Hot Property: Daniel Baron
It has been 6 years since his stint on Idols South Africa and Daniel Baron is yet to show signs of falling victim to the curse that is often bestowed upon talent show contestants. If anyone is living proof that you don't need to win Idols to make a name for yourself, the chart-topping singer/songwriter from Johannesburg sure is it. I was forced to stop fan-girling for a few minutes and get down to the nitty-gritty: A chat with Daniel about his post-Idols career, music piracy and his favorite politicians.
Your early exit from Idols was without a doubt one of the most shocking eliminations in the history of the show. Looking back now, do you think you should have approached the competition differently? Looking back I wouldn't have done anything differently. It was a really great experience and it definitely taught me a great deal. Opening for Bon Jovi and performing in front of a 60 000 strong crowd must have been exhilirating. Do you have any other career highlights you would like to share with us? Yes it was a dream come true for me! Another highlight that I'll never forget is when I found out that my song, 'Not Here' went to Number 1 on the SA Chart. It literally brought tears to my eyes. You have no problem crossing over from heartwrenching piano ballads to funky pop tunes. Which is your genre of choice? I love all genres. That's why I never stick to one in particular. As long as it's a song that is going to move the listener in one way or another, then genre falls away. You have toured the UK and worked in the USA. Would it be easy to pack your bags and permanently leave South Africa should an international opportunity arise? I love travelling around the world and playing my music to different audiences, and my dream is still to make a worldwide name for myself. However I would never permanently leave SA. It's my home and I love it too much to abandon it. How do you feel about people downloading free copies of your music? Is piracy as big a threat to musicians as it is made out to be? I feel that piracy is not right, however, I also believe that through free/unpaid downloads, my songs have probably reached more ears, which is a good thing. Therefore I don't view piracy as a threat because there are many avenues that revenue can be earned in this industry if you write your own songs and if you never stop performing live. Congrats on your Wawela Music Award. What is the one award that you covet most - the one that you dream of winning one day? Thank you very much! My ultimate goal is to win a Grammy Award one day. You are well-known for your captivating song writing. Which song that you have penned are you most proud of? I find it very difficult to choose between my own songs, because they are all so close to me. I am very proud of the songs that have become publicly successful, such as 'So Much More' and 'Not Here', but ironically I am equally proud of certain songs that I have written through the years that the public have never heard and may never hear. You are an ambassador for CANSA and started the ‘Rockstars Ride For CANSA’ campaign in 2014. How important do you think it is for celebrities to 'give back' to the community? I think it is very important to give back to the community and to charities that need help and more awareness. CANSA is a charity very close to my heart because my little cousin passed away from cancer 3 years ago. You have released numerous mega-hits like 'Not Here', ‘All Over Now’ and ‘So Much More'. Are you working on any new potential chart-toppers at the moment? Thank you! My latest song which is climbing the charts at the moment is a song called 'Say What You Want' and it is a collaboration with Afrikaans group ADAM. My brand new album is also out at the moment, with well known hits, 'Indestructible' and 'Heartbreak City'. The Zombie Apocalypse hits and you are forced to go into hiding with three politicians. Who do you choose? I would choose Nelson Mandela, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Helen Zille.
Website: www.danielbaron.co.za Facebook: www.facebook.com/DanielBaronOfficial YouTube: www.youtube.com/DanielBaron01 Twitter: @DanielBaron_ https://twitter.com/DanielBaron_ Instagram: @DanielBaronMusic
