New season of Mentor from April
By CHEW WAN YING
After three months of lengthy discussions, phone calls and sleepless nights, producer Muhamad Sufian Isa finally found the perfect singers to become mentors for the latest season of, well, Mentor.
For the uninitiated, Mentor is a reality show by TV3, which helped unearth new singing talents such as Black, last season’s winner who went on to win Best Vocalist at the 24th Anugerah Juara Lagu this year.
In the show, the contestants will be taken under the wings of different mentors - comprising renowned singers or musicians such as Amy Search - as they vie for the first place.
In other words, the mentors hold the key to discovering - and nurturing - the next big talent.
The latest line-up of mentors was unveiled at Sri Pentas, TV3, recently.
Last year’s mentor, Mas Idayu, was once again roped in, along with former Mentor advisor Azmeer, while other mentors were popular singers Dayang Nurfaizah, Ziana Zain, Mus and Joe Flizzow.
NEW MENTORS: (from left) Joe Flizzow, Ziana Zain, Dayang Nurfaizah, Mas Idayu, Mus and Azmeer
Muhamad Sufian said it was the best line-up he could get.
“The three months when we were trying to look for the mentors were the toughest. We faced a lot of pressure getting established singers to say yes,” he said, adding that some big names they had approached never returned their calls.
Mas, who mentored Black in the third season, was the first person approached by the Mentor team.
“I view this as another chance for me to unearth another protégé after Black,” she said, adding that she hopes to get someone who is better than, if not equally good as last season's winner.
The dangdut singer had shown 110% commitment during her stint in the third season, said Muhamad Sufian, which was why she was approached for the latest season.
Meanwhile, Azmeer, who was previously an adviser, is going to be on the receiving end of comments and maybe, criticism, this time.
“This is the time when I’ll learn from my mistakes. I’m human and I’m sure I have my flaws, too. This time I’m looking forward to getting feedback from viewers on how to improve.”
Both Mus and Ziana Zain wish to find someone that shares similarities with them.
The former is looking for a rocker who is capable of handling other genres, while the latter hopes to find someone that is punctual and able to accept criticism, just like herself.
“I don’t mind seeing a newbie imitating me, but let me train him or her and help cultivate his or her own identity as well as stage presence. Without that, no matter how good you look, you wouldn’t be able to make it,” said Ziana.
Just when many thought Joe, from Too Phat, is eyeing for another rapper, he surprised everyone by revealing that it is more of an R&B singer that he is looking for.
On the other hand, if you know how to play instruments, it would be an advantage if you want to be mentored by Dayang.
“I hope to find someone who has talents other than singing. I have mixed feelings right now because I know it’s not easy to find a protégé,” she said, adding that the qualities she is looking for in a protégé is versatility, discipline and willingness to learn.
By the way, just in case you are wondering, it is only pure coincidence that the majority of the winners of the show turned out to be rock singers, explained Muhamad Sufian.
“It does not mean that rock singers stand a higher chance of winning. It just happened that the strength of (second season winner) Fiq and Black is rock. (First season winner) Pija is quite versatile. It’s all up to the viewers’ votes as well as how the mentors guide their protégés.”
For this season, each mentor will only handle a contestant, instead of multiple protégés and the names of advisers will be announced later.
A series of auditions will be held at the Theatrette, Sri Pentas TV3, from Feb 21 to Mar 21. For more details, log on to www.tv3.com.my/mentor4
*Mentor will be shown on every Sunday at 9pm, starting from April 11.
Published Feb 5 2010
Comments (2)
tarikh 13 mac 2010??