Round 2 Entry for Komal Trivedi

I thought Komal did a wonderful job. She and Bee are by far the most likable, honest contestants--both eliminated coincidently. Goes to show NPR isn't looking to take a chance, try and appeal to a new generation of listeners. I just don’t ‘get it’.

Here's the thing: If she's got her own show, why did she do such a horrible job on the word association? That was bad.
I gave her excellent marks because she was far better than any of them on the cold read and had written and voiced a fabulous billboard. A little lame at the end, but great specifics that would make me want to listen. Still, I can't get over how awful that two minutes was. COuld she say, "in a groove" a few more times? I thought she knew music, doesn't this offer her some jumping point? Yikes. Maybe I should re-cast my vote.

good pacing and energy, likeable. dull content improv (too bad), though skilled at keeping voice engaging even on the spot.

Her whiplash announcements on the radio prodding sleepyheads to wake up shine and shake to Bricklane Beats are legion in the Boston area now, I guess.

I think her manner his sweetly earnest, and her skills in engaging the audience very polished.

About this contest, I did think she read very smartly from Jared Diamond and the Billboard section was a slick rendition.

All the best to her!

ah, agree with the sound comments, but that combined also with the bit-too-fast pace (us americans speak more slowly, but also it's a must on air and public speaking 101, but i understand you're trying to fit a lot in) and lack of expressive range creates a military radio/dial-a-story tone. but the third coast bit was great. Good luck! PS in the groove was a soft pitch, as doesn't it refer to a record needle dropped in the groove...anyhow, job interview coaches always tell us to use any question to talk about our passions. Good luck!

Komal's entry demonstrates her radio chops, but doesn't really do justice to her on-the-air enthusiasm. Recently, her showed got moved from Sunday to Thursday. Weekends on the radio are just a bit lame, as a result.

The word association didn't grab me in the slightest in fact I almost quit but I decided that wasn't fair because the word association is such a small fraction of the picture. I'm glad I did because the live read was really redemptive. The advert was fine too.

It really seems unfair this contestant was recorded on speaker phone while other contestants have pristine recordings. This should be done agan so she has an even chance.

My wife and I moved out to LA from Boston last year, were driving around at the weekend and heard a favorite and familiar voice in a spot for the talent quest. Komal! Bricklane beats made cold Wednesday mornings in Boston not only bearable, but the best!

Vote for Komal people! vote Bricklane beats!
she keeps shoulders shaking from the west to the east!

Komal has natural talent. If she wants a career in radio, she won't need this contest to get there.

we'd lose her to teevee in less than a year I reckon.

Are the pictures necessary? It makes it hard to be objective about the contestant's radio chops.

Komal Trivedi sounded great to me. And she has a great name for NPR and her accent is beautiful.

Her word association was not so great however.

no comment

Komal is playing at a disadvantage. She is promoting a music show and everyone else is pushing a talk show. Its comparing apples to oranges. How do you weight beat versus blather? Best of luck.

Her beginning was not her best representation of what NPR is seeking. She violated the caveat, "never define a word with the word." And she never recovered by sharing something original. However, she read well and her British accent added sparkle to her animated projection of the "Billboard" piece.

Too bad we didn't get to hear this contestant on a decent mic or line feed. Her word assocation was a little loose a wondered away from being cohesive. Komal brings good energy to a read without being false or too pretensious. That she always sounded like she was reading from the bottom of a deep well is really too bad.

Her Billboard reading sounded very unnatural, like a sideshow announcer at a carnival or something. Still, I think her voice would sound lovely on the radio...assuming they fix up the quality of the recording.

it seemed in the word-association that she was always on the verge of saying something incredibly insightful and interesting, but never quite got there. a few too many filler words found their way in as well. nevertheless i found myself drawn in, and found her copy-reading and her billboard very strong. her accent is a bit heavy for american ears, even for those of us who travel a lot and are accustomed to hearing english spoken with different accents; this might have been because at certain points she sped up her delivery and her voice was a little distant and she wasn't standing in front of me--instead i was hearing her electronically. in the end, i'm hoping she ends up in the top seven.

komal, you are my hero. rock it to the finish. five stars!

Guiltiness (talkin' 'bout guiltiness)
Pressed on their conscience. Oh yeah.
And they live their lives (they live their lives)
On false pretence everyday -
each and everyday. Yeah.

These are the big fish
Who always try to eat down the small fish,
just the small fish.
I tell you what: THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING
To materialize their every wish. Oh yeah-eah-eah-eah.

Say: Woe to the downpressors:
They'll eat the bread of sorrow!
Woe to the downpressors:
They'll eat the bread of sad tomorrow!
Woe to the downpressors:
They'll eat the bread of sorrow!
Oh, yeah-eah! Oh, yeah-eah-eah-eah!

Guiltiness
Pressed on their conscience. Oh yeah. Oh yeah.
These are the big fish
Who always try to eat down the small fish,
just the small fish.

I tell you what: they would do anything
To materialize their every wish. Oh, yeah-eah-eah-eah-eah-eah.

But: Woe to the downpressors:
They'll eat the bread of sorrow!
Woe to the downpressors:
They'll eat the bread of sad tomorrow!
Woe to the downpressors:
They'll eat the bread of sad tomorrow!
Oh, yeah-eah! Oh yeah-e-e-e-e-e!

Guiltiness. Oh yeah. Ah!
They'll eat the bread of sorrow everyday.

Bob Marley

That was a great picture the associated press printed in the paper, Mr. Johnston, it looks like the Israeli Army are pretty friendly captives. SMILE, now everyone pose for the picture!

Oh, and the article on the most injured soldier in Iraq, he supposedly got shot in the back of the neck at point blank, and survived. What are they using bb guns over there?

Was your whole entry done via phone? Every piece sounded like it was through a filter. That seems unfair, considering the clarity of the other contestants' pieces. It's hard to get a good feel for a voice when it sounds so far away and removed. :P Well done, anyway!

Komal, your personality shines through in all three of your pieces. Watch the multiple "you knows" in the word association - I started to anticipate them. And for some reason, the quality of your recordings was a bit fuzzy. But I totally disagree with the "try the BBC" comment. If I know Americans, we'd love to listen to you on the radio. You've been a really interesting candidate precisely because of your background and, yes, your accent.

you might want to work on the accent it was a bit thick. i was too fucused on trying to understand what was being said and clicked off. good luck.

the improv limped a bit but the reading was strong and determined. if you don't end up at npr, you should consider BBC: your reading reminds me of bbc reporters, ready to ask very direct and uncomfortable questions to unearth the truth behind appearances. and we need that too. good luck!