Our Brenden bares his soul

GRASKOP – Even though Brenden Ledwaba did not win this year, Lowvelders are very proud to have the youngest finalist in the top two of the ninth season of SA Idols, coming from Mpumalanga.

I am sure many people are wondering what is next for this young, talented artist. Is he going to remain in the Lowveld or is he going look for greener pastures elsewhere? Lowvelder asked Brenden a few questions to find out more about his personal life.

What are your highlights of Idols?

Definitely the first audition, however, I do not think that I have ever been that nervous.

Where did you get your passion for music?

Music has always been a huge passion in our family, and I grew up with it, you might say that I was born with a natural talent.

Who is your favourite judge?

Gareth Cliff is my favourite, he is straight- forward. He doesn’t sugarcoat, if someone is talented he says it, and the same goes for the not-so-talented.

Did you sing in a choir when you were in school?

I practiced with the choir, but among the boys, it wasn’t very popular, so I dropped out. When I attended Hoërskool Sybrand van Niekerk in Sabie, it was no different.

How was the support from your family?

That was the most amazing thing I have ever seen, they carried me and motivated me throughout the whole journey.

When was the first time you sang in front of a crowd?

I think it was when I was nine years old, at some anniversary in Graskop.

Do you write your own music, and how many songs do you have of your own?

I love writing my own songs, I have written a number of them, and plan on having many more. I write them according to my life experiences.

What is your favourite music genre?

I like popular music very much, because most new music comes from the younger generation, and we are the future.

Do you have any plans of moving away from Graskop?

Obviously the bigger provinces offer much more opportunities, but I will visit Graskop often, as I consider myself as a bit of a mommy’s boy. I plan on moving to Gauteng soon.

What makes you different than any other Idol?

I am young, I think music has evolved and the younger generation makes a big difference.

What are your hobbies?

I really like singing and producing my own music.

Do you have a girlfriend?

I do not have a girlfriend at the moment, we broke up during Idols because it got a bit too much, I am also not looking for one at the moment.

What musical instruments can you play, and have you played in a band before?

I play the bass guitar, piano and drums. I have played in a band with my friends before, it was called Folfenda.

When you sang at Madiba’s memorial service, how did that feel?

That was quite something, it might be one of the highlights of my life, although it was very overwhelming and intimidating.

What do you do before you get on stage?

I try not to think about it to much, I rather focus on being prepared. Normally before

I go on stage, I sing to calm myself down.

What motivates you?

The idea of success motivates me, but being in the top two and not winning, motivated me even more.

The most important thing I learnt from that, is to stand up once you fall down, and believe in God to help you.Who is your hero?

I envy people who make a success of their lifes and get to the top. If I have to make an exception, it would probably be Jamie Foxx and Justin Timberlake.

What do you want to say to your fans/followers?

I want to thank all my fans for supporting me and getting me into the top two, and believing in me. Go after your dreams and no matter how many times you stumble, or how hard you fall, you just have to get up and continue, it is worth it.