Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Her audition: Rio Doyle, 16, of Adrian, Mich., performed “When We Were Young” by Adele. A nice run at the end of the first line enticed a chair turn from John Legend. But he was the only coach to turn, prompting him to wonder aloud: “How am I the only one?” He called her song choice “a bold, risky move.” Since only John turned, Rio automatically became Team Legend.

Here’s more about Rio:

* Rio told The Voice some of her earliest memories are of watching her mother sing with her band, Mojo and The Outlaws, which performs music from a wide range of genres.

* When Rio was in the seventh grade, doctors discovered her mother had a brain tumor they were unable to remove completely. Her mother remains at risk of seizures, but she still performs with her band and often invites Rio on stage to join them, according to her bio on The Voice website.

* Rio eventually began performing as part of a duo that eventually grew to become a five-piece band called Fifth Business. Rio told Voice Views she performed with the band for two years and loved to opportunity to explore many types of music before deciding to focus on developing her skills as a solo artist.

* About two years ago, Rio says she developed an interest in songwriting, adding that she tends to write in “the pop/ballad category. When writing, I pull from events in my life, and turn it into a song. With any performance, covers or originals, I want to tell a story and move someone. I feel like my music is very emotional, with intent behind every word. ”

* The first song she wrote and released — as simply Rio — is called “Safer Than Reality.” You can check it out below. It’s “about wanting to hide away in my own fantasy, than to have to face the reality I’m living in,” Rio explains. “Life isn’t perfect, and it’s a rollercoaster full of ups and downs. So sometimes we feel safer in a world that we get to control.”

* Rio has also been part of her school’s choir program since sixth grade, earned spots on the Women’s Chamber and Chamber Singers as a sophomore, had the opportunity to student direct the middle school honors choir and now, as a junior, is vice president of the choir council at Tecumseh High School.

* She’s also been involved in musical theater — at the Tecumseh Center of the Arts and at the Croswell Opera House — since age 5 when she performed in “Annie.” Plus she’s a worship leader at Crossroads Community Church.

* As for her audition song, Rio said Adele is one of her favorite artists and she dreamed of having an opportunity to perform one of her songs on The Voice, a show she grew up watching. “I chose ‘When We Were Young’ because I thought it would be a great challenge for me. It was a song I had never really performed before, and I really thought it displayed who I was as an artist.”

* Rio added that her Voice audition “felt like a dream,” so she appreciated the chance to watch it back when the pre-taped blind auditions aired. “I am in complete awe of how John Legend looked at me during my performance because it gave me a sense of peace. I feel like he could feel the words I was singing to him, and like he could see straight through me as a person and an artist. Being able to watch him, watch me, made me feel a connection, and I’m so thankful for that.”

Rio on social media:
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