Idol life has Musa running hard

ON A WINNNING NOTE: Musa Sukwene of eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, became the ninth winner of M-Net and Mzansi Magic's Idols SA.

ON A WINNNING NOTE: Musa Sukwene of eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, became the ninth winner of M-Net and Mzansi Magic's Idols SA.

Published Dec 2, 2013

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For the first time, season nine of Idols SA was not marred by a race row. And that is what makes it an even bigger win for the talented Musa Sukwene, who pipped Mr Popular, Brenden Ledwaba, in one of the closest contests yet. Debashine Thangevelo caught up with the humble 26-year-old to find out how he feels about his victory…

 

“MANIC” doesn’t even begin to describe Musa Sukwene’s schedule in the week preceding his win.

But all the hard work involving early morning calls and rehearsals was worth it for the man from eMalahleni, Mpumalanga. Although not one to wear his emotions on is sleeve, Sukwene counted his blessings when his name was called out by host ProVerb at the Idols SA finale last Tuesday.

And after only about three hours’ sleep, he found himself locked in a day of back-to-back media interviews on Wednesday.

Despite exhaustion threatening to consume him, he was his polite and sweet self, which explains that “teddy bear” moniker.

He laughs: “Yes, it has been a very tiring day.”

Reflecting on his emotional state, while wearing his poker face the night before, he says: “I was very anxious. It is just that my physical body doesn’t allow me to express anything else.”

He admits he has always had that calm disposition, saying “it’s the nature of how I am”.

Reflecting on his Idols journey since cracking the Top 10 list, and more specifically his gravitation to his comfort zone – singing traditional music – he explains: “I was given the option to do more pop. But I believe in understanding your voice and staying true to the person you are. And that is what I did. I went for music that related with South Africa more. And it suited my voice. I knew that if I did something I’m comfortable with, the people would be more comfortable too.

“I would say my Ringo songs were very memorable. It covered everyone from young to old and brought them together. And they loved it.”

With the experience of being in this competition, fine- tuning technical aspects and vocal flaws, it was a forewarning of what is to come. A perfect example was shooting the video for his single in just one gruelling day.

“To do it in a day wasn’t easy. But it was a beautiful experience. When you sit at home, it is easy to look at a video and go: ‘I can do that’. But it is very different when you are doing so and realise the work that goes into it.”

It is pretty hard to go wrong with a ballad and his choice of I Still Feel It was certainly a winner with the crowd.

Sukwene says the guys at Universal selected songs that complemented his style and vocals.

“When they gave me the song, I listened to it and fell in love. I knew it would be different and I wanted people to know I have other capa- bilities as a singer, that I can do traditional, pop, R&B and soul,” he notes.

What was apparent on Sukwene’s big night was his brotherly bond with runner-up Ledwaba.

He enlightens: “It is not just Brenden. The friendships started with everyone as soon as we got to the Idols house. I’m a very loving person. I loved Brenden and look at him as a brother. We built up that relationship. And I would love to have him and Bunny (Majaja) on my debut album.”

While tight-lipped about what amount of his winnings (that total R1 million) he will be sharing with Ledwaba, his big-hearted nature doesn’t go unnoticed.

Away from the limelight, he says he is a simple guy who is a doting dad to his five-year-old son. However, gone are the days of normality – at least for the next few months.

He agrees: “As I have come out of the competition, I want to keep the record streak I have held. I want to work with different producers and writers to give the album a rainbow feel.

“Idols has taught me how to keep my human nature intact. I have carried that with me. I have learnt to dress differently.”

In terms of the feel of his introductory release, Sukwene says it is going to have a little bit of everything: from soul to R&B to pop and a bit of traditional.

He laughs: “There is no time to rest…”

And, on that note, I said goodbye and let him get on with the rest of his day and his life-changing journey.

 

THE SONGS THAT CARRIED HIM THROUGH…

 

Top 10 Spectacular “Cheesy Tunes”: Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing. “Actions speak louder than words,” Unathi Msengana praised,

“… and the way you are making a grown woman sweat from that performance.”

 

Top 9 Spectacular “The Idols sing their Idols”: Ringo Madlingozi’s Ndiyagodola. Gareth Cliff com- mented: “You are very authentic and that song is right for you.”

 

Top 8 Spectacular “Movie Magic Anthems”: Brian McKnight’s Win.

 

Top 7 Spectacular “Joyful Noise”: R&B superstar Anthony Hamilton’s Pass Me Over. While Cliff hated it, Msengana praised: “I think what you did with one of Anthony Hamilton’s greatest anthems is you brought more life to it than he ever did.”

 

Top 6 Spectacular “Show- stopper”: Via Orlando by Vetkuk vs Mahoota, featuring Dr Malinga. “You were really, really great,” Gareth said. “This is you. You’re a genuine guy, a very authentic performer.” Randall Abrahams added: “In a performance like this, where the choreography is so good and there is so much going on, it is easy for the performer to get lost. But you were absolutely essential to what happened here.”

 

Top 5 Spectacular “Double the Pressure”: R Kelly’s Bump And Grind, and for the second round he chose Dave Hollister’s R&B hit Can’t Stay. “R. Kelly? And Dave Hollister?” Abrahams marvelled jokingly, “Son – turn down the lights.”

 

Top 4 Spectacular “Duets!”: Bob Marley’s Redemption Song and India Arie’s Thy Will Be Done.

“I love the ‘ragga thing’ you’ve got going on,” Gareth said approvingly.

 

Top 3 Spectacular “Third Time’s the Charm”: Inkomo by The Soil, Meropa, a remix of an old Mahotella Queens song by Oskido and Brothers of Peace and Love by Musiq Soulchild. Abrahams was impressed that Musa showed off his high notes and he recommended Musa select songs that will show off his full range if he made it to the top two.

 

Top 2 Spectacular “Final Showdown”: Madlingozi’s Ndiyagodola, Gaye’s Sexual Healing and his single, I Still Feel It.

Cliff commented. “Man, did that showcase your voice beautifully. This is going to be a very tight result.”

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