INTERVIEW. Idols alum Graeme Watkins' advice for the Idols top 10: ''Think of what it is that you want to achieve with your performance.''

Cobus Bodenstein/M-Net

You're reading it here first.

The awesome Idols alum Graeme Watkins, now a bona fide local South African music star with his Graeme Watkins Project, rocked the stage Tuesday night during the Idols Results Show. This marked Graeme Watkins' first time back on the Idols stage since he made the top three last year in the fifth season of the popular M-Net reality show, and he debuted his new single Music Affair off of his upcoming album.

Not only did I ran into the uber cool and really funny guy behind the Idols set minutes before the show started, I also caught up with Graeme Watkins after the show where he was willing to answer a few questions and share some advice for this year's top ten Idols contestants.

What does Graeme Watkins call the contestants' ''trump card'' and ''ace in the flush''? How important is song choice? Why should the contestants believe in themselves and what factor in their performance does Graeme Watkins thinks contestants often underestimate? And how did he himself feel to find himself back on the Idols stage?

For my full interview with Graeme Watkins and when his album comes out, click on READ MORE below.

Graeme Watkins' advice for this year's M-Net Idols hopefuls: ''Don't party too hard and get a good night's rest. Otherwise . . .''

You're reading it here first.

First of all his hairstyle now reminds me of those My Little Trolls. Dunno why. Anyway, I just had to get that off my chest. And I'm not nasty with last year's Idols top three finalist Graeme Watkins, I really like the dude - who I ran into at the first birthday party of All Access on M-Net Friday night.

I immediately asked Graeme Watkins for his expert advice - having been there done that - what his advice is for the new crop of hopeful Idols contestants when they get to the dreaded Theatre round (which we'll be seeing in August on M-Net) and when they progress beyond that to the live performance spectaculars.

Graeme Watkins immediately had a warning for the Idols contestants for the Threatre phase  - and some really wise advice . . . about advice!

Click on READ MORE below to read everything Graeme Watkins told me and all his Idols advice for the sixth season contestants.

FIRST LOOK! Singing in the rain: Idols audition in Johannesburg pulls over 2 100 contestants.

Cobus Bodenstein/M-Net

You're reading it here first.

Earlier today I told you RIGHT HERE that Idols lured more than 2 000 on it's Johannesburg audition day and now I can reveal first that despite rain showers, more than 2 100 contestants have pitched up for their chance to be singing in the rain.

The national audition process for Idols (read about Cape Town HERE, read about Durban HERE) is energizing South African TV viewers like never before. The national turn-out is a massive  achievement for a reality show already in it's sixth season and which was slightly dented after last year's voting scandal. South Africans are turning up and waiting it out en masse for their chance to sing for the judges. Just like Cape Town and Durban, Johannesburg pulled more than 2 100 contestants compared to less than 1 500 in the previous fifth season of Idols. This means that Idols is set for a season of record entries, with Port Elizabeth (2 May) and Bloemfontein (8 May) that will still get their audition days.

A former Idols top contestant made a surprise appearance and the drizzle didn't dampen the contestants who waited eagerly, yet patiently in line for their turn.

For more rainy PHOTOS of The Johannesburg Idols audition day, click on READ MORE below.