Two of a kind?: Rock Star: Supernova winner Lukas Rossi and Canadian Idol finalist Eva Avila. (Rossi: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images. Avila: Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)
On Nov. 14, Ottawa-born Eva Avila, winner of the fourth season of Canadian Idol, released her first album, Somewhere Else. A week later came the self-titled debut by Rock Star Supernova, the supergroup that spent the summer auditioning singers on the reality show of the same name. The eventual winner was Toronto’s Lukas Rossi.
Canada’s newest prefab music stars would seem to have little in common. Eva sings flowery pop. Lukas screams hard rock. She dresses like the valedictorian of the Kelly Clarkson academy of Idol winners. He looks like the love child of Pepé Le Pew and Janice from the Muppets Show band. But don’t be fooled by superficialities — Eva and Lukas are kindred spirits. Just look at the evidence — it’s uncanny. They both:
1. Know about life on the street.
Lukas: Talks vaguely about “being from the street and that”
Eva: Busked with her father when she was three
2. Have been in the orbit of Our Lady Peace singer Raine Maida.
Eva: Her first single (Meant to Fly) was co-written by Maida
Lukas: Attended the same singing academy (Toronto’s Royans School for the Musical Performing Arts) as Maida
3. Have a good friend in Zack Werner.
(Sony Music Canada)
Lukas: Werner managed Rossi’s previous band Cleavage and is quoted as saying, “I always thought that Lukas had the potential to do unbelievable things.”
Eva: As one of the judges on Canadian Idol, Werner told Avila that legendary record exec Clive Davis “should come down here and kiss your Canadian…” and then gestured toward his own backside.
4. Owe a debt to Billy Idol.
Lukas: Performed Rebel Yell in week one of Rock Star: Supernova
Eva: Performed White Wedding in week seven of Canadian Idol
5. Suffer dizzy spells.
Lukas: “You make my head spin / You make my head spin” (Headspin)
Eva: “You got my head a-spinning just like a carousel” (Fallin’ for You)
6. Aren’t moved by your tears.
Lukas: “You don’t have to cry anymore” (Headspin)
Eva: “Stop cryin’ / It ain’t over — so don’t act like you’re dyin’” (Stop Cryin’)
7. Agree that sometimes, words are not enough.
Eva: “Ohhh… Ooo-oh-oh / Ooo-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh” (Got a Feelin’)
Lukas: “Oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh / oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh / oh oh oh oh, oh aaaah!” (Be Yourself (And 5 Other Clichés))
8. Are multilingual.
(Sony Music Canada)
Eva: Speaks French.
Lukas: Kisses French (at least with bandmate Tommy Lee)
9. Are staunch nationalists.
Lukas: “Canadians don’t put up with anything. We bring it or we don’t come at all.”
Eva: “[Canadians] stay true to who they are and they don’t imitate any other artist.”
10. Have an introspective side.
Lukas: “Don’t let anybody tell you that you suck, and f---ing kill it, man. And turn the volume up really f---ing loud, that always helps.”
Eva: “I’m a big fan of philosophies and stuff... There’s an even larger sense to my life now.”
Andre Mayer writes about the arts for CBC.ca.
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