Edinburgh’s Got Talent: Emeli Sande’s anthem lit fire of Shayne Kidd’s ambition

Watching Scottish performer Emeli Sande sing to millions around the world at the London Olympics opening ceremony convinced Polwarth’s Shayne Kidd to follow her dream.

The 15-year-old wants to emulate her musical idol’s success and hopes to get a head start when she performs in the Edinburgh’s Got Talent final on October 26.

Shayne said she had felt intensely proud to be Scottish watching Sande perform the UK No 1 hit Read All About It to open this summer’s Olympic Games.

She said: “What’s so amazing is that she’s also from Scotland, so it inspires me that you don’t have to be from a big town or a big country to make it.”

Not that Shayne wants to be a copycat.

She has delved into Sande’s back catalogue to choose her performance piece for the coming final.

Shayne said: “It’s one of her songs that’s not as popular, which is quite important so I can make it my own.

“It’s called Clown and it’s about people making fun of you and standing up to people who make fun of you.

“I can definitely [relate to it]. When I sing I do have a little trouble with self confidence, so looking up there it definitely inspires me.”

American singer-songwriter Demi Lovato, who is a judge on this year’s X-Factor in the US, is among her other major musical influences.

Shayne entered EGT for the first time last year where she made it as far as the top 20, but narrowly missed out on being a finalist.

This time around, she will be one of ten performers at the Festival Theatre show with a shot at the £1000 cash prize and a winning performance at the Radio Forth awards.

The solution to her success in 2012 has been simple.

“Last year I didn’t tell very many people, so I didn’t get as many votes,” Shayne said.

The teenager is no stranger to live shows.

She has been singing since the age of four and has already performed solo at the Edinburgh Playhouse and Church Hill Theatre.

Shayne said she would pursue a music career whatever the result of the EGT final may be.

“It’s not all about winning because of course I get the experience of performing in front of more people, which gives me more confidence,” she said.

Tickets for the Edinburgh’s Got Talent final on October 26 are on sale from the Festival Theatre – www.ed theatres.com, or call 0131-529 6000.