The next few weeks will be very busy and exciting for 6 young, talented Canadian singers. They have just been chosen as the Top 6 contestants for season 6 of YTV’s hit show, THE NEXT STAR. They are Paige Prescott, Jaden Myles, Alex Zaichkowski, Alicia Moffet, Dante Scott and Kat Moscone.
In the spring, THE NEXT STAR’s judges Tara Oram, Mark Spicoluk and Keshia Chante toured Canada searching for new, fresh and bubbly personalities with a powerful voice that needs to be heard. Thousands were seen, twelve were given Golden Tickets and now, the group has been narrowed down to 6. In the Monday night episodes over the course of the next few weeks, these 6 young talents can be seen practicing and performing in front of the judges and Canada. In the end, one of them will come home a winner after the big star-studded live finale at Canada’s Wonderland September 22.
THE MAGAZINE chatted with this season’s awesome top 6 about their sound, what to expect from their finale performance, and why they ARE “The Next Star”.
Paige
On her sound and what inspires her:
I have a mix of a folk, pop and indie sound. I’d describe my style as laid-back, fun, and easy going. I’ve been singing my entire life. My friend Sydney and I always sing together. I think our friendship really inspires me to sing.
On getting the Golden Ticket:
When I got my Golden Ticket, I felt like the happiest person alive. I don’t think I’ve ever been so surprised in my entire life, and I’m so grateful for getting this far. It’s given me something to work for, a goal, and an incredible journey. This entire experience has taught me so much.
On her dream duet:
I would have to pick either One Direction or Ed Sheeran. With Ed, if I could choose any song, I think we’d have to sing “This”.
On her finale performance:
I imagine my finale performance on THE NEXT STAR stage will be as big and fun as I can make it. I really want to go out with a bang!
On why she is “The Next Star”:
I think I’m “The Next Star” because I’m a great example of how much you can grow with all the right support. Without everyone supporting me I never would’ve gotten this far.
Jaden
On his love for singing:
I enjoy singing because I’m able to share my talent with others and hopefully make them feel the same happiness that I feel when I perform. My voice is soulful – sometimes raspy – and sounds best when singing R&B. I’ve been singing as long as I can remember. My interest in music sparked at a very young age because my family is very musically oriented. Growing up around performers, I always enjoyed singing and then discovered that I’m actually good at it!
On his dream duet:
If I could sing a duet with anyone it would be Bruno Mars and I would sing his new single “Treasure.” I think he is a very original artist – he is one of my favorites – and he inspires me.
On his past with THE NEXT STAR:
My fans would probably be surprised to know that I auditioned for THE NEXT STAR’s first season when I was nine years old!
On his finale performance on THE NEXT STAR stage:
I want my performance on finale night to show the end result of my experience and growth throughout the show.
On why he is “The Next Star”:
I’m “The Next Star” because I have the voice, the style, the confidence and I own the stage when I perform. THE NEXT STAR has allowed me to showcase my talent.
Alex
On his personality:
I’m a quirky, good-natured jokester (sometimes I’m even a bit sarcastic!), who loves to write music, sing and perform.
On his introduction to music:
I’ve been singing since I was very young, and grew up in a house full of music. I’ve always had an interest in writing and when I realized I could connect the two by writing songs and singing I became quite interested.
On his dream duet:
If I could do a duet with any artist it would most likely be with the band The Fray singing their song “You Found Me” or maybe one of my originals.
On his secret talents:
I think people would be surprised to know that I’m actually a decent rapper (it doesn’t seem likely, but it’s true, trust me!) or that I’ve been writing songs and stories since age nine.
On why he is “The Next Star”:
I think I’m “The Next Star” because I’m just a humble Alberta farm boy who likes to make his voice heard (read in a southern accent)… I’m just joking. In all honesty, I think I’m “The Next Star” because I’m dedicated and imaginative and I care about music.
Alicia
On her personality and sound:
I’m an energetic and smiley person! I love helping and supporting everyone around me. Singing has always been my passion. People describe my voice as special, soothing, and unique.
On her first reaction after receiving the Golden Ticket:
It was surreal! It’s something that I have dreamt and imagined a million times, and I was like, “Somebody pinch me!”
On her start in singing:
I’ve been singing since I was five. It’s just something that I started to do without noticing it. For me singing is just like breathing. I have to sing every single day, it’s my energy!
On her dream finale performance:
I imagine it with a lot of flashing coloured lights, me coming down from the ceiling with some kind of device, dancers around me and the crowd screaming my name! Yeah, that would be pretty cool!
On why she is “The Next Star”:
I’m “The Next Star” because the passion I have for singing is just unexplainable! Where I feel the best is on a stage, in front of a screaming crowd, singing my heart out. I’m ready to do anything to get to my dreams!
Dante
On his personality and voice:
I am a very crazy person. I like cheese, my favourite colour is TURQUOISE and my favourite word is pedestrian. I have a dog named Ally and a fish named Unicorn. I have a very unique voice, just like my personality! Everyone says that my voice is so different from any other voices, which I find very interesting. I am so happy to be on THE NEXT STAR because it gives me the chance to show my talent to Canada and the judges!
On his first performances:
I have been singing ever since I was born. When I was two I memorized the whole Shania Twain album and I just kept singing after that. When I turned eight I decided to perform on stage for the first time. I sang “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus and I was nervous at first, but when I got off stage I told my mom that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life!
On his dream duet:
If I could sing with any performer for a duet it would have to be Lea Michele from GLEE! Lea and I would sing “Girl On Fire” by Alicia Keys. I think that our voices would be so good together and that song could showcase my range and her range!
On his hopes for the finale performance:
I imagine my finale performance with lights, fireworks, dancers and lots of fun. It has to be the most memorable finale performance ever!
On why he is “The Next Star”:
I am “The Next Star” because I am unique and I am myself. I’m proud of my improvements so far on and off the stage and I love cheese!
Kat
On why music is so important to her and what kind of artist she wants to be:
I AM my music. Music is what defines me. The only people who know who Kat really is have heard me sing. I pour everything about me into my music. I never really realized how badly I wanted to be a musician until this year. Before I came back to Toronto I was searching through my baby pictures and found ones of me using a plastic microphone and playing toy xylophone. I wasn’t even two years old yet and already I had found myself. I know that I was born to be a musician, or to be an artist in general. It’s what I eat, sleep, breathe and dream about 24/7. It is what God wants for me. I sing soul music. R&B is the kind of artist I want to be.
On her dream duet:
I would love to perform a song with Jennifer Hudson! The song “Feeling Good” is one of my favourites and her version is absolutely amazing! She has one of the most powerful and most impactful voices I have ever heard and she is such an inspiration!
On what she does to prep for her performances:
Before every performance, I replay a song in my head that gets me pumped up. Most days I’ll replay the song “Hot Right Now” by Rita Ora. I love the fast beat, the deep bass, and the entire message of the song!
On her hopes for the finale performance:
I want my finale performance to define my music career up to this point. I will remember this experience for life and my performance should be the icing on the cake! No matter what happens in the last few minutes of that show, everything I’ve learned and done will be what I take with me forever.
On why she is “The Next Star”:
I am “The Next Star” because I have a story to share, and I tell it through my music. That story is of a thirteen-year-old girl who wanted something in her life bad enough that she waited six years to get it. Now that I finally have the chance to show the world, I will stop at nothing to make sure I never disappoint them. All I want in life (at 13 years old), is to be “The Next Star”!
Thank you to the top 6 of YTV’s THE NEXT STAR! Catch your favourites performing every Monday at 7 p.m. EST on YTV!