Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Her audition: Casi Joy, 26, of Nashville, auditioned with “Blue” by LeAnn Rimes. She earned an almost immediate chair turn from Gwen Stefanie. Before the performance ended, Alicia Keys, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine had all turned as well. Blake said he and Casi were meant to work together. Sure enough, the country singer joined Team Blake.

Her background: From Kansas City, Casi told The Voice she’s been living in Nashville for nearly two years, playing the honky tonks downtown for tips, meaning “there’s a financial struggle.” Her fiance serves as her sound man, roadie, driver and lifter of heavy things. In Nashville, Casi calls herself “a teeny tiny minnow in an ocean of amazing talent.” She said her audition song, “Blue,” was one of the songs that inspired her to become a singer.

What the show didn’t show:

* According to her website bio, she began performing at age 5 and she began singing in the Midwest Opry Circuit at age 10.

* She was picked up at Radio Disney and performed in a girl group called The Commotions until she began studying at the School of Rock at age 15.

* She formed a rock group called InLike at one point, but returned to country music after moving to Nashville on New Year’s Day 2015.

* Casi released a seven-track debut EP, “Love on Repeat,” in August 2015. The project features six originals and a lovely country cover of “I Will Always Love You.” Make sure to check out “Just Drive” below.

* She’s since a single called “Howling at the Moon” about her last dog Ashbi. All proceeds from sales of the song went to the KC Pet Project, a no-kill animal shelter in Kansas City.

* She’s also released covers of several hits, including “Wicked Game,” “Skinny Love” and “Take Me to Church.”

* She has opened for Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Jerrod Nieman, Montgomery Gentry and many others.

* She’s performed the national anthem at a number of Kansas City Royals games, including during the 2015 American League Championship Series.

* As for her musical direction from this point on, Casi said: “I really look forward to seeing what Blake sees in my voice and if I should stay rooted in traditional country or if I should go to a different kind of country or a different sound. I think he’s definitely the person that can help me hone in on the type of country I should be doing.”

Keeping up with Casi:
Twitter: @casijoymusic
Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube

“Burning House” cover

“Just Drive” from her “Love on Repeat” EP