Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Blind audition: Sa’Rayah, 28, of Chicago, Ill., auditioned with Aretha Franklin’s “Drown in My Own Tears.” A wonderful a cappella opening prompted very quick chair turns from Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys. Miley said Sa’Rayah brought “hope and love into the room.” Alicia said Sa’Rayah blew her all the way to the back of the galaxy with her performance. Sa’Rayah chose to join Team Miley.

Her background: She’s a single mother with 2-year-old daughter who moved back in with her parents after she and her daughter’s father separated. Sa’Rayah also grew up in a housing project notorious for drugs and gang violence. “Everything that could destroy your youth, that’s what was in (that the housing project),” she told The Voice. As a result, her mother got addicted to crack cocaine. She’s clean now, and the family moved, allowing Sa’Rayah to focus on music for the first time. She says she performs at clubs and lounges. “I’m trying to get to the point where music pays the bills,” she says.

What the show didn’t show:
* She grew up singing in church and was a worship leader in her father’s church, according to her bio on The Voice website.
* In 2014, she was booked for a “Night of Soul” event in Chicago and caught the attention of Richard Davis, founder of the local band Chicago Catz.
* She auditioned and became a singer for Chicago Catz, an event and wedding band in Chicago.
* She has also performed as Tytiana Nelson and has been a motivation speaker and spoken word artist.
* In terms of selecting Miley as a coach, here’s what Sa’Rayah had to say: “I never want to do the expected. And she’s like out of the box. And that’s who I am.”

Keeping up with Sa’Rayah:
Twitter: @SaRayah_Sings
Facebook
YouTube