Borderland recording artist gives a behind-the-scenes look at ‘American Idol’

The judges on “American Idol” gave local Borderland recording artist Elia Esparza her golden ticket to Hollywood. She was among the 50,000 hopefuls who auditioned.

“After you get your ticket to Hollywood, you go to Hollywood week, which is kind of like hell week. I did not sleep the entire week. You are filming 24/7. They are really pushing you. You have to run across the room to sign up for songs and group rounds,” Esparza said. “It was so much fun, and I met so many amazing people.”

Esparza made it to the final 50 singers, but was cut. Despite the outcome, Esparza said she liked judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry.

“Katy Perry was really nice. She was the tough one, which I liked,” Esparza said.

Now back in her hometown of El Paso, she is thinking back on her time in the singing competition and planning what she will do next. Esparza is spending a lot of time behind a microphone at Beacon Hill recording studio. And this time she is trading cover songs for her own music.

“I love singing other people’s music, but I think people are still waiting for my original music,” Esparza said.

Esparza also performed on “La Voz Mexico” and in front of a national audience on “The Voice.

Another network singing competition show has reached out to Esparza and invited her to compete. But she is determined to discover herself as an artist.

Esparza hopes to release a single by this summer. She may not have won any of the singing competitions, but she still has big dreams.

“It’s not really a setback for me, it’s just another step in the journey for it all,” Esparza said.