Why You Need to Watch “The Voice” 2015

By Julia Dunn on March 31, 2015

There is something uniquely special about NBC’s “The Voice.”

Image Via: www.mlive.com

Reality singing show “The Voice” sets itself apart from other singing shows on television in that it takes extra care to showcase the diversity of its singers, with the intention of enhancing and refining the natural vocal ability of each contestant. The 4 coaches on the show, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, and Pharrell Williams, create an atmosphere for their singers that is energetic and constructive, and the love they have for each singer is obvious.

Though the entire group of singers is sectioned into 4 teams, each led by 1 coach, all 4 coaches fight to “steal” singers from other teams, which speaks to the amount of respect coaches have for all of the singers. When working with their team members, the coaches stress the importance of allowing each singer’s personality to shine through in each performance. They accommodate to each contestant’s personalized singing style to ensure that their artistry is not compromised by nervousness and anxiety.

“The Voice” Coaches 2015: Pharrell Williams, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Adam Levine
Image Via: www.billboard.com 

As a regular viewer of “The Voice,” I argue that the level of care the coaches have for their teams is what puts this show a cut above other programs and helps the singers deliver stellar performances every week; it isn’t one of those TV experiences that leaves you feeling less-than-optimistic after it’s over, especially since the coaches crack jokes and poke kind-spirited fun at each other every day. They’re too busy creating art to be consumed in unnecessary drama that pops up on other singing shows for the sake of increasing viewers and detracts from the essence of each performer. You can tell in the way the coaches look at performers on stage that they love what they do.

The contestants this year are so stellar that it is quite difficult to tell who will outshine the rest later on, but here are a five emerging vocal powerhouses to watch this season (who are all under 20 years old!):

 1. Treeva Gibson (Team Christina), age 16

Treeva Gibson
Image Via: www.nbc.com

Treeva Gibson of Frederick, Maryland is a perfect example of how to make the best of a less-than-ideal situation. Growing up with 2 deaf parents, and having a hearing impairment herself, this 16 year old auditioned for the show with a fantastic performance of Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful.” Treeva’s condition prevents her from being able to hear an artist perform a song, but she is still able to hear the instrumental parts of the song. Treeva proves to be a gifted singer, as well as a down-to-earth teen who maintains a refreshing and sunny attitude that can easily lift the spirits of others. Her perseverance to pursue her dream despite personal challenges is inspirational, making Treeva a star to follow this season. Check out this video of her first audition at the link below:

The Voice 2015 Blind Audition – Treeva Gibson: “Young and Beautiful”

 

 

 

 

2. Mia Z (Team Pharrell), age 15

Mia Z
Image Via: www.bustle.com

If there’s one thing about Mia Z that stands out the most, it’s her ability to sing in “dolphin language,” or hit extremely high notes that few singers can master.  The bold edge in her voice is intriguing and captivating to listen to, especially since she is able to hit such high notes while staying on pitch. I see her as a spunky and edgy spirit who loves to have fun during her performances, which makes watching her sing even more enjoyable. Listen to her fantastic high-notes in this performance of  “Hold On, I’m Comin.”

The Voice 2015 Knockouts – Mia Z: “Hold On, I’m Comin’” (0:56 will blow you away!)

3. Nathan Hermida (Team Adam), age 17

Nathan Hermida
Image Via: www.whdh.com

Nathan Hermida, a high school Senior from Boston, Massachusetts, is a particularly strong contestant this season due to his ability to convey so much emotion during his performances. He made himself especially memorable by displaying vulnerability and bravery in his performance of “Leave Your Lover” by Sam Smith, which he conquered amazingly by embodying the feeling of the song and singing earnestly with his whole heart. Nathan’s falsetto voice is light and sweet, and his personality matches that. You can tell he has a hugely genuine passion for music, which I believe will serve him well in his singing career. Nathan said on the show that if he doesn’t make it on “The Voice,” he will go to college and study biology. He’s a great example of taking chances for the sake of fulfilling a dream. Watch Nathan’s soulful performance at the link below:

The Voice 2015 Knockouts – Nathan Hermida: “Leave Your Lover”

4. Kelsie May (Team Blake), age 16

Kentucky-born teen Kelsie May is one of my favorite singers this season on “The Voice.”  She’s a top contender to win the show this season for multiple reasons, one being her vocal control and delivery, and another being her overall sweet personality that contrasts well with her strong vocals. Kelsie is definitely a country girl with a lot of talent and confidence onstage. Check out her performance of “Fancy” with Brenna Yaeger, a contestant who was eliminated after Blake Shelton chose Kelsie as the winner of the “battle”:

The Voice 2015 Battle – Brenna Yaeger vs. Kelsie May: “Fancy”

Kelsie May
Image Via: www.youtube.com

5. Sawyer Fredericks (Team Pharrell), age 16

Sawyer Fredericks
Image Via: www.nbc.com

“Genetic genius” really is the only phrase accurate enough to describe 16 year old Sawyer Fredericks, a freakishly gifted singer-songwriter from Upstate New York whose John Denver-esqe voice is uniquely chilling. Sawyer received “chair turns” from 3 of the 4 judges after singing for just 10 seconds during his audition to be a “Voice” contestant, and the fourth judge turned around seconds after.

I would bet money that Sawyer will go on to win the whole show this year; his other-worldly voice consistently mystifies and awes everyone listening. The purity and richness of his tone is enough to give you goosebumps no matter how many times you listen to Sawyer sing. He harnesses the old-soul quality of his voice beautifully, and appears to have no ego whatsoever. Plus, he rocks his long hair/hat combination like no other. Below is a link to his performance of Howie Day’s song “Collide,” as well as a link to Sawyer’s duet with Noelle Bybee (an incredible vocalist), who unfortunately had to leave the show.

The Voice 2015 Knockouts – Sawyer Fredericks: “Collide”

The Voice 2015 Battle – Sawyer Fredericks vs. Noelle Bybee: “Have You Ever Seen the Rain”

 

 

 

 

Noelle Bybee (left) and Sawyer Fredericks (right)
Image Via: www.nbc.com

But these 5 are by no means the only contestants to beat. Cody Wickline, Corey Kent White, and Kimberly Nichole are phenomenal contestants as well, among many others who are not to be missed in Season 8.

“The Voice” airs Monday and Tuesday nights, 8/7c.

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