Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Her audition: Ameera Delandro, 26, of Richmond, Va., sang “I’d Rather Go Blind” in a blind audition that was part of a montage. She landed on Team Christina Aguilera.

Her background: According to her Voice bio, Ameera taught herself to sing and play guitar when she was a child. She got married and starting working as an insurance underwriter after high school, but also performed with a band on the side. Now she’s determined to show she belongs on stage, not behind a desk, The Voice says.

What the show didn’t show: In her Voice video, Ameera says she started singing at age 12 but didn’t realize she was talented until seventh grade. All of her friends entered a talent show. “It was a peer pressure type thing,” she recalls. “We sang a J-Lo song together. All my friends at the end said, ‘Wow, Ameera, you can sing.” Today, she’s a wife and insurance underwriter, a job that keeps her busy nine hours a day. She considers herself an “eclectic” artist. “I’m very much in love with folk music,” she says, “and the soul aspect of music, but I think soul can cross many genres.” In a January 2014 interview, she said her favorite artists include Kari Jobe, Hillsong, Priscilla Ahn, Corinne Bailey Rae and Yuna “because I consider them to be spiritual and true to who they are.” At the time, she said her goal was to record a full-length acoustic album that would deliver a positive message. A victory in a talent competition in North Carolina led to her appearance on The Voice.

On being on Team Christina: “When Christina turned around, I nearly just dropped to the floor … I’m really, really excited to be on Team Christina. She has amazing ideas.”

On iTunes: Just her audition song, though you can check out a couple of originals below.

Update: Ameera was matched with Sonic in the battle round. They sang Jessie J.’s “Masterpiece.” Christina declared Sonic the winner; Ameera was eliminated.

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Twitter: @AmeeraDelandro

My Truth

Not Again (orginal)

Another Rainy Day (Corinne Bailey Rae cover)