Jono from ‘The Voice’ calls Bela-Bela home
There is a new celebrity in town that most followers of The Voice South Africa will know and radio listeners will recognise his distinct voice.
Jono Johansen, a superstar in his own right, his wife Natalie and their son moved to Bela-Bela at the end of January.
The Johansen couple is currently in charge of entertainment and conferences at Zebula Golf Estate & Spa.
Johansen became famous when he particpated in the first season (2016) of The Voice South Africa, as well as a top eight contestant of the Idols 2013 season.
Die Pos/The Post caught up with the man of many talents.
“I love Bela-Bela, the people, the sense of community. Moving from Johannesburg to here allows you to take a step back and appreciate the beauty of life for a moment. My son loves it here and is basking in the good life.”
Johansen grew up in Durban and was exposed to the limelight since he was seven years old.
“We called the area where I grew up ‘the rough and tough of the Bluff’, but it was an environment where the local people supported young musicians such as myself. We loved to perform and they wanted the thrill of being entertained. While I am here in Bela-Bela I hope to improve a sense of community through my music.”
It was during one of the COP17 rallies in Durban where he was chosen to perform in front of 40 000 people that launched him onto the radar screens of musical talent scouts.
While studying Jazz at the University of Cape Town, he decided to enter for an Idols audition.
“I was 16 years old and inexperience made me vulnerable to the harsh side of social media. I had met many celebrities by then, but it was the veteran musicians that pulled me through and motivated me to stick with music. I guess when you attempt to go into reality television you have to immediately determine what your message is and the brand you are representing. If you do anything different to that, the public will take you apart while pulling out your soul with scathing critique.”
The pressure increased on The Voice where he had to perform live in front of 19 million viewers each week.
“I sang a hit song from Sam Smith, Lay me down. All of the judges turned their chairs and I chose to have Lira be my coach since she had a background in Jazz. The workload was hectic at that time. We started at 07:00 with vocal training and rehearsal and ended at 23:00 every day. Karen Zoid, however, was a good friend to me and is one of the humblest judges the show has ever hosted. She still means a lot to me.”
Johansen brought out music singles such as Cracks in the pavement and a cover version of Chris Isaacs’ Wicked Game. He also featured on singer Kelly Khumalo’s album with their songs, What if and Let you know.
Radio stations such as KFM and 947 play his songs frequently. He is currently an independent artist and travels between provinces.
“Family is all that you have left at the end of the day, whenever you need someone to confide in. Likewise, to Kelly, we both know where disappointments lie within the music industry and we found ways to grow,” said Johansen.
“Life is expensive as it is, but when it comes to producing music, it becomes very pricy. That is why I look forward to hosting charitable and regular shows in Bela-Bela and other parts of the country to reach out and touch a person’s soul.”
