Former Durbanite hits the right notes
FORGET turning heads! On hit TV show The Voice, turning chairs is the name of the game.
And that is what Durban-born musician Selkii did this week when she took to The Voice stage in the US, singing her rendition of Macy Gray’s I Try.
Judges Blake Shelton and Adam Levine were blown away by Selkii, who gave the 1999 song about heartbreak and lost love, a quirky folk spin with her acoustic guitar.
The Maroon 5 frontman just needed to hear a few notes before he turned his chair, while Shelton pressed his red button to turn around just before her performance ended.
While the two other judges, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson, did not turn their chairs, they were also impressed by the South African singer and guitarist.
When Selkii was done, she proudly said: “I come from South Africa”, to which Levine replied: “That is an instant victory for me, my wife is from Namibia”.
Former American Idols winner, Clarkson said: “Your style, by the way, you don’t sound like anyone on this show, so you have that going for you in spades.”
Award-winning country singer Shelton chimed in with: “You know, I have never been to South Africa and I like to imagine that over there, you’re country (genre) because I am looking at you with the hat and the acoustic guitar and I’m fascinated by you as an artist. You’re definitely the complete package.”
In a bid to ensure Selkii chose his team, Shelton said: “I’ve been doing this show for a long time, so has Adam. The only difference is I’ve won the show twice as many times as he has.
“I think what you did was incredible. I’d love to be a part of your journey here on The Voice and in South Africa, when I get to open for you there some day.”
Shelton’s sales pitch worked. Selkii picked him.
Selkii was also a popular featured artist on Disney cruises in Orlando in her early career in the US.