Student seizes the 'mic'

When people go to the supermarket, they usually know what they're shopping for. Most of the time, a serenade isn't on the list.

For the patrons of one Albertson's grocery store in Everett, serenades were a common occurrence earlier this summer, as UW student Chinwoo "Jinu" Park rehearsed for KONG 6 TV's Gimme the Mike competition.

Near the end of spring quarter, Park heard of the [competition], which offers aspiring local singers a chance to perform on television, with the winner receiving a one-year recording contract, a one-year model and talent contract, and 60 hours of talent training, plus a one-year lease on a Buick Rendevous.

"I was driving down the road the day before the first auditions and tuned in to KISS 106.1," Park said. "The ad sounded like something I wanted to do so the next day I woke up early and went for it."

Park went to an audition for the program at the Everett Mall in early June, which was followed by a call-back audition with 23 other singers a week later. Word came back to Park: He was one of the final 20.

Six weeks passed between Park's initial audition and the taping of the show in mid-July, so Park crammed in as much rehearsal as possible, singing every day. He even sang while he worked at an Albertson's in Everett, where he received mixed reactions from patrons.

And then came the big show. Park found himself backstage, anxiously waiting for his turn to perform "Lately" by Stevie Wonder.

"I've always been a fan of Steve Wonder," Park said. "He's an amazing person, learning to play the piano, and most impressively, he's blind."

Park was introduced by local celebrity John Curley and sang at the Triple Door, in front of a live audience which included the show's judges, KISS-FM's DJ Bender, ROCKRGRL magazine founder Carla DeSantis and James Rushing, local record label Next Generation Music owner.

Park hoped the show would be his big break, but it was not meant to be. The judges sided with 21-year-old Aleteena Mobley of Seattle. Park still has another chance; the show has one final spot available for the viewers' favorite, as judged by online voters after each show. Park will not know the results until the final show is aired Aug. 2.

Still, Park got noticed because of his performance. After the show aired on July 21, customers at Albertson's kept congratulating him.

"I had this old lady come up to me and say, 'Are you the guy that these five girls are looking for?' and I said, 'I'm not sure,'" he said. "When I walked over to my produce department, these girls were saying, 'Oh my gosh, he's the guy that was on TV.' All throughout the day I heard, 'Great job, I voted for you.'"

Park's path to the locally televised competition began nearly six years ago, when he tried out for and was accepted in his middle school's choir. Later that year, Park won a Washington state singing competition, earning himself a chance at a recording contract with SM Entertainment, a Korean record company.

"[SM Entertainment] held a competition in every state and one person got to be picked," he said. "My friends and I practiced some dance moves and sang."

Park was flown to Korea by the company and, against competition from throughout the United States, finished in third place -- good, but not good enough for a contract.

Since then, the freshman has persevered and continued singing, including a spot in this year's Husky Idol competition.

While he waits to see if he will have a chance to return to Gimme the Mike, Park's musical hopes continue. He has begun learning how to produce music and has recorded some tracks.

"I actually have a studio at home filled with songs I've produced," he said. "I won't be releasing any of them, because they are intense emotional songs about my life. I guess it's like when women have diaries, I have my studio."

Park hopes to record and release an album some day but, in the meantime, he is searching for more opportunities to perform.

"If there was any opportunity, I'd definitely go for it," he said. "But for right now, nothing's coming up."