Canada's newest Idol brings his tour to Rebecca Cohn

The way he looks at it, this coast-to-coast tour is a big "thank you" to his Canadian Idol fans.

"They got me to where I am now," reigning title-holder Brian Melo said. The Hamilton native, who won this year's competition, is performing Tuesday at the Rebecca Cohn as part of his nine-province tour.

"It's going to be a crazy ride," said Melo, who was memorable on the show for his wardrobe of hats - he has more than 40 - and for his rendition of Radiohead's Karma Police.

"Me being one of the oldest Idols, the oldest to win, I knew myself as an artist and what I was good at and not good at," the 25-year-old said.

Joining Melo at the Cohn are 17-year-old Elvis idolizer Jaydee Bixby, who was the first runner-up last season, and 21-year-old former B.C. waitress Carly Rae Jespen. The pride of West Pubnico, Yarmouth Co., Dwight d'Eon, will also perform. He finished fourth in this year's singing competition, which ended in September.

Since winning, Melo has been working on his soon-to-be-released debut CD. It's been a fast turnover, from Idol signoff to album pressing.

"I don't think we have jeopardized the quality of the music," Melo said. "We worked with a lot of great writers.

"I have about five co-writes on this album and we've really expressed what I'm about as an artist."

Melo said it was important for him to be involved in the writing process. He wants to be taken seriously as an artist.

"I have been writing seriously since I was six years old," he said. "The whole reason I went to Canadian Idol was to get the exposure and get to work with a label."

In fact, Melo attended the Royans School got the Musical Performing Arts, which also educated Rock Star Supernova winner Lukas Rossi and Our Lady Peace's Raine Maida.

"It gave me confidence in myself," Melo said about his vocal training. As a teenager, Melo was even part of a backup choir which performed on stage with Shania Twain.

"It was one of those moments that made me realize I wanted to do this for the rest of my life," Melo said.

source: http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=81295&sc=95

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