Dublin visit a must for Simon Cowell in boyband search

Simon Cowell has told The Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 that a visit to Dublin is a must as he launches the search for his new boyband.

The music mogul will be in Dublin on 28 and 29 July as he auditions 16-18-year-old singers for the new boyband with more details available at simonneedsyou.com.

“I haven’t done auditions like this for a long, long time,” he told the host.

“I remember flying over to Dublin once, where I met Westlife for the first time, then the second time – and then the second time I saw them I signed them literally on the spot.

“That’s why we decided we had to put Dublin as one of the cities for doing this.”

Cowell said he remembers Niall Horan’s X Factor audition “really, really well” – it led the Mullingar native all the way to One Direction and, later, a solo career.

“I mean, it did change his life!” he laughed.

Cowell said “the whole process” of putting together the new boyband will be documented “from start to finish”.

“This eventually will be a documentary that’s going out on one of the big streamers,” he explained.

“We did it this way because I didn’t want any safety nets. I don’t know how the show is going to start, I don’t know how the show’s going to end. It could end with me going, ‘We didn’t find anyone!’ or we may have found more than one band. I mean, who knows?”

“The most important thing is you’ve got to get people to turn up!” he laughed.

“I would say to anyone who is listening, even if you don’t get into the band, auditioning is part of the process you have to go through to become a successful star.

“The criteria is, yes, you do have to sing! Even if you haven’t had training, if you’ve got something, we’ve got vocal coaches. We’ve got producers with us. We’ve got a lot of experienced people.

“So if you’ve got, you know, something and you’ve got charisma and you’ve got personality, then, just like Niall, you’re in with a shot.”

The Ray D’Arcy Show, weekdays, RTÉ Radio 1, 3pm

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