‘American Idol’ Season 20: Natalia Bonfini ‘Didn’t Have Any Interest in Auditioning’ Before She Was Scouted Online
American Idol Season 20 contestant Natalia Bonfini is a blues musician/singer/songwriter who could easily become a fan favorite this season. But unlike most hopefuls, Bonfini had no intention of auditioning. When talking about her American Idol journey recently, the singer revealed that she was actually scouted by a producer via social media.
‘American Idol’ contestant Natalia Bonfini was scouted by a producer
Bonfini is a 25-year-old performer from Eastham, MA who has toured with some of the country’s best blues bands over the years. As a blues singer, she never thought she’d fit the usual American Idol pop artist mold. But everything changed when a show producer reached out to her online.
“I didn’t have any interest in auditioning, but because of Covid, everything’s virtual,” she told CapeCod.com. “So I had a producer reach out to me. They found me on Instagram. They have scouters, just like sports.”
“And so, he scouted me out,” Bonfini continued. “And he was like, ‘We’d love to have you!’ At first, I was like, ‘No, no, no.’ He was like, ‘You’d be silly not to because it’s just on Zoom.’”
Bonfini was surprised the producer was interested in her style of music. And while she’s still not 100 percent sure she’s right for the show, the singer is genuinely excited to be offered a chance.
“I’m still not convinced that I’m a good fit,” Bonfini said when talking to Cape Cod Times. “I have a very specific style of music. I’m not like a pop star or anything like that, so it’s exciting that they wanted to give somebody who’s a little bit more eclectic a chance to do something like that.”
Despite being an ‘American Idol’ fan, Natalia Bonfini never considered auditioning
Like millions of viewers, Bonfini is an American Idol fan and watches the show every week. But despite her love for the music competition, the Cape Cod native never considered going in to audition for it.
“I’ve been a huge fan of the show,” she said in her chat with Cape Cod Times. “We’d cuddle up on the couch every Monday night or whenever it was and watch, but I had no intention at all of auditioning.”
Bonfini revealed that even when the producer reached out to her via Instagram, she still didn’t think she’d audition. “At first I kind of said ‘No, that’s not something I think I’d be a good fit for.’”
Natalia Bonfini was the only female rock singer to make it through Hollywood Week
Bonfini’s Zoom audition wasn’t shown on TV. And her performance for Hollywood Week also wasn’t telecast.
But in a chat with Cape Cod Times, Bonfini confirmed that she made it through Hollywood Week. “I chose the rock genre and sang an Alanis Morissette song (“Hand in My Pocket”), and had lots of good praise and feedback from the judges,” she said.
Bonfini revealed that of the three judges on the panel, Katy Perry seemed most impressed by her performance. She said that Perry “in particular was super excited about my song choice and she slapped the table in excitement when I announced it.”
According to Bonfini, what made the performance even more special was a “thumbs up of approval” from her pianist, who as it turns out, was also Morissette’s musical director. The singer also noted that she was the only female rock singer to make it through to the next round.
“[It] was unbelievable to me based on the talent of the others!” Bonfini recalled. “I was pretty nervous going up there knowing they hadn’t let a single female rocker through yet.”
Bonfini will participate with her fellow American Idol contestants in the upcoming Hollywood Duets round. The episode will air on Sunday, April 3 on ABC.
