NICOLE LAMOTHE -- Working

SHE IS

Singing her way to the top

WAITING FOR HER BIG BREAK

Lamothe, a Huntington Beach resident, is an aspiring singer with hopes of

becoming the next Celine Dion. For the past year, the 19-year-old has

been waiting tables at the Bread Crumb Cafe in Huntington Beach.

“It’s to make some extra money on the weekends to pay the bills,” Lamothe

said.

When she’s not serving up dinner to the locals, Lamothe is working hard

on building a career in music. Her first big performance came at the

grand opening of Pier Plaza in 1998. Singing the national anthem, she

became the first person to perform at the plaza.

“I thought it was great,” Lamothe said. “But oh my goodness, there were a

lot of people.”

SINGING HER WAY TO THE TOP

Though she’s keeping her weekend job for now, the teen has been singing

the national anthem all over the county -- from Edison High School’s

homecoming game to last year’s opening of the Shops at Mission Viejo.

“I want to perform for the world,” she said. “I want to be on stage and

make 80,000 people scream when I say to scream.”

If her dream of becoming a singer doesn’t come true, Lamothe plans to

work in a recording studio, being a backup singer or working in some

aspect of the music industry.

“I’ve always wanted to entertain,” she said. “It’s in my blood.”

Lamothe sings mostly pop and rhythm and blues. She plays piano and is

writing some of her own songs.

Her most memorable performance was singing at her high school graduation

in June. She received a standing ovation from the 2,000 attendees after

singing “Power of A Dream,” by Celine Dion.

“It was nice that I got to sing for people I know,” she said.

HELP FROM THE FAMILY

Since she was in the seventh grade, Lamothe has been performing in

musicals and plays. It’s also become a Lamothe tradition for her to sing

at family gatherings during the holidays.

But Lamothe isn’t the only one in her family with a singing voice.

“I get my voice from my dad,” she said.

As a little girl, she remembers hearing her dad sing and thinking he had

a great voice.

Proud of their daughter’s singing voice, the Lamothes have encouraged her

to follow her dream of being a superstar.

At home, Lamothe’s family often get to hear her singing karaoke,

practicing her voice exercises and singing in the shower.

“Sometimes, my dad comes and shuts my door,” she said.

Though Lamothe’s dad is supportive of her singing, he warns her to have

something to fall back on. Still searching for backup plans, Lamothe is

taking classes at Orange Coast College “to see what’s out there” in

addition to her voice, music and acting classes.

DANCIN’ QUEEN

Besides singing, Lamothe loves to dance.

“I used to want to be a dancer, then I found this voice in me,” she said.

For 13 years, she’s been dancing jazz and hip-hop. She will soon start

teaching her own dance classes to children.

“It will be fun to see them shine,” she said.

Besides music and dance, Lamothe enjoys fashion and photography.

“I get liking photography from my mom,” said Lamothe, adding that her mom

is sometimes camera-happy.

BACKSTAGE BUTTERFLIES

Lamothe loves to be on stage performing. She sings in karaoke contests

and just auditioned for a part for Tibbie’s Musical Dinner Theater in

Newport Beach. Still, she gets the jitters before each performance.

“I get very nervous and start breathing heavy,” she said.

Once she gets started, her own crooning calms her down.

Lamothe’s singing idols are Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Christina

Aguilera. Her favorite band: REO Speedwagon.

“I know it’s weird for a teenager to like REO Speedwagon, but I grew up

listening to it because my dad liked them,” she said.

For now, Lamothe will promote her demo CD, continue auditioning for

musicals and keep singing on her karaoke.

“My calling is music,” the diva hopeful said.

-- Story by Angelique Flores, photo by XXXX