Local vocalist is shining on ‘The Voice’
Magnus Martin credits his students for pushing him forward
Magnus Martin, a singer from Virginia Beach and a former chorus director in Chesapeake, advanced through the battle round on NBC’s “The Voice” Tuesday night.
The music competition show sends vocalists to teams, each led by a celebrity coach, and singers move through rounds as the field of competitors narrow.
Martin’s blind audition landed him a spot on Chance The Rapper’s team. Tuesday, he sang a duet of “Your Song” by Elton John with competitor Alyssa Lazar.
His performance was well-received.
“I like a full, round-bodied ... well, wine and voice,” coach Kelly Clarkson said of Martin’s singing. “It sounds cozy and it sounds like home.”
Coach Blake Shelton agreed, saying Martin’s voice sounded like a warm, cozy home.
Chance said Martin “smashed it” in terms of giving intentionality to the lyrics.
“I was like, ‘This is your song,’ ” Chance said. He ultimately decided Martin won the battle.
“I think Magnus is going to do great in the competition and I’m giving him more opportunities to show who he is,” Chance said.
In an interview with The Pilot ahead of Tuesday’s episode, Martin, 25, delved into his passion for music, education and why he considers himself an old soul.
“Music has always been a very big part of my life, through hard times,” Martin said. “As people, we go through a lot of ups and downs. Music helps tremendously. It can bring you back to a happy time in your life. It’s always been my safe haven, if you will.”
Martin grew up singing in the church. Teaching and performing music have always been closely entwined: He was inspired at an early age by a middle school chorus teacher, and he went on to study music education at Norfolk State University.
“I wanted to be that beacon of light for the next generation of music students,” Martin said.
In 2021, Martin fulfilled that ambition and became chorus director at Crestwood Middle School in Chesapeake, where he taught until transitioning to a full-time music career in 2022 — with the encouragement of his students.
“My students would literally always say, ‘You should be on TV or something,’ ” Martin said, laughing. “They saw something in me, and getting that reassurance from kids, saying, ‘We can just see you doing so much more than being here’ — that warmed my heart because that meant a lot to me.”
Martin also said he learned from his students.
“The thing I learned from teaching is having wonderful patience,” Martin said, “understanding that everybody learns at a different pace and just taking the time to give the best instruction I can within everybody’s skill level.”
Now, on “The Voice,” Martin is taking on the role of student again, getting mentorship from the judges on the show — especially his coach Chance.
“I definitely want to get back into the performance mindset, because at the end of the day, that’s what I want to do,” Martin said. “I am thoroughly excited about Chance being my coach. His energy, his personality ... I just love him. I love his spirit.”
Chance appeared equally excited about Martin, saying he couldn’t wait to win the show with Martin after his blind audition.
In Tuesday night’s broadcast, Chance said, “I was really hyped on Magnus and his control and his choices. He just has a distinct sound that’s not very widely accessible right now.”
Perhaps that rare sound comes from Martin’s vintage musical influences. When asked who he looks to for inspiration, Martin said, “This has been the same list since college. It really hasn’t changed much.” Then he rattled off his top five artists, in order: Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson and Earth, Wind & Fire.
“As you can see, I’m very old,” Martin joked. “But hey, it’s timeless music.”
This isn’t the first time Martin’s soul-infused vocals have landed him on TV. He was in the Netflix show “Voices of Fire,” which is about Pharrell Williams’ search for gospel talent in the Hampton Roads area. He also performed with a choir backing Williams in appearances on CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
Martin said those experiences, along with his education, instilled him with the decorum and professionalism to navigate “The Voice.” And this time he’s solo, rather than singing with a group.
“It’s literally just me,” Martin said. “I remember before I went on stage, I looked to my left and my right and I just thought about the journey that I’ve been on to get to this point.”
After a difficult year in 2021 punctuated by loss, Martin wants people to know, “No matter what you’re going through and no matter the trials and tribulations that life throws at you, God has a plan for you. Things are going to work out for you in due time.”
“I’m here to show the world who I am, my talents and everything I can bring to the table. It’s definitely been a blessing.”
Season 23 of “The Voice” airs on NBC on Monday and Tuesday nights and is available to stream on Peacock.