Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Leia Lotulelei is the American Idol contestant known as “Fish.”

He also took one of the largest contingents of supporters to the Salt Lake City auditions — something like 30 people.

Leia Lotulelei earned a ticket to Hollywood at the American Idol auditions in Salt Lake City. (FOX Photo)

They didn’t go home disappointed.

Leia — or “Fish” — sang Ed Sheeran’s “The A Team” for the Idol judges and sailed into the Hollywood round by a unanimous vote.

Idol identified Leia as a 19-year-old student from Des Moines, Wash. But he’s also a member of the Utah Repertory Theater Company, where he acts and dances as well as sings, according to his Facebook page.

And, apparently, there’s an interesting back-story to his audition that we didn’t get to hear on the show.

In his Road to Hollywood video, Leia says he tried out on behalf of his brother; that they’d been watching the show since Season 1.

“After he passed away last year, I knew I needed to be on the show,” Leia says.

But getting the golden ticket wasn’t quite as easy as it appeared in the snippet we saw, Leia admits.

He sang a first song, and the judges seemed unmoved. It wasn’t until he performed a second song that he won them over.

Leia points to Jessie J. and Jennifer Hudson as musical influences.

“Dancing and singing has always been a big part of my life because of the Polynesian culture” Leia adds.

He says he enjoys performing R&B and soul music and thinks he has the ability to show “vulnerability” when he sings and connects with an audience.

If you’d like to follow Leia, here’s a link to his Facebook page.

Now, two non-Idol performances:

For profiles of more than 90 other Season 13 contestants, head here.

“Pretty Wings”

“Titanium” (Audition for NBC’s The Winner Is)