…..SoSuterBill…..

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BY BILLY SUTER

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Twenty Questions for bubbly Durban singer Chloe Clark, a finalist in the first season of The Voice South Africa, who performs alongside keyboardist Burton Naidoo at the ‘Tennis and Tunes’ event at Durban’s Windsor Tennis Club, opposite Glenwood High School, on Monday, February 27 . Informal, friendly tennis (if you want to play or watch) is from 4pm to 6pm, followed by the music in the club hall from 6pm to 9pm. R50 gets you in and includes tennis. Eats and drinks are available at the hall. No booking is necessary. Rock up and have fun!
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WHAT RANGE OF SONGS CAN THE AUDIENCE EXPECT FROM YOU AND BURTON AT ‘TENNIS AND TUNES’ – AND WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON THIS MUSIC VENUE?

Burton and I have been performing together for many years and we will be giving the audience a delicious selection of our favourite jazz standards, our reworked and more recent classics, and one or two of our originals.

The ‘Tennis and Tunes’ venue is a lovely community venue which allows locals to be a part of a warm, interactive Monday evening experience.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO SINCE YOU PERFORMED AT THIS GLENWOOD VENUE WITH THE BRUNETTES?

Since I was last at the venue, I have been busy planning my Mauritius tour which I embark on in three weeks. I have also been producing a few exciting dance songs alongside Prince Bulo, a very talented local DJ.

WHAT PLANS GOING FORWARD – AND LONG TERM?

This year is a very exciting year and I am hoping to keep building on what was a really fantastic 2016. I have several new exciting projects in the pipeline, and am starting to work on an acoustic album. Music is my love and my passion and I am so blessed to be able to follow my dream.

Longterm, I would love to be able to continue to perform for different types of people, all over the world on different platforms. I will continue to keep building on the opportunities and experiences that have been incredible thus far in my career.

WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON ‘THE VOICE SA’ AND YOUR EXPERIENCE ON AS A FIRST-SEASON CONTESTANT?

Every reality show has its ups and downs. I loved the social and networking aspect, and it has been amazing keeping the relationships going with several of my fellow contestants… and we have done several shows together since the run of The Voice SA. 

WHAT FIVE WORDS BEST DESCRIBE YOU?

Colourful. Vivacious. Friendly. Wild. Kind.

WHAT ARE FIVE THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF (HOWEVER TRIVIAL) THAT PEOPLE ARE UNLIKELY TO KNOW?

I am from a farm town. I love dinner parties. I try to swim in the sea every day. I have a metal plate in my left hand. My sister lives in South Korea.

YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT ON STAGE?

It would have to the year I performed at The Hilton Arts Festival and my heel got caught, sending me tumbling over the stage!

THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON YOU HAVE MET?

Ronan Keating – I had the pleasure of singing backing for him at a starlight concert in Umhlanga, alongside two of my favourite humans, Marion Loudon and Tammy Saville.

HOBBIES, PASTIMES AND FAVOURITE THINGS?

Cooking, baking, relaxing in my farm town, being around friends and family, drinking copious amounts of coffee.

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? AND CRY? AND GET ANGRY?

I have become a softie in my old age. I cry all the timexcitement – movies, heartwarming stories, life stories, happy moments… you name it. I love a pun and often find myself weeping with laughter anytime, all the time.

I absolutely hate inefficiency, pretentious humans and people who think they are more important than others. All that makes me rather mad.

WHAT IS THE MOST PAINFUL THING YOU HAVE ENDURED? PLEASE ELABORATE.

Back in my youth I loved athletics… and I once managed to miss the high jump mat and shift a disk in my back.

HOW MUCH DO YOU READ – AND WHAT DO YOU ENJOY READING?

I recently started to become a bit of a reader. The other day I took a couple of hours off and ventured along to The Market restaurant where they have Beat-Route playing gorgeous jazz every Friday, and I realised how much I enjoy escaping into another world while reading a book. Last month I read Lawrence Anthony’s The Elephant Whisperer, and this month I am reading an incredible book, Rian Malan’s My Traitor’s Heart. Two completely different genres, so I’ll keep you posted if I start to develop a ‘type’.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE ULTIMATE IN KITSCH?

Now listen, I’m not too sure I can be the judge of such things! My taste over the years has come a long way, but I used to have the worst dress sense and had no clue on what colours actually worked together. I mean… I wore two different coloured shoes to all my Idols auditions in 2010!

WHAT FIVE THINGS WOULD YOU LIST UNDER ‘VASTLY UNDER-RATED’?

Open spaces. Hugging your parents. Travelling. Spontaneity. Being thoughtful.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SURPRISING THING SOMEONE HAS SAID OF YOU?

“So, what do you actually do… I mean, when you’re not singing?” (Some people have no clue what it takes to keep the singing dream going)

WHERE WERE YOU BORN – AND WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY?

I was born in Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, as there were no hospitals in Mooi River.

My most memorable birthday was last year. I was in the middle of minor heartbreak when about 30 of my close friends woke me up to pancakes and good times before work.

The overwhelming feeling of love from beautiful humans during a sad patch is rather sensational.

WHAT ARE YOUR FEARS AND PHOBIAS?

I cannot handle snakes. I don’t know why. They just freak me out!

WHAT IS THE BEST THING YOU CAN COOK?

Ek is van die plaas af. The best thing… Hmm, I love cooking anything and everything. One of my absolute favourite things is having my favourite humans in my home, enjoying my food – from lasagna to roasts to delicious delicacies.

WHAT ARE TWO OF YOUR MOST TREASURED MATERIAL POSSESSIONS?

My beautiful Nord electric piano…and the grand piano I will one day own

IF YOU COULD CHANGE THREE THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF WHAT WOULD THEY BE? 

I would rush less  I would change the knee injury I discovered at the last ‘Tennis and Tunes’ event. I would be less afraid to take more risks.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE ENSCRIBED ON YOUR TOMBSTONE?

Live harder. Love wilder.