(l-r) Season 7 judge Dan Kanter, host Carlos Bustamante, and judges Tara Oram and Mark Spicoluk.
Tara Oram is a Canadian country songstress and CANADIAN IDOL alum. Mark Spicoluk is a music producer and founded his own record label Underground Operations. Dan Kanter is a music prodigy, well-known for his work with mega superstar Justin Bieber. Together, Tara, Mark and Dan are the judges for season 7 of YTV’s hit show THE NEXT STAR which will be hosted by YTV’s Carlos Bustamante. They are waiting for you to show them that you have what it takes to be Canada’s next big star – are you up for the challenge? Here’s your chance: the season 7 auditions tour kicks off in Halifax this Saturday, April 26, and hits 5 other major Canadian cities over the course of 3 weeks. Tara, Mark and Dan will be looking for someone who has the potential to make it big. So, don’t miss out – pick out your song, rehearse your performance and go rock it!
THE MAGAZINE sat down with Tara Oram, Mark Spicoluk and Dan Kanter as they prepared to head out on the road for the auditions tour and they told us about what they will be looking for, their musical inspirations and more!
What do you look for in The Next Star?
Tara: I look for someone who isn’t shy. Personality is a must. Obviously talent comes first, but if you have a great personality that’s a huge bonus. I love people that are fun, exciting and happy and love to just break out of their shell. I also love someone who’s a great performer. I love a great stage performance and charisma is a must.
Mark: I think I look for identity first. What is the one element of somebody, and it can be just about anything, that sets them apart from everybody else and that allows us to understand who they really are? Also, the guts to get up and give it your all. I think it takes guts to show your identity because a lot of people in music copy others because it’s easy and safe and you don’t actually have to show who you are if you’re trying to be someone else, so the guts to be who you are.
Dan: First and foremost, an amazing voice. I believe it all starts from the song and the person who sings that song.
Judge Mark Spicoluk
Do you find it hard to judge these kids? Do you censor your critiques or are you pretty straight-up?
Tara: I’m not dishonest. If there’s something I really don’t like, I’m not going to say horrible things. It’s all about positive criticism and if there’s something we can help them with then we’ll say that. We’re not harsh on this show; we’re pretty positive and sensitive because we are working with kids and that’s really important. But I’m a bit of a softie.
Mark: I’m pretty straight-up. What I love about THE NEXT STAR is that we really take it upon ourselves to give them the feedback to help them set a goal to work towards. It’s amazing what can happen. We’ve seen it. We saw last season from feedback we gave the first season to now, they took what we said, worked worked worked because it’s their dream and their passion and it’s what they want to do, and then they show up and boom! They’re a completely different artist, and that’s what is really special to me. We try and be really honest and really sincere and give them the tools that they need to get to where they want to go.
Judge Dan Kanter
If you were auditioning for The Next Star, what would your audition song be?
Tara: I would probably do a Hillsong United song. I love them. I’d try to keep it fun and show that I’m there to be serious, but I would also try to show my personality. I think that’s really key.
Mark: Maybe it would be “Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato…I hear it too much but it’s a really good song!
Dan: “Baby” by Justin Bieber.
Who are some of your musical inspirations?
Tara: When I was a kid, Dwight Yoakam and Marty Stuart. When I was a teenager, it was Shania Twain. When I was a young kid, Tiffany – she follows me on Twitter! That was the best day of my life.
Mark: That’s a really good question. When I was starting it was grunge music. It was like Nirvana and Soundgarden. As I got older, it spawned into all kinds of different genres and these days I find that when I want to write or when I want to be inspired it’s this band called Sigur Ros. It’s not about wanting to be like them, it’s just about wanting to be taken to a place where I can find clarity and I find, more than any other artist, when I listen to them it allows me to just find that clarity I’m looking for. Also, I’m really into “Royals” by Lorde right now.
Dan: My first musical inspiration was my father who still directs musical theater. I love Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Mozart and really all styles of music. I love Celine Dion as much as I love Metallica.
Dan with Celine Dion
The Canadian auditions for season 7 of THE NEXT STAR start April 26. Do you have any advice for kids who are currently preparing to audition?
Tara: Make sure you know your songs and make sure your nerves don’t get the best of you. We get so many kids that have prepared for so long and once they get in front of the cameras and the lights, it’s really overwhelming, and that’s totally understandable. Just kind of pretend that we’re not there or that stuff’s not around. Make sure you know your song, and don’t overlearn it because sometimes when you overlearn it, that’s when you forget.
Mark: Go for it, 100%. Get in there, don’t worry about anything and just sing your heart out and let yourself come through. Figure out how to make that song yours. Some of the greatest auditions we’ve ever seen have been artists that come in with a twist to let themselves through. We’ve had people come in with ukuleles or keyboards; whatever it might be that makes it your own and not just singing someone else’s song. I think that alone makes us take that extra second to be like, “oh, they really put some creative time and energy into this.” It makes it a special experience for everybody.
Judge Tara Oram
At the end of the show, there’s going to be a new star. What advice do you have for the winner after the series?
Tara: Just because you go on the show doesn’t guarantee you success. You really have to work hard after the show. I think what a lot of people do, and I did this on CANADIAN IDOL, was that I didn’t win, but I worked extra hard when I got off the show to make sure something happened. Sometimes when you win a show you automatically think that, “well okay, everything’s going to come to me now” and that’s not the case. You really have to use the platform you’ve been given and the fans that you have and really keep that going, keep yourself active online, keep yourself writing music and making new music and just keep yourself active in the industry and social media area.
Mark: No matter what happens to all of the top finalists and everyone else including the winner, don’t stop no matter what because you can’t expect it to just happen overnight. Some people it takes 10 years, some people it takes 10 minutes and you never know whether you win or whether you don’t how long it’s going to be for you. What I can tell you is that if you stop you’re never going to make it there, but if you keep going it’s bound to happen if you love what you do. You’ll never know if you quit.
Dan: The possibilities for a winner after this series are endless. I would really tell them that this is when the work starts even more and they really have to be serious about what they do and never stop practicing and never stop rehearsing. The world is their oyster.
Thank you Tara, Mark and Dan! Check out more of our interview with Dan at /2014/04/08/exclusive-interview-with-dan-kanter-biebers-main-man-and-the-next-stars-newest-judge/. Catch season 7 of THE NEXT STAR on YTV starting in July 2014.