Hempfield sophomore plans 2nd try at 'The Voice'

Sixteen-year-old singer Mia Logan has her sights set on the big time. The Hempfield Area High School sophomore has auditioned for “American Idol” and “The Voice” and, although she didn't make it on either, she isn't going to stop there.

She's active in all things musical at school and is planning her next run at “The Voice.” What little down time she has is spent at home in Youngwood with parents Ken and Luann and a silver Lab named Bubba. Check out her videos on YouTube and performance-related information on Twitter, Instagram and other social-media sources @mialogansinging.

Question: When did you audition for “Idol”?

Answer: I tried out on June 30, 2015, at Schenley Plaza in Oakland. I sang “Black Velvet” by Alannah Myles. I audition with that song a lot.

They only give you 30 seconds before they cut you off. They didn't cut me off; they gave me about a minute. I actually saw one person go through while I was singing and they got about a minute; so while I was singing, I was thinking, “I'm gonna make it!”

They ask you a lot about your story. They said my singing was great, but my story wasn't gonna cut it.

Q: How about “The Voice”?

A: I really liked “The Voice,” first of all because they didn't ask what your story was. That was Jan. 21 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. I thought it was a great experience even though I didn't make it; I wanted mostly to see what it was like.

I did “When We Were Young” by Adele. I'm gonna try out again, and this time I'll sing “Black Velvet” because I feel like I'll get in with that.

Q: How did you get started in music?

A: I used to dance at Seton Hill (University) when I was really little, and I would sing the songs that we would dance to. I was exposed to all kinds of music — from Beethoven to Johnny Cash to AC/DC. I picked out what I liked, and I would sing it.

Q: Do you have a favorite singer?

A: I really, really like Taylor Swift. I've been to a lot of her concerts. At her last concert, she made this speech about all the bullying and the not fitting in that she faced, and it was really nice.

Q: When did you first perform?

A: The first time I sang in front of an audience was in my school talent show at Verna Montessori. I was 8, and I sang “God Bless America.”

Q: What are you involved in now?

A: Every musical thing at school that's possible — musicals, band, jazz band. I play tenor sax and alto sax. I sing for the jazz band. Hempfield is doing “Beauty and the Beast,” and I'm playing the Wardrobe.

Q: Are you performing in public?

A: I sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” a lot. I sang it for the Youngwood 5K every year since it started and for the Hempfield band festival on Sept. 19 — that was my 16th birthday. Last year, when the WPIAL basketball playoffs were held at Hempfield, I sang it four times. My uncle, who's a Vietnam veteran, started this thing with some of his friends called Heroes on the Water, and he takes veterans kayaking at Keystone State Park, so I sang for one of their events. I sang at an MMA (Mixed Marital Arts) event near Cheswick in October.

Q: Do you write songs?

A: I'm working on one song. I went to a Songwriter Girl Camp in Nashville when I was in eighth grade in 2014. They explained the good things about being a songwriter and the downside of it. You'll be broke until you write that hit. You'll be living on the streets one day and in that big house the next.

Q: What do you see in your future?

A: I don't know if I want to major in music because, if music doesn't work out one day, you have to have something to back you up. I'm sort of interested in music law and maybe producing. If you produce, you get to call the shots.

Q: Do you have any other interests?

A: Does marching band count? It's all just music right now. I'm learning how to drive, too. I like driving.

Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-836-5750 or smcmarlin@tribweb.com.