Anticipation clung to her body as she sat erect in the designated waiting area. Fear trickled through her spine with each passing minute. Waiting was the hardest part for her. Her name was called, and as she sauntered deeper into the arena, the fear dissipated.
Junior Darbi Shaun Lacagnina auditioned for American Idol.
Lacagnina has claimed herself as aTexascountry singer-songwriter. Ever since she was little, she wanted to sing. In third grade, she already sang a solo in her church choir.
“It practically all started when I sang in my church choir at the time,” Lacagnina said.
Lacagnina happened upon theSchoolofRockinDallas,TXJuly, 2010, where she took the liberty of recording five original songs in the professional studios, spending hours upon hours perfecting her songs.
“It was really cool,” she said. “I loved it. You get to work on music and really focus on the songs. It is really cool to see a song evolve from the raw stage to the completed version.”
Since recording, Lacagnina has performed original songs in public places like Houston Premium Outlets and the Texas Opry. Her family and friends support her and attend every one of her performances.
“I am really fortunate for my friends and family, they are a huge support,” Lacagnina said. “They come to my performances and encourage me to keep doing what I love.”
On Aug. 26, she took those few brave steps and auditioned for American Idol. She showed up at Reliant Stadium, signed in and sat in the blue concert seats that surrounded the arena, and waited for her section to be called down to perform.
“Waiting was the scariest part, but auditioning was really exciting,” she said. “It was an experience to have.”
They called her section down to the floor and she stood in front of an audience of two producers.
“It is not like what everybody sees on TV. It is just the producers,” Lacagnina said.
She auditioned with “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley, a song she knew by heart, but in the end, she did not make it.
“I guess I just wasn’t what they were looking for,” she said.
With just the producers’ final and only word ‘no’ to her, she bounced out of Reliant Stadium without a single tear, only taking it as a “cool” experience.
Despite the setback, this is not dissuading her to follow her dream. She is still sings and performs; anyone interested can look up her performing dates on her website, darbishaun.com. She has recently put a new EP together with five original songs, two of which she wrote with the producer of the songs, Jude Martinez. The EP can be purchased on iTunes.
“Everyone is going to have different opinions of my music and not everyone is going to like it,” Lacagnina said. “But doing this has always been something I loved.”
Lacagnina is not sure whether or not she will try out for American Idol again. She’s basing the decision on what happens this year with her career and with school.
She said that if her singing career does not take off like she is hoping for, then she will go to college to major in music.
“I recommend to anybody trying to get into recording and professionally singing to make sure that they love what they’re doing and go for their dreams,” she said.