 and the title of first winner of the music competition.
Stirton’s win was not without drama. M-Net’s voting platform crashed on Sunday night, and the results from the previous week were used instead.
Sealing the victory with a strong performance after a few weeks of sub-par offerings, and saves by audience votes and coach Kahn Morbee kept him in the competition, he admitted.
Stirton had his heart set on playing professional cricket, but a back injury put paid to his plans. Instead, he picked up a guitar after hearing American Idol winner David Cook perform Billy Jean. That changed his trajectory.
Stirton said: “I’ve never wanted anything more in my life than to make this dream my reality. There was never a moment I didn’t feel it could be my last performance, and to win has been unbelievable.”
He said that Morbee was inspirational, teaching him more than just how to use his voice.
Morbee said he embraced the show and working with the contestants he was mentoring, but warned the platform was a stepping stone to the harsh reality of the music industry.
“I wanted voices that resembled my diverse record collection. Richard’s had all the characteristics, and is very distinctive. There’s hard work ahead, but he knows what he wants and what his good at, which is important,” said Morbee.
The Voice SA has been fully embraced, he says, as live performances are what fans appreciate, and the show has been a breath of fresh air on South African screens.
Stirton feels he could not have achieved his victory without support from his brothers, Gregg, 37, and Craig, 19, his cheerleader mother Jane and father James.
Stirton’s father said he encouraged his children to strive for their dreams, and would always be there to guide and support his son. His mother, however, worries he isn’t getting enough sleep with so much happening so fast, and she still wants to clean up after him.
The new winner will soon meet his new record label, Universal Music South Africa, to discuss his future.
Talks are on for the next season of The Voice SA, said Morbee.