Elton's John protege: little girl, big voice
- 12 years ago
This is the moment 13-year-old Scottish R&B and soul singer Tallia Storm went from a virtual unknown to a rising teen star.
The little girl with the big voice opened for Elton John at his recent concert in Falkirk, located some 30 miles west of the Scottish capital Edinburgh.
A week after, neither she nor her parents could believe she'd pulled it off.
SOUNDBITE: Scottish Singer Tallia Storm, 13, saying (English):
"They're still shocked (on how her parents reacted). I think they were surprised I did it, I mean 17,000 people, I mean I'm surprised I did it to be honest."
It all started when the teen was on holiday in Hawaii with her family, staying at the same hotel as John and his partner David Furnish.
Hoping to get John's attention, she gave Furnish her demo tape while he was having breakfast.
SOUNDBITE: Scottish Singer Tallia Storm, 13, saying (English):
"I went up to him, he was so nice and humble really, and I thought, there's my chance, when is a Glasgow girl going to get a chance to see him ever?"
Her voice has been compared to her other idols Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and Sarah Vaughn.
All without having any formal singing lessons.
It's thanks to her jazz musician father, who she used to sing with at a very early age.
SOUNDBITE: Scottish Singer Tallia Storm, 13, saying (English):
"My dad's a jazz pianist so I'd come home and they'd always work. So he would come home and play piano. He wouldn't come home and play X-Box, he'd play piano so I'd always sing with him."
In just a couple years, Storm's outrageous hair and colourful style has fast made her a red carpet favourite.
She recently sang at the Teen Choice Awards after party in Los Angeles, has become a blogger for news website the Huffington Post, and appeared in several fashion magazines including Teen Vogue.
Still, Storm is taking it all in her stride, thanks to the advice of Elton John.
SOUNDBITE: Scottish Singer Tallia Storm, 13, saying (English):
"You've just got to enjoy it because it just might not happen again and just go with it."
While still attending school, Storm is currently working on her debut album, produced by none other than her father.
Cindy Martin, Reuters
The little girl with the big voice opened for Elton John at his recent concert in Falkirk, located some 30 miles west of the Scottish capital Edinburgh.
A week after, neither she nor her parents could believe she'd pulled it off.
SOUNDBITE: Scottish Singer Tallia Storm, 13, saying (English):
"They're still shocked (on how her parents reacted). I think they were surprised I did it, I mean 17,000 people, I mean I'm surprised I did it to be honest."
It all started when the teen was on holiday in Hawaii with her family, staying at the same hotel as John and his partner David Furnish.
Hoping to get John's attention, she gave Furnish her demo tape while he was having breakfast.
SOUNDBITE: Scottish Singer Tallia Storm, 13, saying (English):
"I went up to him, he was so nice and humble really, and I thought, there's my chance, when is a Glasgow girl going to get a chance to see him ever?"
Her voice has been compared to her other idols Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and Sarah Vaughn.
All without having any formal singing lessons.
It's thanks to her jazz musician father, who she used to sing with at a very early age.
SOUNDBITE: Scottish Singer Tallia Storm, 13, saying (English):
"My dad's a jazz pianist so I'd come home and they'd always work. So he would come home and play piano. He wouldn't come home and play X-Box, he'd play piano so I'd always sing with him."
In just a couple years, Storm's outrageous hair and colourful style has fast made her a red carpet favourite.
She recently sang at the Teen Choice Awards after party in Los Angeles, has become a blogger for news website the Huffington Post, and appeared in several fashion magazines including Teen Vogue.
Still, Storm is taking it all in her stride, thanks to the advice of Elton John.
SOUNDBITE: Scottish Singer Tallia Storm, 13, saying (English):
"You've just got to enjoy it because it just might not happen again and just go with it."
While still attending school, Storm is currently working on her debut album, produced by none other than her father.
Cindy Martin, Reuters