After a three year break,
I Want To Sing Gospel is back.
Auditions started in PE last week and moved to Cape Town this week for two days.
On Tuesday (7 June) 2800 wannabes strung their pipes for the judges and on Wednesday 150 maybes returned for the callbacks. I hotfooted through to the callbacks yesterday (8 June) to see what was going on for us:
The auditions breathed two days of life into the eerie, windswept Good Hope Centre which has totally disappeared from the Cape Town scene since the opening of The Cape Town Convention Centre. The auditions would have been at the CCC but it's so booked up now that the show couldn't get a spot.
The first big change of the season: three judges instead of one. Last season muso-producer Lindelani Mkhize judged the auditions solo.
Now he has two sidekicks: keyboardist, singer and Joyous Celebration's Nqubeko Mbatha, who's an assistant judge for the season. He'll be judging at all of the auditions and also gets involved by playing accompaniment for hopefuls who seem to have potential.
The second judge is a rotating guest judge, someone from each region. In Cape Town it was Good Hope FM DJ Tracey, who welcomed each of the auditionees by freaking out their nerves.
Tracey: Are you nervous?
Wannabe: Yes.
Tracey: Well don't be. Please sing.
"
Uh."
Serial reality twins, who auditioned for last season too. Lindelani recognised them, told them they have a good twinly vibe and gave them a "No" again.
A chickie who got so close yet ended up so far. She basically recorded an entire album in her audition, singing one song then the next, with guitar/ without guitar / standing / sitting / slow / fast / gone. She didn't make the next stage.
From the morning, until after I left, only two or three people got a definite "Yes" for the next stage. About three got a "Maybe".
In PE, two got a "Yes."
The panel's looking for approximately 30 "Yes's" across the country who'll go to Jozi for a workshop week. They'll train and then a Top 10 or 15 - the final number isn't confirmed, it'll depend on how well they do - will be selected to perform for viewer votes.
A blast to Season 1's auditions: Uvelile Bangani, the show's sound technician. 
You may remember last season I mentioned that he was the bravest person in the room 'cos of everyone's singing hitting his ears first? Turns out I was spot on about how much he has to suffer.
Last season he managed to stay upright but this season he ended up on the floor needing a paramedic, the sound attacking him in his hamstring. Yup:
How's this ... something I didn't know last season: it also turns out that he's Ntando's brother and sings too.
Another change to the season: Lindelani's shrunk. I didn't notice it last time but was thrilled to realise that I'm taller than him - something I don't often get to be.
Series producer Thokozani Nkosi who came up with the format for the show. He also created It's Gospel Time, The Chatroom and Big Up.
Tashi: What other changes are we going to see this season? There's the addition of Nqubeko as an assistant/guest judge? Will there be another guest judge every week?
Thokozani: Two guest judges every week and the prize has moved from R100 000 to R150 000.
What we did last time, we played our cards close to our chest. We never really revealed what was going to happen - we introduced a Wild Card, and some weeks where there was supposed to be an elimination, we didn't eliminate anyone or we'd eliminate two instead of one so we're going to keep those surprises going so the format's there but Lindelani may change it.
The concept is that he's looking for the next South African gospel star so he's not gonna keep you on the show just for the sake of it. He could just cut you.
Tashi: In terms of filming and venues etc - last season there was that room. It's going to be in a different place this time?
Thokozani: The whole season will be filmed entirely at the SABC. All of the national auditions will make up one episode so from episode we'll already be in studio so we're not going to use that room.
Tashi: The
room.Thokozani: The studio will just have Lindelani, the two guest judges and the contestants. From episode 5 it's going to be opened up for the audience to come through.
Tashi: Sis Ribs will obviously be one of the guest judges.
Thokozani: Yes.
Tashi: Who's your all-time fave Gospel singer, of all time, in the world?
Thokozani: Andra' Cross - because he's also a composer. I like the way he doesn't do the usual, he pushes the boundaries. I like how his music's influenced even secular styles, chord progressions and things like that.
I think there was a pre-Andra' era, the Andra' era and the post Andra' era. Before him there was a certain type of Gospel and after him there was a different type of Gospel.
We have the same effect with Rebecca here. Before Rebecca there was no industry and after her everyone started sounding like her. In America its Andra' Cross and here it's Rebecca.
Another "Maybe".
With Cape Town auditions over, the next stop: Witbank/Emalahleni. For the details, see:
Calling all gospel singers