‘Music was my escape’

After emerging the winner of a few months ago, Cape Town’s Craig Lucas is back in the spotlight with his debut album, writes

CRAIG Lucas went from being an introvert to owning the stage and stealing the hearts of South Africans when he won The Voice SA this year.

This talented 20-something singer grew up in Elsies River, Cape Town.

He says: “I come from a huge family – my mom is one of 13 children and my dad one of nine. So, growing up, family played a huge role in my life… I was always the quietest kid, though. I was deeply introverted. Music was my escape. It was how I dealt with things. I could spend an entire day locked in my bedroom with my headphones on.

“I was always very unsure about how I felt about music and doubted whether it was the right move for me (but) I loved singing for as long as I can remember. I would be singing all the time but, as soon as I had an audience, I would freeze. I was mortified of singing in public.”

After soaking-up the excitement of the first season of The Voice SA, he decided to throw his hat into the ring for the second-season auditions.

“I have always been the biggest fan of the show, of how the show coached and nurtured talent,” he says. “I then decided, given my love for music but inability to get on a stage and sing, that the show was going to be my way to get better – even if I didn’t win, I knew I would leave a better performer.”

I think it would be safe to say he has now overcome his stage fright. And his mum gave her stamp of approval.

He says: “She was hesitant at first. She encouraged me to finish my education first. Luckily I graduated just two weeks before The Voice live rounds started. Her seeing me on that stage every week convinced her that this is something I could do. She is my biggest supporter now.”

Aside from winning, he learnt a few valuable lessons.

“I learnt that you have to be yourself. The music industry is saturated with artists trying to be like other artists. A lot of the feedback I got on also the show was that people liked me because I was a little different.”

And it is this “difference” that is imbued in the songs of his debut album, Restless.

“The title was inspired by a number of things,” he explains. “We had a very tight deadline and my team worked incredibly hard to (create) a high-quality product and so the title honours my amazing team. It was also inspired by just being young and restless and chasing my dreams.”

Of his single, I Said This, he says: “This was for my fans and everyone who supported me on The Voice. I wanted to say thank you to them and this song did it for me. It is a feel-good song and reflects my state of being after winning the show.”

He has also taken painstaking measures to ensure diversity on the pop album. “I wrote with Bubele Booi and David Balshaw, Dominic Neill and Jethro Tait. I co-wrote six of the nine original tracks on the album. Some were incomplete songs that I had written that we (took) into studio and finished and some were started from scratch with another writer.”

On the feel he wanted his introductory album to have, Lucas says: “I wanted it to sound different, fresh and exciting. I didn’t want to pigeonhole myself into one specific genre. I wanted the music to have substance and to introduce me as an artist and not just a singing talent show winner.”

And looking at the artists he admires – Shekhinah, Jimmy Nevis, AKA and Timo ODV – his approach to pushing boundaries is understandable.

And the track he is relaxing to these days, is Lorde’s Perfect Places. And, fittingly, he has certainly found his perfect place in the South African music scene.