For Gospel newcomer, Da'Quela, her dream of becoming the next great Gospel artist took more of a "big bang" turn in a direction she had, oddly enough, almost given up on. EMI Gospel, the label known for nurturing some of the industry's most amazing talent from career infancy to stardom, brought Da'Quela to center stage with her debut release entitled Blue Sky.

After trying out for both American Idol and Exalting Him, in 2006, Da'Quela sang her way past 16,000 contestants to win the first ever, Trinity Broadcasting Network's (TBN) Gifted television competition, an American Idol look-alike, showcasing the talent of Christian vocalists nationwide. Immediately, the Gifted judges took note. The accolades from competition judges – industry veterans such as Eddie DeGarmo and Andrae Crouch – came in rapid succession during Da'Quela's performances, as they observed her personality, her style, and her amazing ability to master any note and any song placed in front of her. At one point in the competition DeGarmo remarked, "……You have a special gift, and whether or not you win this competition….., you should be making cd's so we can all enjoy it." The other judges agreed, and Da'Quela pulled out of the competition the winner and proved that there is, in fact, a stage with her name on it in the music industry.

You can hear more of Da'Quela's music and get info about purchasing her CD, etc., at www.myspace.com/daquela.