#MusicExchange: Tony Cedras

He recently released a new album, Love Letter To Cape Town, and on 26 October 2018 at 8pm, he will be the special guest at Sipho Mabuse’s show at the Baxter Concert Hall.

I caught up with him last week for a chat.

What does music mean to you?

A vehicle to peace.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your work?

Communication and to have the connection and to evoke an emotion.

What drives you: ego or humility?

Must be humility, humble to my craft and how I came to be in my craft.

Any funny moments on stage?

The Graceland tour at Green Point Stadium. It is a roadie story. A sack of ping-pong balls on the stage high up on the lighting trusss, the backing singers go ‘ah’ during the song. The roadies release thousands of balls on stage whilst the singers are going ‘ooh’ and ‘ah’. The balls came down like rain, people froze as the balls bounced all over the stage; the funniest moments I have had. Paul just smiled and laughed. This was the last show at the end of that tour.

Which living person do you admire most and why?

Caster Semenya breaking records and doing things. She survives the onslaught she gets from people and the media and also the unselfishness to just give to help others without seeking the limelight or recognition.

It’s your round, what are you drinking?

Bush mills Irish whisky and 25-year old single malt.

If you were not a musician, what would you do?

Be an auto sheet metal worker – I studied this.

Pick five words to describe yourself?Thoughtful, blessed, humble, direct, creative.

Favourite fashion garment?

Vintage chic, I like a good shirt.

What do you complain about most often?

Space to do things, space is sometimes so misunderstood and time is also important; keep time, be on time, and respect the heartbeat of time.

On stage, I tend to?

Play my heart out.