Is Jersey home to 'The Voice'?

Tuesday 10 May 2016

Local singers could be on the road to global superstardom when the team from 'The Voice' come scouting for talent in the Island next month.

Talent spotters will be here for an open mic night at the Green Rooster on Thursday 9 June hoping to hear the next big thing to win a major recording contract and become 'The Voice 2017'.

Next month's open mic night at the pub in Minden Place starts at 7 pm and is one of the first stages to the show that includes producers' auditions, blind auditions, battle phase, knockouts and live shows.

The Voice UK is open to solos, duos and trios and you can enter whatever your style of music as long as you are 16 or above by 1 October 2016.

If successful they'll be following in the footsteps of Jersey rock musician Jamie Lovatt who got through to the Battle rounds stage of the top naitonal competition in 2014.

The Progressive School of Music's Principal Leila Begg says these talent shows are great experience for singers.

She said: "Living 'on the rock' means that our young singers are more limited than their UK counterparts by way of opportunities to use their talent.

"Given the size of the Island, it's incredible just how much we do manage to offer through independent music schools; singing in educational schools, the fab Amateur Dramatic Societies we have here; Music in Action; Open mic nights and acoustic nights and so much more but still, in the UK, they can travel within the country to audition for the bigger, televised events which can literally change a singer's life."

But she said local performers should make sure they are prepared to face the music if they don't get through the stages of the competition.

She said: "It can be demoralising, even if you get a long way in the competition and often a singer doesn't perform to their very best, due to nerves. This will be televised, for the good, for the bad and available online forever more.

"Great experience to toughen you up, but be prepared for things not to go to plan and if so, make sure you can cope with it and it won't destroy your confidence forever.

"In the UK if you are serious about your career, you audition for anything and everything and it toughens you up. That's not possible here, so a knock back can be a lot more devastating to a Jersey person."

ITV is now behind the talent show that first began on BBC One back in 2012 and has since seen Leanne Mitchell, Andrea Begley, Jermain Jackman, Stevie McCrorie and Kevin Simm all become 'The Voice'.

The idea of the show is that its four coaches choose who to mentor based only on their vocal ability. They don't judge the artists by their looks, personalities, stage presence or dance routines. 

Past shows have seen big names like Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue, Jessie J, Danny O'Donoghue, Rita Ora , will.i.am, Ricky Wilson, Boy George and Paloma Faith all pressing their buttons and turning their chairs around to face the performers they liked the sound of and wanted to mentor.

You can find out more here.