BP - We all know that the media doesn’t always get
all their info correct, what is the strangest thing you have read about
yourself that wasn’t true?
JT - Well this one is quite a while ago, but they all count.
😊 I once landed in Cape Town, only to find that on every single lamp post
there was to be seen, was my face cropped on someone's tuxedo'd body, with a
heading that read, "Idol - Just Married." Needless to say, what followed wasn't all
that pretty.
BP - You have quite a large following on social
media, especially Twitter. What is the most memorable tweet you have received,
or been tagged in?
JT - It would have to be when I collaborated with Jackie Jackson. He was extremely hands on and tweeted me more than once. The day we released our track, he tweeted how awesome it was working with me and Twitter literally blew up. Was quite something. Just something about having worked with a 'Jackson' that was extra special.
BP - Everybody starts their working careers off
small, what was your very first job?
JT - I tried my hand at waitering, but that lasted for one day. A lady sent her milkshake back 4 times and that's when I decided mid service that she could take her milkshake and.......
BP - The South African Music industry is a cut
throat industry. What encouraging words do you have for any aspiring musicians
starting out??
JT - Pretty much to
practice as hard as what you can. Refine your craft and take it step by step.
The mistake many up and coming artists make is that they think far too big far
too soon. Do the ground work first and the rest will follow. Also, never stop
loving what you do.
BP - In your line of work you get to work with a
wide variety of people. Who was your most memorable?
JT - As mentioned
above, working with Jackie Jackson was a true honour! I also got to collaborate
with akon on my second album, 'the colour red' which was also rather
amazing. Another special collab was with
the one and only Hotstix Mabuse on my single, 'goodnight moon' where he played
a Sax solo. Was extremely special to say the least.
BP - You recently released your own rendition of
Lucas Maree's "Droomvrou". What drew you to the song?
JT - Well, as most of
you might know, my dad was Afrikaans and my mother is English. As my brother
and I grew up with English as our first language, my dad begged me for years to
experiment a bit in Afrikaans. DROOMVROU was the first Afrikaans track my dad
ever introduced me to. Since his passing just over a year ago now, I thought it
to be a fitting tribute to my pops. My whole shift into doing more Afrikaans is
thanks to him, and also very much for him.
BP - Every big star starts somewhere small. Tell us
about the very first time you performed infront of people.
JT - When I was only
10, I went to a Corporate function with my father, where a Kaapse Klopse group
were the entertainment for the evening. In true 'dad' style, he got me on to
the stage at some point of the evening to sing the national anthem with them.
After hearing me sing, they decided to adopt me as there new lead singer and
asked if I would front them for the Annual Kaapse Klopse event that took place
at the green point stadium later that year.
Completely petrified, I took on the challenge and sang, from
a distance to a packed green point stadium. This was my very first epic stage
experience.
BP - Even the biggest stars have somebody they
would love to meet. Given the opportunity, who would you like to meet?
JT - Well as a
musician, I would love to meet Chris Martin. Would love to pick his brain when
it comes to writing music and better yet, even get to write something with him.
Coldplay always remains a firm favourite of mine.
BP - Most musicians have shows or venues that are
special to them. What venue or show has been your favourite thus far in your
career?
JT - This question
takes me straight back to Zim. A show I once did there called, 'rock down
Harare' must've been a crowd of about 7000 people and was simply just the best
energy ever. Love the Zimbo's.
BP - With the seemingly infinite catalogue of
classic songs now available, which classic song do you wish that you had
written or performed?
JT - Let's go with -
Eric Clapton - I shot the sheriff. Great song, and can be done in so many
styles. Also, royalties galore. 😊
BP - Now, onto a more personal note for those
superfans out there> Where did you grow up, and what was it like growing up
where you did?
JT - I was born in
Johannesburg, and lived in the randburg area until the age of 10. We then moved
to Cape Town and I grew up there until the age of 17 until we had to move back
to Jozi because of my dads business ventures. After Martic, I moved straight
back to CT at the age of 18 and stayed with my brother in Tamboerskloof.
While growing up in CT, we lived in Gordon's Bay and in
Stellenbosch. I absolutely loved every minute growing up in Both of these
areas, and explored every Nook and cranny. I do feel that nothing in the world
can compare to the beauty of what the Cape has to offer, and it will certainly
be where my heart lies forever.
BP - Did you always see yourself in the
entertainment industry, or did you have different dreams as a child?
JT - Well, gymnastics
was pretty much my whole life growing up. I achieved my springbok colours by
the age of 15 and trained for just about 6 hours a day, everyday. The dream was
of course to take this all the way and possibly partake in the 2004 Olympic
Games.
Those plans changed when I injured my knee and had to make
the horrible decision of calling it quits. I did however Pursue my royal
eliminations in singing/music throughout school and achieved my grade 8 by the
time I was in standard 8.
I never had a solid plan to be honest, but it turned out
that I needed a grade 8 in music to even audition to make it in to the UCT
music school, and that is exactly where that grade 8 lead me.
The rest is history.
BP - What is the next big thing in your career?
JT - I have recently
signed a deal with Sony select and am in the process of creating my very first Afrikaans album. Still speaking
the language like a true soutie, but getting better with practice. 😊
This is of course a huge privilege and and a journey I am
enjoying so much thus far. Will of course continue writing and recording my
English stuff, but at this stage of my life and career, music is music
regardless of what language it might be sung in. You never know, I little trip
abroad to enter the voice might also be on the cards. 😊
BP - How has your life changed with the advent of
fame?
JT - I'm not famous.
Justin Bieber is famous 😜
BP - What has been the biggest challenge you have
faced in life? And how did you overcome it?
JT - The biggest
challenge to date, is having lost my father. He truly was the most incredible
man I knew and taught me so many valuable life lessons. Everyday spent without
him is a challenge and I don't foresee that ever changing. I can however say,
that the loss of my father, has only forced me to work harder and push myself
to extremes that I never would have done otherwise. This in a sense is the
greatest coping mechanism. Reason being, is that I know I am keeping him proud.
BP - With so many Musicians and Actors crossing
career paths, have you ever considered acting?
JT - I have actually
been offered a role here and there. But to be honest, music is my chosen craft
and my chosen passion. If I were offered an epic movie role though, that would
be a different story. 😁
BP - What has your most memorable encounter with a
fan?
JT - Would have to be
when I confronted a fan that used to attend almost every show I did. Only to
discover that this fan of mine was deaf.
Her reasoning, which she wrote down for me, is that I was the only artist she
could hear without hearing. She wrote that she could feel my soul when singing.
That to me was an extra extra special profound moment. Will cherish it forever.
BP - Everyone harbours a pet peeve. What is yours?
JT - Ignorance.
People that argue knowing that their argument has no relevance.
BP - Final question! Team Cap or Team Iron Man
JT - Team iron man!!
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