Sinatra fan will do it his way at TeenStar talent competition (From Gazette Series)

Sinatra fan Daniel Hallam from Thornbury will do it his way at TeenStar talent competition

8:40am Saturday 23rd February 2013 in News By Marion Sauvebois

A RAT Pack fan is following in the footsteps of his musical idols as he prepares to perform in front of a live audience in the hope of being voted ultimate TeenStar.

Castle School student Daniel Hallam, 18, beat hundreds of young artists vying for a place in talent competition TeenStar's regional finals in Cardiff at the end of March.

Having made it this far, the aspiring singer is determined to go all the way.

"I can’t wait to perform," he told the Gazette. "It just feels like it’s going to work out." The confident sixth former is not your typical gangster-rap or r’n’b belting teenager. In fact his influences go back to swinging 60s and a certain Dean Martin.

"My style of music of music is different, I sing Jazz and Swing like Michael Buble or Frank Sinatra. I’ve always loved music," said Daniel, a member of the Northavon Youth Theatre Company.

"I found a Rat Pack CD in the cupboard when I was about 12. I put it on and it’s still my favourite CD now."

Although he is currently perfecting his covers of timeless classics, he is hoping to put his own lyrics to music very soon.

Impressing the judges against this time is crucial as it will take him through to the national finals. The winner will be selected this summer at a special event at the world-famous O2 Arena in London and receive £20,000 in the bargain.

Daniel has more than one trick up his sleeve to show he has what it takes not only to win the UK finals but to prosper in the music industry.

At the TeenStar qualifiers he serenaded a male judge to pique the panel's interest and this proved just the ticket.

"I thought it would be nice if I pointed at him when I sang The Way you look tonight," Daniel said. "There was a bit of humour to make myself stand out a little bit."

After a couple of setbacks at auditions for TV talent shows the X Factor and on The Voice, he is hoping to make it all the way this time around. "If I won the £20,000, I would give my family a bit of money," he added.

"I think I would definitely spend money on decent equipment and on studio time and some decent vocal lessons. It’s what I want to do with my life."