Wearing knee-high laced up sneaker boots and pilot goggles, and boldly belting out the song Paris by artist Grace Potter, 14-year-old Asia Mader stole our hearts and won the Squamish Idol contest.
Asia began singing and dancing as a toddler. Joining school choir at the age of six, those vocal pipes carried her through choir year after year. Currently, she takes on various parts with Broadway or Bust as she continues to polish that voice and position those ballet toes forward. Some may recall seeing her and sister Paige, a.k.a. the Hipstah Sistahs, take to the roof of Newport Market in August for On the Street. Asia Mader spoke to Anne Bright about her win, and her musical goals.
Q. Did you think you had a shot at the Idol win?
A. Absolutely not, because everybody was so talented. 
Q. What made you pick classic song Paris by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals?
A. I really like the song and it’s good for my vocal range. Dad and I practiced that song, and Heartbreaker by Pat Benatar, and apparently Paris sounded better so that’s the one I chose.
Q. Speaking of family, did they provide tips and encouragement before the show?
A. Dad was really excited and began acting like my coach. He even brought a mic stand home for me to practice with. Mum gives me little self-confidence pep-talks. They both gave me fashion advice.
Q. Who are your musical inspirations?
A. Suzy Quatro, because it’s cool to have a female singer to look up to, and of course, my dad.
Q. What kind of music do you tap into today?
A. It is a wide range; let’s just say anything involving an actual instrument, except for country. None of this computerized junk.
Q. During Live at Squamish, you were keen to meet Mother Mother. Who would you like to see take the stage at Squamish Valley Music Festival?
A. GREEN DAY! I really want to see Green Day live, at least once. That would be incredible!
Q. When you aren’t signing, what else can we find you doing?
A. Dancing, drawing, reading, or watching way too much Anime.
Q. Do you play any instruments?
A. I play piano, flute, guitar, and attempt to play the drums.
Q. What types of music do you like and what types do you loathe?
A. I love classic rock, because it’s always playing in the house. I hate Dubstep, if that even counts as music.
Q. Have you written any songs?
A. A friend and I started a two piece band named Tropical Tuxedo and we tried writing but I find it painfully hard.
Q. What grand plans do you have for the future?
A. I hope to get a part in Hair at Howe Sound Secondary School this year.
Q. Any fun plans for the cash prize yet?
A. Not yet. I’m keeping it in the bank for a rainy day.
Q. And, I must ask – why pilot goggles?
A. I wore them on my dad’s scooter to the show and just didn’t take them off. And, I like that steampunk kind of look.
–x–
Asia thanks sponsors DOS, SAM and HSPA for putting on this event, her parents, Todd and Maria Mader, her sister, Paige Mader, and a special shout out to friend Bitzy for cheering her on.
Anonymous says
Photo by: Grant Bruce of Highshot Adventure Photography.