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Jul 12, 2005 10:40 am US/Central
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St. Paul Singer Has 'Rock Star' Quality
by Jason DeRusha
St. Paul (WCCO) ―
A 22-year-old St. Paul woman is one of 15 musicians battling for the chance to become the new lead singer of INXS.
Jordis Unga was in grade school when INXS was on the charts. Now she's a contestant on the CBS reality competition "Rock Star."
Unga survived grueling auditions to make it to Hollywood. Locally, folks already think she's already earned the right to be called a rock star.
"It's kinda surreal, I guess," said Unga's friend and bandmate Corey Frazee. "It's weird."
It all started in a St. Paul basement studio that used to be a meat locker. She played around town in the Fighting Tongs with drummer Frazee. They've got a new group now called Liars Club.
"Half of me wants her to go all the way," Frazee said. "Half of me wants her to get kicked off so we can get our band going, and (I can) get my friend back too."
Right before Unga left to take a shot at worldwide fame, Liars Club played a show at the Red Sea in Minneapolis -- a far cry from Hollywood, where the singer is now living in a reality show mansion.
Unga quit her bartending gig in order to appear on "Rock Star."
"She knows how to sing, knows how to work the crowd," Frazee said. "She's paid her dues. She belongs there."
Unga made it through a tough audition at First Avenue in February. Hundreds tried out locally, many in an open call. Unga was invited by producers who had heard about her through the local music scene.
Seventy-five people from around the world made it to a final tryout, and 15 of those made the show.
(© MMV, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)