The Idols Factor: Heinz Winckler
Heinz Winckler was the very first winner of Idols South Africa back in 2002.
In celebration of the premiere of the 11th season of the very popular series I thought it very fitting to chat to the man who was there when it all started.
The 11th season of Idols South Africa premiered on Sunday, do you think that the show has changed a lot since you won the first season back in 2002?
Yes, very much so. The production quality has increased each year as technology improves and as the producers strive to keep the viewers’ attention. Also, in my year we had an “x” we had to stand on. We weren’t allowed to move around. We also never had a live band, everything was to backing tracks. And we had 2 people leaving each week and therefore had half the “spectaculars” of the following season, thus half the exposure for the finalists.
Singer, song-writer,writer, actor,music producer and entrepreneur - where do you find the time to be a family man as well?
It’s not easy, and I certainly don’t manage to get it right all the time. But my first priority is my family and I strive to make sure I spend more time on average at home than away with shows and other work.
You have shown great versality both in Idols and during your career thus far. How important do you think song choice and versatility is in a competiton such as Idols?
I think song choice is the most important aspect. It’s more important than being versatile. Versatility can be dangerous as it can come across as uncertainty as to who you are as an artist and what your “sound” is. But it is handy when applied with wisdom. Song choice reveals how well you know yourself as an artist, what your strengths are as a singer, who you could be as anoriginal artist and how in touch you are with current trends and sounds.
If you were a 24 year old in 2015, would you still feel that Idols is a viable option for you to break into the music industry?
Absolutely. It’s a great platform to kickstart a professional music career. Nowhere else do you get the amount of Prime Time TV exposure and the publicity that goes with it. Yes, it’s Season 11 and yes many people think it’s been too long now. But the fact is that it remains the fastest way to get from having no name to becoming a brand in the music business. BUT… Yes, there is a but. But you have to make it work. No one will do it for you. When the show is finished and all the cameras and lights go off, you as a finalist and winner are on your own. Yes you get a record deal and yes you get some prizes. But you don’t get an experienced manager, agent and business manager who has your best interest at heart that guides you - unless you find these key people and get them to buy into your vision for your career and inspire them to work alongside you.
You are the CEO, marketing manager and publicist of your brand and product and you need to work hard at making the most of the exposure you got because people forget very quickly what was on TV last week. So get a vision, make goals and set plans to reach those goals. And your first goal must be to get a strong first album out within 3 months of the end of the show. Do whatever it takes to achieve this. Your label will do their part, but you have to drive it and work hard at getting the best songs, the best producers and ensure that its marketed properly.
You have been there, done that and got the T-shirt. What advice do you have for this years' Idols contestants?
I think I just covered a lot of that. But what I can add is to stay humble, stay focused, be original - which means be your authentic self, choose songs you already know well or at least have heard before because you will perform them better, take each day as a baby step forward, don’t expect to be babied or treated like a princess, expect to work and to take a lot of unexpected blows. If you make the top 10, don’t believe it when people say to you “Now you’ve made it! You will have a music career even if you don’t win.” It’s just not true. Yes, you don’t have to win to have a successful music career after Idols, but the same thing goes - you need to use what you got and work on expanding it and capitalising on it to create a successful career that has longevity. Just getting in the top 10 does not automatically mean you will be successful. And lastly - know that the TV show Idols is a business. It means their main focus is making money by getting as many viewers as possible. Their main objective is not to make your dreams come true. So don’t be naive. Don’t expect them to do anything for you. Instead, use the opportunity they provide with wise ambition.
You portrayed the role of Rodger Davis in the touring production of the musical Rent. What would you rate as your dream musical role?
I enjoyed Rent so much and it’s such a great musical, that I don’t know if there is one that will top it. I also dream more of my own music career than a career in musicals. But I think one that I would like to do is West Side Story. Great music, great story!
You released albums in both English and Afrikaans - do you have a personal preference between the two?
I really enjoy writing, singing and performing in both.
Mooirivier is by far one of my favorite Afrikaans movies. How did you find working with the likes of Tim Theron and Anel Alexander?
I loved every minute of it! It was such a great movie to be apart of and cast to work with. It made me want to do more acting in movies and in TV!
You are involved in a very interesting business venture called Braai Ve'note. Please tell us more about this brilliant concept.
In an ever changing and challenging music industry, I decided to look for and work on ways to diversify my business. A good friend of mine, we call him Charl “Braai” Bruwer (since he braais almost every day!), is in the food business. He started a side business with spitbraai catering a couple of years ago and it very quickly became very successful. Over especially the last 2 years I noticed that many of my shows were booked in dinner theatre type venues that serve good food. I soon realised that the combination of food and entertainment go very well together - since people love music, but they love food more! So I approached Charl with the idea to start a business that combines entertainment and good food and brings it to you, the client. So Braai Ve’Note was born! Charl makes amazing spitbraai catering food and I bring a show. It’s perfect for weddings, year end functions and the like. We’re also launching a range of braai products under the brand
If you had access to a time machine, what historic event would you choose to experience first-hand?
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
