‘The Voice SA’ returns on a high note

BACK for a third season, ‘The Voice South Africa’ kicked off on a high note with a new host in the vivacious Anele Mdoda, and three new coaches: Afrikaans rock rebel Francois van Coke, singer-songwriter Riana Nel – who steps up from being a co-coach in previous seasons – and the ‘swaggalicious’ chart-topper Riky Rick, joining Afro-pop sensation Lira, who has been with the show since season one.

While the judges compile their teams with the best singing talent the country has to offer, new host Mdoda will also be in the wings to support the performers’ friends and family.

The emotional first episode kicked off with the blind audition phase of the competition, in which the four coaches sit with their backs to the stage to listen to the quality of the voices. If they like what they hear, they push the buzzer to turn their red chair around. When only one chair turns, the coach secures the talent on stage for his or her team. When more than one chair turns, the coaches have to pitch their credentials to the talent to lure them onto their team.

“This year’s talent is absolutely phenomenal, the competition is stiff, the coaches – and the audiences – are in for some great surprises, “ says M-Net’s head of publicity, Lani Lombard. “You don’t want to miss a minute of the action, right from the start!”

Season three comes with a number of twists. For the first time on the South African version of the worldwide hit, the coaches won’t give the talent feedback when no chairs turn. Another exciting development is bringing the family room into the studio.

The honour of launching the third season of ‘The Voice South Africa’ went to Ross Charles, a 26-year-old musician and sound engineer from Durban, who opened up on camera about his struggles with drugs and alcohol, and how The Beatles saved him.

Joel Zuma, a 39-year-old actor and singer from Pietermaritzburg and the son of a bishop, honed his singing talent in church. He freely admitted that he had his sights set on working with Lira, and fortunately for Joel, both she and Riky Rick turned their chairs for his soulful rendition of that old Otis Redding standard, ‘Try A Little Tenderness’.

Keanu Harker, a 22-year-old session guitarist from Balhar in the Cape, brought some funk to the stage with Bruno Mars’ ‘Treasure’ and earned a turn from Riky Rick, followed closely by Van Coke. He insisted on hearing Keanu’s guitar skills, which were equally impressive, and “you’ve got the dance moves, too!” Riky laughed. The two coaches pitched hard to get Keanu on their team, and in the end Keanu threw his fate in with Riky Rick.

The four coaches’ teams are not nearly filled up yet and blind auditions are likely to intensify as ‘The Voice South Africa’ returns on Sunday.

‘The Voice South Africa’ airs on M-Net channel 102 every Sunday at 17h30 and is repeated on Vuzu, channel 116, on Mondays at 20h00. It will also be available on DStv CatchUp.