May City's Mayer comes up short, eyes record deal anyway
By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, August 05, 2008
May City, Iowa, native Shawn Mayer sings during an earlier “Nashville Star” program. Mayer, one of three finalists on the show, wasn’t the winner but still will work on a record deal. (Submitted photo)
Siouxlander Shawn Mayer didn't win the "Nashville Star" competition Monday night but that doesn't mean her dream is dead.
"I've already been pulled aside by (judges) Jeffrey Steele and John Rich," she said. "They've offered to help me out, introduce me to the right people, find the right managers and get me a deal. I'm so blessed just to have made it this far."
Mayer, a 21-year-old resident of May City, Iowa, and Gabe Garcia, the competition's only Hispanic singer, lost to Melissa Lawson, a housewife and mother of five from Texas. Lawson is guaranteed a record deal and a gig performing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Today, Lawson's first single -- "What If All Goes Right?" -- will be released to country radio stations. Mayer says it's "a lot like Kelly Clarkson's 'A Moment Like This.'" All three recorded the song earlier in the week so that it'd be ready for the Tuesday release. Rich, who produced all three versions, was looking for one song that would fit each of the finalists.
During the recording session, Mayer said, she and Rich got along famously. "I was more picky than he was," she said. "We argued a lot back and forth. I wanted to recut it ... he was complimenting me a lot."
Earlier in the competition, Mayer "fired" Rich as her mentor. The two butted heads and realized they weren't a good team. That moment, she said, was a turning point for both of them. "Just because they're famous doesn't mean you have to be a 'yes man' person. You've always got to hold true to yourself ... but you have to do it respectfully. I didn't say, 'I can't stand you.' It was us sitting down and me saying, 'I'm not getting what I need to improve myself. It's just not working right now.'"
The two agreed to disagree and Steele was assigned as Mayer's mentor. Since then, she has plowed through the competition, winding up in the final three.
Last week, Rich said Mayer had a dark personality when the contest started. "It was like a dark cloud hanging over her head," he said.
Mayer agreed. "I am very hard on myself ... but when I came into this competition I was very self-conscious. I always have been. I never looked at myself as being attractive. The dark cloud was me putting myself down."
The "Nashville Star" process, however, "helped me start loving myself. I have confidence. I believe in myself even more now that America has voted. I realize I'm special in my own way."
Like the other finalists, Mayer will go on tour later this year. Then, she'll continue to pursue the dream of a recording contract.
"I can guarantee I'll still be playing music and doing shows, even if it's not on a large scale," she said. "It's just so great playing to people who aren't shooting pool, watching football on TV or aren't using you as background noise.
"And, thanks to 'Nashville Star,'" I get to give inspiration to other people. You have to be aware of people looking up to you, people who supported you. So, no matter what happens, you have to embrace the fact you're doing what you love."
Mayer made it to the final three, she said, "because I wasn't scared to show emotion and show how much this all means to me. I've been working hard the last seven years. It's not the pressure. I was actually here, doing this. It was my dream sitting in my hands ... and I never thought I had it won. I guess I just showed how thankful I was. No matter how big you get, you've to got to stay true to who you are."
What did Bruce think?
Bruce Miller reacts to the judge's decision and the contestants' performances on the Bruce Blog at www.siouxcityjournal.com.
Friends, fans despair
Shawn Mayer's friends and fans gathered at JR's bar in Melvin last night to watch show. See how they reacted by visiting www.siouxcityjournal.com after noon today.
"I've already been pulled aside by (judges) Jeffrey Steele and John Rich," she said. "They've offered to help me out, introduce me to the right people, find the right managers and get me a deal. I'm so blessed just to have made it this far."
Mayer, a 21-year-old resident of May City, Iowa, and Gabe Garcia, the competition's only Hispanic singer, lost to Melissa Lawson, a housewife and mother of five from Texas. Lawson is guaranteed a record deal and a gig performing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Today, Lawson's first single -- "What If All Goes Right?" -- will be released to country radio stations. Mayer says it's "a lot like Kelly Clarkson's 'A Moment Like This.'" All three recorded the song earlier in the week so that it'd be ready for the Tuesday release. Rich, who produced all three versions, was looking for one song that would fit each of the finalists.
During the recording session, Mayer said, she and Rich got along famously. "I was more picky than he was," she said. "We argued a lot back and forth. I wanted to recut it ... he was complimenting me a lot."
Earlier in the competition, Mayer "fired" Rich as her mentor. The two butted heads and realized they weren't a good team. That moment, she said, was a turning point for both of them. "Just because they're famous doesn't mean you have to be a 'yes man' person. You've always got to hold true to yourself ... but you have to do it respectfully. I didn't say, 'I can't stand you.' It was us sitting down and me saying, 'I'm not getting what I need to improve myself. It's just not working right now.'"
The two agreed to disagree and Steele was assigned as Mayer's mentor. Since then, she has plowed through the competition, winding up in the final three.
Last week, Rich said Mayer had a dark personality when the contest started. "It was like a dark cloud hanging over her head," he said.
Mayer agreed. "I am very hard on myself ... but when I came into this competition I was very self-conscious. I always have been. I never looked at myself as being attractive. The dark cloud was me putting myself down."
The "Nashville Star" process, however, "helped me start loving myself. I have confidence. I believe in myself even more now that America has voted. I realize I'm special in my own way."
Like the other finalists, Mayer will go on tour later this year. Then, she'll continue to pursue the dream of a recording contract.
"I can guarantee I'll still be playing music and doing shows, even if it's not on a large scale," she said. "It's just so great playing to people who aren't shooting pool, watching football on TV or aren't using you as background noise.
"And, thanks to 'Nashville Star,'" I get to give inspiration to other people. You have to be aware of people looking up to you, people who supported you. So, no matter what happens, you have to embrace the fact you're doing what you love."
Mayer made it to the final three, she said, "because I wasn't scared to show emotion and show how much this all means to me. I've been working hard the last seven years. It's not the pressure. I was actually here, doing this. It was my dream sitting in my hands ... and I never thought I had it won. I guess I just showed how thankful I was. No matter how big you get, you've to got to stay true to who you are."
What did Bruce think?
Bruce Miller reacts to the judge's decision and the contestants' performances on the Bruce Blog at www.siouxcityjournal.com.
Friends, fans despair
Shawn Mayer's friends and fans gathered at JR's bar in Melvin last night to watch show. See how they reacted by visiting www.siouxcityjournal.com after noon today.
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cook wrote on Aug 5, 2008 5:40 PM:
caption man wrote on Aug 5, 2008 8:46 AM: