American Idol

Songstress Elise Testone hails from the small town of Kinnelon, New Jersey. In a 2008 interview with Skirt! Charleston, Elise said was keeping busy with three jobs: working at a pet store during the mornings, teaching voice lessons in the afternoons, and singing in local pubs and restaurants at night. Her Myspace profile describes her sound as a “delicate yet deeply stirring blend of soul, jazz and hip-hop”.

Elise is no amateur; she’s already opened for Snoop Dogg, Nappy Roots, and Kevin Costner’s band Modern West, according to The Digitel Charleston. In a June 2011 profile in Charleston Magazine, Elise says she often “gigs twice in the same evening,” either solo or with one of three bands with whom she plays regularly: James Brown Dance Party, The Freeloaders, and Slanguage. Elise says singing is like "a feeling" to her, telling NorthJersey.com, "My biggest goal is to be consistent in feeling, power, emotion and connection, and versatile enough that everyone can find something and appreciate it,"

Elise has a degree in Music and Vocal Performance from Coastal Carolina University. On her Linkedin profile, she lists her interests as “dog grooming, skateboarding with my dog, taking care of children, performing at weddings.” Elise tells Skirt! Charleston the one food she could eat every day is biscuits, and the worst idea she’s ever had was “getting really drunk before a gig.”

Watch all of Elise Testone's American Idol performances here.

Sources: Skirt! Charleston, Linkedin, Myspace, The Digitel Charleston, Charleston Magazine, NorthJersey.com

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