Singing for their supper
Australia’s wannabe singers are set to battle it out as The Voice kicks off on the Nine Network. The show’s host Sonia Kruger tells DANIELLE McGRANE what to expect.
Until The Voice came along, Play School was the only TV show where a chair played such an important part in proceedings.
Now, coming into its sixth season on Australian TV, the talent show has made its four red chairs almost as famous as the coaches who sit on them, although this year it could be hard to outshine Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowland and ’80s pop star Boy George, who have both joined the show.
The two superstars will be seated alongside returning coaches Seal and Delta Goodrem in the search for some of the country’s most talented singers, and this season their net has been stretched far and wide.
“They went a lot wider in terms of the search this year, not just to the capital cities but to regional areas, and I think we’ve got a lot more regional people in there,” the show’s host Sonia Kruger says.
“There’s one in particular, his name is Sam and he sings differently from how he speaks. He’s really ocker. The coaches think it’s hilarious because he’s like, ‘G’day mate, stone the crows’, but when he sings he doesn’t sound anything like that. So it’s quite weird.”
The chemistry between the coaches is as much a part of the show as the talented contestants, and Kruger has already seen some sparks flying. She may even find herself working as a referee once the live shows kick off.
“There are a couple of moments between George and Seal … they have disagreed on a number of things,” she says. “George is making me equal parts excited and nervous about the live shows.
“I’m just kind of watching this one play out. They’re very polite but there have been a few disagreements … I just wonder how it’s going to go when the pressure is really on.”
The coaches have an extra round to play with this year, with the introduction of the knockouts sandwiched between the blind auditions and the battle round. It means more people will go home before the live stages and it gives each coach the opportunity to steal an artist from another group.
“By the time we get to the live shows, in the past we’ve come in with 16 people into the live shows, now we come in with 12,” Kruger says.
But that won’t necessarily make things any easier for the host, who will just end up with more time to get attached to the contestants.
“I see them from the day they come in until the day they leave and it’s hard because you get to know them, you get to like them and then you have to say goodbye,” she says. “They all have more talent in their little toe than I do in terms of music and I just think, ‘Wow, I hope you never give up’.” But Kruger knows who she wants to win. “This series there’s been some truly extraordinary people. There’s one guy in particular and he’s like a savant, he’s musically gifted,” she says.
“I have never done this before, but this year I’m picking my winner.”
The Voice
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 7.30pm on Nine