The Voice 24 Recap: Blind Auditions 5 Live Blog with Videos
The Voice season 24 Blind Auditions continue with new coach Reba McEntire alongside returning vets John Legend and Gwen Stefani and sophomore coach and current champ Niall Horan. Carson Daly returns as host. We’ll be live blogging all the Blind Audition performances right here.
The Voice 24 Spoilers Top 56 Blind Auditions Contestant List
The Voice 24 Preview: Twenty Artists to Watch
The Voice Season 24 Full Schedule CONFIRMED
Lila Forde – 24 – Can’t Find My Way Home by Blind Faith
Lila takes center stage with her electric piano. Her ethereal rendition of the Blind Faith classic quickly earns her a 4-chair turn. She brings a completely different kind of phrasing to the song. It’s almost too busy at times, but her tone is a real attention grabber. Lila is from Seattle, where her parents met in a meditation group. Now, they run retreats.
“Your tone has so many parts,” says Niall. He compares her to Joni Mitchell. Gwen calls Lila authentic and what the world needs. She’s fighting hard for her! “You are my dream Voice girl to work with.” John heard “wisdom.” He says, “everything felt under your control.” Reba calls Lila an old soul. Lila shares that she gigs full time in Los Angeles. She chooses John! – 4-chair turn, Lila chooses Team Legend
Angelina Nazarian – 17 – The Trouble with Love Is by Kelly Clarkson
Angelina was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but her father’s job has taken her around the world. The family currently lives in Dubai. A recent high school graduate, she has never performed a real gig. She possesses a naturally beautiful tone, but Angelina still feels rough around the edges. And she sounds nervous–she’s pitchy here and there. The performance actually worsens after Niall and Reba turn for her.
John calls her a powerful vocalist. Niall compliments her lower register. He reminds Angelina that he won with a teen contestant last season. “There is a lot of power in there.” Reba says, “17 years old, wow!” Reba touts her experience. “I don’t have anybody like you on my team.” Gwen loves her culottes and regrets not turning. Angelina literally forces Reba and Niall to beg for her. Wierd! In the end, she picks Reba – Niall and Reba turn, Angelina picks Team Reba
Tanner Massey – 19 – Before You Go by Lewis Capaldi
Tanner’s parents encouraged him to sing at a young age, signing him up for voice lessons and local Oklahoma City competitions. He auditioned for Acapop Kids and performed with them, appearing in one of their music videos. He’s hoping that Niall turns. He sounds a little shaky. Maybe he’s nervous. But nobody is turning for his pitchy vocals. His tone is interesting. A pleasant pop sound. Finally Reba hits her button, and then Gwen and Niall.
Niall sensed his nerves. “I’m fine working with nerves!” adding “Lewis would be very proud…I’ll send (the audition) to him.” He mentions that his winning artist, Gina Miles, was a nervous wreck. Reba acknowledges a fellow Okie. “I can give you some advice.” Gwen loves his tone calling him a diamond in the rough. Tanner picks Niall – Reba, Gwen and Niall turned, Tanner picks Team Niall
Ange – 23 – Heaven by Los Lonely Boys
Ange loves snakes. Chases them all over. He also played basketball, but developed knee problems due to a connective tissue disorder. While holed up after surgery, he picked up a ukulele. His voice is pretty, but languid. He doesn’t take the song anywhere. Maybe not the greatest song choice. Nobody turns. He looks so disappointed.
Gwen felt the performance was inconsistent. She says he has potential. Niall felt parts of the song were off, but thinks he should come back. John appreciates his energy, but thought he needed a better song choice. – No turns
Jarae Womack – 35 – Back to Black by Amy Winehouse
A haircut gone wrong forced her to shave it all off, but now she feels baldness gives her power. Her mother encouraged her to sing. Music is in her blood. Her grandfather is Cecil Womack. He was in The Valentinos with his brothers, protégés of Sam Cooke. His uncle Bobby Womack had a successful R&B career in the 70s and 80s. She stepped away from music when she had a child. She performs an original rendition of Back To Black in a powerful voice. It takes a minute, but 4 chairs eventually turn.
Niall says, “You completely made it your own…standout performance.” Reba doesn’t know the song. EEP. But she compares her voice to a few country greats. John could tell she was a soulful singer–authentic and true. “You owned the song. I was feeling the drama.” Gwen says, “I loved all the breathiness, the rasp. Really powerful, emotional.” And of course, Jarae picks John. Probably the only coach who has heard of the Womack brothers. – 4-chairs, Jare picks Team Legend
Brandon Montel – 29 – Hard Place by H.E.R.
Reba has the last block, and she aims it at John Legend. It’s a four chair turn. But John is out of luck. Brandon exhibits a sweet tone, but he could hold back the runs. The coaches are really button happy this season, which apparently has the most 4-chair turns ever. John calls Reba “ruthless.” Brandon is a background singer in Los Angeles and also participates in the LGBTQ ballroom culture. It’s given him confidence.
John promises to steal Brandon if he has the opportunity. Niall has nobody on his team like Brandon. Reba calls Brandon “special” and she’s been holding her block all season for an artist like him. Gwen touts her experience. Brandon picks Gwen. – 4-chair turn, Reba blocks John, Brandon picks Gwen
Peter Pinnock – 27 – Your Man by Josh Turner
He grew up with a single mom, who had him at 17. At 4 years old he was shot in the eye with a bow and arrow. Early on, he took dance lessons. He’s worked with many big stars since moving in Los Angeles. He performed with Khaleed on The Voice stage as a background dancer. He’s a hip-hop dancer who sings country music. His voice is deep, but kind of jokey. He’s laying on the twang, like a lounge singer. He also needs to work on his phrasing and timing. No turns.
“You don’t look like your voice,” says Gwen. She noticed the pitchyness. John thought he wasn’t connecting with the fake accent. Niall thinks he needed a different song to show off his soulful side. – No Turns
Al Boogie – 37 – Pick up Man by Joe Diffie
He didn’t get a turn on season 23. He covered a Travis Tritt song and had trouble hitting the big notes. He went home and ate too much! But eventually he lost 50 pounds. The song is a 90’s throwback .He’s hoping Reba hits her button. I don’t remember him from last time, but his tone is resonate and full of character. Nobody is turning at first. Eventually Reba hits her button.
Niall remembers him. “I’m a big fan already,” says Reba. Niall suggests he add even more grit. Gwen was waiting for a little more character in his voice. John also thinks he needs more dynamics and range. – Only Reba Turns
Reba also turned for a singer named CORii who performed “Scared to be Lonely” by Dua Lipa and Martin Garrix, in addition to soul singer Crystal Nicole who sang “Only Girl (In the World) by Rihanna, which CRYSTAL CO-WROTE. That’s a big deal which probably deserved more than a montage.
Elizabeth Evans – 22 – All I Wanted by Paramore
John hits his button first, followed by Reba. She’s an interesting stylist, but her floaty style goes flat in spots and she’s shouty, which is probably why she doesn’t earn more turns. Elizabeth was about to graduate from Belmont University in Nashville with a Songwriting major. She began singing at church. She’s shy. Music brings her out of her shell.
Reba thinks she can help her with stage presence. Niall wasn’t sure where the song was going. Gwen calls Elizabeth “So cute!” but feels she was getting a little “tuney and pinched.” True. John loved her big notes and feels she has everything she needs. Elizabeth picks John – Reba and John turn, Elizabeth picks Team Legend
Jordan Grace – 31 – Let Her Go by Passenger
Jordan is a country singer from Queensland, Australia. His dad was a successful country artist back in the 80s “a pioneer” says Jordan (But then Keith Urban!). He was the “Johnny Cash of Australia.” Jordan moved to Nashville at 18. He’s married with a kid. Recently he’s been performing features on EDM songs. I wasn’t expecting him to sound like THAT. His voice is high and breathy. He might work better as a folk singer. he has that vibe. But his vocals aren’t strong enough to carry a big competition song. No turns.
Niall was looking for more range, but appreciates his tone. John wanted more variation as well. Jordan promises to return – No Turns
Nini Iris – 27 – I See Red by Everybody Loves an Outlaw
NBC previewed Nini’s audition last week. The singer is originally from Georgia, the country, where she grew up without hot water and electricity (Like Nutsa Buzaladze from American Idol earlier this year). She doesn’t speak with much of an accent. She competed on The Voice of Georgia and got kicked off the live shows. She was homeless in New York City for a few weeks. Currently, she’s a wedding singer. Nini was featured prominently on The Voice promos. Her bluesy, emotive style and strong vocals quickly turns four chairs. Nini puts her entire body into her performance. Her runs and phrasing are effortless. The coaches are on their feet.
Niall calls it the best vocal of the day. “commanding” he says before calling her a “potential winner.” Reba calls her singing and stage presence “spectacular.” John compliments her tone and nuance. Nini sees herself as powerful and fierce. Gwen calls her exciting and her performance Grammy-worthy. She was a fan of Gwen, but also One Direction. She wrote fan-fiction. A big fan, she picks Niall. – 4-chair turn, Nini picks Team Niall
