Last night The Voice Kids found it’s finalists.
Each Coach was faced with the tough decision of selecting two singers from the Sing-Offs to represent their team in the Grand Finale, which will feature six outstanding performers.
After another powerhouse performance of their Blind Audition songs, Mel B went with Maddison from Queensland and Ruhi from New South Wales.
MADDISON, 13, QLD
BLIND AUDITION SONG: ‘AT LAST’ – ETTA JAMES
Maddison’s number one fan was her Nana Sandy, who used to be an opera singer. They would sit at the piano and sing songs together and she always encouraged Maddison to live her dreams. Maddison feels like her journey on The Voice Kids is to honour the memory of her late grandmother.
Maddison’s parents used to be professional water-skiers. Before she was born, her father was convinced he was going to have a sports-mad son, but instead they had a girl blessed with two left feet and an extraordinary voice.
RUHI, 11, NSW
BLIND AUDITION SONG: ‘A CHANGE IS GONNA COME’ – SAM COOKE
Shy and gorgeous, an ultimate weekend for Ruhi is playing 18 holes of golf with his grandfather. He has won more than 30 golfing trophies and competed in the School State Championship. Golf is a sport that suits his quiet, measured personality. But don’t be fooled – while he may not say much, Ruhi’s big voice is waiting to be unleashed. He auditioned for The Voice Kids in the hope of making a better life for his family.
Delta Goodrem went with girl power for her top two, with Alexa from Queensland and Grace from Victoria.
ALEXA, 10, QLD
BLIND AUDITION SONG: ‘GIRL ON FIRE’ – ALICIA KEYS
Alexa is a girl with a whole lot of personality – extroverted with a capital E. With no formal vocal training, she’s a natural talent who recently appeared in a production of Oliver! alongside her brother Aidan, another budding singer. A girl who never stops singing, Alexa has also been dancing since she was four – tap, ballet and jazz – but still finds time for nippers at her local surf club on the Gold Coast.
GRACE, 13, VIC
BLIND AUDITION SONG: ‘FIRESTARTER’ – SAMANTHA JADE
Grace has been around horses her whole life. When she’s not singing she’s at pony club riding her horse Arrow. Grace has sung from an early age and has had lessons for two years. She was inspired by last year’s winner of The Voice, Harrison Craig, a teenager like Grace, who has accomplished so much already. A year ago, due to her extra-curricular activities, Grace was ready to quit singing. Luckily her mother and singing coach managed to change her mind.
Joel and Benji Madden chose the big-voiced first member of their team, Bella from Victoria, and singer-songwriter teenager Chris from New South Wales to round out the Top Six for the first season of The Voice Kids Australia
BELLA, 12, VIC
BLIND AUDITION SONG: ‘AND I’M TELLING YOU’ – JENNIFER HUDSON
Bella’s role model and biggest inspiration is her 17-year-old sister Brigitte – they share the same dream to become professional singers. Of Macedonian descent, the talented songstress won a kid’s karaoke contest onMornings and was invited to Sydney to watch Delta perform. Described by her mother as a “walking iPod”, Bella says she doesn’t get nervous before performing as she feels most at home on stage. As well as singing, Bella loves dancing – jazz, tap, hip-hop, ballet.
CHRIS, 13, NSW
BLIND AUDITION SONG: ‘THE A TEAM’ – ED SHEERAN
Chris’s dad Peter has been a driving influence in his son’s love of music. Chris spends his weekends busking and his dad often accompanies him on guitar. When he’s not singing, playing guitar or writing songs, Chris loves to play basketball, make short films and go skateboarding.
For next week’s decider the Top Six – Maddison (Team Mel), Ruhi (Team Mel), Alexa (Team Delta), Grace (Team Delta), Bella (Team Madden) and Chris (Team Madden) – will perform one song. Each Coach then selects one singer to face the public vote that will decide the winner of The Voice Kids Australia and the $50,000 music scholarship.
For The Voice Kids Grand Finale, the six Grand Finalists will also be joined by the top five from Teams Mel, Madden and Delta, and most of the 100 kids who reached the Blind Auditions. There will also be a special co-hosting appearance by fan favourite and Darren McMullen “mini-me” Robbie from Team Delta. And Justice Crew will perform their chart-topping hit Que Sera.
The Voice Kids airs 7:40 Sunday on Nine
