Talent search finds Natasha

11:44am Friday 29th February 2008

Hot on the heels of Wycombe teenager Becky Wixon's success in the national Live and Unsigned music competition, another Buckinghamshire schoolgirl has made it through to the final stages.

Natasha Odell, 14, from Downley will perform for a place in the regional final in late March, after impressing the judges with her rendition of Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer.

"I sing and dance, and it gives me such a buzz. I just like to entertain."

Natasha Odell

She says: "I was so nervous, but now I am really excited. I am really happy, and now I am just practising and working even more on the song."

Natasha has been musical from an early age, and attends High Wycombe based Jackie Palmer Stage School.Through the school, Natasha has appeared in Joseph in the West End, a touring production of Annie, which appeared at the Wycombe Swan, and is currently filming as an extra in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

Her talent is all the more amazing, considering she spent five weeks in the Special Care Baby Unit at Wycombe Hospital when she was born eight weeks early with underdeveloped lungs.

"I have been musical most of my life," Natasha says. "My family have always been very supportive, and they love me singing.

Natasha would like to do more musical theatre, and she tells me: "I sing and dance, and it gives me such a buzz. I just like to entertain."

The Live and Unsigned competition is for unsigned bands and singers across the country, and offers then a chance to be discovered. It attracted more than 10,000 acts this year.

The winner of the Under 18's category gets the option to record a track written by Lemar and Mark Hill (Craig David's producer), and also to record an album.

Natasha says: "This competition is such a good opportunity for me to get noticed, and will be great experience for me."

The regional final is taking place on Thursday, March 20 at South Parade Pier in Portsmouth.

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