SOUND FOOTING
Despite never producing a big-name star, The Voice Australia remains a TV stalwart for good reason, writes Siobhan Duck
SIXTEEN famous coaches. Two networks. Three hosts. Ten years on air. And many memorable TV moments. In a decade of The Voice Australia, a who’s who of Aussie musicians and a roll-call of international stars have offered unknown hopefuls their expertise with the goal of unearthing the next big recording artist.
While the series has yet to launch a career to match any of its superstar coaches, it always hits the high notes when it comes to reality TV tears, laughter and drama.
Guy Sebastian, who has done the rounds of singing shows as the winner of Australian Idol in 2003, a judge on The X Factor, and a coach on The Voice since 2019, says the positivity of the series sets it apart.
“The Voice removes a lot of the superficiality of the industry by relying on our ears,” he explains.
“It shines a light on the most important thing about being a singer, and that is being able to tell a story through their voice.”
Sebastian admits his favourite part of the series is performing with the contestants, and says duets with Johnny Manuel on ‘Black And Gold’ and Bella Taylor Smith on ‘ The Prayer’ were highlights.
“With Johnny, we created a James Bond version of the song, [and] got dressed up in tuxes,” he recalls. “And then hearing him riff – I knew he was going to blow it out of the park, but I didn’t know he was going to do it that well.”
Country crooner Keith Urban, who was a coach when The Voice debuted on Nine in 2012 and returned to the hot seat when it moved to Seven, will never forget hearing 2021 contestant Arlo Sims sing for the first time.
“I remember there was just something so soulful and crystal clear in his voice that went right to the centre of me,” Urban says.
Also memorable have been the show’s spontaneous moments. Who could forget mentor Delta Goodrem’s kooky chair dancing? What about the spine-tingling version of ‘Hallelujah’ by season one winner Karise Eden? Or the time Seal caused a furore for barking at an excited Goodrem to “sit down”? Then there were the occasions when the show became a family affair with Sebastian’s brother Chris winning the series in 2020 and Jessica Mauboy’s niece, Saraya, joining Rita Ora’s crew last year.
Host Sonia Kruger says she never tires of hearing a beautiful voice come out of someone completely unexpected.
“Right from the start on The Voice, artists have to perform to a huge live audience and for our four superstar coaches who can only hear them,” Kruger says.
“The pressure to turn a chair is intense – and unlike anything else we’ve ever seen on TV.”
THE VOICE AUSTRALIA PREMIERES AT 7PM ON MONDAY ON THE SEVEN NETWORK