Orléans vocalist wows music industry professionals

Fourteen-year-old Kira Isabella was given the Blyth Festival’s Rising Star award in May after performing for industry bigwigs such as musicians Jamie Warren and Cathy Korpi as well as Janice Pym, an agent for Warren and artists Duane Steele and Big Mike Callan.

The whirlwind of activity leading to Isabella’s win began shortly after her arrival in Blyth, in Huron County just north of Kitchener.

First up was a sound check, followed that evening by a preliminary competition, where Isabella qualified for finals the following day by singing versions of Martina McBride’s When God Fearing Women Get the Blues and Stay, written by country band Sugarland. “Then I sang my two songs again at the finals,” she says, adding with a slightly embarrassed laugh, “and then I won.”

Along with the validation of her skills that comes with such an award, Isabella has also won more than $7,000 worth of time in a professional studio to record a single as well as consultations with promotional experts to help get the word out.

The scheduling of those recording sessions was still in the works late last week but the young singer is looking ahead with great anticipation. “I’m going to get a couple of demos,” she says. “I’m really excited about it. It’s going to be fun.”

Although Isabella will continue to interpret the songs of other artists, she is developing original material on the guitar. “My parents say I’ve been singing around the house and things like that since I was two years old,” she says. “When I was six, old enough to read lyrics, they put me in singing lessons. It’s always been something that I just love to do. “I’ve been doing it for so long now,” she adds. “I’ve always just been so passionate about it. I couldn’t imagine my life without it. I’m always learning new techniques from my teacher. And I love listening to music.”

For the time being at least, Isabella says the country genre will remain her focus but, with many years of development still ahead, she hints that many things are possible. “Right now I really like country; it’s definitely my favourite. In the future I guess I’m thinking about (trying other styles) but right now, it’s mostly country.”

While the culture is permeated with clichéd notions of exasperated parents demanding their teens ‘turn that noise down,’ Isabella notes that she inherited her enduring love of country from her parents. “Country has always been my favourite. My parents love it, too. They’re always playing country albums so I’m always around it.”

Isabella names Shania Twain, Gretchen Wilson, Faith Hill and female-fronted Sugarland as her favourites. “Mostly females,” she adds, “but I like a lot of guys too. I really like Dirk Bentley (and) Keith Urban.”

Isabella won’t be losing any of her momentum with an idle summer vacation; she plans to continue performing at weddings, retirement residences and has a number of fundraising gigs lined up. Last Saturday, she performed a 30-minute set at Fallingbrook Plaza. “(I’m going to spend the summer) singing as much as I can (and) getting as much exposure as I can.” -- By Steve Fouchard