Derry native Damian McGinty was chosen from 40,000 hopefuls to join the 12 finalists in The Glee Project. Suzanne Byrne chats to the McKinley High hopeful
At just 18, Damian McGinty is no stranger to the stage. He spent the last four years touring with male singing group Celtic Thunder, under the musical direction of Phil Coulter. Despite Celtic Thunder’s seven albums, five DVD specials and four US tours – not to mention being named Top World Album Artist in 2009 by Billboard magazine – Damian had to go through the same rounds of auditions as the other 40,000 hopefuls competing for a spot on The Glee Project. In fact, it was while he was doing his homework that Damian spotted a call out for a new role on the smash hit show.
It’s not just a walk on part either; the winner of The Glee Project will star in seven episodes of the hotly anticipated season three of Glee, which has a worldwide audience of over 20 million. As he heads into week two of the competition, Damian is down to the final 11, but regardless of where this opportunity takes him, Damian will always be a Derryman at heart.
When did you find out that you had made it to the final 12 on The Glee Project?
Damian McGinty: I was at home in Ireland at time, and they had told us they would call on Skype to let us know the news. Because of the time difference, it was three in the morning and I was sitting up with my mam (Joanne), dad (Damian Sr.), brother (Emmet) and sister (Jemma), all waiting for the news. When the call came through, my heart was in my mouth. The casting director Robert Ulrich was on the other end with a couple of the other producers. He started to tell me how difficult the decision was and it took what seemed like ages before he said I was through. I couldn't believe it, I nearly put my fist through the laptop I was so excited!
On your video audition you said you could bring something different to Glee – what is your unique selling point?
I think the fact that I am Irish can bring something very different to Glee, because they haven't really featured that many people outside of America on the show yet – certainly no one with a strong accent. I could be an exchange student perhaps – that way they would have to let me keep my Irish accent. But as well as singing Irish and pop songs, I love artists like Sinatra, Dean Martin and Michael Bublé, and they haven't done an episode with that kind of swing music yet. It would be incredible if I got the opportunity to do that.
Is it hard being the only contestant from outside of America?
I am not going to lie – being the only person from outside of America is definitely a challenge. There are times I feel very misunderstood, to say the least. Americans just don't get the Irish sense of humour – you know, how we don't take ourselves too seriously. I find myself having to explain that some of the things I say, I don't really mean! In the first episode, Robert and the choreographer Zac thought I was hiding in the background, but I wasn't hiding, I was just being me. American performers are always fighting for the spotlight, but I wasn't willing to enter into that. I am not an in your face kind of person. The six guys all get on great, especially myself and Cameron Mitchell – but the girls are hard work sometimes.
Do you all live in a house together?
Yeah, there is a dorm for the boys and a dorm for the girls and then different rooms like a homework assignment room or the choir room. We go on location to shoot the music videos, so you really don't have a moment to yourself.
Is that tough?
I do find it tough, as I am the kind of person you will rarely find in bad form, but that is because during the day, I would take a half hour to myself to sit down and relax and listen to my iPod orwhatever. Here, we are on the go 24/7, I don't have a phone, I don't have laptop, I don't have a TV. We get up at 5am, to start filming and don't get to bed until 12 at night. Let me tell you that every tear you see on the show is 100% real. But it is an incredibleexperience and I am getting to meet some amazing people
Do you miss anything from Ireland?
Family, friends and Tayto crisps! Ireland is home for me, always has been and always will be. Even though you can get used to America and its culture and food, I miss Irish TV and the sport and the food, the list goes on, but at this stage of my career and my life, I am ready to give it everything I 've got to have a chance at cracking it!
