Music is no passing season for this songstress
Glenwood's Autumn Eberle has her sights set on a career in music.
QUIETLY confident and intensely passionate, Durban Girls’ College pupil and Glenwood resident, Autumn Eberle, lives, eats, sleeps and breathes music. “I’ve always sung and am always singing,” admits Autumn who says that there are family holiday videos of her as a child belting out a tune. “I love singing, I sing all the time, whether I am sad or excited, it is how I express myself,” she said.
Autumn joined the school choir when she was in junior primary school and sang in groups and duets. Encouraged by a teacher, Autumn began singing solos in at concerts and during music lessons when she was in Grade 5, and has never looked back. “Initially I was nervous to sing solo but hearing other people tell me that I have a nice voice and having confidence in my own voice helped me get over those nerves,” she said.
Singing soprano for the school choir and alto for the KZN Youth Choir has given Autumn a wider range. This range is further broadened by the genre of music that Autumn sings. “For eisteddfods and competitions I sing classical songs. It is very formal and I wear a uniform. When performing for friends and family I sing jazz, pop, contemporary and country and it’s more casual.” Autumn is determined not to be boxed into one genre at this stage of her musical career. “I’m all rounded,” she said smiling, “I haven’t been told that I am terrible in any genre.”
With a steady voice that is effortlessly controlled, clear and crisp, Autumn’s singing is captivating.
Autumn has taken her music to the greater public, performing at Zacks and Corner Cafe in Durban and admits that she is honoured to be paid for her talent.
“I like my own voice, it’s different. If I like my voice, others would too,” she said, her bubbly, vivacious personality coming to the fore. However, when she sings she becomes serious and really gets into it. “I am so passionate about singing that I give it my all.” “Adjudicators have said that when Autumn sings, she really understands what what she is singing which makes it more meaningful and honest,” explained Autumn’s mum, Cathy Eberle, who has been to every one of Autumn’s competitions and concerts.
“My mum is always there with a bottle of water, I know that if I forget my words she is there to remind me,” said Autumn adding, “in our family we are all very different people but we always pull together to support each other. My friends are surprised that my parents are so supportive of me pursuing a career in music.”
While Autumn listens to all sorts of music, her favourite singers are Lorde who she describes as having a very pure and natural voice and Christina Aguilera. “I sit in my room for hours listening to music. I am so glad I have found something that means so much to me,” she said. After completing her matric next year, Autumn plans to study music at the University of KwaZulu Natal while continuing to sing on the side. “I really want to sing and see where it goes,” she said, knowing full well that the music business is tough to crack into, but Autumn has a Plan B. “I started off dancing, so I can teach ballet or music. I am also interested in music in films so that is also something I can get into. There is a lot I can do with music,” she said.
“I also take drama and would love to be on stage. My comfort zone is chilled with a guitar so being on stage performing in a musical would be a very cool challenge,” she said. “There’s nothing much to me. I go out with my friends, I do normal things. I haven’t done anything spectacular. I’m so grateful that I’ve found something that I am so good at, I’m so involved in and I’m so passionate about. If nothing works out for me, I’ll still have my music to get me through,” she said with a smile.
