R&B and Afro-soul singer Donald continues to make waves in the music industry. He chats to us about his continuous rise in the music circles.
By: Fundiswa Nkwanyana
1. I am just a normal guy who uses his talent to make a living. I was blessed with a captivating voice that has enabled me to make a living while also mesmerising the ladies. Apart from being an award-winning musician, I am just a humble guy trying to get by.
2. Music has always been a part of my life. My mother is a choral music master and I naturally gravitated towards it from a young age. I wasn’t surprised when people told me that I could sing, because music was a part of me even before I fully understood it.
3. Being an upcoming R&B singer in South Africa was hard. The R&B genre is not big in the country. So I knew that if I wanted to make it, I had to add an African touch to it. I fused house, Afro-pop and R&B together, giving birth to my distinctive sound that is widely celebrated today. It was not easy, and I am glad that I never gave up.
4. The late Michael Jackson’s white gloves inspired my iconic red microphone. As I carved out my image, I realised that I needed a signature statement piece that would be memorable, just like Michael’s gloves. The red microphone ties in well with my image and my fans love it so much that it even has a life of its own! I shot a documentary titled Behind The Red Mic, and The Red Mic Xperience DVD will come out on Valentine’s Day.
5. I am humbled by the growth of my journey. I never thought that I would be a successful R&B singer in South Africa and sometimes, I still can’t believe it. I love what I do and will continue growing because I don’t want to disappoint my fans.
