The Next Level Project premiered Friday night at the Bliss Center and was aired live on Channel 7. Like most other talent shows it is a competition, but it’s not only about singing, it’s about developing performing artists. Ten competitors are vying for the next level honour, and 5 debuted on Friday night. So how did the first set do? Keith Swift has a recap.
Keith Swift Reporting,
You saw them perform live on Friday night with a live band and backup singers. And while they soared onstage – behind the curtains – they were swooning. Some of the contestants calmed themselves by singing along to the band’s version of “jamming” – which was played during the commercial breaks.
And when the time came to go on stage – each had a different process
while he or she waited in the wings. A few were telegenic.
Leslie Jenkins, Participant
“It is live here at the Bliss, Next Level Project.”
Ernest Meighan, Participant
“Next Level Project, the butterflies time. When we reach out there things will start flying.”
Deborah Pitts was playful while Lucien seemed nervous. But the judges weren’t nervous – they were frank and forthright.
Nelita Castillo, Judge
“You had a few pitch problems in your modulation. What we call that in the business was shading. You have to shade your performance, don’t blow it all within the first few bars of the song.”
Carlos Parrotte, Judge
“Your big problem is in the phrasing. At the end of all the phrasing,
you go flat.”
Nelita Castillo,
“I don’t want to offend you but why are you wearing a long dress. I would love to see you in a nice funky jeans and sneakers, all funked up because I don’t know how old you are but that dress makes you look much older than you are. It is beautiful but maybe it is not appropriate I feel.”
Carlos Parrotte,
“I love the dress.”
Nelita Castillo,
“I thought you were very sincere in your performance but again exactly what Carlos just said, don’t blow your potential in the first eight to ten bars of a song. Hold something back for later.”
Carlos Parrotte,
“Anytime you hit a high note, you hit it flat and the problem is that you don’t realize that.”
Nelita Castillo,
“Big voice but you mustn’t let the voice control you. You need to sometimes tone it down a little bit.”
But four days later – the next level participants were taking those criticisms in stride.
Leslie Jenkins,
“They will have their say in the competition but I’ve been doing this a long time and nobody hasn’t told me that about shading and so forth but it was very exciting to hear what the
judges had to say and there will always be critics with the judges.”
Deborah Pitts, Participant
“I liked the comments and the critiques from the judges. They were very positive, very constructive and I will use it in my other performances, use it to help better off my other performances and hopefully when everybody sees me for the next performance, they will like the other song that I will sing.”
Keith Swift,
“So you agree with the comment about the dress?”
Deborah Pitts,
“Well to me I could understand her point of view with the dress in terms of how it makes me look more ageable but I use the dress for the mood of the song, that’s how I use the dress.”
Lucien Dawson, Participant
“Well of course being critique is like the hardest part of anything in life, being evaluated, but one lesson that I’ve learnt is that you need to take the critique, whether you don’t agree with them or not and use them in a positive light. So everything that they say I don’t take it for any negativity but I took it for strengthening at the end of the day.”
Ernest Meighan,
“I believe their criticisms are really going to make us be better. It is going to bring out the best in us.”
Our apologies to the fifth competitor, Debbie Castillo who we were unable to track down for the story – we hope to do so later this week. The Next Level Project airs again on Friday October 23rd at 9:00 right here on Channel 7. Now here’s where it stands: the other 5 entertainers more will perform on Friday October 23rd. Only three of Friday night’s participant will advance to the semi-finals. The five participants from group B will perform on October 23rd.
If you want tickets for the show, they are available for 10 dollars each at CY’s and Mala’s and NICH. And if you still haven’t seen the first show it repeats this Friday night at 8:00 here on Channel 7. You can track the participants Next Level Project online on twitter.
