A DURBAN chiropractor, Kyle Deutschmann, and a worship leader from Pietermaritzburg, Vincent Bones, are KwaZulu-Natal’s last hopes in the 10th season of M-Net’s Idols.
They are holding thumbs that the live show and public vote on Sunday will see them go through to the top six of the contest that offers the winner a recording contract, R700 000 cash, a car and other prizes, including musical instruments and clothing.
The remaining seven contestants are rehearsing for the live performance, but only six will get to sing for the fans’ votes after one is axed at the start of the show.
Deutschmann, 27, of Ashley in Pinetown, who made the Top 32 two seasons ago, is planning to perform John Newman’s Love Me Again. He wants to win the contest and record an album of original material, having tasted some success by collaborating on Alive, a track with new rap act Cassper Nyoves.
“I have been loving the Idols experience. It has been an amazing journey, full of different challenges,” he said.
Should he not win, he hopes the crown will go to 29-year-old Bones.
“He has the whole package when it comes to what the public are looking for. They (fans) relate to him and his story, and the man can truly sing,” he said.
Bones has Pluto, a hit for DJ Clock and Beatenberg, as his song choice for Sunday.
He lived on the streets in Sunnyside, Pretoria, aged 12, after he left Eldorado Park in Gauteng when his mother and uncle died. A stint in Boys’ Town turned his life around and he works as a worship leader and music director at the Eagle Christian Centre in Pietermaritzburg, where he lives with his wife and two sons.
“If I win, my goal is to make a mark on the music industry that will last at least five generations,” he said.
“I want to break new ground in music, produce new sounds.
“Most of all, I want to give people hope that life is worth living.
“If I don’t win, I will use the opportunities that Idols has given me to pursue my dream.”
The other finalists are Nelspruit’s Bongi Silinda, Durbanville’s Demi Lee, Lize Mynhardt of Stellenbosch, London Louw of Cape Town and Musa Mashiane of eMalahleni (Witbank).