THE family of Albury Idol hopeful Lisa Mitchell, 16, is confident she can continue to shine in the show despite criticism from judges her performance “just really isn’t good enough”.
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On internet betting agency Centrebet, Lisa slipped from favourite to sixth-likely to win, behind present favourite Dean Geyer, a model from Melbourne.
But her family doesn’t think her talent has wavered since her first performance, of Ben Harper’s Diamonds on the Inside, which prompted judge Mark Holden to call her “possibly the biggest thing to come out of Australia musically”.
Mother Ruth Mitchell said the year 10 Scots School student wasn’t fazed by the criticism because she’s comfortable with her own musical style.
“Lisa doesn’t do a lot of covers and would much prefer to sing her own music,” Ruth said.
“When she gets a chance to perform a song that’s more her style she’ll really shine again.”
Last week, the judges told her she needed to improve her stage craft and had to stop “doodling around the stage” if she wants to go further in the talent contest.
Lisa has taken the criticism on board but won’t change to fit the commercial mould.
“She knows she can’t dance around stage like Kylie Minogue and she doesn’t want to,” Ruth said.
Lisa, who has a younger sister, was born in the UK, and moved to Albury when she was three.
Neither of Lisa’s parents are heavily into music but their home has often echoed the tunes of Bob Dylan and Jewel.
Sister Nicola, 14, has already started to collect press clippings, and admits her sister’s performance is the talk of the Scots School quadrangle every Monday morning.
“It’s weird that everyone is talking about her and it’s quite surreal to see her up on stage,” she said.
“She’s really unaffected by it all and is still my really nice, lovely sister.”
But whether Lisa can become the next Australian Idol, or if she even wants to, is a question her mother struggles to answer.
“In terms of winning, I’m not sure. I think she writes great songs and hopefully she can have a musical career,” she said.
“I don’t think she necessarily wants to win it.”