"You should try out for American Idol" is the typical first response of those people who have heard Lindsay Vitola sing. If she had a dime for every time she heard that, she'd be a millionaire.
The fact is she lasted all of 9 seconds before preliminary judges said, "Thanks but no thanks". That was moments before a guy in a lobster suit was passed on to the next round. So what does that tell you?
Typical of her sweet and humble nature, the 24-year-old simply shrugs her shoulders and
smiles when the subject is brought up.
While gimmicks and luck have propelled lesser performers on a faster track to the spotlight, Vitola is at heart a true vocalist and lets her voice speak for itself. And that it does. From show tunes to rock n' roll, she has the kind of voice thatgives people goosebumps...literally.
Her time will come, and Tampa, you have an opportunity to see a rising star in its infancy. Six months ago Vitola was singing while playing her keyboard in her bedroom. But since that time, stints at That's Amore on Harbour Island and The Fly downtown have propelled her burgeoning career toward a path which has her booked, with band Mighty Mongo, six nights a week at various venues throughout Western Florida.
Here at AS*I*BE there isn't a second of hesitation when we say Lindsay Vitola is unequivocally one of the greatest talents in the Bay Area. And you can see in the following interview, she's witty and intelligent as well.
AS*I*BE: When was the first time you remember saying, "I want to sing"?
LV: I was five years old hanging out at my grandmother's house and she was teaching me how to play Yankee Doodle on the piano. Somewhere between feathers and macaroni, something just clicked, and I was a goner. Much like I imagine people feel when they fall in love, I didn't want to do or see or be around anything else. I spent that whole summer at her house cultivating my love for singing and performing. My grandmother showed me old musicals, from Shirley Temple and Elvis to Gene Kelly and Judy Garland, brought me to church to sing in the choir with her twice a week, and taught me everything I know about the piano. I was a really lucky kid.
AS*I*BE: Where was the first place you performed solo in front of a crowd?
LV: I was in first grade and sang an Amy Grant song clutching a Bible in one hand and a Precious Moments doll in the other at my school's annual talent show. At the dress rehearsal, the teacher running the show said that if I wanted to sing, I had to hold props during my song to limit my mobility and keep the performance from becoming too "flashy". Apparently the things I had learned studying Elvis at grandma's house was not received well by my elementary school.
AS*I*BE: What are your top three songs to sing?
LV: I think one of the coolest things about music is its ability to
essentially transcend reality and bring you back to specific
memories in your life. I love the way the opening measure of a song
can completely rock someone's world. No one can really articulate
the way they feel when they hear their favorite song - they just feel
it in their soul, to their core. It has the power to
amplify whatever
you're feeling in a particular moment.
If I'm in a good mood on a Saturday morning and a song I like
comes on the radio... dude, forget it. The windows go down,
volume goes up, and I make a complete fool out of myself dancing
as hard as the front seat will allow. Why do you think expectant
mothers put headphones on their bellies? Why do movies have
soundtracks? Why do people take so much pride in burning a cd for
a friend? Because music is the most fluid and effective medium
through which emotions can travel in the most powerful of ways. It
is the language of the world (math-schmath). My favorite songs to
sing are constantly changing, but the list is based on songs that
remind me of memories I enjoy reliving at the moment my top
three are:
*Every Disney Movie song EVER! Don't front on that Goofy Movie
soundtrack!
* Hardest Part Coldplay
* Bad Reputation Joan Jett
AS*I*BE: That's a fairly indiscriminate list. What did you grow up listening to?
LV: I'm a huge fan of the Beatles and Led Zepplin and the debate over which band is the greatest of all time is one I'm still battling with in my head. I appreciate range, and artists or groups which can't be defined in simple terms.
AS*I*BE: If you could sing at any venue in the world, where would it be?
LV: I would love to sing on Broadway in New York City! My brother and I used to run through the house pretending our hallways were New York City alleys, snapping our fingers like only a true Jet could. I'm pretty sure that qualifies me for the stage. As far as concert venues go, I don't think it gets any better than The Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington.
AS*I*BE: You're the oldest of five children, from a family born and raised in Spring Hill. With the holidays upon us, what do you want to say to your family and everybody else reading?
LV: I am the biggest made-for-TV-movie cliché when it comes to the Holidays! It is my absolute most favorite time of year (I started breaking out the Christmas music in September). I think it's the faith people have in the Holiday season that makes it so special. Furthermore, I think family is the most delicate gift we are given in this life, and the one that is also taken the most for granted. I hope everyone remembers to treat each other with love and respect this holiday season. I know at times it doesn't feel like it, but no matter what, there will always be so much in this world worth being thankful for.
Check out Lindsay's voice at www.myspace.com/lindsayvitola
Mighty Mongo w/ Lindsay Vitola plays at Vintage in St. Pete every Saturday Night and The Grove in Inverness ever Friday Night