Shanti Lo scolds My Star Contestants

Kgomotso Molelekeng | Wednesday January 15, 2014 15:47

 

In an interview, Shanti Lo recently told Showbiz that he feels the singers are not hungry enough for the title.  He said that they are not ambitious enough to become recognised top musicians who will leave a legacy.

“These people audition unprepared and come without the much-needed confidence and hunger, yet they expect us to let them go through to the next round, which is very wrong,” he said.

He added that if one wants to be a musician then it must show in the way one delivers when singing.  He said that they should show that they respect their craft.  He pointed out that one does not only need to have an impressive voice to wow the judges, but they should also have a personality to match their God given talent.

“When you respect what you do, it rubs off on other people and in turn they take you seriously.  I cannot take you seriously if you do not.  What kind of musician wants to be noticed if they lack passion and drive?” he asked.

He pointed out that from all the places they have been to scouting for talent, he has not been impressed with the way upcoming singers perform.

“Only a few turn up prepared, but then the rest will perform badly.  The other people who make this work hard for us are singers who are coming for the second time,” he said, adding that they still do not impress on the second try.

Shanti Lo mentioned that because some of these people were in previous shows. He said that they automatically think they make the cut, but funny enough they also turn up unprepared and uninspired.

“It is as if they have not learnt anything from the time they were on the show and yet expect us to rely on their previous performances to let them through.  I will not let people through if they do not impress me when auditioning,” he said.  He also worries that most of the aspirants who enter the show seem to only be interested in getting a scholarship and receiving money. He said that it is as if they are not concerned about having a music career.

“The question is will these singers be able to sustain themselves musically after winning.  It is like all the winners follow the same pattern of other winners.  They release one album and that’s it.  We never hear of a follow up album,” he said. He said as a musician himself, these problems worry him a lot as some of the winners are very talented yet they lack disciple and guidance.

Director and founder of My Star, Keabetswe ‘Master Dee’ Sesinyi told Showbiz that it should not come as a shock that some upcoming singers might appear not to be serious about their musical career. “They are always the ones who regret at the end when they see winners shine, making it big in life.  But one thing for sure is that we are not going to force anyone to take their craft seriously because it is their life,” he said.