Seventeen-year-old Paxton Fielies, from Bishop Davis in Cape Town, is hoping to strike all the right cords and bring home the coveted title this weekend. Fielies is the youngest contestant in Season 13 of Idols South Africa, but don’t let her age fool you, she is ready for her new found fame.
Talking to Fielies, who is currently in Johannesburg, she is a a bag of nerves and can barely wait for Sunday to get here.
“I am so excited, I am more nervous though. I really didn’t believe I would be standing here in the top two when I got my golden ticket at the audition,” she said.
Fielies started singing at the young age of seven, she sang in church, at school concerts and at home. When she was in high school she didn’t exercise her vocals until her mum talked her into auditioning for Idols.
“My mum is my biggest fan and supporter, she is the one who told me to audition. She really believes in me,” said Fielies.
Being so young, it is a difficult to juggle a singing career and completing school but she is adamant that you need an education to further your career.
“I am in Grade 11 right now, I would like to finish Grade 12 while advancing my music career. It is definitely necessary to complete school. After matric I would like to study music,” she said.
What is it like to get up on that stage to perform, while the whole country is watching you?
“I am very nervous while I am performing, but I keep in mind that people are watching and voting for me. I always try to do my best and enjoy myself on stage. Idols has really shaped me as an artist, I have grown so much. I am able to perform on stage and I hope this is the start of something big.”
If you have been watching South African Idols, you would have noticed a person who is always in tears when she performs. Fielies giggles and says that is her very proud uncle.
You can hear the passion in her voice when she talks about her singing, she really wants this badly. The other finalist is 25-year-old Mthokozisi Ndaba from Durban.
Her parting words to Capetonians: “Thank you so much for being a part of my journey, it’s been amazing. Everyone has been so supportive and the love I received has been overwhelming. It’s been a dream of mine, just making it this far has been so amazing. I just want to say thank you to everyone.”
If you would like to see our Cape Town hopeful win, you can vote for her by SMSing 08 to 37400 or you can vote via mobile or the website.
Photography: Facebook