Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Angelina Nazarian ponders which coach to chose following her successful blind audition on The Voice Season 24 (NBC Photo)

Her audition: Angelina Nazarian, 17, of Ann Arbor, Mich., performed “The Trouble with Love Is” by Kelly Clarkson: Angelina’s soulful delivery prompted a quick chair turn from Niall Horan. Reba McEntire followed midway through the performance. Angelina was solid throughout the song and delivered a strong ending too. Niall loved the power in her vocals. Reba praised her performance at such a young age. Angelina opted to join Team Reba.

Here’s more about Angelina:

* At the time her Voice bio package was filmed, she was living in Dubai and enjoying the warm weather and the beach there.

* Angelina explained that she was born in Ann Arbor, Mich., and lived there until she was 5 years old.

* But her family has moved quite a bit because of her father’s job. In addition to the U.S. and Dubai, she has lived in Russia, China, Korea and Armenia.

* She graduated high school earlier this year and plans to attend the Berkley College of Music.

* Prior to auditioning for The Voice, she hadn’t done much performing other than singing karaoke, at school assemblies and at a few restaurants.

* She did release a three-song EP called “Underwater” in 2020 when she was just 14.

* Angelina also has developed a solid social media following with 24,000 followers and 1.3 million likes on her TikTok.

Angelina Nazarian listens to the coaches’ feedback following her Season 24 blind audition on The Voice. (NBC Photo)

Here’s what Angelina told Voice views about her musical background and her Voice audition experience.

Voice Views: What first inspired you to pursue music and how young were you at the time?

Angelina: I started singing when I was 9 years old. I was actually watching different auditions on The Voice and America’s Got Talent. And, of course, when you’re 9 years old, you don’t limit yourself, so I figured why don’t I try singing something like that! In my room I remember I decided to sing Beyoncé’s song “Listen” and my mom walked in and caught me. She asked if it was me or her singing and at that moment my family and I found out that I have a voice.

Since then I started involving myself in all music outlets, whether it be posting on social media, musicals at my school, singing for guests at our house and really just whatever a young kid could do. The act of knowing I wanted to become a singer started at 9 but I believe the ability to solidify and continue to pursue music has shown in my action of never giving up on my dreams. I will be going to Berklee College of Music to study professional music, I continue to upload singing content on my socials,. And just out of high school, I have already sang on The Voice!

Voice Views: It appears you released a three-song EP back in 2020. Can you tell me a bit about that project?

Angelina: Since I was 9 years old I had been referred to as “Angelina The Singer” In my household. Although this was a title I was so proud to have, I felt that as just a vocalist I was limited in my options of being a well-rounded artist. I was always on social media posting covers of others’ songs. And when people asked if I wrote any of my own originals, it got me thinking of why I haven’t yet tried. I was always a strong English student, writing poems, stories, essays, and I figured that it was about time I put my writing skills into my music.

At 12 years old, I wrote my first unofficial song, but it wasn’t until 14 years old that I wrote my three songs and recorded them to be published — my EP “Underwater”. Some of the songs were written from my own personal experiences and others were of close friends or family stories. I think the beauty in my EP and the reason I’m so proud of it is because I had written those songs myself, of course, but even the action of recording them and having them released was in a hopeful manner. I was isolated in Armenia during the beginnings of Covid. I decided to release this album as a way to have some light come from the darkness that was going on during the pandemic.

Voice Views: How did you wind up auditioning for The Voice?

Angelina: I always wanted to go on The Voice, but it wasn’t until one night in my senior year when I was studying for a French exam that I realized “Why haven’t I applied yet?” I was actually studying and the urge to film a video and send it in just came over me. I ended up recording a video of myself singing “How am I Supposed to Live Without You” by Michael Bolton, sent it in. And I think everyone knows the rest from there.

Voice Views: Why did you chose Kelly Clarkson’s “The Trouble With Love Is” for your audition song?

Angelina: As a singer and songwriter, I believe that what sets me apart in this industry is not only my vocal talent, but my ability to apply my cultural influences on to my music and my ability to connect with the songs I sing.

Kelly Clarkson’s song “The Trouble with Love Is” was a top song in the 2000s (an era of music that is one of my all time favorites) and the reason that I loved her singing so much was because there was so much soul behind it. In hopes of showing a young teenage girl who challenges herself vocally and connects with powerful music, her song seemed perfect.

I didn’t actually put the song on my song choice list, but when I was told that I would be singing that song for my audition, I was overjoyed with the way in which I could prove myself on that stage and pay respect to Kelly Clarkson, who was even a former judge on the show!

Voice Views: What was that audition experience like? And why did you decide to go with Team Reba?

Angelina: The audition experience for me was so surreal. It truly was one of those moments that I wish I could have been fully present in, but It felt like it happened so fast. One second I’m walking on the stage and the next I’m being walked off after making Team Reba!

For me, when I used to be stressed about anything, I would tell myself “at least you’re not those people auditioning on The Voice.” So to actually be those people that day of my audition was definitely overwhelming. I didn’t have my usual calming saying as I became those people I used to compare my worries to.

Although I had a hard time sleeping the night before, the day of I had a newfound confidence and was so ready to perform. Walking on that stage and performing on it — I knew this is where I belong. I felt at home and I felt at peace knowing that this will be my future. The nerves got to me when Niall and Reba had turned and the screaming of the audience made me unable to hear while performing at times, but being up there really solidified for me that this is how I wanna live my life — singing on the stage.

As for my decision to pick Reba, it only made sense as I have always been in favor of older-style music and embracing a challenge. Reba allowed me to do both of those things. I never really listened to country before the show and I knew that it was a genre that’s new to me, but that’s exactly why I decided to be a part of a team and with a coach who is the Queen of Country. Her legacy and her experience was another thing that I viewed as important to sculpt me as a young performer. Overall, I trusted my gut in that moment and it told me to pick Reba — a decision I am forever proud of.

Voice Views: What type of music do you prefer to perform? Do you have more original music on the way? If so, how would you describe it?

Angelina: I’ve always described myself as an R&B/Pop artist. Many of my musical influences are artists from the 90s and the music that I listen to tends to be surrounded around soul music. My preference when performing songs has always been the rather sad and emotional ones and I believe this is because for many who don’t have an outlet to release their inner emotions or put their thoughts to words — sad music does that for them, or at least for me.

I know that for me I’ve also always been proud of my lower range. I was the only girl tenor at my school’s choir and I have always embraced the lower tone that I have with songs that flatter that range of mine. I don’t have any original music coming out yet, but I have so many written ones all prepared to be recorded. The last album I released when I was 14 years old, and now that I just became 18 — there is so much more coming and I can’t wait for all my supporters to see how much I’ve grown!

Angelina on social media:
Instagram
TikTok

@angelinas_voice05 I want to sing more old school songs for you guys so I hope yall enjoy &lt3 #fyp #fypシ #foryoupage #summertime ♬ original sound – Angelina 👼🏻