With blue streaks in her long, lush blonde hair, Jackie Evancho looks more like a typical 15-year-old trying to figure out a way through her teenage years than a global singing sensation.
In 2010, when Evancho made her debut on America's Got Talent, she was just 10. The world fell head over heels in love with her operatic, angelic voice, and she finished second on the show. She was immediately signed to Columbia Records.
Evancho has classical-crossover appeal, touching people with a voice rich in emotional delivery and blessed with an innate innocence.
The release of her O Holy Night EP made her the best selling debut artist of 2010, the youngest top-10 debut artist in US chart history and the youngest solo artist to go platinum. The following year, she came out with her first full length album, Dream With Me, produced by David Foster.
Last year, Evancho gifted the world Awakening, where she departed slightly from classical songs by covering the likes of U2's With Or Without You and The Rains Of Castamere from Game Of Thrones.
Despite her numerous achievements and high profile appearances, which include performing for US President Barack Obama as well as Japan's royal family, Evancho maintains that she's a regular girl who still travels with her family members on tour, and whose father still winces as she mentions her boyfriend.
Recently in town to perform as a special guest for Andrea Bocelli's showcase, Evancho took time out to briefly talk to Life.
When did you discover that you could sing?
When I was eight, I found out that I could sing because of the movie Phantom Of The Opera. The music from that film spoke to me, triggered something inside me, and started to make me sing.
My family is a very talented family, I'm proud to say. My brother sings a bit, but he's just stage shy. My little sister sings pretty well, but in a different style.
You became famous at a very young age. How do you feel your life has changed?
My life has changed a bit. I travel a lot more. I'm noticed a lot more. I've seen a lot of places. I'm more educated and cultured as I get to see a lot of cultures through my travels. Other than that nothing has really changed. I'm still doing chores, unfortunately! I still fight with my siblings. I don't get special treatment, which I love because if I get special treatment, I'd probably turn into a diva, which I do not want.
I'm at home for a good amount of time. When I'm at home, I'm in a state school doing the same amount of work that everyone does. When I leave, I let the teachers know how long I'll be gone for ahead of time, and I'll turn the work they give me in when I come back.
Do your peers resent this?
No. I don't get that from friends either. The school that I'm in does a really great job with that. But there are a few students who will pick on me.
How do you handle that then?
I wasn't aware of it until my brother brought it to my attention yesterday! But it bothers me. It does. But I can't waste my time on that because I have more important things to think about, like getting an education and singing.
Do you feel that you're having a normal teenage life?
For sure, I'm leading a normal teenage life. I have a boyfriend. I have great friends. I think that I have a great, great system set up for me by my family and the people that I work with. They make sure that I have aspects of normal teenage life along with my stage life.
Let's talk about your new album, Awakening. What makes it different from the previous ones?
It stands out from my past albums because it's more experimental. There are different genres out there that I've never sung before, but I had a great time trying it out. The songs are more difficult because my range has changed. There are always gonna be similarities between them because of the style that I sing and the songs that I sing.
I decide what goes in an album. It was a combined effort from me, my parents, my label and my managers to pick out the songs. I went to YouTube, made a list, and picked out the songs. There you go, we have an album.
A lot of people associate classical music with being highbrow and inaccessible. What are your thoughts on such a notion?
It is misrepresented because it can be made cool. You can add different instruments to it, and it still sounds the same, but a little bit more modern, youthful and interesting. That's what I'm kinda trying to do — to get the younger audience. It is a great style. But a lot of people have stereotypical perceptions of it.
Classical-crossover artists are said to spend more time perfecting their image. Do you feel that it's frowned upon?
It is frowned upon. A lot of classical singers think that crossover singers are trying to sing opera, but they're not. They're singing opera and pop. They start to get really critical with you, and point out every flaw you have. It's really irritating but you can't do anything about it. At the same time, it's good advice to take in because it'll help you with your technique, and it helps save your voice. So, it's kind of a necessary evil.
Are you still taking vocal lessons?
No. But I do check in with professionals once in a while to make sure that I don't develop any bad habits. But other than that I've never taken any lessons.
Do you listen to other types of music?
Oh yes, I listen to all kinds of music. I listen to grunge music. I listen to everything. One of my favourite bands now is Royal Blood. I can listen to them, and then I can listen to Mozart.
What else would you like to do in terms of your career?
I would like to perform in the Phantom Of The Opera show. I'd like to be Christine.
