Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Her blind audition: Sarah Grace, 15, of Houston, Texas, performed Janis Joplin’s “Ball and Chains.” She turned the chairs of Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson and Blake Shelton, and Adam Levine labeled her “a 4-(foot)-11, pint-sized wonder.” Sarah opted to join Team Kelly.

Her background: She told The Voice she had a condition called synesthesia, when she was young, meaning her senses were cross-wired. As a result, she saw colors when she listened to music, especially music she loves. She learned piano and trumpet at a young age and performed in a family band. Oh, and she now loves the blues, though she thought it was just for “old people” when initially introduced to the genre.

On picking Kelly:“I really wanted a coach who I felt was similar to me, not only in music taste and style, but also personality wise. I wanted a coach that I would enjoy spending time with. So watching Kelly on last season, I realized how similar we were, and I actually get told that a lot. I’m super bubbly. She’s super bubbly. She talks a lot. I talk a lot.” Sarah said she also loves the blues influences on Kelly’s new “Meaning of Life” album and the fact that, like her, Kelly is from Texas.

What the show didn’t show:

* She fronts a three-piece band called Sarah Grace and The Soul. The band was previously named Campfire Soul. The rebranding appears to have happened back in April.

* Sarah plays trumpet and keys and her band mates include Reagan Kimberly on drums and Daniel Holder on bass. Sarah says she’s been performing with the band for five years.

* They haven’t released music yet, but you can check out a pair of original songs on their YouTube channel — I’ve embedded one of those below — and that website bio says they’re working on a debut CD of all-original music.

* The Houston Press named Sarah Grace and The Soul as one of the Top 10 Bands Under 21, and the band has twice represented Houston at the International Blues Challenge.

* In a conference call with the media, Sarah said planning for the band’s future is one reason she opted to audition for The Voice at such a young age. The band is transforming from a cover band to one that does original shows, and exposure from The Voice can only help that transformation, she said.

* Oh, and if she needed a final push in a coach’s direction, the red Team Kelly Clarkson jackets Kelly gives her team members might have done it, the charismatic Sarah said in that conference call, adding, “I’m wearing it right now.”

* Sarah’s influences include Lake Street Dive, Sara Bareilles, Susan Tedeschi, and all of the blues greats, according to the band’s website.

* According to her bio on the band’s website, she’s a freshman at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston.

On social media:
Instagram
Band website
Twitter: @sgandthesoul
Facebook
YouTube