Richard Stirton pleases all with his winning voice

AFTER winning the first season of The Voice SA, Richard Stirton went on to have a successful year with his debut album, Middle Ground.

How much has your life changed since winning Season One of The Voice SA?

It has completely changed. I am now doing music full-time and I am playing at gigs every week. I have had a massive shift because I am no longer studying, so now I wake up every day to either practise, rehearse or prepare for a gig, as well as essentially running my own business.

What has been change for you?

The travelling and being away from my family and loved ones for extended periods of time. Family is very important to me, so to be seeing them less and less because of all the travel and work I do has been quite an adjustment.

Looking back at The Voice, what were some of the challenges/ difficulties you faced?

Dealing with the pressure. The Voice is an amazing competition and it was an unforgettable production to be a part of, but the fact that you prepare for an entire week for a two-minute performance was quite overwhelming. The pressure of live TV is a real thing, trust me.

Another very difficult part of the show was saying goodbye to fellow contestants on a weekly basis. Everybody was giving their best, so it was hard to see people suffer huge disappointments, especially because we had all grown so close.

You released your debut album last year titled Middle Ground. What was the concept behind the sound of the album?

The idea of the album was to have as an organic sound as possible which stayed true to my more alternative musical tendencies, but to also have commercial sensibility so that the tracks could sit comfortably on the radio.

We wanted the songs to have a range of sounds and styles, but that at the same time have the same identifiable core sound.

Which song on the album your favourite?

It’s difficult to say. They all have something special about them and I think because of the range of song types, they each evoke different emotions.

Did you expect

the

biggest

is

What Tears Me Most to reach No 1 on iTunes?

I was obviously hoping it would but I didn’t expect it to, especially not as fast as it did and to hold the top spot for as long as it did. I’m super grateful to all the people who supported the track and the album, and me in general..

What did putting this album together teach you about yourself ?

That I have a helluva to learn.

Are you working on any new music and, if so, when can your fans expect its release?

Yes I am, they can expect it when it’s ready. We’ve only just released the first album so it won’t be too soon.

Who would be your dream collaboration?

With Ed Sheeran and Bon Iver on the same stage.

Who do you draw inspiration from, and which musician do you admire?

I’ve been binge-watching Ed Sheeran interviews and performances for the past month. He is a freak of nature.

The new season of The Voice SA is under way; what advice do you have for hopefuls? Back yourself, back your sound, believe that you have put in the work to get you to the top. There are always lots of amazing voices on these shows, and it is so easy to get caught up in the competition and to forget why you started singing in the first place. Always remember to serve the song, connect with the song, the message and try and communicate the message of the song as best as possible.

What has been a highlight of your career so far?

Waking up and playing music every day.