We chatted to local singer, Worcester-born, Carlo Abrahams who will be hosting a Soulful Night concert with Carlo Abrahams & Friends (plus Live Band) in support of CANSA on Saturday, 8 June 2019 in Worcester.
Please tell us more about your musical background and where it all started for you.
My music career started at a very young age when I started singing at the age of 5/6 years old. This was when I sang in the school choir. From there I joined the church choir and started singing with my dad – he was also a singer. And he was a tenor, the same as me, I am also a tenor.
From there I joined different choirs, school choir, from primary school right through to high school. I was a soloist in the choir as well. From the age of about 9 years old, I started to sing solos in church. So, it all started in church and from there it went on and became bigger and better. I got to sing with a lot of amazing artists and I got to join a lot of amazing artists on stage.
You have a new show coming up this weekend, Soulful Night with Carlo and Friends. Tell us more, what is it all about?
The show is all about giving back to the community. And especially giving back to CANSA, for the awesome work that they are doing out there.
In 2015, in November, I lost my dad to stomach cancer. From the time that my dad was diagnosed with cancer CANSA was there to support us as a family, to support him and also to make him comfortable, especially during the times that he got very weak.
That’s why I am truly thankful that I can give back and this is why I am having this whole show. It’s me and friends performing. We are going to join hands in supporting the cause.
All the profits that we make will go to CANSA. This is the little I can do to give back to CANSA and also to relive my dad’s memory. Because my dad was a person that went out of his way to support the community and to support others and that is what I want to do. In doing so, I have put this event together.
Tell us about the artists joining you on stage?
The artists joining me on the night will include my good friend, SeveMusicKid, all the way from Cape Town and also making waves on the music scene in and around Cape Town. And then the beautiful Sasha-Lee Davids will also be joining me, who is a previous Idol winner. I am excited to have them on stage with me on Saturday.
Who do you look up to in the music industry? Who inspires you?
I look up to quite a few people in the music industry. I am a soulful guy. The music I do is soulful music and some of the international artists that I look up to is Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross and on Saturday I will be performing songs sung by both Lionel Richie (“Truly”) and Luther Vandross (“The Impossible Dream”).
Local artists who inspire me are people like Khaya Mthethwa. I have a Gospel background. I am a church guy. A worshipper, and I am a praiser. But I will still do my secular songs. I will go out and perform secular. When I needed to make a choice in life about performing either gospel or secular and when I look at Khaya, he made it look easy. You can be a praiser and a worshipper but you can also bless others by doing the secular music and the soulful music because at the end you are speaking to the hearts of people. And for me, I need to touch people’s hearts and I need to bless people.
What are you hoping to achieve with the up-and-coming show?
We will also have cancer survivors at the concert because we want them to come out and enjoy the evening with us. I want them to feel that they do have the support of others. I think that is the most important thing when someone is affected by cancer. They just want to feel that people support them. And that’s the whole aim of Soulful Night. We are going to start off with a cocktail event before the show and we are going to mingle and chat and embrace the evening together. Afterwards we will still chill and chat and take photos just to show that we support those affected by cancer.
What is your dream for the future?
I think I have already achieved my biggest dream. It is to just make my parents proud. Since I was young, I’ve only wanted to make them proud and also to make myself proud. Today I am proud of myself and I am proud of where I am today and yes, I do have a vision and goals to reach big crowds of people and also to travel internationally with my music. And I know that God will make it possible. I know God will take me further in achieving much more.
What is next for you?
I am currently writing some new music and nearer to end of the year I will be in studio again, recording new music. Near the end of the year I will have more new music out. I am also busy with new collaborations. People will soon find out who I am collaborating with. Just watch this space.
Some inspiring words to youngsters trying to make music a career?
Just be yourself. And don’t focus on becoming famous. Be disciplined. Focus on your vision and your goals and have a good attitude. I always say that with a good attitude and ambition, you will achieve what you want to achieve. And with God on your side, the door is already open.
Let no man say that you can’t do it, because you can do it. It is in you to prove you right. It is not in other people to prove you right. Go for your dreams and go for your goals. And don’t let anyone set you back in life. You push, you hustle and you go for it. It is your dream.
Tickets are on sale for you to purchase on the Webtickets website.
