Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Blind audition: Gabriel Violett, 26, of New York, N.Y., sang “Treat You Better” by Shawn Mendes. He got an early chair turn from Alicia Keys and a last-second chair turn from Blake Shelton. Gabriel told The Voice coaches he wants to sing R&B pop with his own little twist and is trying to figure out what that twist is. Blake liked the precision in Gabriel’s performance, but Gabriel decided to join Team Alicia.

His background: He’s originally from St. Louis, but now lives in New York where he has a job as a onesies fit model. “I put on their onesies and I test out if it’s the right length or if I have enough (room for) movement and run through the gamut of onesies tests. It’s so much fun, but I’ve always wanted to make music my full-time career.” Gabriel moved to New York eight years ago when he got the opportunity to be part of the original Broadway cast for the Tony-Award-winning musical “Spring Awakening.” At the time, he says he “just knew it was the start of this young, prolific career.” But the show closed in 2009, and Gabriel told The Voice he hasn’t had any big opportunities since. He’s looking for a coach to take him out of his “musical theater head space” and help turn him into a pop artist.

What the show didn’t show:
*Gabriel played the role of Otto in “Spring Awakening,” which debuted on Broadway in December 2006. The original cast also included Lea Michelle of “Glee” fame.
* Gabriel later teamed up with original cast member Remy Zaken (Thea in “Spring Awakening) to perform popular hit songs as Remy and Gabe.
* Gabriel also performs as a member of the Broadway Boys. The Broadway Boys’ website says the group is “a collection of the hottest male voices currently working on the New York stage. Through their dynamic vocal prowess and redefining arrangements, the Boys add elements of pop, funk, gospel, jazz, and folk to show tunes and classic pop songs.” And since their debut, they’ve taken their performances nationwide.
* Earlier this year, Gabriel was one of 12 finalists in a “Rising Star” competition in New York.
* During a conference call with the media, Gabriel said he wouldn’t rule out returning to Broadway some day though he showed up at The Voice intent on heading in a new musical direction. “I’m too young to start taking things off the table now,” he said.
* Gabriel added that the “Spring Awakening” experience helped him feel more prepared for The Voice because he was in “somewhat familiar territory.”
* When his Voice experience began, Gabriel admitted to hoping Miley Cyrus would turn for him. But he said he started rethinking that in the days right before his blind audition. “I just kind of started having this feeling like, ‘You know what? I really should be thinking about what Alicia Keys could bring to the table for me.’ Because that’s so much more in the wheelhouse of what I like to sing and the kind of music that I naturally gravitate towards.”
* As for his decision to pick Alicia — “Obviously, seeing her turn her chair so quickly for me — that makes me feel pretty special,” Gabriel said. “And she has the most incredible presence and there is this like undeniable hush that comes over a room whenever she starts talking. I don’t know; it just felt too right. I couldn’t say no.”
* On Twitter, he describes himself as a “lover of video games, horror movies and Beyonce.”

Keeping up with Gabriel:
Twitter: @gabrielviolett
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