Idol Chatter & Voice Views

In the past two weeks, I’ve posted individual profiles on more than 30 of the 48 contestants rumored to earn spots on Season 13 of The Voice.

And what a cast it is. Season 13 will feature a former duet partner with Charlie Puth. A retired NFL player. A dad whose daughter became a national singing sensation at age 3. And lots of singers who have already released impressive music.

But there also were several contestants I couldn’t find enough information on to post individual blogs. Snippets on those contestants appear below.

I promise, this won’t be like montaged blind auditions on The Voice. I’ll be back with full blogs on all of these contestants, after their blind auditions, once I learn more about them.

As for the profiles already listed, links can be found below. You can also find a playlist of more than 20 tracks those artists have already released.

Alexandra Joyce

She’s from Wesley Chapel, Fla., according to her Twitter account. On Instagram, she describes herself as a A.J. — a singer, dancer, painter and photographer. You can find several snippets of her covers on that Twitter account.

Instagram
Twitter: @AAlexandraJoyce
YouTube
Facebook

Ashland Craft

Ashland describes herself as a 5-foot-2 fireball of a country and southern rock singer-songwriter whose inspirations include Miranda Lambert, Bonnie Raitt and Chris Stapleton. She hails from Peidmont, S.C., has been playing guitar since 2010 and will launch her first full-band show later this month. She has a YouTube channel loaded with covers.

Instagram
Twitter: @AshlandCraft
YouTube
Facebook

Brandon Showell

On his personal Facebook page, Brandon describes himself as a former performer with Royal Caribbean International and an educator with Arlington Public Schools in Virginia. And 2017 is turning out to be quite the year for the young man from Virginia. In July, he married his wife Perla. He also has an excellent cover of “Earned It” on his YouTube channel.

Instagram
Twitter: @brandon_showell
YouTube
Facebook

Brooke Simpson

Brooke begin singing with her parents at age 2 as part of the Mills Family Ministries. At one point, she performed as Brooke Mills and the Revolution. She’s still involved in praise and worship music, though now with her husband of three years Ray Simpson, performing mostly in North Carolina judging from YouTube videos of their performances. She describes herself as “just a happy girl writing sad songs.”

Instagram
Twitter: @brookesimpson
YouTube
Facebook

Chris Weaver

Back in May, NBC did a story on Chris, who got his start singing in church. That’s when the truth came out: He was gay in a church that condemned homosexuality. The focus of the NBC story is that Chris found his way back to church in New York City. He also now performs in drag as Nedra Belle and celebrates his participation on The Voice on Nedra’s Instagram account, which, by the way, has more followers than the official Chris Weaver account.

Instagram
Twitter: @chrisweaver
YouTube
Facebook

Dylan Gerard

He is or was the lead vocalist of the folk pop-rock band Don’t Sigh Daisy, which released EPs in 2008 and 2009 and an album in 2011. The Florida-based band, which also included former American Idol contestant Joshua Wicker, played a farewell show in 2013, but returned with a single called “Better Man” earlier this year. Dylan’s also a featured vocalist on a couple of recent songs released by Joshua. According to his personal Facebook page, he’s an after-school counselor at an O2B Kids program in Gainesville, Fla.

Instagram
Twitter: @dylangerard
YouTube
Facebook

Eric Lyn

He’s a 27-year-old at JG Music School in Los Angeles, according to his Facebook profile. He studied in Nashville, Tenn., and vocal performance and opera at California State University. Like fellow Voice contestant Janice Freeman, he’s been a contributor during jam sessions at Tha Juice Joint, a Los Angeles club that hosts open mic jam sessions.

Instagram
Twitter: @ericlynmusic
YouTube
Facebook

Gary Carpentier

He’s a 25-year-old singer from upstate New York who has been working on a debut EP. In terms of covers, he says he does everything from Sam Cooke to Mumford and Sons. Season 13 isn’t his first stab at The Voice. According to his bio in a K104.7 video performance competition, he made it deep into the audition process back in 2015.

Instagram
Twitter: @garycarpentier
YouTube
Facebook

Ilianna Viramontes

She received an associates degree from El Camino College Compton Center in May and, according to her Twitter account “listens to the Junk of the Heart album by The Kooks over and over.” The Kooks are an alternative band. Ilianna was also accepted to study at the Berklee College of Music this fall … if The Voice hasn’t interrupted those plans.

Instagram
Twitter: @iliannavmusic
YouTube
Facebook

Jeremiah Miller

On Instagram, Jeremiah calls himself a singer-songwriter, wrestler and spikeballer. He has trophies to back up the wrestling part. And regardless of how he does on the show, he’s already a Voice winner of sorts. Judging from his Instagram posts, he found love with a fellow auditioner. Pre-Voice, he was also part of a duo called Miller and Howell, and described their sound as a little jazz, a little pop.

Instagram
Twitter: @Jeremiah_Miller
Facebook
YouTube (Miller and Howell)

Jon Mero

Raised in Des Moines, Iowa, John apparently got started in music at a young age and was considered a child prodigy at piano and trumpet. Vocals soon followed and he eventually moved to Atlanta, Ga., and became a lead vocalist with the Celebrity All-Star Band, a cover cover band that performs at corporate and other events. He might also have performed as Christian singer John Cheatum, judging from some web bios. As Jon Mero, he’s released a pair of singles — “Christmastime” in 2015 and the deliciously funky “Tell Me” in 2016.

Instagram
Twitter: @jonmero
Website
YouTube
Facebook

Karli Webster

On Facebook, Karli identifies herself as a southern-California folk/pop singer and songwriter “with a uniquely classic flair.” She also plays ukulele. On Instagram, she said she decided to sign up for a Voice open call audition in February after “tons of requests from family, friends, and strangers.” Her reaction to advancing is priceless. “Let me tell you, that red card surprised the poopy out of me and little did I know of the whirlwind of intense awesomeness that was to come,” she writes.

Instagram
Twitter: @karliwebster
YouTube
Facebook

Megan Rose

On her YouTube channel, Megan describes herself as a 20-year-old aspiring country singer stuck in the hustle and bustle of the city. That city would be San Francisco; she’s apparently a student at San Francisco State.

Instagram
Twitter: @meganrosemusic
YouTube
Facebook

Michael Kight

On Instagram, Michael says he finally took his dad’s advice and auditioned for The Voice. He has Voice connections. He’s recorded with former contestant Jacob Poole. He’s backed former contestant Amber Carrington. And he’s performed alongside Caroline Glaser and co-produced her debut album. Michael describes himself as a pop artist, is based in Nashville and working on his debut project.

Instagram
Twitter: @michaelkight
YouTube
Facebook

Neville Wu / Maxxon

He’s an indie artist who, on Twitter, proclaims that he hates social media, which might explain why his Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts seem brand new. If anyone else can fill in the blanks on Neville Wu / Maxxon feel free to comment below. He’s rumored to land a spot on Team Blake Shelton.

Instagram
Twitter: @MaxxonMusic
YouTube
Facebook

Previously featured

Below are links to individual blogs on singers previously featured. And at right, you’ll find a playlist of music they’ve already released.

Black Magnolia was a band fronted by Adam Pearce. Cumberland Blue featured Chloe Kohanski as lead vocalist.

Adam Cunningham
Adam Pearce
Addison Agen
Anna Catherine DeHart
Anthony Alexander
Brandon Brown
Chloe Kohanski
Dave Crosby
Davon Fleming
Emily Luther
Esera Tuaolo
Hannah Mrozak
Ignatious Carmouche
Janice Freeman
Kathrina Feigh
Katrina Rose
Keisha Renee
Kristi Hoopes
Lucas Holliday
Maharasyi Hansa
Meagan McNeal
Mitchell Lee
Moriah Formica
Natalie Stovall
Noah Mac
Rebecca Brunner
Red Marlow
Ryan Scripps
Shi’Ann Jones
Shilo Gold
Sophia Bollman
Stephan Marcellus
Whitney Fenimore