Hard work enables wishin'

POPULAR recording artist Mario Ogle, who has a strong Eastern Cape fan base, is touring the province from today until next Friday for a series of performances at schools.

The fresh-faced young star will also be promoting his DVD, titled Superman, and speaking to pupils about "the value of working hard".

Having been educated at a "strict boys' school", Ogle, 25, said he never had much opportunity to interact with or gather motivational messages from his favourite artists while growing up.

"Only a few former pupils would visit my school, so I'm proud to be one of the artists who make youth a priority," said the Pietermaritzburg musician.

Ogle chose his message because he believes "a hard-working nation is a winning nation – where there is hard work, success is inevitable".

He described himself as a musical "all-rounder" and said he would share his own journey and the effort and commitment it took to get where he was today.

His manager, Alan Leibowitz, said that during this tour Ogle would perform his new single, Wishin' on a Star, which was recently mastered at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London.

Pupils from schools such as Herbert Hurd Primary, St Dominic's Priory, Clarendon Park Primary, St George's College, Westering Primary, Collegiate High, the Hill College and Riebeek College are among those due to be visited from Monday to Friday. The shows will be limited to pupils and staff.

Ogle will visit schools in East London and King William's Town today and tomorrow.

He will also be at the Musica store at Hemingways Mall in East London on Saturday at 11am, where he will meet the public and autograph CDs.

The trendy vocalist is no stranger to the Eastern Cape, having visited several times before and having had his hits playlisted by local radio stations like Algoa FM and Bay FM.

His first album, Can't Stop Loving You, was nominated for a South African Music Award and went on to be certified "gold" by the Recording Industry of South Africa, for sales of more than 20000 CDs.

The album was followed by Superman, which has similarly spawned several radio hits.

Ogle has sold more than 33000 CDs from both albums.

"Knowing so many people have my music is mind-blowing," said Ogle, who has become as known for his trademark afro hairstyle as for his catchy songs.

But the talented singer has recently changed his look rather radically and the afro is no more.

"Change is always good," he said of his edgy new under-cut, combed-over mohawk.

"I needed something new and fresh to go with my new sound. I'm still young and don't want to be defined by a particular hairstyle," he said.

His Facebook fans "strongly disapproved" when he initially suggested a new look.

"But I was glad to see 90% of them now like it. I've always put my music first though – looks are secondary."

Ogle said he was a big fan of South African music and though he listens to a range of local artists, "I have to make special mention of new SA band Beatenberg. Those guys are radical."

Ogle will head for Singapore in a few months' time, where he previously received radio play and where he will film a new music video, which he did not want to say too much about yet.

lTo watch Ogle's new single, Wishin' on a Star, visit herald2.timesmedia.co.za