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The Voice hopeful wants to inspire others

Johannesburg - After watching The Voice on TV a few times, Amanda Faku became the reality talent show’s “biggest fan”.

“When I heard it was coming to South Africa, I was so excited about it,” she said.

But she missed the first local season of the show because she wasn’t aware of the auditions.

Faku subsequently kept an eye on Google to make sure she didn’t miss the dates of the season 2 auditions for The Voice SA.

“I found out that there would be auditions in Port Elizabeth in October last year. I then made a video of myself singing and sent it to them,” she said.

The 23-year-old accountancy student at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University said she regarded The Voice SA as an opportunity to follow her dreams of being a singer and performer.

“I started singing at the age of six in church and school choirs. I enjoyed it so much that I realised I have a talent to sing,” she said proudly.

She said she wrote her own songs and used her garage as a “rehearsal room” with her friends.

Asked who inspired her most in the music industry, Faku singles out the 21-year-old Toronto native Daniel Caesar, whose debut album Praise Break was ranked among the 20 best R&B albums of 2014 by Rolling Stone magazine.

“He makes music not because he wants to make sales, but because he loves music. Luckily his career bloomed, which is a good thing,” she said.

“I am from a township where most of the young people want to be in the music industry. We love making music. Being on The Voice SA is rare for a kid from a township in Port Elizabeth,” she said.

Asked what she planned to do if she won the contest, Faku said she regarded the occasion to participate in The Voice SA as a great start to show the world her talent.

Winning would open opportunities to inspire others through music and make them realise that “everything is possible”.

“I will fully focus on my music career – because it is what I do best – and study part time. I will also make sure that I have shows all over South Africa and abroad,” said Faku.

She has visualised herself making her own albums, reflecting her melodic story rooted in her authentic self. “I live music and I love what I do. I would like to have my own band,” she said.

Asked how she would describe her first performance on The Voice SA, she admitted that it “was a little scary”, but added that it was also exciting.

She credited her family for supporting her, saying she was grateful that they knew and understood her love for music and what it meant to her.

She will be featured in The Voice SA today on M-Net (DStv 101) at 17:30. 

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