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Chloe Kiley
Age: 24
From: Cape Town
Occupation: Performer
About: Chloe, who sports a larger-than-life tattoo on her thigh, was born in London but grew up in the Mother City.
She spent the past four years studying Drama and Musical Theatre at the Waterfront Theatre School and playing keyboard and singing in her my band, Enmity.
“The first time I really started using my voice as a performance tool was when I discovered the magic that is Musical Theatre four years ago,” she says. |
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Dominic Neill
Age: 20
From: Johannesburg
Occuptation: Entertainer
About: Dominic is from Honeydew and describes himself as an entertainer. “As clichéd as it sounds, it sums up who I am and what I believe in,” he explains.
“I’m definitely a people’s person and I enjoy meeting people and hearing their story and sharing mine.”
Dom’s mom is a former High Court prosecutor, “so academia was always a part of my life,” he says, but after only six months of studying towards B.Com degree in Management Science at the University of Stellenbosch in 2011, he knew academia wasn’t for him.
It was that experience and a chance encounter with a successful former Idol that persuaded Dom he was meant for a career as an entertainer. “I was fortunate enough to meet Graeme Watkins working at a restaurant last year and even more fortunately I've had the chance to get to know him as a musician and a friend,” Dom recounts.
“I would definitely have to say he has taught me what it takes to be not only a good musician, but the ultimate professional." |
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Khaya Mthethwa
Age: 25
From: Durban
Occupation: Singer
About: Despite his talent, Khaya’s singing career got off to a bumpy start. “At school we were all forced to audition for the school choir, so from there my teachers would ask me to sing and I never really wanted to!” Khaya recalls.
Fortunately for Idols both of Khaya’s parents are pastors, so he pretty much had to sing in church. “That is where I fell in love with music and I decided that this is what I wanted to do…”
Khaya’s parents started their church in the family living room, he recalls, so he grew up sharing his home with strangers as his parents took people in – experience that will come in handy in the Idols house.
“Sharing and caring was the name of the game,” says Khaya, and it also gave him a wonderful role model to look up to. “I look up my father, he is my hero,” Khaya says. “He taught me to be the man I am today.” |
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Melissa Alison
Age: 23
From: Port Elizabeth
Occupation: Musician
About: Making it to the Top 18 is Melissa's second shot at TV fame - in 2008 she also made the Top 12 in the M-Net competition High School Musical: Spotlight South Africa, which was a great preparation for Idols.
“I did the High School Musical TV show as well as the live show for three years,” she explains, “and in between I have worked with Danny K and Loyiso as well as the Bala Brothers.”
Melissa’s brother is also a musician and coming from a musical family, she says music was always her destiny. “I started singing in day care from the age of five!” she says.
“I also sang in church and at school socials. So it all came naturally to me – it’s been my destiny from the word Go!” |
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Monde Msutwana
Age: 30
From: Witbank
Occupation: Marketing Assistant and Radio Presenter
About: Monde started singing at an early age, around age six or seven, he says, “but only I took it seriously after I passed my Grade 12 and didn’t know what to study, and so I went to a music school.”
But he also studied Communications Management and got a job as a Marketing Assistant at a record company, to learn the music business from the inside, and he also moonlights as a standby presenter at Radio Platinum.
Monde says that when he has spare time, he tends to sleep it away because of his busy schedule.
Monde lists some of his musical heroes as Bobby McFerrin, Anthony Hamilton, R Kelly, Kenny “Babyface” Edmunds and Quincy Jones – “in an encompassing way, all athletes who strive to do their best in everything they do,” he says. |
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Nosipho Mngomezulu
Age: 22
From: Brakpan
Occupation: Farmer
About: Nosipho dreams of the bright lights in the big city, but she’s a farm girl at heart. “My parents have a farm which is a business on its own because we plant mielies, which is made into petrol,” she says, “and we also have sheep, cows, pigs, chickens and goats which we sell to butchers for meat.”
But Nosipho won’t find the transition to TV fame too difficult. “I can adapt to different circumstances but I can still be true to myself,” she says.
“To cut a long story short I am fun to be around. And the rest you have to find out for yourself!” |
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Obakeng Ramaboa
Age: 26
From: Munsieville
Occupation: Singer
About: Before making it to the Top 18, Obakeng spent his entire life in the small village of Munsieville, where he lives with his mom, stepdad and two siblings, who are still in school.
At 21, Obakeng became a father which, he says, made it difficult for him to follow his musical dreams, “because now I had a mouth to feed”, making a living as a backing vocalist, selling songs and doing studio sessions for other artists.
“I tried going the ‘safe’ route with my career choices and even thought about doing music part-time,” he admits, “but the songs in my heart and the musician in me always made sure I come back home. I have always known I wanted to sing. Nothing else on earth is as fulfilling to me.”
Obakeng honours his parents for encouraging him not to give up. “They have this ‘never say die’ attitude,” he says. “They always found a way to make it work in very difficult situations.” |
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Shekhinah Donnell
Age: 17
From: Durban
Occupation: Student
About: Shekhinah from Durban was particularly nervous to face the Idols Judges this year, fearing that she let them down last year when she flaked out at Sun City.
“I can’t even explain to you how apologetic I’m feeling,” she assured Randall Abrahams in Auditions.
“This year I’m doing it all the way,” she promised. And so far she has kept her promise – “You’re already going to be a household name and it’s only been a couple of episodes!” a gushing Gareth Cliff praised her during this year’s Hell Week at Sun City.
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Simphiwe Gwegwe
Age: 23
From: Port Nolloth
Occupation: Performer
About: It took guts and determination for Simphiwe just to get to audition for Idols.
He took a bus from Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape to Johannesburg for the Sandton auditions but arrived too late, so he had to find accommodation for a week and make his way to Durban a week later for the second rounds of auditions. But it was all worth it when he became the only performer from the Northern Cape to make it to the Top 18.
Simphiwe reckons he inherited that quality of determination from his mother. “My mother is a single parent and she raised us all by herself,” he says.
“Me and my family are very close and my mom is my best friend. She’s a community activist, so the house is always full of people, and she also has three choirs, so there’s always some activity taking place in the household, whether it’s people coming to visit or something to do with music.” So a love of music has always been ingrained in Simphiwe. |
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Tshidi Tenyane
Age: 28
From: Thokoza
Occupation: Jewelry Designer and Musician
About: Competing in Idols might be a bit of a rest for Tshidi. Before Idols she worked as a freelance jewelry designer, did the admin at her sister’s daycare centre, did some TV presenting, tutored her nieces and held down a full-time job working in her church’s music department. And now she’s hoping to add full-time musician to that list…
Thsidi says that the singing bug first bit her when she performed in a school concert at age 13. “Everyone was cheering for me and I remember very well that I never wanted that feeling to ever go away!” she laughs. |
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