When Eshan Sobti first took the stage at the Clarke Theatre in Mission at seven years old, he found his voice.

鈥淏ack then I had literally no idea what I was doing. I was just singing and figuring it out. I was nervous, but so young that I鈥檓 like, 鈥榃hatever, I鈥檓 gonna go sing鈥�,鈥� Sobti said.

The Mission singer competed in local talent shows for several years but now finds himself showcasing his talent on a much larger stage.

Sobti auditioned for Canada鈥檚 Got Talent and will be featured in the upcoming episode on April 30.

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited and very nervous because this is something that I鈥檝e been wanting to do for so many years 鈥� especially performing on a Canadian stage,鈥� Sobti said.

Sobti previously auditioned for American Idol in 2022 at 17 years old. He received a golden ticket and was one of three Canadians to advance to Hollywood Week that year.

Going into the Canada鈥檚 Got Talent audition, Sobti鈥檚 previous experience on American Idol allowed him to know how shows like this work and the type of songs and arrangements that would impress people.

鈥淚鈥檝e done American Idol but obviously that鈥檚 in America and you鈥檙e not American. So you feel out of place. But here I was excited and nervous because I haven鈥檛 really showcased myself on a stage like that before,鈥� Sobti said.

While Sobti can鈥檛 share too many details about the audition, he says viewers can expect a different take on a very popular song.

Viewers might also expect some tears, and to hear more about Sobti鈥檚 journey.

He says growing up in a Punjabi household, music and other creative industries often aren鈥檛 seen as a feasible career.

鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 confident growing up because I think people would say things about my appearance and about my voice and how I can never be a singer because I looked a certain way. So I just really want Mission to support me because I want them to know that it doesn鈥檛 matter where you come from, what you look like, who you are, what culture you come from 鈥� you can still follow your dreams and reach your goals.鈥�

Since appearing on American Idol, Sobti graduated from high school in Abbotsford and moved to Toronto for university. He currently studies media production at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson).

He has joined a school a cappella group and has been able to refine the type of music he wants to make.

鈥淚鈥檝e been starting to write my own music. Back on American Idol, I wouldn鈥檛 say that I really knew what type of artist I wanted to be,鈥� he said.

Sobti is gravitating towards the pop/R&B genre with influences such as Sam Smith, Bruno Mars, Daniel Caesar and more.

He is excited to represent Mission on Canada鈥檚 Got Talent and hopes to get Fraser Valley-wide support.

鈥淭hrough all the adversity I faced, I got to this point. So I really hope that [Mission is] proud of me,鈥� he said.

The next episode of Canada鈥檚 Got Talent airs on April 30 on Citytv.

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