The third annual Kowaliga Idol Competition showcased the talents of 35 up and coming musicians from Alabama and surrounding states. Taking home the Kowaliga Idol title this year was Dylan Brabham of Union Springs.

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Beginning February 18, at the Lake Martin Oyster Bar in Dadeville, the judges eliminated 15 contestants leaving 20 to compete throughout the rest of the competition. Each week, contestants performed a song of their choice and a song from a decade chosen by the panel of three judges. Five contestants were eliminated each week until the finale.

The Competition’s Grand Finale was held March 18 and attracted more than 500 spectators to support the five finalists, Page Bentley, Joey Gettings, Baylie Kazziah, Blane Rudd and Dylan Brabham.

Brabham started playing the guitar at the age of 12, but his love for music was instilled long before then. With a blues pianist grandmother and songwriter father, Brabham’s earliest memories were accompanied by the rhythms and melodies of good quality music. Other musical inspirations for Brabham include Bob Dylan and Ryan Adams.

While Brabham’s voice was what won the judges’ vote, he has a true love for writing music.

“I like music that tells a story,” said Brabham. “I try to write songs that actually make you think about what the lyrics mean. A song that means one thing to me might mean something completely different for someone else; that’s the beauty of music.”

One of his favorites that will be featured on his new album is called “Lorraine”.

“Lorraine is not a real person,” he said. “She was just my way of taking every heartbreaker out there and combining them into one girl. It’s kind of a dark song, but it’s about all those familiar side effects of heart break.”

One of the prizes he won as part of the competition included a recording session at the Cypress Moon Studio in Muscle Shoals, AL. His self-titled album, which will be released within the next few months, includes 12 songs he’s been writing for the past five years. He describes his music style as a blend of folk and pop rock and is written about anything from love, heart break, hard times and everything in between.

Brabham not only won the Cypress Moon Studio recording session and the esteemed title of Kowaliga Idol 2011, but a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, a three –night stay in Gatlinburg, TN, a photo shoot with David Dismukes Photography and a $200 gift certificate to The Body Shop in Alexander City, AL.

Now that he’s won the title of Kowaliga Idol 2011, he thinks that it will open a lot of doors for him in the future. Brabham plans to continue his music career in whatever way presents itself.

“All I know is that I want to stay in the music industry; whether that means performing on a stage or writing music for other people,” he said. “I love seeing other people in the spotlight singing my songs.”