‘StarMaker’ performer
Jordan Battiste of Jamaica will sing on MTV

When MTV airs the next P. Diddy series “StarMaker,” Jamaica resident Jordan Battiste will be one of the talents participating.
According to a recent release, “the show will feature industry tastemakers and power players hand-selected by Diddy to teach, test, coach, and ultimately create the world’s next global music superstar.”
Battiste said that someone from MTV contacted his manager around early October of 2008 and said the show was looking for more male participants. After auditioning, he said he had to wait about three weeks before finding out he was selected, although he added it felt like it took forever to get the news.
“I was freaking out,” the 28-year-old Battiste said.
His involvement in music and a desire to perform originated while he was a student at LaGuardia High School where he was a vocal major. While taking part in shows at the end of every term, Battiste said his eyes were opened to performance.
Prior to being selected to participate in “StarMaker,” Battiste was part of a band that was putting a CD together and was “starting to really take off.” However, Battiste, who performs pop and R&B, said that now his former band mates are no longer speaking with him.
“It’s a bitter sweet thing because they were my boys but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I had to take it,” he said.
The filming for the show, which features 14 contestants, started last November and concluded around January. Battiste said that he has been anxious for the show to air since the premiere has been postponed on several occasions.
Battiste said that each week during filming the contestants were given different assignments “to prove that we were definitely stars.” These assignments covered a variety of aspects, including stage performance, fashion, photo shoots, writing songs in the studio and working with producers.
“It was definitely everything that dealt with the day-to-day jobs of a star,” Battiste said.
Although he had to take part in many assignments, Battiste said the most challenging part was actually living in the house with the other participants. He said that there were different characters and personalities who were all fighting for the same spot. He also noted that, although they were supportive of one another, they were still competitive.
Battiste said that one of the most important things he recognized during “StarMaker” was that the work he had been doing “really paid off.” He said that, had he not been focused when it came to his music career already, he doubted that he “would have been privileged enough to be on the show.”
When it comes to his future career goals, Battiste said that he ultimately wants to become an entrepreneur, which would include owning a record label and being CEO of a variety of companies. He also said that performance and music would be at the base of it all.
While filming “StarMaker,” Battiste was able to interact a little with P. Diddy, who he described as an interesting person and role model for Battiste’s future.
“He is really a huge inspiration for me because I aspire to be like [him],” Battiste said.
“StarMaker,” which will have 10 episodes, will premiere on MTV at 10 p.m. on August 16.