Siobhan Evelyn Magnus (born March 15, 1990) is an American singer-songwriter who was the sixth place finalist on the ninth season of American Idol.
Biography
Early life
Siobhan Magnus was born on March 15, 1990, to parents Alan and Colleen Magnus. She was raised in Barnstable, Massachusetts, along with her two older brothers, her older sister and her two younger sisters.[1] Magnus' father was a singer-songwriter, her siblings play in various bands, and her brother Rory is in the film animation industry.[2] She is the niece of two musicians: Tracy Ferrie, currently the bassist for Boston and former bassist for Stryper, and Alan Ware, drummer for Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra.[3]
Magnus first started singing in a fourth grade choral concert when she sang "Tomorrow" from the play Annie.[4]
She also previously fronted an alternative rock band called Lunar Valve, also consisting of Ralph Bousquet (lead guitar), Matthew Kohler (bass), and Jordan Bonina (drums).[5]
Education
Magnus is a 2008 graduate of Barnstable High School in Hyannis, Massachusetts.[4][6][7] In school, she was a member of the Barnstable High School Drama Club.[7] When the drama club was filmed for an internet reality show by Warner Brothers,[8] she was featured as one of three Dorothys for the play The Wizard of Oz. In May 2008, in a local profile about Magnus's singing talent, the music department chair of her school district was quoted as saying "Hands down, I think she'd win 'American Idol'."[9] During her senior year in high school, she was voted the most individual girl.[10] She auditioned as a vocal major Berklee College of Music, but was not accepted.[11] She attended Salem State College, but dropped out after one semester.[12] Magnus worked as an apprentice glassblower in Hyannis before taking part in American Idol.[6]
American Idol
Magnus auditioned for American Idol in the summer of 2009 in Boston,[13] and was one of two Massachusetts contestants to make the semi-finals of the show.[14] Magnus emerged as an early contender after her interpretation of "Think" by Aretha Franklin and "Paint It, Black" by The Rolling Stones. Magnus' vocal range and dramatic performances prompted judge Kara DioGuardi to compare her to Season 8 runner-up Adam Lambert.[15] Magnus' elimination during Top 6 week came as a surprise to many Idol experts.[16] It was reported that as a result, many fans of Magnus had vowed not to watch the rest of the American Idol season.[17] The week after Magnus' dismissal, American Idol had its lowest ratings since 2002.[18] Magnus, along with twelfth season finalist Angie Miller, are the only finalists on American Idol from Massachusetts.
On June 9, 2010, Magnus performed with childhood Idols Hanson at the Bardot in Hollywood, California. Magnus actually declared the experience (performing with Hanson) was "better than winning American Idol."[25]
Magnus recorded her debut album, Moonbaby, with Nashville-based Pacific International Music.[27] Her first single, "Beatrice Dream", was released to iTunes on May 1, and her second single, "Black Doll", was released to iTunes on October 3.[28][29] 1,000 pre-release copies of the album were made available for purchase through her official website in December 2011.[30] "Moonbaby" was made available through digital retailers on January 22, 2012.[31]
In March 2013, Magnus showcased a new band called Doubtful Guest, featuring several members of bands from the 1990s. The showcase was held in Nashville at 12th and Porter on March 27, 2013.[32]
In 2014, Magnus recorded the song "Wisdom" as the theme song for the movie The Wisdom to Know the Difference, "Wisdom" was included on her 2015 EP release Holiday Inspiration, which also included recordings of "What Child Is This?", "O Holy Night", "Old Cape Cod", and "Did You Ever Wonder Why" The EP was made available only through her website as a CD.
In November 2016, she released a single, "Breakfast in Bed", under her label Millbilly Music.
