By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Monday, October 11, 2015
For the first time since season two, five metro Atlantans made the top 48 of "The Voice." And a sixth singer is from Calhoun, outside of Rome.
Nobody from the area has won the show to date.
Good news: all three Georgians survived the first battle rounds that aired Monday and move on to the knockout rounds: Regina Love, Zach Seabaugh and Calhoun's Elle Lawrence.
On Tuesday, Sydney Rhame had some bad news. She lost her battle round and didn't get picked up in a steal. Worse yet, she was given the dreaded "montage."
Here are quick sketches of each of the six singers:
Sydney Rhame
Team Pharrell
Audition song: "Photograph" Ed Sheeran
Hometown: Decatur
Age: 17 (senior at Decatur High School)
Style: singer-songwriter/ pop
Last picked! When she came to the stage, she knew there were very few slots left but she had no idea Pharrell was the only one with an opening until she saw Blake peak out behind his chair. When Pharrell turned, her father Rhett looked so incredibly happy. "He feels like I've already won," she said.
Cool fact: At age 11, she almost got a record deal and we at the AJC profiled her. ("I was wearing a mullet!" she said five years later.) She has since released three CDs on her own independently and has performed locally at places like Eddie's Attic, the Loft and Smith's Olde Bar. At the Buckhead Theater, she opened for Aaron Carter. In Nashville, she has played at the famous Bluebird Cafe.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Regina Love (more info here)
Team Adam
Audition song: "Rock Steady" Aretha Franklin
Residence: Atlanta
Style: R&B/gospel
Age: 51, the oldest of the top 48 and a radio host, cosmetologist and stylist
Past: She signed with Evander Holyfield's record label in 1999 and even sang for Aretha Franklin and the King of Pop Michael Jackson. ("He told me my voice was angelic," she said.) Her mom and her siblings have all sung professionally as well. She is trying again after major tragedies, including a death of a teen-age son and her parents in quick succession.
Her philosophy: "It doesn't matter how old you are. Never give up and pursue your dreams. Life is too short."
Why she chose Adam: "I love all genres of music. I want to broaden my horizons."
Did she make it past the battle round? She opened the first battle round airing October 12 against 21-year-old Jordan Smith singing Sam Smith's "Like I Can." Adam picked Jordan but good news! Gwen Stefani stole her! "I am ready for the knockouts!" she said.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Zach Seabaugh
Marietta's Zach Seabaugh, a 17-year-old Kennesaw Mountain junior with an eye on the country market, made it through the blind auditions this week on "The Voice" singing a Sam Hunt song "Take Your Time."
The judges were amazed that he was as young as he was, based on his looks and his deep voice. “People in high school joke that I must have been held back a lot,” he said.
Seabaugh, in an interview last month, sounds far older in his strategic career thought process than a teenager. He quit football six months ago to focus on becoming an artistic “triple threat” who can not only sing but dance and act as well. He said he’s been singing in church choir since he was three years old and is now doing musical theater and taking ballet lessons.
He came on "The Voice" blind auditions without nerves, saying he generally feels more comfortable on stage than off. He said while singing, he became a bit anxious because the judges took their time to turn around but three ultimately did: Blake Shelton and Pharrell Williams at the same time, soon followed by Adam Levine. Only Gwen Stefani held back.
He chose Blake with a country career in mind. "He knows the road I can take that can hopefully lead me to greater success after the show," he said. "He's a great guy. I feel he's a real honest person." (Seabaugh said his very first song he sang at the open casting call was Jack Johnson's "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing" but he made it clear country would be his thing once he got to the blind auditions.)
Seabaugh even has an answer that sounds like a future politician when asked about whether his good looks can be a help or a hindrance.
“It’s nice to be recognized for my good looks,” he said. “It’s always a plus. At the same time, hopefully, the viewers watching can look past that and see my artistry.” His handsome features are really, he said, “just icing on the cake.”
How did the battle round go October 12? He faced the more experienced 21-year-old Tyler Dickerson and was the underdog singing Travis Tritt's "I'm Gonna Be Somebody." Tough decision! Zach's voice sounded deeper and more resonant but Tyler was more "country." And Zach is sculpted! Adam said Tyler's comfort level worked against him. Blake agreed. Zach moved on!
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Riley Biederer
Team Pharrell
Residence: Atlanta
Age: 19 (She was home-schooled but did attend West Forsyth High School for a year and a half.)
Audition song: "Invincible" Kelly Clarkson ("We both have a raspy voice. I thought it woudl be a cool fit to do one of hers," she said.)
Style: pop/soul with an edge toward pop
Can you feel the love? She signed to Elton John when she was 15 and her parents were thrilled. "I wrote a million songs. I have 250 songs nobody has ever heard. I wrote for two straight years, working with some amazing songwriters." As for Elton himself, she said he was a down-to-earth nice guy.
The result: She signed a publishing deal with Sony ATV last year when she turned 18.
Bad sign: She was "montaged" so her entire audition was not shown. That doesn't bode well in terms of how far she goes. Pharrell was the only one who turned his chair. "I was really intent on being on his team," she said. "He's a producer and a writer. He's worked with Miley Cyrus and helped develop her new style."
Already popular: She has 72,000 likes on her Facebook page and 11,000 Twitter followers. Her YouTube video page has garnered millions of views.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Darius Scott
Team Pharrell
Residence: Atlanta
Age: 23
Style: R&B ballads
Audition song: "You Make Me Wanna..." Usher
Broke it big: writing jingles as a teenager but grew up singing at his pastor dad Raymond Dixson's church Clear Springs Baptist Church in Alpharetta.
"SNL" and NBA connection: He attended the same Youth Ensemble theater group as "SNL" star Kenan Thompson. He graduated Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, same place as NBA legend Dwight Howard.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Elle Lawrence
Team Gwen
Residence: Calhoun
Age: 26
Style: Indie rocker
Battle round: She was up against the Bruno Mars look-a-like Tim Atlas. They sang the Neighborhood's "Sweater Weather." It was a pretty even match. Gwen picked Elle. "She has a great voice and amazing stage presence," Gwen said. "I relate to her in so many ways." (Pharrell stole Tim.)
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