She’s been singing for 25 years, but now she’d like to buckle down and finally create her debut album.

Albert Lea resident Carrie Boyer Olvera is known for her local theater work both with the 17th Street Players and Albert Lea Community Theatre. She’s not known for her love of singing, but she’s hoping to change that. She’ll soon be releasing some songs she has been working on, but people can hear her voice sooner than that. Boyer Olvera is a finalist in the Diamond Jo Idol karaoke contest.

“If you love watching singing shows, you will love this show because it’s with a live band,” Boyer Olvera said.

On Thursday, Boyer Olvera competed with 24 entrants and made it to the top 10. Then she made it to the top five, and those five will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the event center at the Northwood Diamond Jo. She thinks she’ll be singing “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar.

“It’s a live band so I have to choose from a list of songs they know,” Boyer Olvera said.

The event is free and open to the public. The winner receives $1,000, and some of the judging is based on how much applause each of the five competitors receives. This is the third Diamond Jo Idol contest Boyer Olvera has competed in. The first year she won, and the second year she got third place. She said she doesn’t worry too much about winning because she has so much fun singing.

“If I win or not, either way, it’s so much fun,” Boyer Olvera said.

And since it’s so much fun for her, she would like to try her hand at recording an entire album. She estimates she’s written 50 full songs. While she’s always wanted to start an album, she was scared to trust her music with others because she didn’t want it to be distorted. But now she’s found people she trusts to help her add the music and depth to her tunes.

Boyer Olvera has worked with Merle Krause at Legacy Recording Studios at the Lighthouse Event Center. She also has worked with his son, Brandon, on guitar lessons at Marshall Street Music. And her cousin, Oscar Olvera with Olvera Productions, has worked on some of her songs as well. She also has done some voice recording with Larry Shaunce at Red Star Recording.

“I used to be guarded, but now I feel if I get more people in on my music it’s going to create a better sound,” Boyer Olvera said.

And that sound is an eclectic one. She enjoys pop, ’80s, country and rock, so her music pulls from all those influences. Her work as an actress has helped her on stage. She’s more comfortable dancing and moving around on the stage, and she cares less when she makes a mistake.

“That’s what the stage has taught me, you keep going on,” Boyer Olvera said.

She’s hoping to just have some fun this Friday and, no matter what, she’s already in the top five. She said she likes that karaoke contests give her a way to perform and get her name out there.

“It gives me a way to present myself,” Boyer Olvera said. “I don’t have any inhibitions anymore.”

 

Carrie Boyer Olvera

Age: 36

Address: Albert Lea

Livelihood: Sales and marketing director at America’s Best Value Inn, Big Island Grill & Bar and Land Between the Lakes Event Center.

Family: husband, Pedro Olvera; sons Isaac and Noah; parents Lyle and Jeannie Boyer

Interesting fact: Boyer Olvera loves to draw.