TWENTY-year-old Talisa Rabaka is aiming to go all the way and claim the winner’s prize in the Na Domo singing competition.
And if her performance at Tuesday night’s preliminary round is anything to go by, she could very well be on her way.
Talisa gave a soulful rendition of the Etta James classic I’d Rather Go Blind stunning the audience that gathered at Downtown Boulevard in Suva with her powerful voice. Talisa said she chose the song because she loved the work of Etta James.
Speaking after her performance, Talisa said she was nervous before stepping up on stage but felt that she had done a good job.
“I feel good, I think I did good up there. The judges said that next time I need to add a little more emotion to the performance,” she said.
“Maybe that’s where I can improve in the future, just finding the emotion and putting that into the song.”
The Kadavu native said she had honed her skills while relaxing around the grog bowl in her neighbourhood of Raiwaqa.
“I was backed up by the boys from Raiwaqa on guitar and we normally practise together around the grog bowl,” she said. “This competition is really exciting for me because it’s a chance to hone my skills with the vocal training that the competition provides.
“It’s a once in a lifetime chance,” she said.