The first The Voice SA champion shares news on his soon-to-be-released single and reflects on his “surreal” win.
|||RICHARD Stirton entered The Voice SA with “zero expectations” and walked away with the title.
The blond 22-year-old from Cape Town is as unassuming as they come.
With about three hours of sleep after his win on Sunday night, Stirton is adjusting to the rock star lifestyle.
He says: “When I entered, I just wanted to give it my all and see what happens.”
Part of the reason why he decided against harbouring any hopes this time is because he entered another competition a while back and “it didn’t go too well”.
Revisiting the start of his The Voice SA journey, he reveals: “I was studying BCom Management at UCT. In fact, I was studying for a test when my girlfriend messaged me and said: ‘Rich, I got a really good feeling about this… you have to enter.’”
His raspy voice and effortless ability to hit the high and low notes, earned him a huge fan in coach Kahn Morbee, who, at the blind auditions, said he wanted to take him to the top.
Well, he kept his word.
Interestingly, Stirton never pursued music with as much gusto as he is now. In fact, he was a very enthusiastic sportsman, playing cricket until he injured his back and had to give it up.
He admits: “I was 17 and performing a cabaret on stage for the first time at Rondebosch Boys’ High. The feedback was really great. That was when I felt I could do this.”
When it comes to his musical style, it’s hard to pigeonhole him into a specific genre.
Stirton offers: “I’ve been struggling to put a genre on it. I don’t know. It’s quite alternative, like indie rock.”
Throughout the competition, Stirton remained poker-faced. When asked if he ever felt anxious, especially when he was up against Gavin Edwards in the finale, he says: “Do I not look nervous? Well, deep down inside, I’m freaking out. I do get nervous, but I prefer to use it constructively instead of allowing it to override me.”
On how he feels about being the first winner of The Voice SA, he offers: “I don’t know. I listened and waited for the longest pause I have ever had in my life. I could have got a cup of tea, come back, wandered around the stage and chatted to Kahn. It was hectic and surreal. I just remember all this confetti and everyone jumping around me.”
He adds: “Having a guy like that (Kahn) believe in you is big praise and really means a lot.”
In the meantime, he is in discussion with Universal Music to release his single, followed by a full-length album.
Stirton confirms: “The single is coming out in two weeks. The album will take a little more time. We haven’t negotiated as yet, but I would like to be as creatively involved as possible. I’m hoping that, in working with the musicians and the guys they have there, it will help a lot in the creative process and also when brainstorming with them.”
As far as the album goes, he is hoping for a collaboration with his coach Morbee as well.
While Stirton prepares to make his stamp on the music world, Zoë Modiga from #TeamLira and Thembeka Mnguni from #TeamKaren are also celebrating after being awarded contracts with Universal Music.
