Fourteen going on 30

Elia Powers

Her singing career began 10 years ago with an impromptu karaoke

performance of Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart” at an Orange

County youth expo.

Brandijo Kistler has been belting out tunes ever since.

Now a 14-year-old freshman at Orange County High School of the

Arts, Brandijo has developed into a boisterous and bluesy vocalist

with a passion for pop music.

She shuts her eyes, locks her hands and presses her palms against

her ribs when she performs.

Brandijo’s favorite artist is Etta James, and she sang a rendition

of James’ emotional ballad “At Last” in front of a handful of

classmates Tuesday during an afternoon pop vocals class.

Her demeanor doesn’t change when friends are at the microphone.

Her eyes remain closed. She bites her lower lip. She sways in her

seat.

“People ask me, how do you get the emotion of a 30-year-old?” said

Brandijo, who grew up in Newport Beach and currently lives in Costa

Mesa. “I tell them, it’s from years of listening to all types of

music.”

This spring, audiences nationwide will be able to see Brandijo on

television. She recently took part in a taping of “America’s Most

Talented Kids,” a show similar to “Star Search” hosted by comedian

Dave Coulier.

On the show, Brandijo performed Dorothy Moore’s “Misty Blue,” a

rhythm and blues tune that highlights her soulful style of singing.

The show will likely air in March or April, though Brandijo is

contractually obliged to remain silent about the outcome until the

debut date.

A regular on the Orange County performing circuit, Brandijo

acknowledges that the upcoming television appearance could be a

defining point in her singing career.

But that didn’t cross her mind while she was on stage.

“I was more excited than nervous,” she said of the taping.

“Performing is my favorite thing to do.”

The show dispatched a cameraman to follow Brandijo through a day

of classes, and he followed her to a performance at the Orange County

Fair.

That’s where audiences began to notice Brandijo, a young singer

with a booming voice.

Family and friends requested her presence at weddings. She was a

popular choice to sing the national anthem at events around town. She

made stops at Edwards Air Force Base and Triangle Square, and she

eventually added dancers to form the group Bubble Gum Kids (later

renamed Rock Candy).

Pop music is her forte. Projecting her voice has never a problem.

“When I was younger, I was known as the girl with the big voice,”

she said. “I’ve learned how to add more range over the years.”

Brandijo is serious about a career in music. She learned how to

play the electric guitar. She plans to begin writing her own music.

She manages a website where fans can view performance dates and

download her music.

Classmates say they are inspired by her singing.

“She has a very moving voice,” said friend Tayler Mettra. “She

gets a lot of feeling out of her songs. She always blows me away.”

Still, Brandijo says she isn’t ready for music to take over her

life.

“I don’t overwork myself,” she said. “I don’t want singing to be

like a job.”