This summer will mark the third edition of the hit reality television singing programme entitled Don't Stop Me Now but for the very first time ever, it will be airing on NET Television starting as from next Thursday, 5th July at 20:30 CET. During the very first night, there will be eighteen (18) semi-finalists who will be brought down to ten (10) by the end of the showcase and those remaining will ultimately compete against each other during the whole series. Thanks to the production team behind the programme, we have managed to obtain the latest news about those who did audition for the roles and these are the eighteen semi-finalists along with their respective biography.
Roderick Attard Ghiller: The oldest participant. He is 30 years old, married and has 1 daughter. His profession is that of a Chef. His father was the one that pushed him to start taking his singing talent seriously. Roderick’s favourite singer is Ronan Keating.
Nicole Cutajar: An 18 year old full time nursing student. Her family consists of loads of pets and her mum pushed her to start taking singing seriously since she thought she had a great voice. Her idol is none other than Whitney Houston.
Deem: Currently reading a degree in Commerce majoring Accounts and Marketing. Singing was always in her veins, but due to certain life circumstances, she had to stop, but fortunately enough, lately, close friends encouraged her to re-pursue this talent. She doesn’t have that particular idol … but her favourite band are The Corrs.
Kevin Cortis: Currently reading a Diploma in Banking and Financial Services at MCAST, 19 year old Kevin’s idol is Beyonce and it was a particular teacher that pushed him into taking the singing seriously.
Norbert Bondin: Attend St.Martins’ Institute, where he is reading a degree in Economy and Managment. He works in a family-run restaurant. His idol is Adele, and his passion for singing was there from a tender age. He was also a finalist in the 2011 Konkors Kanzunetta Indipendenza with the track Int Tkun Hemm written by Philip Vella.
Marlon Bianco: He is a 23 year old guy amongst 4 other siblings, who made the big step alone and started attending singing lessons. His favourite singers are Elton John and Ronan Keating. He auditioned for the 2012 Konkors Kanzunetta Indipendenza getting as far as the second elimination phase with the track Jekk Nippruvaw composed by Paul Abela and penned by Joe Julian Farrugia.
Leanne Axiaq: She is a 22 year old ex-business student at MCAST. She doesn’t have any siblings. From a young age, she enjoyed singing and dancing. Avril Lavigne is her idol. She was one of the semi-finalists of the Talent Żagħżugħ portion of the Konkors Kanzunetta Indipendenza back in 2009 with the song Inkomplu Għalenija composed by Carlo Fenech and penned by Sunny Aquilina.
Graziella Vella: She is an 18 year old student studying at MCAST, reading her first diploma in health and social care. Infact, during the Summer holidays, she will be working as a careworker with down-syndrome children. She doesn’t have any siblings. Her mum was the only that sought the musical talent in her and consequently, she started singing in Doreen Galea’s choir, until she reached the age in which she could start taking individual lessons. Rihanna is her favourite singer.
Fiona Camilleri: She is the middle sibling amongst three girls and she is 21. She is in her 3rd year of tertiary education, reading a degree in Social Work. Her passion for Disney songs and nursery rhymes was always present and nowadays, she admits that she doesn’t live without singing and music. Ingrid Michaleson, Adele ad Dame Kiri Te Kanawa are her favourite singers.
Denise Spiteri: Gozitan teen, who has just finished her A levels, specializing in Pure Maths and Computing. Her ultimate goal is to pursue a course at the University of Malta, whilst also, specializing in music in an international country. She thinks that one is born with music and that’s why singing was something that cam natural for her. Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo are her ultimate idols. Denise was one of the finalists of the Junior Eurosong a couple of years back with the song Eastern Breeze and also the following year with Free Like a Butterfly.
Marysia Azzopardi: She is a 17 year old working student and forms part of a big family (7 members). Music was always a passion and as years went by, this passion grew.
Anabelle Chetcuti: She is the youngest sibbling from 3. She is studying at MCAST Community Service and Diploma for Beauty Specialists. Her parents were her ‘push’. Adele, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga and Sean Paul made a huge impact on her.
Bernard Carabott: He is a 20 year old student worker and has two other sibblings. Started singing following his own initiative. He says that when he doesn’t sing, it’s like there is something missing and he feels very sad.
Clayton Seychell: He is a 16 year Aloysian student. His first opportunity concerning music came when he participated in a school concert. His favouirte group is Take That. Clayton is also the brother of former contestant Letizia Seychell.
Jessica Cachia: She is a 20 year old Delicatessen Assistant in a supermarket and is the youngest amongst 3 sibblings. Jessica started singing in the church’s choir and one fine day, she decided that she wanted to pursue a career in singing and thus, she started singing lessons with Phyllisianne Brincat. Last year, she was a semi-finalist in the Talent Żagħżugħ portion of the Konkors Kanzunetta Indipendenza with the track SOS written by Philip Vella.
Carla Borg: She is a 22 year old student who has just finished the final exams of her third and last year at the University of Malta studying psychology. Infact, in the coming November, she will graduate as a psychologist (Congratulations!). She insisted on mentioning her boyfriend, Justin, who is always right there to give her all the necessary support. Julie Andrews is her idol, and she remembers that, in her childhood, she would grab a hairbrush and starts singing infront of a mirror!
Franklin Calleja: He is currently focusing all his efforts on his musical career. His grandparents were the ones that triggered the musical talent in him. Leona Lewis’s voice inspires him. Franklin was also a finalist in the Junior Eurosong competition a couple of years ago.
Ranier Farrugia: He is an 18 year old IT diploma student at MCAST. Romina Mamo pushed him to start singing lessons after she noticed his talent in a school audition for a play for the school prizeday. His favourite artist is Michael Bublè.
The programme has definitely had a lot of positive factors noting that some of the people who had been on the shows have gone onto become leading artists in the present industry including Francesca Borg, Dario Bezzina, Kurt Calleja, Ylenia Vella and Corinne Caruana. It will be quite interesting to see whether this years' edition of Don't Stop Me Now will find a vocal that will ultimately impress the viewers at home and also the judges in the programme. Stay tuned to escflashmalta.com as we keep you posted with the latest on the local music scene. Don't Stop Me Now will be produced and hosted by Eileen Montesin who in the Eurovision Song Contest community is known for being the commentator for quite a number of years.
