Nick Jonas has launched a talent search

The `Burnin` Up` singer - who joins his siblings in band The Jonas Brothers - has been appointed as a talent scout in the Quaker Chewy Superstar search, which is looking for a new US talent between the ages of eight and 14 to turn into a star.

The singer would ideally like to find someone who has the talent of 10-year-old Willow - daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith - who stormed charts worldwide last year with her track `Whip My Hair`.

He said: "I think for this particular competition, I have to keep it in the mind-set of young artists at this moment, so I`d say, like, somebody with the overall star power and star qualities of Willow Smith, with the artistry of a Greyson Chance, who is really talented."

When it was suggested that the 18-year-old hitmaker could be looking for someone like himself, he joked: "Like a really little Nick Jonas!"

The winner of the competition will get the chance to record a song produced by Nick himself, an online music video, as well as a contract with Jonas Group Management and $5,000 in cash.

Nick added: "I think the qualities that I`m looking for is somebody that can really take the songs and make it their own.

"It`s going to be interesting to see what kinds of video submissions we see and the talent we`re looking at.

"I`m excited, because if we can find a young person who`s as passionate about music as I was then, we`ll be in really good shape."

Potential entrants can visit the Quaker Chewy Superstar Mobile Recording Studio and record their auditions, when it tours across the US, visiting New York City, New Jersey, Cleveland, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver and Los Angeles between now and August 4.

Giving extra advice to competition hopefuls, Nick added: "The overall thing is to enjoy every step of the journey, because it really is a journey and things are always changing," he said. "Enjoy that process, because it is a part of the growth."

sections: Celebrities