The Voice SA coaches fight over new talent

In the once-off introductory episode of The Voice SA Season 2, last year’s winning coach, Parlotones front man Kahn Morbee, made it clear that he is adamant on taking another talented singer - like the now chart-smashing Richard Stirton - all the way to the top again. But his esteemed colleagues in the show’s iconic red chairs – rocker Karen Zoid, songbird Lira and heartthrob Bobby van Jaarsveld – are just as determined to do whatever it takes to take the title from Kahn. 

The competitive coaches’ race to find and mentor South Africa’s next singing sensation starts this week Sunday at 17:30 with Season 2’s exhilarating first round of Blind Auditions. During this phase of the competition the red chairs are turned away from the stage, which means that the coaches make their decisions based on nothing but the singer’s voice. If they think it’s a voice that can win the competition, they press their buzzers to turn their chair around. In most cases, however, more than one coach wants to snatch the phenomenal singer, creating a conundrum for everyone involved: The coaches have to pitch to the talent why they should be part of their team and then the often-bewildered singers have to say “yes” or “no” to some of the country’s music icons, the very people who often inspired them to step up behind the microphone. 

“This season’s Blind Auditions are bound to knock your socks off,” says M-Net’s Head of Publicity, Lani Lombard. “Season 1’s incredible talent set the bar incredibly high, opening the door for more gutsy and unique singers to enter the competition. Consequently the coaches are fighting harder to assemble the best team possible during the Blind Auditions, and very often viewers will be surprised by who the talent picks as their mentor.”

In the first of the seven Blind Audition episodes, coming to M-Net 101 viewers on Sundays at 17:30, the coaches utter phrases such as, “You are effervescent, like a bottle of champagne”; “No one will ever forget you!”; “South Africa needs someone new – and that’s YOU.”; “You are a no-brainer. We need you on The Voice, you are star quality…”

Which singers will elicit these responses? And in whose team will they end up? 

While the fresh talent are giving their all to make it as far as possible in the show, The Voice SA Season 1 talent continue to make waves in the local music industry. This week, both winner Richard Stirton and runner-up Gavin Edwards, dropped new singles. Richard’s latest single, entitled “Call It Luck”, is an anthemic, rootsy sing-along song that glows with Richard’s soulful harmonies and powerful voice. With an iTunes #1 album and 2 iTunes #1 singles, Richard’s album, Middle Ground, has been a massive commercial and critical success since its release in October 2016. Meanwhile, Gavin’s sincere performance of his new single, a love song called “Only Lovers Left Alive”,  illustrates why he was so popular on the show too. Gavin’s latest single comes off his debut album, Silver Skies, which he has toured relentlessly since its release, leaving a string of radio chart successes in his wake.

The Voice SA Season 2 is broadcast on M-Net Channel 101 every Sunday at 17:30, and is repeated every Monday at 18:00 on M-Net City.

Visit www.mnet.tv/thevoice to watch exclusive interviews with the coaches and talent, and follow all the breaking news and conversations around the show on Twitter @VoiceSA / #TheVoice SA or on the official “Voice SA” Facebook page. You can also download The Voice SA app today for exclusive show-related games and special features.