Attention students, we have a new singer in our midst…20 year old Willa Ford, who hails from Ruskin, Florida, has a debut CD due out in early July.

While claiming early influences from people like Madonna, the outrageous Cyndi Lauper, and Duran Duran, her songs tend to reflect the vocal stylings and background beats of a typical pop song.

I thought about calling Willa, real name: Amanda Williford, just another part of the teen pop-star fad, but she's not quite a teenager, and according to her promoter, was an honor student with a 4.25 GPA. Not only that, but apparently, Willa writes many of her own lyrics…not too shabby.

Originally considering a career as an opera singer, all those plans changed when and LA talent scout hear her sing. But, she is no primadonna. She's not really even another Toni Braxton, another claimed influence. Willa's voice, while more mature and refined then, oh say, Mandy Moore's, still could use some work.

At the end of "Ooh Ooh" a vocalist, I assume Willa, breaks into the expected vocal showcase that consists of fancy scales, trills, and going as high as possible. Suffices to say that Willa's lower register is better developed then her higher register. Maybe some more practice, or even just air pressure would really help those notes. Right now, once she hits a certain point, it sounds like a tea kettle whistling.

Now, don't completely dismiss Willa Ford, she does have quite a set of lungs and voice on her, and, if previous female artists can provide an image cut out of what the general public wants in a singer, Willa will definitely be going places, even though, without any more training, she's not likely to be the primadonna in an opera.






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