Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Her audition: Celia Babini, 17, of New York, N.Y., auditioned with Billie Eilish’s “idontwannabeyouanymore.” Celia was barely two lines into the song when Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton turn around simultaneously. A nice glory note a bit later in the song enticed John Legend to turn as well, making Celia just the seventh Season 16 contestant to earn a four-chair turn. Adam said it’s time a female singer-songwriter like her won The Voice. Celia joined Team Adam.

More about Celia …

* She grew up in an artistic family. Her Father, Luca, travels the world as a photographer. Her mother, Bonnie Young, is a well-known fashion designer.

* Celia told Voice Views she started writing songs when she was 6. “It happened very naturally. I never sat down and decided to write — songs would just pour out of me.”

* In 2017, she released an EP called “Lola” that includes five songs she wrote in the 2013-14 time frame. “I strive to use my music as a platform to create change and spread important messages, so there are a few songs on the EP that talk about serious political and cultural issues,” Celia said. I’ve embedded her superb song “Gunfire” below.

* Celia adds that she’s influenced by classic artists like The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Led Zeppelin, “but I also love modern artists like John Mayer, Kacey Musgraves, Gregory Alan Isakov, Trevor Hall, Billie Eilish, Frank Ocean, etc. I aim to incorporate my favorite parts of older music — the raw, honest, grittiness — while taking a modern approach to my melodies and lyrics. It is ‘singer/songwriter,’ but with a unique twist to it.”

* While she’s focused on the show at the moment, Celia said she’s eager to release new music and has posted snippets of some unreleased originals on Instagram. “I am writing tons,” Celia said. “What I really want people to understand is I am not just a singer, I am a songwriter. I am not technically perfect or flawless, but that is not what I strive to be, I aim to tell stories, to make people feel and think. Singing and writing are equally as important to me, so it’s so rewarding when people like my writing as well.”

* Her interest in connecting through music also influenced her blind audition song choice. “Besides for ‘Idontwannabeyouanymore’ being a beautiful song, it has a message,” Celia notes. “It is important that I can stand behind what I am singing and connect to the story. The song is about being insecure and unhappy with who you are. I have definitely felt that way before.

* “Growing up,” she adds, “insecurity ruled my life. It was not until my sophomore year of high school that things changed. I woke up and realized that there is so much to love within all of us. I said to myself, ‘Either people are gonna think you’re beautiful and like you or they won’t, but I am not gonna spend my life focused on how everyone else sees me.’ I embrace my ‘flaws’ now and just own who I am. Everyone should love themselves and what better way to share that message and story than through music.”

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