23 year old Lize Mynhardt can play over five instruments as well as sing, was placed second runner up in Season 10 of Idols and has now released her debut single Dare to Daydream.
Tell me about Lize growing up?
Lize:
“I have so many amazing memories from my childhood. I was quite naughty growing up, always pushing the boundaries and challenging everything. I was also quite tough, having two brothers (one younger, one older) and eventually another two – growing up with 4 brothers, we were always in the dirt with toy guns, riding bikes, climbing trees, building things, playing sports and jumping into the neighbours’ swimming pools. Apart from that, music was my safe space and I was constantly singing and had a guitar or piano close by – I started playing instruments at a very young age. At school my musical talents were always encouraged, as well as by my parents, and that’s why I have the confidence to pursue a career in music now.”
When did you realise you wanted to pursue music as a career?
Lize:
“I always had a great love for music and big dreams to be like Celine Dion/ Tina Turner etc – all the amazing artists I watched on TV growing up – but all my schooling was geared for medicine; until one day, in Grade 11, I had to choose between AP Maths classes or Orchestra, and I decided to go with the music. After that I scratched the medicine degree and focused on the music. After school I did a sound engineering Diploma, which was fun but not challenging enough. The next year I enrolled for a BCom/ LLB at Maties and really enjoyed that, but music had to be on the side. It was only after Idols that I left everything else, to make music a full time thing.”
Why did you enter idols?
Lize:
“The only reason I entered Idols was because a friend of mine at the local campus radio station (MFM) told me about a competition they were running that I should enter – you had to sing a song over the phone, live on air, and the winner would be allowed to skip a round at Idols auditions (get fast tracked). I had no intention of winning, but the next thing I knew I was at the producers’ cut for Idols X.”
How have the doors opened for you since you finished Idols?
Lize:
“The exposure gained on Idols is priceless and I am very grateful for that. I have decided to stay independent until now, but Idols made it completely possible for me to pursue a full-time career in music. The connections and fanbase I made while on the show are the foundation of my career.”
Tell me about DARE TO DREAM?
Lize:
“Dare To Daydream is one of the first songs I ever wrote – I was in Grade 11 at the time and only found it again last year, remembering every word and melody and took it straight to studio to record. The song is about sleep deprivation, insomnia and hallucinations from not getting enough sleep – it was easy for me to show this to people because it didn’t make me feel as vulnerable as the other music I had written – the song was more about facts rather than feelings. I recorded the song at Cosher Recording Studios because they just get me – we had so much fun recording this single and I think they were also quite excited to get on board when I showed it to them for the first time, because it’s not a common concept for a pop song.”
What else inspires your song writing?
Lize:
“I draw inspiration from everything around me – people, scenery, music, movies, art, everything. Things that overwhelm me inspire me the most – adrenaline or looking at a massive mountain – things that scare me a bit. I also have an obsession with playing out fictitious scenes in my mind, especially while I’m trying to fall asleep (which takes hours) so some of my inspiration comes from those stories too.”
Your plans going forward?
Lize:
“My plan for 2017 is to make the jump from cover artist to artist. I still want to perform at corporates/weddings/markets etc because they are special to me, but I would love to play more original music at festivals this year. I am also going to release the rest of my recordings this year and wait and see what happens – hopefully get a fair amount of radio play and sales.”
If you could meet one artist/ musician/ producer… international or local, who would it be and why?
Lize:
“My first choice would have been Freddie Mercury because I think he is a musical genius. But today, if I had to choose, it would be Hans Zimmer – there is nothing that makes me feel the way I do when I listen to the Lion King soundtrack.”
If you were marooned on a desert island and could only take one album with you what would it be?
Lize:
“The Lion King Soundtrack no doubt!”
Follow Lize on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lize-Mynhardt-1530124673874316/?fref=ts
