Idol Chatter & Voice Views

p>American Idol’s audition episodes continue tonight when the judges visit Chicago. Follow along, I’ll be blogging live.

Meanwhile, here’s a little information on the female contestants who received golden tickets in Atlanta last Wednesday.

When Hollywood week rolls around, keep your eyes on Mallorie Haley and Keia Johnson. Among last year’s female finalists, only Allison Iraheta might have been better than Mallorie. As for Keia, she has personality galore.

Consider Amber Caparas a sleeper. We didn’t see her on the Atlanta audition show, but her YouTube performances are pretty darn good.

Amber Caparas of Charleston, S.C.

In her Idol video, Amber says she has wanted to try out for Idol since the show began. But she made a pact with her dad: She wouldn’t until she graduated high school and finished her first year of college, with straight A’s. She also a second-degree black belt, and you can catch four of her acoustic performances on YouTube, including a cover of the Counting Crows’ “Round Here” here.

Ashley Hobbs of Atlanta, Ga.

Ashley has a very logical reason for audition for American Idol. She says she passed the Georgia Dome every day on her way to work at the Georgia Aquarium. She saw Idol was holding auditions there and figured, “why not just go?” she says in her Idol video. At 21, she has a son, but vows that “I still have a lot of child in me.”

Carmen Turner of Backsley, Ga.

She’s the gal who advanced to Hollywood while her BFF, Lauren Sanders, was left behind. In her Idol video, she says her most memorable music performance came during her senior year of high school. She was dance captain for a show choir tht finished first in a competition in Mississippi. In her freshman year, the show choir finished 15, out of 15.

Holly Hardin of Rockmart, Ga.

She’s the gal who showed up for her Atlanta audition dressed like a guitar and sounding like Kellie Pickler. She’s an old hand at this. On her MySpace, she says she’s auditioned for several reality shows. She made it past the first round of America’s Got Talent in 2008. You can watch video and listen to Holly’s music on her MySpace page.

Liz Rooney of Whisler, Mass.

Somehow, Idol opted not to show Liz’s audition. Surprising, given her back story. She’s a 911 dispatcher and a former member of the U.S. Army who “has been all over the world,” she tells us in her Idol video.

Genesis Moore of McDonough, Ga.

Says a deep voice for a 16-year old helps sets her apart from the other contestants. She was homecoming princess at her high school as a freshman and sophomore. Another contestant we missed in the audition episode.

Jesse Barry of Ashville, N.C.

This young gal sings lead vocals for a teen band called “Skinny Legs and All.” According to their MySpace page, they have a CD they sell at their shows and specialize in “youthful renditions of classic blues, funk and soul. You can check out five of their songs here.

Lauren Daigle of Lafayette, LouisianaShe got her start as a camel in a church play at age 3, or so she tells us in her Idol video. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette grad says she’s never seen a contestant from Louisiana in the Idol finals and is anxious to change that.

Noel Reese of Sophia, Ga.

Just 16, Noel tells us in her Idol video that she’s been waiting to audition since the show began and is “finally old enough to try out.” She plays piano, guitar a little and figures being “an All-American girl” will set her apart.

Keia Johnson of Memphis, Tenn.

A former Miss Congeniality at some level in the Miss America competition, Keia apparently focuses on singing these days. According to her MySpace, she’s performed with two “distinguished mid-south bands” performing everything from county to R&B to jazz. She has three songs available on MySpace.

Theiry Harden of Atlanta, Ga.An admirer of Fantasia, Theiry said it was encouragement from her mom that convinced her to try out for Idol in season 10. She tells us in her Idol video that she’s hoping her “unique look and sound” sets her apart. Plus she thinks she’d make a pretty good role model.

Tisha Holland of Atlanta, Ga.

She got rave reviews from the judges in the audition round, but she was part of “going to Hollywood montage,” so we really didn’t get to hear much of her performance. Says she auditioned in previous years and failed to make it. Her special talent: She does impersonations.

Mallorie Haley of Winner, S.D.

Hands down the best female from the Atlanta auditions, she’s been singing country music since age 5 and moved to Nashville in June 2007 to pursue a music career. Check out “Young at Heart,” “Pretty Smile” and “Beat Up Town” on her MySpace. Sounds like she at least co-writes her own music, which puts her one step ahead of where Carrie Underwood was at this stage of the game.

Vanessa Wolfe of Venamore, Tenn.

She was the feel-good story of the Atlanta auditions, the poor gal who feels “trapped” in a small Tennessee town, but has a decent voice. Her special skill: talking her way out of police tickets, or so she says during her Idol video. It’s tough to see her surviving the pressure of Hollywood Week given her lack of experience.

Miriam Lemnouni of Atlanta, Ga.

She’s a horse trainer and says folks who know her in Atlanta might be surprised to find out she sings because she hasn’t done much of it since moving there a couple of years ago. Sang Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb” for her audition.