Incase you missed last nights episode of THE NEXT STAR, the top six was announced! Among the top 16 finalists, the chosen six were Melissa from Alberta, JD from Ontario, Parker from BC, Milly from Quebec, April from Manitoba, and Shania from New Brunswick!
The Mag got a chance to chat with the lucky finalists! Here’s what they had to say about making it to the top 6, and much more….
How are you enjoying your time on The Next Star?
Parker: We are so lucky to be here. All the things that famous singers get to do, we now get to do. There are so many opportunities!
April: I love it and I never want to stop!
Milly: It’s been a dream come true because I don’t really perform a lot, I like making YouTube videos, and to do it on stage in front of people is really cool.
What has been your favourite part of the experience so far?
Shania: We get to have amazing friends which we can call family. We get the big stage, we have singing that we can do, and you know, everything that we like wrapped up in one package.
JD: For me it’s definitely been performing in front of an audience. It’s definitely my favourite thing.
Melissa: When we went to Canada’s Wonderland to do a photo shoot. We had to get up at three in the morning and it was fun the whole day. I think that was the highlight of the whole thing.
Parker: Yeah, there are many photo shoots. The pictures are all fun!
Milly: For me, I enjoyed recording my first single, that’s my favourite part.
April: Just hanging out with everybody and having the greatest experience of our lives! You know, having fun and being yourselves and living the dream.
What have the judges told you so far that gave you the biggest impact?
Milly: Don’t be so tense. Shake it all off and be freer.
JD: Being confident in yourself when you’re singing, don’t be unsure of yourself.
What has been the biggest challenge so far?
Melissa: The dancing! We just started taking dance classes and lessons for the choreography of our songs… when I try to put one foot in front of the other I fall. But our choreographer is really patient and he’s really good at dancing but it took us a week to learn our dances so that was one of the harder things for sure.
Milly: I have two [challenges]: my choreography, because I’m like 6 feet so it’s difficult because I’m uncoordinated. Also I don’t have the best vocal technique so that as well, and breathing.
JD: For me, it’s that fact that we have so many songs to do, and we have so little time to learn them…the days are really long and we go home an d that’s when we have to practice. We don’t get much time to just hang out and do whatever we want.
Parker: The hard thing for me would be the pictures because whenever I’m in pictures I tend to squint so I find it hard to keep my eyes open when I take pictures!
What advice would you have for other young performers?
April: Being a star is not being a bratty star. Being open and patient and being nice to everybody because if you’re not nice you won’t get anywhere!
Milly: Be yourself. Forget there are judges and forget there are producers and act like they’re your friends.
JD: Yeah I agree, just be all yourself because if you’re going to put on a mask and be somebody different, that’s way harder than just being yourself. And it definitely comes across if you’re not being yourself, so do what you love to do, not what other people love to do.
What sorts of things help you get on stage and perform?
Shania: I’m following my dream, I’m going to do this, this is what I love best and this is what I’m doing right now.
April: I get inspired by people, especially [my family] and how they support me everywhere I go. Our families are always out to help us.
Melissa: I usually think about the audience, and most people in the audience are there for you, top 6, and they’re all on your side.
Milly: Just knowing that your 6 out of 4000, and everyone already won. You’re pumped up cause you know that you made it so far.
JD: Also, people come to watch, and they’re there to see you, so that’s like wow!
Parker: For me, I don’t get that nervous before I go on stage. It’s kind of weird, I just run through the dance in my head or do some vocal warm ups.
[To Parker] Has anything made you nervous so far?
Parker: I got nervous once, and that was probably on the first studio audience day. That was the only time ‘cause it was the first time we performed in front of a live audience, but as soon as I got on stage I was fine.
Who are your favourite musical influences?
April: Celine Dion because she inspires me in every single way, and I love her!
JD: Marianas Trench
Shania: Carrie Underwood because she was also in a competition and it got her recognized.
Milly: Chris Brown
Melissa: Taylor Swift, Adele, and Whitney Houston. They’re all so different but I try to make different styles of music by combining those people.
Parker: John Mayer and the Rascal Flatts.
Thank you, Shania, Parker, Melissa, JD, April, and Milly! Catch THE NEXT STAR every Monday at 7pm on YTV. Don’t miss the outcome of THE NEXT STAR when it’s announced at the finale live on September 25th. In the meantime, vote for your favourite from the Top 6 at ytv.com!