Idols glory beckons for KwaDukuza’s CeeJay Canvass [Watch]
"Music is my life, so I am going to give it everything when I am on that stage!"
KwaDukuza singer CeeJay Canvass is a rising star, recently claiming a top 10 spot in the South African Idols competition.
The 25-year-old, whose real name is Sthembiso Ntshangase, has been singing as long as he can remember following the influence of his parents, who were in a band together.
He was schooled in Doringkop and Inanda, during which time he formed his first a capella band ‘The Canvass’ with three friends in 2013.
It was his first real taste of doing live performances and the group did gigs at weddings and school functions until they broke up in 2019 – but CeeJay still honours their time together with his stage name.
He then turned solo, and this year’s Idols competition is his third in a row after failing to gain a golden ticket in 2020, but narrowly missing the top 16 last year.
“I am so grateful just to make it to the top 10 but now I am working hard to go as far as I can to make my name in this competition over the next nine weeks,” he said.
The gruelling knockout process whittled down 15 000 hopefuls into the 10 that remain, with one contestant knocked out every Sunday going forward until the final.
With a week in between high pressure performances, CeeJay spends his time in a Johannesburg studio honing his covers of popular AfroPop and AfroSoul music.
“I am a songwriter and would like to perform my own music one day. In Idols we sing covers and some of my favourite musicians to listen to and cover are Blaq Diamond and Sjava,” he said.
Although respectful of the competition this year, CeeJay is confident in his own abilities and hopes to perform well for his friends, family and fans in the coming weeks.
“Music is my life, so I am going to give it everything when I am on that stage!”
KwaDukuza mayor Lindile Nhaca threw her support behind CeeJay, urging KwaDukuza residents to vote, and you can do the same.
Voting is open after the Sunday performance until the following Tuesday, so if CeeJay makes it through this week, the next votes will be due by September 20.
To support our local star, SMS 5 to 37400, by using the DSTV app or on the Idols SA website. Each SMS vote costs R1.50.
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