American Idol 2024 Preview: Ajii wows the judges with emotionally charged “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims
American Idol season 22 premieres Sunday night (Feb 18). ABC has dropped another preview from the show, this time from Ajii, a 27 year old from Brooklyn, NY.
In the clip, the singer explained that he works at a nursing home as a front desk/securing intaker. “I just protect the building” he described. “I love everybody there.” His coworkers convinced him to audition for the show. They know he can sing, because to keep himself amused during his nightshift, he sings.
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After his co-worker Claire heard him sing, she said to him, “Dude, what are you doing here?” Judge Luke Bryan shared that an old college roommate said similar things to him: “What are you doing? Get out of here!”
Living in Brooklyn has exposed Ajii to “so many beautiful genres of music.” He further revealed that his family “didn’t have the means for music school or anything like that.” He said, “My hometown was my teacher.” Being surrounded by musicians and artists in Brooklyn helped him to keep doing music.
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His supportive parents emigrated from Pakistan. “They came out of here with nothing,” he said. “They’ve shown me to just chase whatever you want to do. For them it was to make sure that we had a great life.”
Ajii goes on to sing a soulful and emotionally powerful rendition of Teddy Swims hit song “Lose Control.” The judges are all visibly moved as he gets lost in the performance.
Katy Perry calls Ajii “Top 10”
Katy Perry remarked, “Today has been a whirlwind…of people and talent. You come in a G. You’re the G of today, for sure. “What you are giving us is raw,” she said, adding, But it’s that diamond in the rough stuff. This is why we do this show. It’s people like you, period, end of story.”
Lionel Richie said, “You had me on your opening note. You are a light. Everything you do is so real. This is so fresh that you’re not trying to come out here being like somebody else. And it’s so infectious. It’s a beautiful, wonderful sight and sound to hear.”
Luke said, “You took that oval, and you took two steps to us. You sing like it’s all on the line. You just let it come from your soul and fly out. You’ve got this humility about you.” Luke continued, “You need to understand, you got a big chance of going pretty far in this competition.”
Katy declared Ajii “Top 10.” The singer replied, “Let’s do it until the wheels fall off! Let’s go!”
After three enthusiastic yeses, Ajii was on to the Hollywood Round. Watch the American Idol 2024 premiere on ABC, Sunday Feb 18 at 8 pm ET/PT.
