The Voice delivered copious competition on Sunday night as megastar coaches Keith Urban, Rita Ora, Guy Sebastian and Jessica Mauboy found themselves going head-to-head on everything from high-stakes pitching to finding out who could hold pitch the longest.
The Blind Auditions rolled on with café worker Arlo Sim, who Keith proclaimed could win the series; gifted girl group G-Nat!on, who Rita promised to take all the way; and a fearless performer whose story of survival stunned the coaches.
But it was the incredible lung capacity of Victoria’s Aaron Lee that saw the coaches drum up a different sort of competition, as Guy challenged his three fellow superstars to see who could hold a note the longest.
Monday night on The Voice, a familiar face takes the stage for the most personal performance yet but with just two nights left of the Blind Auditions it’s going to be harder than ever to turn a chair.
Tonight’s performers on The Voice were:
Artist: Arlo Sim, 18 NSW
Song: My Mind (Yebba)
Chair turns: Four
Team: Keith
Café worker Arlo dreamt of a career in music, and as soon as he stepped onto The Voice stage, the coaches were certain his dreams would become reality. The extraordinary performer left the coaches spellbound as they not only heard, but also felt his voice, leading to a competitive pitch-off.
Rita: “Whatever happens this is going to be your job for the rest of your life.”
Jess: “Honestly I think we’ve seen the best vocalist on the show… you’re going to go all the way.”
Guy: “If you can do that in your blind audition I just wonder where we can get to by the Grand Final.”
Keith: “We may have just seen the winner of The Voice right there.”
Artist: G-Nat!on, Taylah (17), Isla (16), Mateja (15), Rylee (16), Alessia (16) and Emma
(18), SA
Song: Teeth (5 Seconds of Summer)
Chair turns: Four
Coach: Rita
Inspired by iconic girl groups like The Spice Girls, G-Nat!on’s outstanding harmonies, dance moves and style had all four coaches in a spin. Rita took her passionate pitch to the next level by jumping on stage to declare that, as their coach, she could take the gifted group all the way to the Grand Final.
Rita: “I swear to you if you come with me, I will take you all the way. I promise you…. I will just help you navigate this ship that you’re already on and it’s not going to sink on team Rita.”
Jess: “You have perfected who you are and as a group. It was absolutely superb, and it blew me away.”
Artist: Lau Abend, 21, NSW
Song: you broke me first (Tate McRae)
Chair turns: Four
Team: Keith
After a terrifying scuba diving accident at 16 Lau promised herself: “If I’m going to survive today, I’m going to make music my career.” Her story and profound performance left the coaches speechless, all wanting to secure the soulful artist for their team.
Keith: “It’s a great balance of courage, fearlessness but deep gratitude… you’ve got a God-given talent.”
Rita: “Your vulnerability is your biggest power.”
Artist: Danielle Matthews, 37, VIC
Song: Zero Gravity (Kate Miller-Heidke)
Chair turns: Three (Rita, Guy and Jess)
Team: Guy
Co-artistic director of The Choir of Hard Knocks – a choir for people who have experienced disadvantage – Danielle took a challenging song to The Voice stage and it paid off.
Jess: “You killed that, I’m literally so speechless at your range. I would love to have you on my team.”
Guy: “That audition was beautiful.”
Rita: “What a great voice, such a powerhouse… I’m so excited by you I’m so happy you came here.
Artist: Bec Caruana, 45, NSW
Song: Everybody’s Free (Rozalla)
Chair turns: Two (Rita and Jess)
Team: Jess
After a record deal and two Top 40 singles in her 20s, Bec’s music career struggled under the pressure of the industry’s change to file sharing. She revealed: “I went from pop star to waitress in nought to five seconds.” With her daughter and partner by her side, Bec is ready to step back into the spotlight.
Jess: “I’m looking for a voice like yours and I think you would be really unstoppable… you are exceptional.”
Rita: “I really want you to know you have power, you really can rise up to the plate and you deserve to be on the stage.”
Artist: JD Smith, 36, NSW
Song: Hello (Adele)
Chair turns: Three (Keith, Guy and Jess)
Team: Keith
JD joined the Ten Tenors in 2015 and has toured the world, but the current stay-at-home dad came to The Voice to make his dream of becoming a solo artist a reality. Jess identified with the ambition of breaking out as a solo artist, but it was Keith who got down on hands and knees and begged to be JD’s coach.
Keith: “That was a terrific performance.”
Jess: “I definitely felt all the things that you were feeling, this urge to want to break free and you’ve really showcased this kind of burning excitement to want to do this.”
Artist: Aaron Lee, 28 VIC
Song: My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)
Chair turns: None
Aaron didn’t turn any chairs, but won props from the coaches for his passion and how long he could sustain a note in the epic Celine Dion ballad. When Guy proposed an impromptu coaches’ challenge to see who could hold a note the longest, Aaron’s heart – and voice – went on to win the challenge.
