Pride’s Got a Winner

Congratulations on winning! How was the experience of the competition? 

Thank you. Straight off I was made to feel comfortable, as was everyone else. There wasn’t that feeling of a competition atmosphere to be honest. We were all there for the same goal: because we all love music and performing.

I got that sense too when I was involved in the judging process. There’s a genuine sense of comradery.

Completely. You know you’ve made friends for life.

How long have you been singing for?

Since 2008 – when I moved to the UK from New York.

What sparked the singing bug in you?

I moved over to Wales with my mum and all that side of the family have something to do with singing. So I thought I’d try it, starting with musical theatre in school. And it just went from there really.

Watching you perform, I was struck by your range. It’s very impressive. 

Yeah, I guess that comes from always being obsessed with female singers like Whitney Houston back in the day, and Jessie J from more recent times. People like that have always had such an infatuation with the high range of the voice. So when I hit puberty I decided to push it as much as I could.

Would that be your preferred singing style? 

I feel like I can let go more with that style. My chest voice is quite heavy, so it’s hard to maneuver. Whereas when I’m in my falsetto it’s easier to move around with it. I can think of something and do it without having to worry.

You mentioned Whitney Houston; which other artists do you look up to?

It started with Michael Bublé and Jamie Cullum. Jazz was my first love. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin; I just loved how they had this voice that was singing and speaking at the same time. It’s very conversational, and as such incorporates acting too, which I love. For me, they go hand in hand. You can’t be a great singer without being a great actor.

How do you personally connect to a song?

I suppose I hear nothing but the music. It goes back to being trained in musical theatre. I was taught that connection is key. If you don’t believe it the audience won’t.

Is it in the lyrics or the melody? 

A lot of the time it’s the melody. I do understand and convey the lyrics when need be, but for me it’s all about the melody. I love sounds and tones. Often when I listen to a singer I’ll be listening to the tune first to determine if they are good. Only then will I listen to the lyrics. Because nowadays some of the artists out there simply can’t sing. They’re famous because they look good or whatever else it is.

Part of the prize for winning is to perform on the main stage at Pride in London. That’s gonna be a fun one. 

It is indeed! I have a fifteen-minute set to play around with. I’ll definitely be singing ‘Writing’s on the Wall’, which is what I sang at the final.