Hype honcho Ken Lim prepares for The Final 1

SINGAPORE — It’s been four years since Singapore Idol, and those who have been hankering after another local English singing competition TV show might want to take note.

Producer and former Singapore Idol judge Ken Lim has come up with an all-new singing competition format called The Final 1, and he has promised that the show will be more than just a singing contest.

“Being in the industry in the context of being an artiste entails more than just vocals. It’s important that you are a personality the general public can relate to,” explained Lim. “That encompasses your image, the way you carry yourself, likability and the ability to connect with the audience. It goes far and beyond just vocals.”

The call for participants is now open and Lim said those picked as contestants will be groomed during the season to deal with the media, styling and imaging, marketing their music to record labels, and building a fan base — basically, just being equipped with the tools to make it in the local entertainment industry.

Above all, Lim said the show is looking for someone who can sustain beyond the competition. “I think that you need the ability to adapt, to understand the industry and to grow beyond what you have to offer. It’s all about what people want and what people can relate to.”

But surely we have enough of American Idol, The X Factor and The Voice? “My intention is not purely for ratings, or to compete or to try to come up with a format that can sell. It’s to establish and support the local entertainment industry. I want to establish a top local name. Whether there are 10 shows or no shows, this is a necessary programme to provide a platform for budding artistes, to develop their skills and their potential.” Lim emphasised,

“The crux of it is that there really is no relevance to me if there’s this or that because this show is designed for our local audience.”

And unlike Singapore Idol, the judges will be more involved in the whole process. Lim assured that they will be doing more than just sitting looking pretty and sharing their opinions.

“They’ll be participating as well and helping out in whatever capacity that they can to guide the contestants. The objective here is to get whatever input possible from the judges for every single contestant to help them grow.”

And this journey of growth is where the show is special, said Lim. “It’s really about ... how one really starts and goes through the process to be the potential winner. Viewers will see that journey contestants have to go through to be a true entertainer and I think that’s very important.” Farah Daley

If you want to be part of The Final 1, upload an audition video of yourself at meradio.sg/thefinalone by Feb 15. You can stand a chance to walk away with a cash prize and management contract worth S$100,000.