There is some Buckeye representation in Hollywood this week.
Bosa Mora, 22, of Columbus, advanced past the audition round of Fox’s “American Idol” this season.
Mora’s audition allowed him to join the elite group — among thousands who auditioned — to come together in Hollywood with the hopes of advancing further in the singing competition.
“I have always had a deep faith that great things will come my way,” Mora said. “It’s not going to be given to me though; I have to earn it.”
Mora was inspired to try out for the show by a close friend of his. His goal was simply to learn more about the music industry through the audition process. He was not expecting to make it through to the next round.
“There is really no way you can know what someone will think about you,” Mora said. “The only thing you can do is be confident in what you do and hope they see something there.”
The American Idol judges did, with three of the four voting to send him forward. Judge Simon Cowell was the lone dissent.
Deeply moved and humbled by the audition experience, Mora said it has been a roller coaster ride ever since.
“The only thing consistent is me waking up, checking my e-mail, sending thank you notes to fans and supporters and waiting to see what the day brings,” Mora said. “When there isn’t a performance, studio session or interview, I am busy writing music and using the time that I have off from a day job to plan and advance my career.”
Mora has been singing for years, but started to take it seriously in high school. His favorite music to perform is his own.
“I gigged on my own until I got a band in college,” he said. “I have played in bars, clubs, restaurants, subways, streets, farmers’ markets — you name it.”
Singing isn’t all that he does though. Mora said he likes to play basketball, watch movies, read books about Martin Luther King Jr. and Winston Churchill and watch sports.
“I love to have fun and hang out,” Mora said. “I’m fresh out of college, so there is a part of me which still doesn’t want to grow up.”
Whenever he gets a chance, Mora likes to hang out with his family. He is the fifth of eight children. His parents are from Nigeria. Their college educations brought them to Columbus.
Mora attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, but that hasn’t stopped him from getting part of the Ohio State experience. He describes himself as a proud Buckeye fan and has visited campus many times.
“My best friend and my older brother went to school there and they would show me college life whenever I was home on break,” Mora said. “I had a blast hanging out with them and going to the bars and hangouts on campus.”
Having grown up in Ohio, he said his Hollywood experience has been exciting because he had never been there before.
“I arrived and saw palm trees and felt the warm weather and I could only think of being in the snow and cold only hours before,” Mora said.
What people would find most surprising about “American Idol” is that there are many auditions before a contestant gets to the head judges, Mora said.
“All the people you think are good had to jump as many hoops as the contestants people would say are bad,” he said. “It’s reality TV, so you can’t ignore the power of ratings.”
Mora said he wants to share his own original music with the world.
“I hope for a happy and simple life but my ambition leads me to hope to make a big impact on the world through music and my other talents,” Mora said.
The start of “American Idol” Hollywood Week will air at 8 p.m. tonight on Fox.
