THE ‘ULTIMATE dream’ of a Ryton teenager will be one step closer if she wins a national TV talent show.
Singer-songwriter Kellimarie Willis will perform to thousands at Radio One’s Big Weekend if she triumphs on CBBC show Got What It Takes.
The 14-year-old singer and her mum – former cabaret singer Debbie Nash – have appeared on the programme for the last eight weeks.
The Pattison College pupil has written more than 40 love songs to date, and regularly plays to crowds at The Bear in Rugby and The Fusilier in Leamington Spa – and even played at last year’s Godiva Festival in Coventry.
She said: “The ultimate dream for me is to travel the world and show people what I can do, so winning this competition and being able to perform in front of thousands of people at Radio One’s Big Weekend would be massive for me.
“I had an amazing time in London filming the programme. It meant I was away from home for four weeks with my mum, but I got to meet people like Nick Grimshaw, The Vamps and Callum Scott who were able to give us some tips and advice.”
The TV show searches for the UK’s best young singers. Each week contestants are given a song to sing, while the mothers of the singers in the bottom two each week face off in a challenge – such as a mud run or high step run – to earn their child points.
And mum Debbie is no stranger to the limelight, having supported big name acts such as Atomic Kitten and Lulu.
Debbie said: “I’m immensely proud of Kellimarie and I think she is a lot better than I was!
“If you were to take a bit of Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and Adele and mix them all together – that’s the kind of artist she is.
“She is a quiet girl but as soon as she gets on that stage she comes alive.
“I don’t know anybody that works as hard as Kellimarie does. She’s always in her bedroom writing or learning new songs and that’s how dedicated she is to her music career.”
After episode nine of Got What It Takes airs on Tuesday (April 4), the public will have 24 hours to vote on the CBBC website for who they want to see in the final, which airs on Tuesday April 10.
To rally support, Kellimarie performed in the Fan Village ahead of Wasps Rugby Club’s West Midlands derby with Worcester Warriors on Sunday (March 26).
And her new EP, Under The Same Stars, is now available on all music download and streaming websites.
Featuring four original songs written by Kellimarie, the EP was recorded and filmed at The Strawhouse Studios in Rugby by Big Help Music – which has grown to become the UK’s leading artist development company.
Search Facebook for ‘@kellimariemusic’ or ‘@BigHelpMusic’ to keep up-to-date with Kellimarie’s Live shows and future releases.
