Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Her audition: Bree Fondacaro, 24, of Orange, Calif., sang Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe.” She immediately displayed a unique vocal sound that could help her stand out. But she was well into her performance before Blake Shelton turned his chair. He wound up being the only coach to do so. Gwen Stefani liked her originality; Blake complimented her on the rawness in her performance.

Her background: Bree says she comes from a very musical family. And she’s inspired by the love of her mother and her father, who is a little person. They’ve been married 36 years and met while performing for the choir in college. Bree’s dad now works as a piano and vocal teacher; Bree assists with his vocal students. Bree says she’s been gigging locally for about eight years, but said The Voice offers “crazy exposure.”

What the show didn’t show: She’s on the show as Bree Fondacaro, but has performed mostly as Bree Harlow. In fact, she released a three-song EP in 2012, a splendid cover of “Paint in Black” in 2013, and a full-length album called “The Underground Sessions” earlier this year under that name through Arcadian Records. Head here to listen to a full-length version of “Paint It Black” and here to check out full-length versions of three other originals, including the excellent “Dark Side.” In a 2012 interview, Bree says her major influences include jazz and singers from the 1940s and 1950s, including Connie Francis and Rosemary Clooney. She’s also a big admirer of Johnny Cash, which helps explains her audition song. She credits her dad with help providing structure to the music she writes so the songs “are a little more appealing to the ear and not so free and avant garde.” In her Voice video, Bree says she considers herself pretty versatile in what she can sing and is looking to improve her performance style.

Update: Bree was eliminated from The Voice when she lost a battle round match to Taylor Brashears. They sang ‘You’re No Good” by Linda Ronstadt.

On iTunes: Her audition song as Bree Fondacaro; the other releases are all there as Bree Harlow.

Keeping up with Bree:
Twitter: @BreeFondacaro
Facebook
YouTube

“Fever” (cover)

“Don’t Break the Heart that Loves You”

“Dock of the Bay” (cover)