Does #TeamKahn have what it takes to take The Voice SA title again?
Last year’s winning coach of The Voice SA, Kahn Morbee, made it clear during the show’s Blind Auditions phase that he’s adamant about producing this season’s winner once again. In the hopes of going all the way to the top, the Parlotones frontman has assembled a team of 12 eclectic – and somewhat eccentric – singers to compete against those of rival coaches Lira, Karen Zoid and Bobby van Jaarsveld.
But which of the acts in Kahn’s motley crew has what it takes to grab the title of The Voice South Africa, Season 2? These incredible singers will have get Kahn’s nod again during The Battles and The Knockouts – rounds in which they’re paired off to take each other head-on in a sing-off. Thereafter, it will be completely up to the voting public to decide who progresses through the competition’s spectacular live shows.
Will Fatman, who had everyone in stitches at the Blinds with his larger-than-life persona, continue to show that he is also serious about music? Are you betting your money on those who had all four of the coaches begging them to join their teams, like Craig Lucas and Freddy Lalende? Or do you think Kahn was on-point when he nabbed unique performers such as harpist Christy-Lyn Marais, Afrikaans songstress Mia Pretorius or experienced vocalist Monique Hellenberg, who recorded with popular SA band Goldfish? Also don’t forget that Kahn has a duo on his team. Will The Voice SA make history with two winning singers?
Herewith a breakdown of the full, funky and slightly left-of-centre performers that make up Kahn’s stable:
- Christy-Lyn Marais (28) from Cape Town was the one-of a kind harpist who secured her place in #TeamKahn with her rendition of the haunting traditional ballad “Scarborough Fair” – made famous by Simon and Garfunkel. She studied Occupational Therapy as well as some Classical Singing and as the years progressed, Christy-Lyn found herself doing more music and less O.T, especially with her new-found passion for the harp. Watch Christy-Lyn’s Blind Audition here: m-net.dstv.com/show/the-voice-south-africa/videos/blind-audition-christy-lyn/videos
- Craig Lucas (24) from Cape Town, a graduate in Economics and Politics at UCT who has never sung in front of such a big audience prior to his Blind Audition. His blistering version of The Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun” was enough, however, for all four of the coaches to turn their chairs for Craig. He promised his mother that he’d finish his degree before starting on a road to music, so will he make her proud in the next rounds too? Watch Craig’s Blind Audition here: m-net.dstv.com/show/the-voice-south-africa/videos/blind-audition-craig/videos
- Dylan Pretorius (32) from Pretoria has been gigging in and around his hometown. Will The Voice SA propel Dylan to a whole new level as a solo star? The audition song that won Dylan and his husky voice a spot on #TeamKahn was Elton John’s “Rocket Man”. Watch Dylan’s audition here: m-net.dstv.com/show/the-voice-south-africa/videos/blind-audition-dylan/videos
- Fatman (40), is the music teacher from Bela Bela. Fatman, as he is affectionately known, has the telephone numbers of a long list of South African music stars since he’s been on the local circuit for many years and might just become a big celeb in his own right soon too. The hilarious comedian entered the show to stand out from the crowd, but will have to show his coach that he is not a one-trick pony. His audition performance of Marc Cohn’s “Walking In Memphis” was enough to get both Kahn and Bobby to turn for him. Watch Fatman’s Blind Audition here: m-net.dstv.com/show/the-voice-south-africa/videos/blind-audition-fatman/videos
- Freddy Lalendle (23) from Durban’s raspy voice had all four of the coaches raving. Karen even said that South Africa needed a musician like him after is performance of Vance Joy’s “Riptide”. Freddy lives with his wife Celene in Overport in Durban where he also runs his band, “The Subway Run”. Watch Freddy’s Blind Audition here: m-net.dstv.com/show/the-voice-south-africa/videos/blind-audition-freddy/videos
- Kirby Jo (23) from Cape Town had the audience on their feet when she performed Michael Jackson’s technically challenging “Man In The Mirror”. Kirby is currently studying Early Childhood Development at False Bay College in Cape Town and is volunteering at a crèche once a week as part of her studies, but she has also been gigging throughout her adult life – and it shows! Watch Kirby Jo’s Blind Audition here: m-net.dstv.com/show/the-voice-south-africa/videos/blind-audition-kirby-jo/videos
- Lee Taylor (31) from Pretoria is a seasoned performer who has traveled the world. In fact, was living in South East Asia when a conversation with her Godmother about her future plans prompted her to return to South Africa, get a musical qualification and enter The Voice SA. Lee’s voice during her version of Jessie J’s “Domino” reminded reminded Kahn of Bonnie Tyler’s. Watch Lee’s Blind Audition here: m-net.dstv.com/show/the-voice-south-africa/videos/blind-audition-lee/videos
- Mia Pretorius (20) hails from Potgietersrus and is currently studying for a degree in Education at the University of the North West at Potchefstroom. She has also been gigging around the Afrikaans festival circuit for some years and bravely auditioned with a Bobby van Jaarsveld song, “’n Vrou Will Dit Hoor”. Kahn told her that her audition was totally flawless. Watch Mia’s Blind Audition here: m-net.dstv.com/show/the-voice-south-africa/videos/blind-audition-freddy/videos
- Monique Hellenberg (33) from Cape Town is a vocal coach who was persuaded by one of her students to enter Voice SA Season. That student was none other than Season 1 finalist, Zoe Modiga! Monique studied Music and Jazz at UCT and is no stranger to the music industry, as hers is in fact the voice behind South African band Goldfish’s 2008 smash hit “This Is How It Goes”. Her rendition of Christina Aguilera’s “I Turn To You” got her into the next round of the competition. Watch Monique’s Blind Audition here: m-net.dstv.com/show/the-voice-south-africa/videos/blind-audition-monique-i-turn-to-you/videos
- Sonia Mornser (24) from Vereeniging has been singing in church for as long as she can remember, and was on her way to studying Musical Theatre before she met her husband and had a baby boy. She entered the show this year, because the timing was finally right, and her sincere and haunting rendition of Nianell’s “Who Painted The Moon Black” earned her three chair turns from the coaches. Watch Sonia’s Blind Audition here: m-net.dstv.com/show/the-voice-south-africa/videos/blind-audition-sonia-who-painted-the-moon-black/videos
- “Symphony”: Charl Esterhuizen (20) and Christopher Mabasa (27) from eMalahleni. This duo is a classic South African “Brother-from-another-mother” story. One fateful evening, Charl walked into a local bar where Christopher was singing karaoke. Charl asked Christopher whether he could sing along with him, and the rest is history! The pair have been singing in and around eMalahleni, where Christopher now lives with the Esterhuizens, and they scored a spot on Kahn’s team with their performance of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours”. Watch Symphony’s Blind Audition here: m-net.dstv.com/show/the-voice-south-africa/videos/blind-audition-symphony/videos
- Zee Gqamana (23) from Grahamstown studied Information Technology as her family encouraged her to put her education first before her first love which is music. She has just completed her BSc Honours in Information Systems at Rhodes University and felt it was the perfect time to enter The Voice SA. Her cover of Asa’s “Jailer” proved that she was right. Watch Zee’s Blind Audition here: m-net.dstv.com/show/the-voice-south-africa/videos/blind-audition-zikhona/videos
The Battle rounds of the series will start on Sunday, 2 April, as The Voice SA takes a one week break on Sunday, 26 March to make way for the live broadcast of Miss South Africa.
The Voice South Africa, sponsored by Dial Direct, is broadcast every Sunday night on M-Net channel 101 at 17:30 and every Monday night at 18:00 on M-Net City channel 115.
Viewers can also 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 / #TheVoiceSA 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.
