Interview | Shealeigh, Disney’s Next Big Thing

For Shealeigh Voitl, the past few months have been a whirlwind. On December 7, the 13-year-old singer from west-suburban Bartlett was named the winner of Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing competition, an American Idol–style talent contest where Radio Disney listeners and watchers of the Disney Channel vote for their favorite performers.

(Just) Shealeigh—she’s dropped Voitl from her stage name—took the title after 15 weeks of competition against four other solo singers and bands chosen by Disney. As the winner, she’ll have a single released by Disney Music Group.

Time Out Chicago Kids caught up with Shealeigh earlier this week, after she returned from a national tour and the NBT live finale performance in Los Angeles.

What’s changed now that you’re Disney’s Next Big Thing? 
I definitely have a couple of new people at school who know [who I am], now that it’s been posted everywhere. I actually don’t think my social life—[coming] back to Chicago, being here—has really changed that much. I’m still Shealeigh, the girl from Chicago. I definitely think people know how much I wanted this, and how my dreams came true.

And you’re back at school?
Yes, I am. I was really excited to go back to school to hear what everybody had to say. I got to tell everyone about the whole experience, which was really cool, and definitely the show’s finale [where she beat runner-up Zach Montana] was a topic at the lunch table. 

What did you learn about the music industry and about performing, while on the show?
In all those different cities, performing everywhere, I definitely think I learned some techniques for how to be on stage. I had done local stuff around Chicago, but I really never talked on stage. I just sang my songs, and that’s it. Realizing that you have to actually entertain the crowd, I got comfortable and started talking to the audience. At the beginning of the tour, I remember being really shy. I learned how to talk on stage and connect with the audience more.

There are quite a few kids covering your song “What Can I Say,” and uploading the videos to YouTube. Have you watched any?
I YouTube it at least once a day to look and see what new ones pop up. I comment on them. It’s just so flattering to have people really like your song enough to put in the effort to sing it and post it on YouTube. It means so much to me that they really enjoy the music that I write and sing. I remember doing so many covers on YouTube, and hoping that the original singer would see it. Now I can actually say that I’m the singer and comment on their videos.

You were discovered by Ellen DeGeneres on YouTube.
I was actually on her show. She saw my video on YouTube. It was [a cover of] “Shark in the Water,” by V V Brown. I was singing it, and apparently [DeGeneres] really liked that song. Before I knew it, I was on her show. Hopefully, I will see her [again] in the future. She was such a nice person. It was really great to meet her, be on her show and sing for her audience.

Tell us about filming the video for “What Can I Say” in downtown Chicago.
It was a new experience for me, to be all around the city singing my song, having people walk by and ask what was going on. It was really cool to to go around and sing my song in my favorite city in the entire world. 

What are some of your favorite Chicago places?
I love Navy Pier. There’s always something to do there. I also love Millennium Park, with the Bean. Those are my top two. And the House of Blues for concerts. It’s just such a cool place to be.

Would you like to perform there someday?
I would love to perform at House of Blues. I’ve seen so many concerts there. The whole place is so welcoming and lovely.

What are some favorite memories of concerts there?
I saw Cody Simpson and Greyson Chance there. I remember going to see Naked Brothers Band a while back. I saw Action Item and Hollywood Ending, so that was cool, to see them in concert during their tour. They did an absolutely fantastic job, and it was cool to see them again.

We hear that you’re a big Taylor Swift fan, too.
I think for me as a songwriter, it’s really cool how she just puts her feelings down on a piece of paper, and shows it to the world. Not only that, she’s an amazing role model. She’s so kind. I don’t even think I have to meet her to know that. She just comes off so genuine. I would love to meet her someday.

What advice would you give someone thinking about auditioning for the Next Big Thing, or just starting to write music?
If you love it, then keep going. Never give up. Keep loving what you do, and maybe something can actually happen. I was just some little girl in Chicago singing around my neighborhood. That’s actually what got me here. I didn’t stop singing. If you really love what you do, keep going. Don’t give up.

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Listen for Shealeigh’s single “What Can I Say” in the movie Radio Rebel, premiering on the Disney Channel in early 2012.