'I have a lot more freedom': Craig Lucas on going independent and overcoming imposter syndrome
South African singer Craig Lucas has reflected on his journey from chasing commercial success to creating music that truly represents who he is.
South African singer Craig Lucas recently joined Sam Cele to chat about his music career, becoming an independent artist and the pressures of performing on the international stage.
Lucas first rose to fame in 2017 after winning the second season of 'The Voice South Africa'. Since then he has established himself as one of South Africa’s most respected singer-songwriters.
Looking back on the early days of his career, Lucas admits that his priorities were very different.
“I really learned what success actually is for me. Making music is just [about] being happy,” he said.
The 'Hearts Exposed' singer explains that while some of his earlier songs were commercially successful, they were not always music he connected with personally.
“I had so much successful music that I’d made, but there were times where it wasn’t necessarily music I would listen to or music that I was proud of. It was just commercially successful,” he says.
Creating music that feels authentic
Lucas says everything changed once he become an independent artist, giving him the freedom to create music that feels authentic and allows him to be vulnerable.
“I have a lot more freedom. It’s a lot more expensive because I’m financing it myself, but it comes with freedom. I think I’ve really taken advantage of that freedom by making the music that I love,” he says.
Lucas also reflected on the inspiration behind his latest hit 'Falling In Love'.
The song, he explains, was written after friends encouraged him to stop overthinking a new relationship and simply enjoy it instead of worrying about what the future might hold.
Lucas also opened up about travelling to Denmark to write and perform music, admitting he initially struggled with imposter syndrome.
“I went there with so much imposter syndrome. Am I going to be good enough? Am I going to contribute? There’s so much pressure.”
He said South African artists often place international musicians on a pedestal, creating unnecessary pressure.
“We tend to glamorise international artists as being better for some reason, and we often see success as a South African artist going international. All of that pressure really weighed on me.”
However, once he began performing, his perspective shifted.
"Getting there, seeing these are real people, these are normal people, and also just being able to contribute, being able to write really good songs, it just made me feel so validated. It made me feel valid in my talent and my ability. I realised I don’t need to compare myself. I walked away feeling much more confident in my songwriting and my overall ability."
Lucas also discussed his latest single, 'Joyride', describing it as different from the emotionally heavy music he has often written in the past.
Listen to the interview below:
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