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I had my dreams crushed on Little Mix The Search but now I’m an America’s Got Talent sensation says Brit TV reject
A Southampton fencer has revealed how he flew to Los Angeles in a daring bid to become a professional singer and landed four yeses from America's Got Talent.
He'd already suffered disappointment when his dreams fell apart as his boy band New Priority split after being created on BBC1's talent show Little Mix The Search.
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But the 21-year-old refused to give up, vowing to crack the US instead as "the world is crying out for a new male singer songwriter."
Collinson saved up for his first ever US trip before joining the long lines of wannabes at the AGT tryouts in Pasadena earlier this year.
Fans on Tuesday night then saw his gamble pay off.
He got a standing ovation from the crowd and judges after singing Better Days by Dermot Kennedy.
Howie Mandel praised his "truly amazing" act, Heidi Klum added "you nailed it", while smitten Sofia Vegara adored his look and vocals.
Simon Cowell added "There is something charming, humble and likable about you. I hope this is the beginning of something special."
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Head judge Cowell was so impressed that he had Collinson wake up his mum with a FaceTime call at 4am - who panicked thinking something had gone wrong Stateside.
He had to wait before the judges handed him four yeses and a move to the next stages.
Collinson waves away haters for his decision to fight for exposure and long career through TV talent shows.
Unlike many youngsters he feels that "old school" live performance and stage work is the best way to showcase his talent.
Speaking exclusively he said: "The whole experience was surreal.
"After lockdowns, honestly it felt like a weight off my shoulders to sing in front of people again.
"But the middle was all a blur, but when I opened my eyes and finished Simon, the judges and audience were all stood up.
It was nuts, it was not something I'd expected."
When the judges quizzed him on his gamble, Collinson laughed at their request to call home.
"We face-timed my mum at home.
"It was 4am and she picked up as. She thought something was wrong and panicked.
"She'd just woken up and I wanted to show her a good thing has happened. She was crying.
"In my head I was there for a long time. The judging went out of my head so to get four yeses is amazing."
Reflecting on his decision to try for fame Stateside, he continued:
"I feel like the US is so much bigger than the UK. If you are going to do anything you might as well go for it 100 percent.
"I felt that AGT was my best chance to make an impact immediately.
"It is hard to break through as an artist and build a sustainable platform.
"Nowadays videos are five seconds long and if you do not get picked up - nobody cares. You need to find a way of being relevant and gaining a fan base that is invested in you, rather than dismissing you."
BUILDING HIS DREAM
Collinson, who has returned home to continue working building and repairing fences in Hampshire, is happy to push back on naysayers.
"I feel like it is easy to sit at home and judge what everyone else is doing.
"If someone wants to be a singer and they want to make their talent known, and the best way is to filter yourself through the TV, I do not see why you wouldn't.
"If people see you at home and go 'there is that guy again' then you are doing your job right.
"For every 5 bad comments, you take the one good one and build on it."
Collinson added: "There is a big room for a young pop singer, whether that is me, but at the minute there is a loss of good music.
"I like to play songs from 2000s repeatedly, but I heard a song from a month ago and I do not want to hear it again. There needs to artists that out out material that lasts a long time. With the platform that America can create it makes that opportunity so much more real."
And he is happy to be mentored by Cowell.
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"To have him even around me and say comments around me is significant.
"He is the money man. He picks stars out of nothing. With One Direction he put 5 random boys together. who became the biggest boy band in the world. He is brutally honest, good and bad, and the comments he made have really resonated with me. To get compliments from him means so much."
Collinson is writing songs and building a catalogue of potential hits, influenced by acts like Ed Sheeran and James Arthur.
"I want to make music that is not just catchy, but has meaning and depth. The songs that relate to what everyone has experienced. I want to make music that people can act upon. Not just something you stick on to drown the kids out, but music you wanted to listen to."
He is aware of the challenge of breaking through in the US.
"It used to be that if you could sing and play an instrument it was so easy and people would think you are amazing.
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"Now you have to have the full package and have a quality others don't carry. It sounds bad , but there is 101 of me, but you have to find a niche that makes you different from everyone else - and run with it."
Asked what his niche is, he replied: "I could not tell you. I just connect. I enjoy that people connect when I sing."
Collinson built his live skills busking on the streets of Southampton with college pals, admitting: "it was better than getting a job."
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"If you can read the room and play songs which affect people's emotions that is a beautiful thing.
"If you can master that then there is no limit."
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