A carpenter from Loganholme has ditched the tools for a shot at Australian Idol, and he’s earned himself a golden ticket.
Local singer Eli Parr appeared on Australian screens on February 7 with an audition on Australian Idol.
He was joined by his bandmates, Jacob, Isaac and Caleb, who happen to be his two brothers and cousin.
Together, the four make up OnParr.
But due to Idol rules, the quartet had to audition solo.
Eli was the only one to make it through to the top 30.
“It was definitely different not singing in a group, but I’ve done solo stuff before,” he said.
“I find it a lot easier when I’m with my brothers and my cousin – I’m not half as nervous when I’ve got them.”
Jacob and Isaac didn’t make it past the first round, and Caleb was dropped in the second before he could secure a golden ticket.
Although Eli is now the only brother embarking on the Idol journey, he said there was no bitterness in the family.
“It’s a bit of confusion at the moment, because they’re really happy and proud of me, but at the same time it was pretty rough not to make it through,” Eli said.
“They were really kind and lovely to me straight away – there was no bitterness.”
He said it was a “dream to be able to do this kind of thing with family”.
“We butt heads every now and then, but it’s pretty fun in all honesty,” he said.
He said it was also a dream to see himself on the small screen.
“I remember watching the show as a kid and thinking ‘I want to be on that show and get a golden ticket and make it through to this round or that round, and to be there in front of the judges’.
“It looks the same in real life but feels different.”
Eli said it was “definitely strange” to watch himself on the television.
“… but I was very appreciative of how they’ve done it all,” he said.
“I thought they made me look and sound amazing,”
When he’s not singing, Eli is working as a carpenter or out hiking or surfing.
He said his Australian Idol appearance prompted cheeky banter on the jobsite.
“They’re really, really supportive blokes and they know how hard it is,” Eli said.
He said it was “crazy to think” so many people and watched and supported him.
“It was a really spectacular experience,” he said.
Australian Idol is on Channel 7 this week from 7.30pm on Tuesday 13 February and Wednesday 14 February.
