Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Her audition: Abby Kasch, 20, of Palios Park, Ill., performed “Here for the Party” by Gretchen Wilson. Showing off tons of energy and stage presence, she coaxed chair turns from Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson, who said she loved the performance. Abby opted to join Team Kelly.

More about Abby:

* Abby hails from the Chicago area and started performing at an early age, according to her website bio. By age 10, she had her first guitar. By age 12, she was was playing that guitar and singing as part of a regular gig at Peppy’s Mexican Restaurant near her home.

* Her bio says her love of country music began on a family road trip from Palos Park, Ill, to Florida. “I discovered Kenny Chesney radio on Pandora and listened to him the full 18-hour drive,” she says. “I was hooked.”

* Doubly so after moving to Nashville after high school and beginning to perform there, including at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Honky Tonk Central and Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar. “I just really flourished and became the person I wanted to be” after moving to Nashville, she told The Voice.

* Her debut EP was called “L.O.V.E.” and came out in 2016. Lead track “Maybe I Tried to Hard” is excellent.

* On her website, Abby says she’s working on a new project and she told Voice Views, she thinks people will be surprised by “the diversity and mix in my song choices and style” when that music lands.

* Talking about her original music, she adds: “In the past, I would say I was influenced by others about how I should sound, and what a ‘REAL’ country sound is. I don’t want to have a guideline on making ‘real country music’ or ‘pop country.’ I just want to write and produce what comes from my heart and whatever people’s take on that is it. I love to play it a little rough, but in certain songs really break it down to the raw country sound that we all know and love like Jennifer Nettles and many more.”

* She said “Here for the Party” “has always been a favorite song of mine. I love the hype and excitement it brings to people when it comes on. All I’ve wanted my whole music career is to get a reaction out of people, and really get them to crack a smile as soon as I start singing .. I’m so incredibly happy I was able to execute the energy it brought to my heart and was able to pour it out on that stage!”

* As for picking Kelly for a coach, Abby explained it this way: “After turning her chair and talking to me, Kelly seemed to have a genuine want to work with me. I could tell she really wanted more country artists on her team. As for Blake, he didn’t seem to have that same want, as he already had a team full of country artists. She seemed very passionate, so I knew someone with that same fire as I had had to be a perfect match for a coach, and I was SO RIGHT!”

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