It’s Jazz Fest weekend. Many New Orleans musicians are lamenting the lost opportunity to play on the Fairground stages in front of visitors from across the globe. Even more are bummed about the boarded-up clubs that would typically be packed on busy springtime evenings. But imagine if you made it. I mean, visualize having your name in lights on the massive LED screens above Time Square. Imagine having a team of lawyers, publicists, and producers advising you daily. Picture eight million Americans watching you sing on TV every week, and imagine having the opportunity to perform duets with your favorite Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famers. One week you’d fly to Hollywood to perform at the Orpheum Theatre. Another week you’d be whisked away to Hawaii to stay at a five-star hotel and sing in front of screaming fans, then relax in a hot tub with a tropical drink while you watch the sun set.
Meet Faith Becnel. This is exactly what happened to this 21-year-old New Orleans singer who just made the top 20 on the hit ABC show American Idol. Now, thanks to the coronavirus crisis, she’s back at her house in Mid-City, hanging out with her parents and singing into an iPhone just like everyone else. But it’s not all bad. For Faith, the last six months have been a dream come true, and her American Idol journey isn’t over yet. It’s just going to be a little different, and for Faith, that is a challenge that she has embraced.
Singing in front of crowds is nothing new for Faith. She hit the stage at age 10 at a talent show and never turned back. She immediately joined a band, and at age 12, she released her first album. She has performed at numerous festivals, including the French Quarter Festival, as well as Mardi Gras balls, weddings, private parties and charity events. She has sung alongside Vince Vance, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr., and the Topcats. As a child, she even got to perform for one of her idols, the Grammy-winning “Soul Queen of New Orleans,” Irma Thomas. “Singing has always been my passion,” says Faith. “I first started singing in church, and I’ve been very inspired by the soul and R&B music that comes out of New Orleans.”
Faith has a powerful, soulful voice, and she effortlessly covers artists like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and Stevie Wonder. She’s sweet with a little southern sass, and she even has a swagger when she moves about the stage. She has dreamed of being on American Idol since she was a little girl, and after auditioning for the show last fall in Baton Rouge, she was selected to continue to the next round. Off she flew to Sunriver, Oregon, to perform in front of Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie on national TV. Accompanied by only an acoustic guitar, and under the glare of the studio lights, Faith delivered a performance that she described as “definitely not my best.” She rushed a bit and ended her song with a “Yes-ahhh” and a nervous giggle.
The judges were impressed by her raw talent and personality, but were quick to offer constructive criticism. “You have something,” said Katy Perry, “but you’re delivering it a little bit soft-serve.” Lionel Richie felt like she wasn’t quite there yet, but acknowledged that “what you have in your voice is character.” Perry added, “You have the opportunity to be a massive star if you want to…choose great emotional songs.” The judges cautiously admitted Faith to the next round, and she accepted her golden ticket to the Hollywood round well aware that she had lots of work to do. “It was nerve-wracking,” she says. “I didn’t even realize how nervous I was until I went back and watched the audition. It was not the most comfortable environment for me, because I’m used to being in front of my band and having the energy of the crowd to feed off of. That’s when I’m in my element.”
Faith went home from her audition and started focusing on performing by herself without a band. “It’s a much more intimate kind of performance, and it’s something I needed to work on,” she says. On the first week of December, she headed to Los Angeles for the entertainment industry boot camp that is Hollywood Week. “It was exhausting. I barely got an hour of sleep per night.”
Faith set her focus on choosing songs that she could emotionally connect with. In fact, at 5 a.m. on the morning before her solo performance, she decided to alter her song choice. Bleary-eyed, she arrived at her run-though with the house band, still reading lyrics off the page. But that night, with the band behind her, and a packed hall before her, she nailed Janis Joplin’s “Cry Baby.” “I just love her so much,” gushed Katy Perry. For the duet round, Faith collaborated with Gonzales native Jovin Webb for a stirring rendition of “It’s a Man’s World,” by James Brown. The two Louisiana natives made a perfect pair, strutting around the stage, singing, growling, and finally sliding in harmony into the last note to thunderous applause. That performance landed Faith a trip to the Aulani Resort in Oahu, Hawaii, where she belted out a funky version of Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody,” and landed her current spot in the Top 20.
Then came COVID-19. Like the rest of America, American Idol was forced to regroup. The show bought time for a couple weeks by airing previously unseen footage from the auditions. Eventually, though, the decision was made to broadcast the show remotely, with the contestants performing virtually from their homes. Even the judges would be isolated, chiming in long-distance from their separate abodes. The result: an experience completely different for this year’s contestants than ever before. No more hanging out with new friends in fancy hotels. No more onstage duets. No more normal coaching sessions and rehearsals. And worst of all for Faith, no more live band and no more live audience.
“I’m just taking it one day at a time,” says Faith. “I’m blessed, and I believe there is a reason for everything.” The show has provided each contestant with pro audio and lighting gear, as well as three iPhone 11s to shoot from multiple angles. Instructional classes, vocal coaching, and daily interaction between all the contestants continue daily via Zoom meetings. “That first audition was actually a blessing in disguise,” says Faith, “because ever since then I’ve been working hard at performing without a band or an audience. And I’ve started writing original songs. It was a missing piece of the puzzle for me. I’m learning a bunch of tools which I needed to become a better artist.”
On Sunday night April 26 at 7 p.m. CST, Faith and the other remaining contestants will perform, and the country will vote to decide who moves on to the Top 10, which will be announced on the subsequent show. Voting will take place once the show starts and continue until 8 a.m. Monday morning. Viewers can vote online, by text, and by using American Idol‘s phone app. Ten votes per method are allowed (for a total of 30 votes total). Sunday night’s broadcast stands to be a fascinating example of how an American institution adapts to self-quarantine, and how Faith Becnel continues her journey from entertainer to artist.
