City has own ‘Bieber’ if you can’t make tour

DURBAN will miss out when global pop star Justin Bieber tours South Africa next year – but no worries: the city has its own Bieber.

Andrew Sutton, 16, said the Canadian had inspired him to follow his dream, and he has been likened to the star.

Sutton, starring in the annual Dolphins by Starlite Show at uShaka Marine World, said on Thursday that he went to Bieber’s last concert in Johannesburg in 2012.

“As soon as the show ended, I said to my parents ‘that’s what I want to do’,” he said.

The Northwood High School pupil has been singing and acting since he was a child, following in the musical footsteps of his uncle, country singer Lance James.

“I have been singing for as long as l can remember and seeing my uncle perform inspired my love of music,” said Sutton, who plays electronic and acoustic guitar, piano, drums and the ukelele, as well as writing his own songs.

“As much as I don’t particularly like Bieber’s character, I do enjoy his music and his stage presence and to see how much he has achieved.

“I enjoy all genres of music, but particularly pop.

“As much as it is cool to be compared with someone like him, I want to be recognised for my own work.

Performing in the annual concert has given him the opportunity to work with other musicians, such as a capella group White Bread, from Port Shepstone.

Group member Lindo Mgedezi said it was their first experience on a big stage.

“We just enjoy singing and it is the first time we are performing on a stage this size. When we are at home, we have to travel to meet up to practise which we try and do three times a week.”

And back on the global circuit, Bieber’s current tour has smashed box-office records with his latest album, Purpose, racking up 3.1 million sales worldwide. Hit singles include What do You Mean, Sorry, Love Yourself, which all took the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart ranking, making Bieber the first male artist in close to a decade to have three top hits on one album.

He will be in Joburg on May 14 and in Cape Town on May 17.