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We had a quick chat with Idols SA winner Karabo Mogane

Cape Town – After a long journey, 24-year-old Karabo Mogane from Mbombela was crowned South Africa’s new Idol.

The former Stellenbosch University student won the competition by securing the most votes.

We had a quick chat with Karabo about the Idols experience, his album and what’s the first thing he’d like to do when he gets a break.

How do you feel?

I still can’t believe it. It’s very humbling and I know for a fact that I would not have won without the people who voted for me and supported me. I am very grateful for them because I know they chose to keep me in the competition.

What was the best part of the Idol experience?

I identified myself as a musician and I learnt what kind of genre I would like to venture into. I also grew as a vocalist, when I look back at where I started and where I am right now I have grown tremendously as an artist. I have Idols to thank for that. The experience that they gave me, money can't buy. I feel very blessed.

At what point did it click that you could win SA Idol?

When you get that golden ticket there’s the aspiration of wanting to win. When we got to top five I started believing that there is a possibility. You begin to realise that you have a definite chance of winning when you reach the later stages of the competition.

Your debut album is set to come comes out faster than those of other Idols SA winners. Have the songs been completed? And when do you get to work on it?

We start working on it on Wednesday, I think I’ll start hearing the songs tomorrow if not in studio on Wednesday. Tomorrow I get to rest a bit and on Wednesday I’ll be good to go.

You were previously a student? Did you always know music would be your calling?

I decided a long time ago that I wanted to make this my career. But you know parents don’t always see it as a ‘real career’ and they come from a different time. It was very difficult for me to convince them at the time. I have always wanted to do music and I went on to study music.

Part of your prize package is opening for MiCasa, are you excited?

It’s awesome! They have been in the industry for a while now and I know that I am going to learn so much from them in terms of performance and style and how to interact from the crowd. I still have a lot to learn and I am looking forward to it. We are going to have tons of fun!

Is there a bit of advice you can give to the contestant who will enter for season 12?

If this is your dream hold on to it, and make sure that you own it and that you take responsibility of it. Don't let other people take responsibility of what is yours. If it happens that you fail you’re the one that should lift yourself up again. Fight hard and make sure that you work hard.

Throughout your whole journey, what's the one piece of advice from the judges that you got that you'll take with you that you think helped you the most?

There are two pieces of advice: one from Somizi, stay hungry and the opportunities are limitless. And the other one is from Randall to stay humble and to not let the fame go to my head. I really want to make sure that fame doesn’t go to my head and that I stay humble at all times.

How are you handling all the sudden fame?

(Laughs) Nothing has really changed for me, I am still the same person that I was before I entered the competition it’s just that more people know me now. I just make sure that whenever I encounter fans I make time for them, take a picture and let them know how much I appreciate them.

What the first thing you’re going to do when you get finally get a break?

I would love to go home, just to see my family and spend time with them. And have a holiday to just chill and relax and reconnect with myself again.  

Watch Karabo perform his single here:

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