Drew Wright
Encyclopedia
Drew Edward Wright is a Canadian
who is best known for being a top three finalist on the sixth season
of Canadian Idol
.
Even at a young age, Drew's interest in music was apparent. When he was five, he was sent home from school for singing Under My Thumb
by The Rolling Stones
. Later, he quickly picked up drumming when he was twelve and he was often sent home for singing or drumming in class.
He played in the band at Admiral Collingwood Public School and various sports such as hockey or wrestling, as well as taking tap dancing lessons for a year. When he was fifteen, he was taught a few chords on the guitar and took it up as his main instrument. Despite being left-handed, Wright plays right-handed.
After leaving school, Drew attended CCI and enrolled in the drama program. He would often bring his guitar to class and play for his peers. For his year-end monologue, he played a character who wanted to write music for a living.
Around this time, he played in a band called Clean Dirt, though they broke up shortly thereafter. He then formed a band called Malleus, who won the Rock 95 Loud and Local Contest in 2006.
After graduating high school, Drew got a degree in music engineering and continued to play on the local scene.
The day of his final performance in Toronto Week, his grandmother died and he contemplated leaving, though decided, with his family's blessing, to stay in the competition. He wowed the judges with his acoustic performance of Maroon 5
's She Will Be Loved
and made it into the Top 24 (though at the time, it was still a Top 22).
After performing Queen
's "Under Pressure
", Neverending White Lights
's "The Grace
" and Hoobastank
's "The Reason
" (the latter which of two, he accompanied himself on guitar), Drew advanced into the Top 10 of Canadian Idol. Though he said the leaving of many of friends was sad, he was ecstatic to make the top ten and what was ahead for him.
Drew accompanied himself on drums during Top 10 week, playing David Bowie
's Five Years
. The judges response to his performances were mostly lukewarm, though he managed to advance.
For Top 9 week, he sang Blind Melon
's No Rain
without accompanying himself on an instrument. The Idols were mentored by Gavin Rossdale
for Top 8 week, when he again sang a Maroon 5 song (this time, Sunday Morning
). Speaking of the experience, he called it "a great experience".
Drew accompanied himself on an electric guitar for Top 7 week, in which he sang Radiohead
's 1992
hit, Creep
. The judges were largely happy with the performance, though judge Zack Werner
noted that he could have "sang the lyrics a bit more angst-ridden."
The following week, Simple Plan
mentored the Idols for Canadian Artists week, in which Drew chose Big Wreck
's That Song. With a mixed response from the judging panel, Drew found himself in the bottom three the next night with Earl Stevenson and Amberly Thiessen - the last competitor of the Top 10 to find himself in that position. Amberly was eliminated.
The top five went to Camp Oochigeas, which Drew said was "unreal" and mentioned how his worries seemed "extremely trivial with what these kids are going through".
For that week, the judges of the show chose the contestants songs to sing from The Beatles
. Singing While My Guitar Gently Weeps
, Drew received praise from all four judges but found himself in the bottom two with Mookie Morris. Morris was then eliminated.
On August 22, Drew returned home to Collingwood
for a welcome home party. He sang full-length versions of That Song, Creep and Under Pressure, as well as Tonic
's Open Up Your Eyes, Jeff Buckley
's Hallelujah
and U2
's Where The Streets Have No Name
.
That week on the show, Anne Murray
mentored and Drew sang her song Hey Daddy as well as John Mayer
's Gravity
. Drew was safe as there was no bottom two announced.
For his final week on the show (where the theme was Bryan Adams
songs), Drew sang his own arrangement of Cuts Like a Knife
and I'm Ready
. The next night, Drew was eliminated despite universal praise from the judges (with judge Jake Gold
proclaiming he had "finally discovered what kind of artist you are").
Drew said he was not surprised it was his name that was called, considering he'd been in the Bottom 2 a couple of times and despite tremendous support from his hometown, Ontario does not vote like some other parts of the country do. He then later said he was happy to leave on a high note and had nothing but good words for the Top 2 finalists Mitch MacDonald
and Theo Tams
.
After several line-up changes, the band released their debut album digitally through iTunes
and Amazon MP3
on October 3, 2011.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
who is best known for being a top three finalist on the sixth season
Canadian Idol (season 6)
The sixth season of Canadian Idol is the sixth and final installation of the Idol series in Canada and premiered on June 3, 2008, on the CTV Television Network. It is again hosted by Ben Mulroney, with the addition of Jully Black as a special correspondent and general mentor to the contestants....
of Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show Pop Idol. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore was the "roving reporter" for the first three seasons...
.
Early life
When Drew was young, he was mostly into rock and country. When he was two, he was given a ukulele which he grew attached to.Even at a young age, Drew's interest in music was apparent. When he was five, he was sent home from school for singing Under My Thumb
Under My Thumb
"Under My Thumb" is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for The Rolling Stones. Its first appearance was as an album track on 1966's Aftermath...
by The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
. Later, he quickly picked up drumming when he was twelve and he was often sent home for singing or drumming in class.
He played in the band at Admiral Collingwood Public School and various sports such as hockey or wrestling, as well as taking tap dancing lessons for a year. When he was fifteen, he was taught a few chords on the guitar and took it up as his main instrument. Despite being left-handed, Wright plays right-handed.
After leaving school, Drew attended CCI and enrolled in the drama program. He would often bring his guitar to class and play for his peers. For his year-end monologue, he played a character who wanted to write music for a living.
Around this time, he played in a band called Clean Dirt, though they broke up shortly thereafter. He then formed a band called Malleus, who won the Rock 95 Loud and Local Contest in 2006.
After graduating high school, Drew got a degree in music engineering and continued to play on the local scene.
Canadian Idol
Drew was pressured to try out for Canadian Idol by family and friends. As twenty-eight is the cut off age for auditioners, he decided to give it a shot (he was twenty-seven at the time of his audition) and made it to the Top 200.The day of his final performance in Toronto Week, his grandmother died and he contemplated leaving, though decided, with his family's blessing, to stay in the competition. He wowed the judges with his acoustic performance of Maroon 5
Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. While they were in high school, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Levine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, bass guitarist Mickey Madden, and drummer Ryan Dusick formed a garage band called Kara's Flowers and released one album...
's She Will Be Loved
She Will Be Loved
"She Will Be Loved" is the third single from the Californian band Maroon 5's 2002 debut album, Songs About Jane. Released in 2004, the single peaked at #5 in the United States and has sold over 2,178,000 downloads since release; it also peaked at #4 in the United Kingdom. The song reached #1 in...
and made it into the Top 24 (though at the time, it was still a Top 22).
After performing Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
's "Under Pressure
Under Pressure
"Under Pressure" is a 1981 song recorded by Queen and David Bowie. It marked Bowie's first released collaboration with another recording artist as a performer, and is featured on Queen's 1982 album Hot Space. The song reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart. It was also number 31 on VH1's 100 Greatest...
", Neverending White Lights
Neverending White Lights
Neverending White Lights is a Canadian music collaboration project fronted by Daniel Victor from Windsor, Ontario, and featuring several artists mainly from Canada and the United States. Daniel Victor performs all musical instruments, with most of his songs featuring guest singers...
's "The Grace
The Grace (song)
The Grace is a song written by Canadian recording artist and producer Daniel Victor in August 2005 and appears on the Neverending White Lights' debut album, Act 1: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies.-Background:...
" and Hoobastank
Hoobastank
Hoobastank is an American rock band, best known for their 2004 hit "The Reason" and other hits "Crawling in the Dark" and "Running Away". They formed in 1994 in Agoura Hills, California, with singer Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist Markku Lappalainen. They...
's "The Reason
The Reason (Hoobastank song)
"The Reason" is the 2004 hit single by the modern rock band Hoobastank, off their album The Reason. The song is Hoobastank's most commercially successful single, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart , and #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks. In addition, it topped the singles charts in both...
" (the latter which of two, he accompanied himself on guitar), Drew advanced into the Top 10 of Canadian Idol. Though he said the leaving of many of friends was sad, he was ecstatic to make the top ten and what was ahead for him.
Drew accompanied himself on drums during Top 10 week, playing David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's Five Years
Five Years
"Five Years" is a song written by David Bowie and released in 1972. It was the opening track on the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars....
. The judges response to his performances were mostly lukewarm, though he managed to advance.
For Top 9 week, he sang Blind Melon
Blind Melon
Blind Melon is an American rock band active from 1989 to 1999, and from 2006 onward.Best remembered for their 1993 single "No Rain", the group enjoyed critical and commercial success in the early 1990s with their neo-psychedelic take on alternative rock...
's No Rain
No Rain
"No Rain" is a song by Blind Melon, released on the band's 1992 debut album Blind Melon. "No Rain" is well-known for its accompanying music video, which features the "Bee Girl" character. The music video, directed by Samuel Bayer, received heavy airplay on MTV at the time of its release."No Rain"...
without accompanying himself on an instrument. The Idols were mentored by Gavin Rossdale
Gavin Rossdale
Gavin McGregor Rossdale is an English musician, known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Bush as well as an actor. Following Bush's separation in 2002, which lasted for eight years, he was the lead singer and guitarist for Institute, and later began a solo career. He...
for Top 8 week, when he again sang a Maroon 5 song (this time, Sunday Morning
Sunday Morning
Sunday Morning may refer to:* "Sunday Morning" , a Canadian radio program formerly aired on CBC Radio One* CBS News Sunday Morning, a television news program on CBS in the United States...
). Speaking of the experience, he called it "a great experience".
Drew accompanied himself on an electric guitar for Top 7 week, in which he sang Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
's 1992
1992 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s....
hit, Creep
Creep
Creep may refer to:* CREEP, the Committee for the Re-Election of the President, associated with the Watergate scandal of U.S. president Nixon's administration....
. The judges were largely happy with the performance, though judge Zack Werner
Zack Werner
Zack Werner has had a career in the music industry as an artist, producer, entertainment lawyer and manager. He is also president of Toronto-based Venus Management and Venus Records , where he spends his time finding and developing new talent across Canada.He attended the St...
noted that he could have "sang the lyrics a bit more angst-ridden."
The following week, Simple Plan
Simple Plan
Simple Plan is a Canadian pop punk band from Montréal, Québec. The band has had no line up changes since its inception in 1999. Members are Pierre Bouvier , Jeff Stinco , Sébastien Lefebvre , David Desrosiers and Chuck Comeau...
mentored the Idols for Canadian Artists week, in which Drew chose Big Wreck
Big Wreck
Big Wreck is a rock band formed by Ian Thornley in 1994. They disbanded in 2002 and Ian Thornley went onto a successful solo career with his own band Thornley. In 2010, Ian Thornley and Brian Doherty reunited for a cross-Canada tour, playing both Big Wreck and Thornley songs. Doherty then...
's That Song. With a mixed response from the judging panel, Drew found himself in the bottom three the next night with Earl Stevenson and Amberly Thiessen - the last competitor of the Top 10 to find himself in that position. Amberly was eliminated.
The top five went to Camp Oochigeas, which Drew said was "unreal" and mentioned how his worries seemed "extremely trivial with what these kids are going through".
For that week, the judges of the show chose the contestants songs to sing from The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. Singing While My Guitar Gently Weeps
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is a song by George Harrison, first recorded by The Beatles in 1968 for their eponymous double album...
, Drew received praise from all four judges but found himself in the bottom two with Mookie Morris. Morris was then eliminated.
On August 22, Drew returned home to Collingwood
Collingwood, Ontario
Collingwood is a town in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is situated on Nottawasaga Bay at the southern point of Georgian Bay.-History:...
for a welcome home party. He sang full-length versions of That Song, Creep and Under Pressure, as well as Tonic
Tonic (band)
Tonic is an American rock band that has earned two Grammy nominations to date. The band was formed in 1993 by Emerson Hart and Jeff Russo. Later members have included Dan Lavery, Kevin Shepard, and Dan Rothchild. Signed to a recording contract in 1995, the band released its debut album Lemon Parade...
's Open Up Your Eyes, Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...
's Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Halleluyah, and the Latin form Alleluia are transliterations of the Hebrew word meaning "Praise Yah". The last syllable is from the first two letters of the name of God, YHWH, written JHVH in Latin). Hallelujah is found primarily in the book of Psalms...
and U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
's Where The Streets Have No Name
Where the Streets Have No Name
"Where the Streets Have No Name" is a song by rock band U2. It is the opening track from their 1987 album The Joshua Tree and was released as the album's third single in August 1987. The song's hook is a repeating guitar arpeggio using a delay effect, played during the song's introduction and...
.
That week on the show, Anne Murray
Anne Murray
Morna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
mentored and Drew sang her song Hey Daddy as well as John Mayer
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
's Gravity
Gravity (John Mayer song)
"Gravity" is a song by American singer-songwriter guitarist John Mayer and is featured on three of his releases: the 2005 live album Try! by the John Mayer Trio, his 2006 studio album Continuum, and his 2008 live album Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles...
. Drew was safe as there was no bottom two announced.
For his final week on the show (where the theme was Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
songs), Drew sang his own arrangement of Cuts Like a Knife
Cuts Like a Knife
Cuts Like a Knife is the third studio album by the Canadian rock artist Bryan Adams. Released on 18 January 1983 through A&M Records, the album became a huge commercial success in Canada and the United States whereas outside North America, the album did poorly...
and I'm Ready
I'm Ready (Bryan Adams song)
"I'm Ready" is a song by the Canadian musician Bryan Adams. It was written by Adams and collaborator Jim Vallance. The song was first released in 1979, by Ian Lloyd , on his solo album Goose Bumps. Vallance played the drums on this recording...
. The next night, Drew was eliminated despite universal praise from the judges (with judge Jake Gold
Jake Gold
Jake Gold is an American-born Canadian musician manager. He was a judge on the Canadian Idol television program. In addition to Idol participants, he has managed popular Canadian artists like The Tragically Hip and The Watchmen. His management company, The Management Trust, currently works with a...
proclaiming he had "finally discovered what kind of artist you are").
Drew said he was not surprised it was his name that was called, considering he'd been in the Bottom 2 a couple of times and despite tremendous support from his hometown, Ontario does not vote like some other parts of the country do. He then later said he was happy to leave on a high note and had nothing but good words for the Top 2 finalists Mitch MacDonald
Mitch MacDonald
Mitch MacDonald is a Canadian singer who was runner-up in season 6 of the reality series Canadian Idol.-Early life:...
and Theo Tams
Theo Tams
Theo Tams is a Canadian singer and the winner of the sixth season of the CTV reality show Canadian Idol. His debut album, Give It All Away, was released on 19 May 2009 by Sony Music Canada.-Early life:...
.
Post-Idol
Following the show, the top three were sent on a three-month, cross-Canada tour. During this time, Drew joined up with some friends and created a band. Their MySpace went up on November 3, 2008.Fall and Divide
Immediately following Canadian Idol, Drew pieced together a band under the name Fall and Divide, which "comes from the state the planet is in right now and also from the separation from the demographic of Canadian Idol."After several line-up changes, the band released their debut album digitally through iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and Amazon MP3
Amazon MP3
Amazon MP3 is an online music store owned and operated by Amazon.com. Launched in public beta on September 25, 2007, in January 2008 it became the first music store to sell music without digital rights management from the four major music labels , as well as many independents...
on October 3, 2011.
Discography
- In Time - released on April 20, 2007 (with Malleus)
- Fall and Divide - released on October 3, 2011 (digital) (with Fall and Divide)