Two Columbus natives travel to Hollywood after receiving “gold tickets” to their American Idol auditions.
Tryzdin Grubbs (16) and Deshawn Goncalves (20) appeared on March 14th for judges Lionel Ritchie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan at “American Idol” and received the green light for the competition.
Grubbs, a sophomore at Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School, grew up a singer.
When he was 11 years old, a YouTube video singing Adele’s “Hello” earned him millions of views and the interest of British indie band Saint Mars, who recruited him to join them on two songs Work bullying.
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“They wanted me to do some backup vocals and be a featured artist. Two songs became three and three became a whole album. As of now, I’m the permanent lead singer of the group, ”he said from his Columbus home.
In the meantime, Grubbs was busy auditioning for music shows.
“I auditioned twice for ‘The Voice’ and three times for ‘America’s Got Talent’ but I never got to the point where I actually stood before the judges. After being told no so many times, I slowly gave up the idea of auditioning for such shows at all. “
Then, in October 2020, his mother received a call from a casting agent about open auditions for American Idol.
“I had three days to prepare four songs. I sang them to producers on a Zoom call for four and a half hours, and that night they told me I was going to San Diego to see the judges. “
There was a lot of waiting when he got to San Diego.
“In the waiting areas, the chairs were two meters apart and you had to wear masks, but you could talk to other participants, sing with them, and have jam sessions. I’ve made a lot of really good friends. But we were never allowed to go into each other’s rooms or talk outside the waiting room. They wanted to make sure we stayed two feet apart and that we were wearing masks. “
Grubbs’ audition was particularly nerve-wracking. During his song, Lewis Capaldi’s “Before You Go,” the judges stopped him and, after a brief pep talk, asked him to try someone else. He started in James Arthur’s “Nobody” and convinced her.
“I wanted to show them that I have a reach, that I can sing softly, but also with a real belt. So “Before You Go” should start softly and then grow big as you get to the chorus. But they stopped me before I could get to that point. I was glad I picked ‘Nobody’ because it starts off softly, but it quickly turns into a really big chorus. “
On March 14, Deshawn Goncalves, who grew up in Columbus and graduated from East High School and the Fort Hayes Career Center in 2019, also auditioned.
Goncalves is now a sophomore at Jackson State University, Mississippi, majoring in music technology and performance.
“I do a lot of vocal training and build up my music theory knowledge,” he said from Los Angeles, where he was preparing for Idol’s Hollywood week.
Since classes this year will be practically in Jackson state, he will be staying with his family in Cleveland while attending school.
Like Grubbs, he began to sing at an early age.
“My grandmother was a choir director and she was very involved in the church. She made sure that I was very committed to the church and that music was always there. “
Goncalves also plays several instruments.
“If you can name it, I can probably play it!” he said.
On the Jackson State campus, he was in the marching band, playing the trombone and sousaphone.
But his first love is the piano, which he began to play eight years ago and which he played as part of his “Idol” prelude.
“I like that it covers all of the dynamics of the music, the highs, the lows, whatever lies in between. It is the mother of all instruments, ”he said.
“American Idol” has been on his radar for years.
“It was my dream to be part of it since I was a child. When I saw my favorite singers come through the show, Fantasia, Kelly Clarkson, I feel like I’ve been preparing for this all my life. So to be here – I’m overwhelmed. It just feels really good. “
Last Sunday he made it through a smooth audition to the general praise of the judges.
“I think that comes from a lot of accomplishment over the years. I am learning to calm my nerves and trust in myself that I will deliver what I can. I just wanted to be perfect. “
For his audition number he chose Bernard Ighner’s “Everything Must Change”, which had previously been performed by Nina Simone and Quincy Jones, among others.
“You will never catch me singing something I don’t feel connected to,” he said. “I wanted to do something that applies to my life right now. My life is changing before my eyes. “
At a glance
“American Idol” airs Sundays and Mondays at 8:00 p.m. on WSYX-TV (Channel 6). Deshawn Goncalves will perform on Monday night; It is uncertain when Tryzdin Grubbs will perform next.
