Past Contestants, Future Stars

[photo fox]

What have past Voice artists been up to? Post your updates here.

[photo fox]

For those of you who don't watch country music awards shows, Gwen Sebastian is listed as "featured" on Blake's latest single, and performed it with him on the recent ACM awards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_7p_a_o8do

Also, the Swon Brothers debuted at the Grand Old Opry this weekend. I don't think the Opry has posted the actual performance yet, but here's a behind-the-scenes video.

[Joystickenvy]

I'm not super crazy about many of Blake's contestants, but he has done a good job promoting them. I saw the Swon's listed when I was checking out Opry shows. Good on 'em.

[Lily Adler]

I loved Juliett Simms. Her and Dia Frampton were the only contestants that truly captivated me throughout most of their time on the show. Amber Carrington was great, except for that Martina McBride song she sang which came off as shameless sob story promotion to me.

Edited April 17, 2014 by Lily Adler

[Kromm]

It just seems inevitable to me that nobody from this show is EVER going to be a star.

It's not even necessarily the talent.  It's the push they're willing to do post show.  Idol, for all the flack it takes, knows how to push it's winners (and even it's losers). Most still fizzle, but even a vague success every 3 years or so seem to be enough to keep it going there.

The Voice seems to have no pull to actually get mainstream press, premium gigs, radio play, etc. for its winners.  Or care to.

[kj4ever]

Am I the only one who could really care less if they create a "star"?  I have gotten some favorites on my iPod from the show - Juliet Sims, Amanda Brown, Cole V, and Vicci Martinez just to name a few.  I'm entertained by the coaches (although Adam's "Blake is a big dumb country boy" act is getting so OLD), entertained by the show, so I don't see why that matters.  Is it because Idol had Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Can'trememberherlastname?  Have they had any other stars of that magnitude since then?  I stopped watching it after season 2 I think because I didn't like the mean stuff they do.

 

Even if these people get kicked off during the Blind auditions they are still better off than when they started.  Huge exposure.  I know Nicholas David did a huge show in my home town last summer, one that like 4,000 people go to every year.  If he weren't on The Voice would he have gotten that gig?  Doubtful.  Just because people haven't come off the show being a household name doesn't mean that people coming off the show aren't successful.  People like Nicholas are probably able to do music for a living now.  I don't think you can get more successful than doing what you love for a living, even if you aren't making millions and millions of dollars.

[pivot]

I don't care if The Voice makes a star or not. The music industry is so hard now compared to what it was when Carrie and Kelly won AI that I am not sure they'd be successful now. Albums don't sell. Tours are struggling. Launching a new artist is incredibly difficult.

 

The Voice has allowed the winners and many of the other finalists to leave their non-music jobs and make enough money by being musicians. That's impressive enough for me.

 

And I also have an iPod full of The Voice contestants.

[Padma]

Am I the only one who could really care less if they create a "star"?  I have gotten some favorites on my iPod from the show - Juliet Sims, Amanda Brown, Cole V, and Vicci Martinez just to name a few.  I'm entertained by the coaches... Is it because Idol had Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Can'trememberherlastname?  Have they had any other stars of that magnitude since then?  I stopped watching it after season 2 I think because I didn't like the mean stuff they do.

 

I hate "Idol" and have read how horribly they treat their contestants (almost destroyed Kelly Clarkson's voice with what the show demanded and Clive Davis, after she won, was a complete ass--no creative respect at all.) I LOVE that The Voice isn't looking for the next "big star" to exploit. Danielle, Cassadee, maybe Swons, maybe others -may- go on to stardom in time, but as was said above, music is a tough, tough business now. For so many of the contestants on the Voice (just like most of us would be, I think--well, those who can sing, not me, but you get the point) it would be great to be able to make a living as a singer, doing something creative that you love instead of the low-paying-'whatever' occasional gig that most talented singers get stuck with.

...Huge exposure.  I know Nicholas David did a huge show in my home town last summer, one that like 4,000 people go to every year.  If he weren't on The Voice would he have gotten that gig?  Doubtful.  Just because people haven't come off the show being a household name doesn't mean that people coming off the show aren't successful.  People like Nicholas are probably able to do music for a living now.  I don't think you can get more successful than doing what you love for a living, even if you aren't making millions and millions of dollars.

Exactly. And Nicholas David's a great example because he got so far here and got so many fans (like me) so he proved to people it's worth hiring him because he's now "a name" with fans, "Nicholas David from 'The Voice'!", not just some old-looking, possibly homeless guy like he came across at the blinds. He was great (and never would have had a chance on AI. They would have ignored his talent and mocked him. And of course he's waaayyyy too old (late 20s). I doubt this show will ever have an "older" winner ("Go, Sisaundra!") but at least they get a great boost, their talent is showcased and respected and they have a "second chance". 

 

Anyway, Carrie Underwood has my most hated song "Jesus Take The Wheel" and so, sadly, has come to embody all the phoniness and gross commercialism that I hate about that show. This one also has a mix of genres, as well as ages.

 

But I guess I should look at the positive side. As hard as the music industry is, at least today singers have chances in so many television competitions (and even YouTube as a path to stardom, per Bieber, etc.) that artists of the past never had.

[pivot]

Man, Jesus Take the Wheel is rage inducing and I actually liked Carrie Underwood on AI.

[Lily Adler]

This show obviously doesn't need a 'Kelly Clarkson' or a 'Carrie Underwood' to do well in the ratings, but it would be nice to have one. I like most of the contestants on the show and I'm glad that they find some success even afterwards, but I would LOVE it if they could go on and have big careers. And yes put them in the hands of someone not like Clive Davis who stifles creativity. Yeah I'm talking about the My December incident between him and Kelly.

[TheGreenKnight]

To me, I just don't like that they can't make a star because it shows they couldn't care any less about their contestants. It's really about the show making as much money for itself, where Idol at least spreads the wealth to their contestants (I've read their winner from last year, Candice, has made a million according to some ranking of the Idol winners by a success, and she hasn't been musically "successful" at all...). For a viewer like me who honestly looks forward to potentially buying music of the few contestants I like on these kinds of shows, it's kind of infuriating. I believe the contestants make even less of a percentage of the money made from downloads of their performances than they do on Idol, for instance, and that's just awful.

[Joystickenvy]

Count me in as one who couldn't care less about whether they "make stars." Idol has been notorious for contestant unfriendly contracts and they drop their winners like a hot potato if they don't sell well.

Blake in particular has been pretty good about taking his contestants out on tour and such. While they may not have a Kelly or a Carrie, several of Blake's country girls have done reasonably well and the Swon's are playing the Opry, which is pretty sweet for aspiring country artists.

The voice tour should be nice for exposure and experience as well. However, all that said, what I care about is entertaining TV. What happens after is more a matter of how well the contestants capitalize on their opportunities and having the savvy or luck to record a tune that catches fire on the radio.

[aradia22]

The Voice is like this big machine to me. Every season I'm unprepared for the flood of artists I'm suddenly supposed to care about and I usually end up giving up sometime in the middle. I looked up Charlotte Sometimes who came to the show after already putting out her album which I still listen to all the time. But I think it's hard for the others. We say we want someone undiscovered, but it's difficult for the real newbies to be successful on the show and to spin their success on the show to success outside of the show. Unlike Idol, The Voice throws so many acts at you and it's really about the show and not the artists. Unless you really latch on to someone, it's difficult to focus on an act the way it is on Idol. You're seeing different people from week to week and the sooner they leave the less you have to get invested in. I loved Deshawn and I'm still upset that Shakira ditched him for the kind of bland Dani (and then turned around and picked up Patrick which throws out the "not versatile enough" argument). But am I going to be motivated to look him up a few months after the show based on the strength of two performances? There have been acts I've liked in all the previous seasons and I don't follow any of them now. I don't have their songs on my iPod because I don't like the cold sound of the iTunes singles they put out. 

[MissScarlett]

It seems like many of the contestants on The Voice had achieved mild success in the industry on their own but used the show as a platform to help take them to the next level.  However, it could take awhile to get there.  On Idol (for instance), I knew that Jennifer Hudson was going to be a huge star.  There was just something about her.  However, it took years for her to gain that Oscar-worthy measure of success.

 

Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood exploded on the scene in their genres almost immediately.  But I think it was a combination of Idol being new (in Kelly's case) and at it's peak for viewership and popularity (in Carrie's case). 

 

Where The Voice differs is that much of the attention is put on the judges throughout the process.  Only in the live rounds are the final contestants ever really showcased.  Look at Kristin Merlin of this season for instance.  I think she goes down as the most montaged contestant to make it to the Lives thus far and she's fantastic!  In my opinion, so much focus is put on the judges that it leads to less emotional investment on the contestants overall.

 

There are a few contestants that I check up on:  S1 - Xenia, S2 - Jordis Unga & Juliet Simms and last spring's contestants -- The Swons, Danielle Bradbury, Michele Chamuel and Amber Carrington.

 

Speaking of past contestants --

 

Anyone have an update on Juliet Simms?  I was all set to buy her album last spring... but it was never released  It looks like she's been taken down from the "client wall" at Cee Lo's management company.  There have been no updates from her on her album.  Other than her NTO jewelry company... and occasional concerts, all talk of the album went silent.

 

http://www.primarywavemusic.com/pages/about/#/clients/

Edited April 30, 2014 by MissScarlett

[Lily Adler]

No clue what happened with Juliet. I listened and decided against buying Wild Child due to the reason it wasn't a good song. I think Cee Lo affected her music in a negative way. I did purchase Automatic Love Letter. Now THAT was an album I was expecting from  her after The Voice not what we got with Wild Child.

Edited April 30, 2014 by Lily Adler

[kj4ever]

No clue what happened with Juliet. I listened and decided against buying Wild Child due to the reason it wasn't a good song. I think Cee Lo affected her music in a negative way. I did purchase Automatic Love Letter. Now THAT was an album I was expecting from  her after The Voice not what we got with Wild Child.

You could tell Wild Child had CeeLo's grubby little hands all over it.  It was such a disappointment.

[Lily Adler]

Especially the millionaire, zillionaire, gazillionaire pre-chorus that was monumentally bad.

[FormerMod-a1]

I heard the Swon Brothers on my local country station the other day.

[Lily Adler]

What is the name of the song? Is it this one?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X63UwEMUcpo

[FormerMod-a1]

I knew someone was going to ask since I didn't remember.  But I think that's it.  

[Lily Adler]

Slim Swon is a cutie, but Bubba Swon looks like a teddy bear. =p

 

Looks like Juliet had a music video, but no album:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu11kxIqGQc

 

She did tour with Secondhand Serenade, though.

Edited April 30, 2014 by Lily Adler

[Joystickenvy]

I always thought chubby Swon was much cuter than the other Swon and a much better singer. Not that either of em is exactly hot or anything.

[MissScarlett]

No clue what happened with Juliet. I listened and decided against buying Wild Child due to the reason it wasn't a good song. I think Cee Lo affected her music in a negative way. I did purchase Automatic Love Letter. Now THAT was an album I was expecting from  her after The Voice not what we got with Wild Child.

 

 

Automatic Loveletter SOOO good!  I know what you mean.  Was a little surprised by Wild Child but thought maybe she'd have some Loveletter-esque songs on the album.

I always thought chubby Swon was much cuter than the other Swon and a much better singer. Not that either of em is exactly hot or anything.

 

Chubby Swon (Zach?) is definitely my favorite.  Much warmth to his voice.  The other one reminds me of Joel from Parenthood.

[FormerMod-a1]

Hmm...  I wonder, is it worse be known as the "chubby" one or the "other" one.  ;-)

[viajero]

Melanie Martinez is a good example of how The Voice can help someone get a career going, assuming they're willing to work hard once the show is over.  She came on to the show as a high school student whose limited social media presence was as much due to her photography as her music.  Melanie used the exposure she got on The Voice to line up gigs in small clubs around the country during most of the second half of last year (once she graduated from high school).  She then managed to pull together enough money from those gigs and her fans to finance her first professionally produced music video, which came out a couple of months ago.  That video has since become something of an underground hit, racking up well over a million views on YouTube despite virtually no promotion (though she did get some very positive reviews in various alternative music blogs and online magazines).  This promptly got her signed by Atlantic Records, which is producing her first EP (to come out later this month).  She also got a headlining tour coming up this summer playing in much nicer clubs up and down the East Coast, which may then get extended across the country.  While I don't know if Melanie will ever make it really big (some of those reviewers seem to think she will), she's clearly well on her way to making a career for herself.

 

I'm glad to hear that the Swon Brothers are getting some traction.  Though as for playing at the Opry, Amber Carrington has already been invited to play there twice since she was on The Voice and I wonder just how significant that it in and of itself.  Amber's case does bring up another way in which being on the show can help a contestant.  I'm not sure how much help (if any) she´s gotten from Adam or Blake, but it sounds like fellow Season 4 contestant Tawnya Reynolds was fairly instrumental in helping her get settled in Nashville.

[Joystickenvy]

The Opry invite is significant more in a that's something most small time country singers who have not been on the voice/idol will never get to do, than in terms of becoming a "star." Because of the history, I just think it's a neat perk.

[Lily Adler]

So I found Judith Hill's song Desperation on YouTube:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZljeW3qVBA

[Lily Adler]

Season 5's runner-up Jacquie Lee's first single The Broken Ones:

 

https://music.yahoo.com/blogs/reality-rocks/first-listen--jacquie-lee-s--broken-ones-231853145.html

[viajero]

Here's a look at another of Jacquie Lee's new songs:

 

It's pretty good, but I think I prefer Broken Ones, which she will be performing live on next Tuesday's episode.  Will and Tessanne will also be performing new music.

Edited May 9, 2014 by viajero

[Lily Adler]

Jacquie reminds me of Selena Gomez for some odd reason.

[Sammich]

I will be fast forwarding through Jacquie's and Will's performances .  As much as I don't want Adam to win again, I'd much rather listen to Christina than Jacquie.  I sure hope next season is a better one.  I just haven't enjoyed it as much this time.  Last year was the first year none of my favorites made the top 3, so I'm hoping for a better top 3 this year, which means Kat should be gone!  

[JeanneH]

The Opry invite is significant more in a that's something most small time country singers who have not been on the voice/idol will never get to do, than in terms of becoming a "star." Because of the history, I just think it's a neat perk.

 

They invite various acts, old and new, to play at The Opry all the time, but IIRC the really big deal being asked to become a member of The Opry. That's for the cream of the crop.

[Lily Adler]

I will be fast forwarding through Jacquie's and Will's performances .  As much as I don't want Adam to win again, I'd much rather listen to Christina than Jacquie.  I sure hope next season is a better one.  I just haven't enjoyed it as much this time.  Last year was the first year none of my favorites made the top 3, so I'm hoping for a better top 3 this year, which means Kat should be gone!  

I don't think even Jacquie deserves such a statement. =p I had forgotten Will's existence to be honest. I remember how Adam neglected the poor boy in favor of Tessanne. He didn't really hid his favoritism at all during that finale.

[Joystickenvy]

They invite various acts, old and new, to play at The Opry all the time, but IIRC the really big deal being asked to become a member of The Opry. That's for the cream of the crop.

I'm aware and I still think it's a nice perk.

[viajero]

Dia Frampton is involved in what she calls a new "musical project" called Archis.  She's joined forces with Joseph Trapanese (best known for writing movie scores for several blockbusters) and they've come up with an interesting orchestral sound.  They've been touring as an opening act with violinist Lindsey Sterling and will be releasing their first EP in a couple of weeks.  Archis first single is called Blood and you can listen to it here:

http://www.themusicninja.com/archis-blood-tmn-premiere/

 

While it's anything but commercial, I really like it.  A lot.

 

Edited to add that here's a live version (though sound quality isn't the greatest):

 

Edited May 17, 2014 by viajero

[Lily Adler]

I really like it. I'm not sure if I should still be angry that she lost to Javier in Season 1 now.

[Kromm]

I really like it. I'm not sure if I should still be angry that she lost to Javier in Season 1 now.

Would it have mattered? As unlikely as it is that ANY Voice contestant is going to become a star, Dia probably tops that list, winner, runner up, or whatever.  

 

I mean she's young (can you believe now, even a few years on, she's still only in her mid-twenties?).  She's pretty.  But she's entirely too focused on CONTENT.  So you know... that's like a death sentence!

[viajero]

Danielle Bradbery has released her second video, Young in America.  It's not the song I would have picked from her album.  But I'm not much of a country fan, so what do I know?  It's certainly age appropriate anyway, and maybe it'll help that she wraps herself in the flag (literally). 

 

[viajero]

Melanie Martinez’s EP is out today and has already shot up to No. 31 on iTunes album charts.  It can be purchased here:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dollhouse-ep/id876756413

 

The EP features her first single Dollhouse and 3 other songs, as well as the video for Dollhouse.  It’s not bad at all - very alternative.  Her music is kind of like Lorde, but with a definite twist of her own.  I really like Dead to Me.  In case you haven’t seen the excellent (if a bit creepy) Dollhouse video yet:

 

Edited May 19, 2014 by viajero

[sweetcookieface]

Wow, that Dollhouse song/video is fantastic! Does anyone know if she wrote it?

[viajero]

Melanie co-wrote the song with the people who wrote the B.o.B/Haley Williams song "Airplanes".  But the video is all hers.  She reportedly designed and even manufactured parts of the set herself.  The guy who plays the pot smoking brother is her boyfriend.

[viajero]

Interesting Billboard article on the dream deal that Jacquie Lee seems to have netted for herself.  Some pretty serious people in the industry seem pretty serious about turning her into what would be The Voice's first breakout star (almost despite, rather than because, she was on the show).  And fortunately, they seem willing to take their time about doing so.

 

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6092248/jacquie-lee-signs-lyor-cohen-300-record-deal-voice-atlantic-records

[treebyleaf]

I could see Jacquie doing really well. She seems very intelligent and self-possessed and able to appeal to both teens her age and adults. 

[loveoutloud]

Will Champlin's 'Borrowing Trouble' came out on Itunes today, and guys it's freaking AMAZING. It hit #20 on the Itunes Pop Charts, and holding steady at #86 on the overall charts. He did this album without a major label, so it's an incredibly impressive debut. Go ahead and take a listen, I've been listening to it nonstop. It's a fantastic album. Bravo Will! :)

 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/borrowing-trouble/id890152532

[mercfan3]

I don't think people gave Jacquie and Danielle as much credit as they deserved on this show. They were labeled frontrunners and performed as such pretty much every week. The maturity for a high school student to do that when competing against people who are as experienced and essentially semi-pros is incredible. I thought, more than anything, that was Bria Kelly's downfall. (The tears were a pretty good indication.) And I often wonder if that was part of Matt's problem too. (His weak performances started after Blake labeled him as the front runner. It was like he felt pressure to live up to "Hallelujah" every week.) 

 

And because of that maturity (anyone ever read any of Jacquie's interviews..she's got a little bit of an edge to her that I like. With her sweet face you just sort of expect her to be girly and giggly, but she's clearly got some bite too her and showed herself to be very intelligent.) I wouldn't be surprised if they end up being the two most commercially successful contestants from The Voice. 

 

Now..seeing as Michelle is my girl..I'll list some of her music. 

 

She released an Album under the name "The Reverb Junkie" which was really interesting. I've never quite heard music like this before, but I really enjoyed it. (She called it "experimental.") It's catchy like pop music but it's mostly electronic..people can listen to it here.

 

http://thereverbjunkie.bandcamp.com/album/all-i-want

 

She also has released two EPs, one under The Reverb Junkie and one under her own name called "The Drift." All of this music was primarily worked on before the show, but released after. (I'm not going to get into the Ella Riot/My Dear Disco/ or S/HE..which is all awesome music that people should check out but was released way prior to the show.) 

 

Her "Michelle Chamuel" album should be released in the fall. She's working with Usher on it. (In fact, she's recently changed her tune a bit from "I want to remain independent" to "I want to establish myself before I partner up with anyone" so maybe she'll be working with him in the business sense too..but I dunno. Michelle seems to really like her autonomy.) I got to go to a live listening party and hear some of her new music. Her voice is unbelievable live, and I love the new songs. My favorite is "Golden" both the acoustic and the more album ready version. Here's a link to the youtube playlist..

 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjj32dujwSZQY0LpOx1lFDJqjt4-vQ3FU

 

She's actually done a lot of really cool things after The Voice. (She recently did a Pride event with Blake Lewis from AI. She went through a little tour of Ireland. The club in NYC is a lot of fun. She's done a Tedx talk. And she's released a lot of music..) I'm not sure how much of it is because of her connections with the UMich crowd and how much of it is because of The Voice, but her career has certainly been fun to follow so far. 

Edited June 23, 2014 by mercfan3

[Padma]

I don't think people gave Jacquie and Danielle as much credit as they deserved on this show. They were labeled frontrunners and performed as such pretty much every week. The maturity for a high school student to do that when competing against people who are as experienced and essentially semi-pros is incredible. I thought, more than anything, that was Bria Kelly's downfall. (The tears were a pretty good indication.) And I often wonder if that was part of Matt's problem too. (His weak performances started after Blake labeled him as the front runner. It was like he felt pressure to live up to "Hallelujah" every week.)

 

Very possible. When I think back to myself in hs I'm just blown away by the poise and maturity Jacquie and Danielle showed under that incredible pressure.  I also think that re: Michelle and others, the winners/near-winners on this show artistically and musically beat those who have won AI during the same period of time. Commercial success aside, I think the Voice does much better for a greater number of people, career-wise, even if they don't all become "big stars" (although I think some, especially some in country like Cassadee, Danielle and the Swons, will become the next generation of stars--and Blake's connections and support won't hurt, lol).

The Swons got some headlines on Yahoo today for "Danny's Song" and for debuting a new single:

https://music.yahoo.com/blogs/our-country/the-swon-brothers-revive--danny-s-song---plus-perform-debut-single-194459966.html;_ylt=A0SO8x01Pa9TNmYAQ.tXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzOW9tY2JyBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2dxMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDQ3NV8x

[viajero]

Tessanne's album came out yesterday.  Given the complete lack of promotion, I would be surprised if it does all that well.  While it is currently No.21 on the iTunes album chart, I have to wonder how long that is going to last.

[viajero]

Christina Grimmie's first single released under her new record deal is out.  Personally I think it's pretty good compared to most similar stuff that is currently on the charts.  Here is the Lyric Video:

 

[MelsW]

Cassadee Pope performed a free concert at a casino near me last night, so I figured what the hell, and went and saw her perform. I liked her well enough on The Voice but was pretty neutral on her throughout her season. She put on a good show and sounded great. It was an hour and 15 min long set and she mainly did her own songs from her album with a few covers, including Over You (her big song on The Voice), Bed of Roses (Bon Jovi song), and some Shania Twain song (I hate Shania with a fiery passion). She had a good rapport going with the audience and I found her very likeable. Her band was pretty great, which also helped.

 

ETA: I just watched that Christina Grimmie video posted above and holy hell, the whole time all I could think was it looks like Mayim Bialik's little sister. How have I never noticed that before?

Edited August 29, 2014 by MelsW

[viajero]

I certainly wouldn't mind catching Cassadee in concert.  She's just put out a really good version of The Animal in Me, in collaboration with Cheap Trick's Robin Zander, as part of a Nashville tribute album to Motley Crue.  The Motley Crue guys certainly seem to have been pretty blown away by this cover as they keep raving about it in various interviews.  Anyway, It's nice to see that for all the success and awards she's started to win doing country, she hasn't completely forgotten her rocker roots.

 

 

Here is a review of the cover along with an interview with Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx and Vince Neil:

 

http://eclecticeric93.wordpress.com/2014/08/19/cassadee-pope-rocks-montley-crue-song-animal-in-me-listen-here/

Edited August 30, 2014 by viajero