Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The number of golden ticket recipients from each American Idol audition city far exceed the number of contestants we meet on the show.

Here are some of the female singers we didn’t meet during the Chicago audition episode.

I’ve included a blurb on each with information gleaned from their Road to Hollywood videos on americanidol.com.

In cases where a video of them singing or performing could be located, I’ve also included that.

If you know of existing YouTube videos for a contestant who doesn’t have one below, simply let me know and I’ll add it.

And head here for a look at the other Hollywood-bound contestants on American Idol.

Alex Oechsel

This gal from Naperville, Ill., won a dream ticket to the auditions by triumphing at the American Idol Experience at Disney World. She says she’s inspired by her family. “Ever since I can remember, we have done shows with my family. Everyone gets involved.” As for her voice, she describes it as smooth and powerful and thinks it’s different than what we normally hear on Idol. Her favorite past contestant is Adam Lambert, because of his “killer voice” and because he “wasn’t afraid to do his thing.”

Turnabout (Take It Off)
For more of Alex singing, head here.

Alicia Smith

This young lady from Mexico, Miss., is heading to Hollywood for the second straigth year and said she got amazing feedback from judges in an audition we didn’t she. Her inspirations include Mariah Carey. “I’ve been listening to Mariah since before I was 8 years old, since before I started to sing,” she says. Her favorite past contestant is Jennifer Hudson. “She’s the epitomy of you not having to win to be successful.” By competing on Idol, Alicia hopes to prove a person can make it far by being themselves and not having to conform to what everyone else thinks they should be.

No video located.

Alisabeth von Presley

This young lady from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, describes herself as colorful. After all, she’s got colorful tattoos and “my hair is three tones currently and changing always.” She also describes herself as a “big personality” and someone who likes to push boundaries and question “all the rules.” Her inspiration is Michael Jackson because of his music, its meaning and “what he did for the world.” Her favorite past contestant is Justin Guarini, partly because she thinks he moved and sounded a lot like Michael. She was discovered on the Idol small-town bus tour. “I think it would be awesome if a bus person took home the win,” she told Idol.

“Somebody to Love”
For more of Alisabeth singing, head here.

Amaris Wayman

This gal from is part of a sister-brother team that made it to Hollywood. Amaris says she comes from a family in which everyone sings, but says her mom is her biggest inspiration. She describes her as a powerhouse singer and “the one who inspires me to be a professional singer.” Amaris says her favorite past Idol is Adam Lambert. “He was very out there and was never afraid to be who he was,” she noted, saying she admired that ability.

“4AM”
For another video of Amaris singing, head here.

Ashika Sachdev

From the Chicago area, Ashika is headed to Hollywood for the second time. She got past the judges back in Season 10, but says she thinks she’s improved a lot since then. She says her mom is her biggest inspiration. She tags along to all of her auditions, providing pep talks and keeping her positive, Ashika says. Her favorite past Idol is Jordin Sparks because their style of music is similar. Ashika specializes in pop / R&B. And if making Hollywood wasn’t enough of a thrill, Ashika says she got to meet Jordin during the Chicago auditions. “That was really cool,” she says. “I was kind of starstruck. I’m like, ‘Whoa, you’re Jordin Sparks, and you’re talking to me.'”

“Wild Horses”
For more of Ashika singing, head here.

Baylee Goley

This gal from Flowood, Miss., was nominated for the show by her mom and says Randy Jackson showed up at a restaurant where she was singing to invite her to audition. She says her mom is her inspiration. “She always said she thought I was going to be a performer.” According to Baylee, everyone tells her she has a “unique” voice, one that sounds “so different from this time period.” People tell her she sounds like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. She recalls watching Kelly Clarkson become the first Idol winner and says that moment is “what inspired me to do Idol in the first place.”

“Tip the Scales”
For more of Baylee singing, head here.

Bea Solorzano

From Venezuela, Bea now lives in Nashville, Tenn., and says she auditioned with hopes of living her dream and providing her and her fiance with a better life. She says her fiance is her biggest inspiration because “he brings so much support in my life that gives me the confidence to go out there.” Though she’s just 25, Bea says she feels like she’s had “a lot of past” and can draw on that past to help tell a story through music. Her favorite past Idols are Kelly Clarkson, for her ability to do the same, and Carrie Underwood, for her incredible ability to hit just about any note she wants. Bea says she’s determined to make it in music. “I will not give up, no matter what.”

“Love Your Memory”
For more of Bea singing, head here.

Denise Jackson

This gal from Madison, Wis., auditioned for Idol in 2007, made it to Vegas in 2011 and is now back for her third time on the show, saying it’s her “destiny.” Her inspirations are her grandmother and the Lord and she says she thinks she’s unqiue because of the struggles she’s had to overcome in her youth. “I’m still here,” she proclaims. Jennifer Hudson is her favorite past Idol “because she’s a winner every moment in her life,” Denise says. “She’s a fighter.”

“Someone Like You”
For another video of Denise singing, head here.