By Lindsey Kin

Blue confessed, “I always thought the nicest girls were in the choir, so when I was a youngster, I joined the choir and then I began to actually enjoy it.” He said that at the age of 15, when his interest for music began, his taste in music was not at all ‘tasteful’, but his sister’s predilection for good tunes was. He recalls borrowing but not returning two of her CDs, the Joshua Tree album by U2 and the Sting album, Fields of Gold. “I would ‘sommer’ write down the lyrics of the songs and by accident, some girls at school found the lyrics and they thought I wrote them and unmistakably thought I was a very ‘deep guy’.”

For Blue, music tells great stories and stories evoke emotion, allowing people to relate. “The musicians I love to listen to are those that tell stories that I can relate to and they do that by using great melodies to make beautiful songs. This is what I try and do when I make music” – and making music is what he loves and counts himself lucky that he is able to do this for a living. “For me, I have always wanted to be a musician and I have always wanted to make a living out of it. And being where I am now gives me that opportunity to play music full time, create new things and make a difference somewhere in the process.”

With viewers at home falling in love with Blue’s angelic voice, it was his good nature, humble beginnings and big heart that South African fans respected – and now, one year down the line, Blue continues to do the work of a good Samaritan by contributing positively to communities, ensuring children are kept off the streets with sustainable activities. “When things like winning Idols happen to you, things need to get bigger, especially in the community. Having been given a bigger platform, I began the Elvis Blue music academy, which works hand in hand with organisations that are already established in a community and identify kids who need a chance, and we start teaching kids how to play musical instruments.“ When the children graduate from the academy, each receives a musical instrument, setting them on the path to hopefully becoming employed by the music academy itself, to teach other kids. Music practitioners go into the academy once a week and teach. Blue said, “The kids are in their own area so they don’t have to travel far to receive lessons. It happens right there where they are and they are surrounded by teachers who want the best for them.” Although his first love is music, little Elvis Blue wanted to be a teacher when he grew up. “My grandpa was a teacher and he was a very good man. At school, I had some very good teachers and some very bad ones. And I saw the effect of this could have on a child.” With the academy, he feels that if good teachers who believe in the kids and give them a chance are employed, “you never know what can happen”. Blue is currently funding the school himself. “The more sponsors that do get on-board in the near future, will mean more teachers can be employed, more kids can be taught, and the more instruments can be bought.”

Since winning Idols last year, Blue described his journey thus far as strange – but not in a bad way. “Things have taken an extremely long time to happen for me, about 12 years, which is when I started composing music full time. And then, in a space of three months, everything changed, which is a very strange thing. It has just been the most amazing journey for me, doing the things that I love and being able to share this with people. This is a privilege.” Having recently celebrated his six-year wedding anniversary in July – sorry ladies, Blue is off the market – he explained that before, he was always a musician, but not a successful one. “The win has had a big impact on our lives, but at the same time, this is something that [my wife and I] have been working towards and dreaming of. In a sense, the impact has been very big and there are a lot more responsibilities and I think there is a lot more pressure to sustain what I [now] have.”

Having recorded most of his Elvis Blue album before the Idols competition, he explained, “People forget about you very quickly once you’re out, so you have to do things equally as fast and make sure you have a product ready – that’s where the album came from. Two years before Idols, I began to work on the Elvis Blue, album and fortunately for me, I had a much bigger platform to work on than originally anticipated.” Blue said he never in his wildest dreams expected the album to go gold as quickly as it did. “This is all due to all the people who spent their hard-earned money.” His dream has always been the same, “to make and create beautiful music, to perform this music for large audiences and to hopefully sell albums during the process”.

With his self-effacing background making him the person he is today, he concludes: “I hope my background is solid enough to sustain me in the long run.” One thing’s for sure, the sky is the limit and Blue’s dream to carry on doing what he is doing, will be one that takes him above the musical clouds and beyond.

Image caption:
Elvis Blue