Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Here’s a look at the albums and EPs released by former contestants of The Voice so far in 2018.

If I’ve missed anyone, please let me know by emailing [email protected] or by commenting below.

There are now more than 500 past contestants of the show, so keeping up with everyone … well, it’s easy to miss a few releases … so any help to make this as complete as possible will be greatly appreciated.

Links below take you to the release on Apple Music or iTues.

For singles released so far in 2018, head here.

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Anthony Arya
“Going to California”
Released: Dec. 10, 2018
Finish: Knockout round, Season 15

Cleary, we got just a small taste of Anthony’s talent on Season 15 of The Voice. Just weeks after his elimination aired, he released this 12-song album featuring a sound that’s an interesting mix of rock, jazz and blues. At age 16, no less. Be sure to check out “Smooth Cat,” “Ain’t It Cold in Minnesota” and “Apartment 713.” Another track, “Slow Train,” was inspired by fellow contestant and girlfriend Emily Hough, whom he met on the show.

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Adam Wakefield
“Gods & Ghosts”
Released” Nov. 30, 2018
Finish: 2nd, Season 10

Adam’s distinct, plaintive vocals are in fine form on an album chock full of highlights. It’s also the album he says he’s been waiting “my whole life for” because he was able to make it his way. “As Good as It Gets” is the lead single, but be sure to also give a listen to “Cheap Whiskey and Bad Cocaine” and “Shoot My Where I Stand.” This 12-song album is Adam’s second major project since The Voice; the first being a self-titled EP from the summer of 2017.

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Judith Hill
“Golden Child”
Released: Nov. 13, 2018
Finish: Season 4, Top 8

Judith serves up an 11-track, funk-filled album that she also turned into a funk/soul cirque-ballet experience that had its debut Dec. 5 in Los Angeles. “The Pepper Club” — can you hear the Prince influences — was the lead single. It’s about a club where everyone is welcome. That’s a message Judith presses home in the inspiring, album-closing “We Are One.” This marks the second post-Voice album from Judith, who released the Prince-produced “Back in Time” in 2016.

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Anthony Evans
“Everything Else”
Released: Nov. 2, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 2

With four Christian/gospel albums and a Christmas album to his credit, Anthony goes pop on this nine-song project. “I decided that instead of writing about my faith that I would write about my human experience as a man of faith,” the worship leader says, calling the collection “an honest expression of where I have been and In some cases where I still am.” What hasn’t changed is Anthony’s impressive vocals, especially on “Facing the Sun,” “Sober” and a lovely ballad called “Secret.”

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Adam Pearce
“Warbird”
Released: Oct. 31, 2018
Finish: Top 20, Season 13

You won’t find many straight-up rock albums on this list, but Season 13’s Adam Pearce fills that void nicely with this 10-song album. Tracks you’ll want to be sure to check out include the raucous “Whiskey Morning,” the guitar driven title track and the rock ballad “Gotta Mean Something.” This marked Adam’s first original released since Black Magnolia, a band he fronted, released an album back in 2012.

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Avery Wilson
“FYI” EP
Released: Oct. 26, 2018
Finish: Knockout round, Season 3

Avery turned four chairs with his Voice blind audition, but this marks his first major release since. And while he signed with Clive Davis and RCA Records in 2015, he wrote and produced this five-song EP himself, which indicates that relationship is likely over after yielding a pair of singles. Highlights here include an excellent ballad called “Do For You” and the hip-hop flavored “Wass the Move” in which Avery, still just 23, refers to “six years sitting still.

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Jonathas
“L.I.F.E.” EP
Released: Oct. 26, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 2

Four tracks of smooth R&B from Jonathas, who also appeared on Season 10 of American Idol and released a mixtape called “The Foreigner” — he’s from Brazil — in 2012. The highlight here is the sensual “No No.” The song was released as a single in late July and features a rap assist from Kydd Jones.

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DeShawn Washington
“To Blessed to be Stressed”
Released: Oct. 18, 2018
Finish: Battle Round, Season 6

A four-track R&B/Soul EP from a singer who’s still treating fans to regular covers on his Facebook page and YouTube channel four years after his appearance on The Voice. The highlight is EP closing “They Don’t Know,” which DeShawn says came at a time when he was on the verge of giving up on music. “I kept believing in myself. stayed focus and now I’m not looking back,” he says.

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Jaclyn Lovey
“Half Past Noon” EP
Released: Oct. 9, 2018
Finish: Knockout round, Season 14

Just 16 when she auditioned for The Voice, Jaclyn said her goal for her debut EP was a calm, acoustic sound. Mission accomplished on this six-song collection. A standout track is “What Loves Does,” which she swears was inspired by the lovesick feel of a Hank Williams country classic, even if it doesn’t sound like it. Also check out EP-closing “Gardens,” one of the first songs Jaclyn ever wrote.

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Nobody’s Girl (Rebecca Loebe, Season 1)
“Waterline”
Released: Sept. 28, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 1

Rebecca joined forces with follow singer-songwriters BettySoo and Grace Pettis to form Nobody’s Girl, then toured and released this album in 2018. Highlights among the seven tracks include a live acoustic version of the group’s first single, “What’ll I Do,” and a unique reworking of the Blondie hit “Call Me.”

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Molly Stevens
“Here and Now, Vol. 1” EP
Released: Sept. 7, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 14

A veteran of two duos — most recently Molly and Me — this marks Molly’s first major project as a solo artist. Her gritty vocals are in fine form on a six-song collection. Highlights include the raucous love-gone-wrong tale related in “No One Else to Blame” and an acoustic version of “Roots.” The latter is a single she released prior to her time on The Voice.

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Reagan James
“Assume the Moon Do”
Released: Sept. 7, 2018
Finish: Top 10, Season 7

A smooth and sensuous eight-song collection from soon-to-be-20-year-old Reagan, four years removed from her run on The Voice. She says it’s “centered around struggles with loneliness.” That’s certainly the theme of the magnificent album-closing “He Never Came,” a piano-driven ballad version of her latest single, “WYA.” Other top tracks feature Reagan showing off her rap skills on “Assume the Moon Do” and “Roommate.”

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RaeLynn
“Origins”
Released: Sept. 7, 2018
Finish: Top 16, Season 2

This is an oddity. RaeLynn spent years with Big Machine Records, but never got to release an album. Then she goes to Warner Nashville and releases a number one album (2017’s “Wild Horse”). Now Big Machine releases this 12-song collection, which even includes an alternate version of “Love Triangle?” From what I can tell, there are four previously unreleased tracks on “Origins,” and “Gullible Heart” and “Dirty Word” are great. But RaeLynn’s promoting her most recent Warner Nashville single “Tailgate,” not this album.

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Niki Dawson
“Janus Killed Here”
Released: Aug. 25, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 1

A diverse debut album from a young lady who appeared on The Voice at age 18 in 2011, released a debut EP two years later, but was then temporarily sidelined by a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis and some other health problems. She’s back now and sounding splendid, especially on the ballad “Until Forever” and the hip-hop flavored “Villain.”

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Madilyn Paige
“Anymore”
Released: Aug. 24, 2018
Finish: Top 20, Season 6

Madilyn said her goal with her second post-Voice album — and her first in three years — was to release music that’s fun, current and relevant, yet also includes a worthy message. She certainly achieves that in lead single “Perfect,” an upbeat pop tune about how one’s self-worth shouldn’t be tied to looking perfect in an Instagram post. The title track is a duet with former American Idol runner-up David Archuleta.

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Dylan Gerard
“It’s Always About a Woman” EP
Released: Aug. 24, 2018
Finish: Knockout round, Season 12

This fine five-song collection marks the first post-Voice music from the former member of the folk-pop band Don’t Sigh Daisy and his plaintive vocals are a great match for the songs about estranged love. Must-hear tracks include the soulful rocker “Give a Damn” and the more tender “Call My Name,” which features a vocal assist from Dylan’s Season 12 colleague Karli Webster.

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Curtis Grimes
“Faith Based Country Vol. 1”
Released: Aug. 24, 2018
Finish: Top 12, Season 1

A first Christian album from the Texas-based country singer finds Curtis covering eight popular Christian songs, including his granddad’s favorite, “What a Day That Will Be” and Hank Williams’ “I Saw the Light.” Proceeds benefit Ten Fingers Ministry, a project Curtis started in November 2017 with a goal of distributing Bibles all over the world.

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Davina Leone
“647” EP
Released: Aug. 23, 2018
Finish: Knockout round, Season 12

Davina says she wrote, recorded, produced and mixed the four songs on her EP “in my lil apartment, number 647.” Hence the title. Her goal: “to prove … girls can do whatever they set their minds to no matter their situation or resources.” It’s the first major release since The Voice for Davina, and it’s a pop project with a smooth vibe and an excellent opening track called “Closer.”

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Nakia
“Blues Grifter”
Released: Aug. 17, 2018
Finish: Top 8, Season 1

Nakia said this album was seven years in the making; he started working on it when he was performing with a band called The Blues Grifters pre-Voice. An invite to cover “Whipping Post” for an compilation album of music by Austin, Texas, performers prompted its completion. We get 11 covers of songs by blues and soul greats with a 7-minute rendition of “Got to Use My Imagination” being one of the album’s highlights.

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Dawson Coyle
“Saturn Perspective”
Released: Aug. 11, 2018
Finish: Knockout round, Season 12

A promising debut pop album from Dawson, who was just 17 when he auditioned for the show. It comes complete with strong religious overtones and a tribute to the “Star Wars” franchise. Tops among the 10 tracks: “Saturn,” a song about the journey toward self-discovery, and the impassioned album-closing “Keep on Fighting On,” which ends with a choir joining Dawson in celebration of a spirit of perseverance.

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Jordan Smith
“Only Love”
Released: Aug. 10, 2018
Finish: Winner, Season 9

Unlike Jordan’s debut album, this one isn’t filled with covers. Unlike his debut, it features several songs he co-wrote. It features some surprises to, like catchy upbeat pop turns “Burn It Down” and “Love Her Better.” The title track charted on Billboard’s adult contemporary chart. But the album missed the Billboard 200 the week following his release. Jordan’s debut debuted at number two on that chart and became one of the most successful albums in Voice history.

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Chance Pena and Hood Taylor
“Step Aside”
Released: Aug. 10, 2018
Finish: Top 24, Season 9

Here’s something dramatically different from the singles Chance has been releasing since The Voice. It’s a seven-song hip-hop album with Hood providing the raps and Chance providing the silky smooth vocals. The album was recorded in Chance’s home studio and he described it as “super fun” to work on something so far out of his comfort zone. Be sure to check out the album leading “Step Aside” and the album-closing “Ghost.”

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Celeste Betton
“Honestly”
Released: Aug. 16, 2018
Finish: Top 24, Season 9

Celeste is a praise and worship leader, so it’s not surprising that her first post-Voice release is a eight-song Christian/gospel album. It’s at its best when Celeste goes up-tempo like she does on “10K Reasons” and the celebratory, album-closing “Chain Breaker.”

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Jamie Lono
“Prove It” EP
Released: Aug. 7, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 2

If this fun four-song EP doesn’t get your feet moving, you’d better check your pulse. It’s the first release in four years from Jamie. He admits on Facebook that there have been highs and lows since The Voice, adding that recording this music “really helped me through some stuff and allowed me to start believing in myself again.” End result: This EP should definitely be counted as one of the highs. Be sure to check it out.

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Hannah Kirby
“Live from Wesley Hall” EP
Released: July 27, 2018
Finish: Top 8, Season 8

Hannah shows off a new sound on this three-track EP, her second major release since The Voice. She describes it this way: “a classic rock foundation with influences from early rock, blues, soul and jazz.” There’s certainly no lack of passion in the two originals or her cover of a Hank Williams’ classic, “I Can’t Help It If I’m Still in Love with You.” “Wash Your Hands” is that standout track.

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WILKES
“Wilkes” EP
Released: July 20, 2018
Finish: Top 24, Season 14

Wilkes said he began planning this five-track EP as soon as he learned he’d be on The Voice, which explains why he was able to release it just two months after Season 14 ended. It includes “a new and improved mix” of the excellent pre-Voice “Stealing from Heaven,” a new single “Good to Be Us” about being happy with the simple things in like, and a full-length version of Wilkes’ celebrated Voice cover of No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak.”

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Valerie Ponzio
“Timeless” EP
Released: July 20, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 12

This five-song EP should be required listening for Blake Shelton, who cut Valerie in the battle round after she scored a four-chair turn in the Season 12 blind auditions. With the Latino flair she brings to country music, she’s got a more distinctive tone than some singers he’s taken deep into The Voice. The highlight here is the title track, and the Spanish version is even more sultry than the English one.

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Brittany Butler
“Brittany Butler” EP
Released: July 20, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 7

Brittany teamed up with Plaid Dog Recordings in Boston to launch a successful Indiegogo campaign that led to this five-song EP, released four years after her run on the show. It’s classified as R&B/Soul, but there’s also a broad dash of jazz, not surprising for someone who calls Amy Winehouse her biggest musical influence. Be sure to check out “Sick of the Same,” a song Brittany says she wrote when she felt stuck in her career and was frustrated by the music she was hearing on the radio.

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Malik Davage
“Open Call” EP
Released: July 13, 2018
Finish: Knockout round, Season 12

Five songs of smooth R&B mark Malik’s first major project, but this is an EP badly in need of a change-of-pace track and one where the most memorable track — “Wake Up” — won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Malik, 23, when he auditioned, released a pair of singles prior to the show and has released another — “Waitin'” — since the EP dropped.

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Koryn Hawthorne
“Unstoppable”
Released: July 13, 2018
Finish: 4th, Season 8

A diverse debut album from Koryn under the RCA Inspiration label. The 10-song collection includes the hit “Won’t He Do It,” which hit number one on at least three different Billboard gospel charts. But the best song might be the rousing, album closing “Down Goes Rome.” Another highlight: “Speak the Name,” which includes a vocal assist from Natalie Grant.

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Keith Semple
“5 O’Clock” EP
Released: July 13, 2018
Finish: Top 20, Season 9

After dabbling with a country sound post-Voice, Keith sticks with his pop-rock roots on his third EP since the show. This collection includes four songs, but Keith and the Semple Band are far and away at their best on the cover track. Keith calls an “American-Irish drinking song.” That’s perfectly appropriate; Keith hails from Ireland.

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Jeffrey Austin
“Misguided” EP
Released: July 11, 2018
Finish: 4th, Season 9

The first major release from Jeffery since the show, this is a five-song collection co-written and produced by Season 9 colleague Tim Atlas. Jeffery calls the title track his favorite song he’s had a hand in writing. As for the EP, he says, “with this music, I feel like I’m finally getting to say what I want to say.”

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Dawn and Hawkes
“The Other Side”
Released: July 6, 2018
Finish: 2nd battle round, Season 6

A second post-show album from Miranda Dawn and Chris Hawkes, who got married in the music video that kicked off their debut album and explore “anthems of compassion” this time around. Miranda’s vocals and the duos harmonies are always a delight, but that’s especially true on “Hello Mary” and “Promised Land,” which became their latest music video.

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Joshua Davis (Season 8)
“Secondhand” EP
Released: July 5, 2018
Finish: 3rd, Season 8

After pouring heart and soul into his 2017 album “The Way Back Home,” Joshua said he felt the time was right to release an album of covers he’d thought about doing for some time. “The music that moves me is imperfect, honest and raw,” he writes on his website. “On Secondhand, songs from friends Jen Sygit and David Fetzer sit alongside tunes from some of my other favorites like Tom Waits, Townes Van Zandt and St. Vincent.” Highlights includes “Black Eyed Susan” and Joshua’s version of Waits’ “Come On Up to the House.”

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Adanna Duru
“Manic Pixie Dreamgirl”
Released: July 2, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 3

A second 7-song album from a young lady who was just 15 when she auditioned for The Voice, then made it to the Top 11 on American Idol Season 14 at age 18. She describes the “manic pixie dreamgirl” as the “quirky dream girl” who exists in movies to move along the story for the male protagonist, but whose character is never really developed. Adanna wants to be more than that, a sentiment she expresses best in the superb lead single “Doll.”

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Stephan Marcellus
“Redemption”
Released: June 25, 2018
Finish: Knockout round, Season 13

An impressive seven-song debut EP from a guy who got redemption on The Voice after stumbling at the start of his blind audition. His powerful and passionate vocals are especially effective on lead single “Renegade,” the hard-driving “Worth It” and the ballad “Unsaid.”

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Joe Kirk
“All I Know” EP
Released: June 18, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 7

Just 17 when he auditioned for the show, Joe almost immediately released a debut single, promising more music to come. It didn’t come for three years, but arrived in the form of this smooth and heartfelt five-song collection, which Joe labeled far more personal. Highlights include the lead single “Ten” and the EP closing ballad “Let This Go” about the need to close the chapter on an ill-fated relationship.

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JessLee
“Strong”
Released: June 15, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 14

You’ll find the album classified as country on iTunes, but JessLee calls her music “punktry.” “I’m basically a metal head who likes to slap fiddle and pedal steel on my tracks.” One listen to her 7-song debut album makes that clear. Top tracks include “No Toyfriend, Be My Boyfriend” and the stripped down “I’m So in Like with You,” which puts JessLee’s vocals front and center.

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Nelly’s Echo
“Run, Run Away” EP
Released: June 9, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 3

Sometimes, Nelson Emokpae says, a catchy pop melody can serve as “the spoonful of sugar” needed to deliver the message of a song. That’s the approach he took to the title track of his latest EP, a song he says was inspired by the current mood of desperation, despair and pain in society. The five-song collection from the Baltimore-based musician continues a steady stream of original material that includes an album and two other EPs since he appeared on The Voice.

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2Steel Girls
“The Real Thing”
Released: June 15, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 3

In creating their “dream record,” the mother and daughter team of Allison and Krystal Steel used one rule — record only songs they loved. The result is an eclectic album that includes a bit of rock, a dash of country and some throw-back pop. But this 11-song collection reaches it pinnacle when the ladies serve up some funk on back-to-back tracks called “I Won’t Grow Up” and “Queen Bee.” Allison and Krystal also co-produced the album, which marked a departure from their country-heavy 2016 EP “Red, White and Blue Girls.”

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Taylor Phelan
“2 of 2”
Released: June 8, 2018
Finish: Top 20, Season 7

About that title — Taylor released an EP called “1 of 2” in the summer of 2017. He says all the songs were recorded together with the intention of releasing an album. Then the alternative rocker opted for the EP route to give the individual songs more attention. Songs you’ll definitely want to check out in this collection include “Long Way Down,” “Forever You” and “Harvest the Moon.” The latter was originally released as a single in 2015.

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Belle Jewel
“End of an Era”
Released: June 1, 2018
Finish: Top 20, Season 11

Belle tackles the internal struggles she says all artists face — including bouts of insecurity and self-doubt — on a nine-track debut album. She calls the album-closing “Ampersand” “my heart,” explaining that it’s partly about her decision to walk away from “a great scholarship from a great college to pursue my music career fully.” She sounds her most ethereal on dual songs “Push” and “Pull” about the competing emotions that led up to that decision.

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Whitney Fenimore
“Battle Within” EP
Released: May 18, 2018
Finish: Top 24, Season 13

Whitney says she wanted a “more raw and gritty” sound on her first post-Voice release, which is also her first EP since 2014’s “In Between.” The five songs chronicle her ups and downs in music over the past few years. Highlights include the very catchy “Stones” and her EP closing ballad “You Think You’re Right” featuring a vocal assist from Robin Hedlund. Speaking of assists, Aaron Sterling, best known as John Mayer’s drummer, performs on “Find Your Love.”

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Darby (Anne Walker)
“OK Baby Until Tomorrow” EP
Released: May 15, 2018
Finish: Top 11, Season 11

Darby says she’s experienced her first love and heartbreak — not to mention a move to New York — since The Voice and it’s reflected in this six-song EP. The throwback sounding “Matter of Time” and “Just Ain’t Me” are excellent songs. The EP-ending “Save a Thought For Me” is simply sublime, one of the best post-Voice tracks of 2018 so far.

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Kota Wade
“Out of the Dark” EP
Released: May 15, 2018
Finish: Top 20, Season 9

Kota tackles her struggle with anxiety and depression, tosses in an Alice in Wonderland theme and delivers her best music yet on this six-track EP. She got an assists from Voice colleague Tim Atlas and Bad Wolf band mate and husband Tommy O. “Going Mad” and the album-ending — and much more hopeful — title track are standouts.

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Amanda Brown
“Dirty Water”
Released: May 11, 2018
Finish: Top 6

More than five years after Amanda dazzled us with her cover of “Dream On,” she’s back to dazzle us with a debut album that puts her vocal versatility on full display. “No Good” and “Believers” were released as introductions to the 11-track album yet to come. Among the new tracks Amanda is at her best on the rocker “Take Your Pill” and the more folksy title track and “Final Day.”

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Terry McDermott
“Beautiful Destruction”
Released: May 4, 2018
Finish: 2nd, Season 3

This marks Terry’s first album in three years and second since The Voice, following 2015’s “Rabbit Hole” with Lotus Crush, his pre-Voice band. It follows a successful Pledge Music campaign. Highlights include the memorably-titled “Elephant on a Skateboard,” the power ballad “Out of Our Minds” and the album-closing “Lost Again.”

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Morgan Wallen
“If I Know Me”
Released: April 27, 2018
Finish: Top 20, Season 6

A milestone for Morgan in that this represents his debut album after scoring Top 40 country hits with “The Way I Talk” (2016) and “Up Down” (2017 with Florida Georgia Line). Both of those singles are on the album as well as three other songs previously released. Among the best of the new tracks: the fun-loving “Happy Hour,” which sure sounds like a future single.

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Ryan Innes
“The Inbetween”
Released: April 13, 2018
Finish: Knockout round, Season 4

Ryan’s post-Voice debut album comes five years after he appeared on the show. As for the title, he said he wanted songs that explored the area between the highs and lows in life. He was known for his soulful vocals on the show, and they’re in full effect on the celebratory “Crazy Wonderful.” But his vocals take on a haunting quality on two of the other tops tracks, “The Same Night” and the glorious “So Far Away.” “I Need a Lover” is the lead single among the 11 tracks. Ryan last released a major project, a self-titled EP, in 2010.

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Ayanna Jahnee
“Unfinished Business” EP
Released: April 13, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 10

An impressive five-song debut project from Ayana, who alternates between smooth R&B/Soul and up-tempo tracks that command your attention. That’s particularly true of the album’s top track, the alternately playful and frenetic “Mind Games.” Ayanna says she wrote all the songs between 2014 and 2017. Since The Voice, she’s also starred in an off-Broadway production of “The Whiz.”

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Casi Joy
“Covered in Joy”
Released: April 10, 2018
Finish: Top 20, Season 12

For her first major project after The Voice, Casi decided on a self-produced album of covers. The country gal covers country classics like “Jolene” and “Blue” — her Voice blind audition song — but also veers off genre to tackle “Proud Mary,” “Unchained Melody” and, in one of the album’s most tender and touching moments, a cover of Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect.”

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Red Marlow
“Country as Cornbread”
Released: April 6, 2018
Finish: 4th, Season 13

Exactly what you’d expect given the album title: 10 tracks of traditional country music. And fans who enjoyed Red’s performances on the show are going to love this album. Red co-wrote six of the 10 tracks, including two of the album’s best songs, “The Good Ones” and “Four Ounces at a Time.” Also be sure to check out “Tomorrow’s Gone.” Better yet, check out the entire album. Major kudos to Red and producer Jimmy Ritchey for turning out such a high-quality album less than four months after Season 13 ended.

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Brandon Chase
Discovery Sessions, Vol. 1 EP
Released: April 6, 2018
Finish: Knockout round, Season 5

Time to rediscover Brandon, who labels himself a country-pop artist. That said, there’s more pop than country in the best songs on this five-track EP. I dare you to listen to “Blame It On You” and not tap your toes, or sing along once you learn the words. As for the EP’s title, Brandon promises this will be the first in a series of EPs released this year and next. It’s also his first since a four-song acoustic EP released in 2016.

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Sawyer Fredericks
“Hide Your Ghost”
Released: March 30, 2018
Finish: Winner Season 8

Two years after his post-Voice debut album, Sawyer returns with an independent album he says “is fully me.” He wrote the 11 tracks and he produced the album. The title track, released earlier, was a hint of what was to come. It’s one of the most impressive major releases from a former Voice contestant so far in 2018. Among the other standout tracks: “Should’ve Known Better” and “Gasoline.”

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Joshua Howard
“Forgive My False” EP
Released: March 23, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 6

This six-song singer-songwriter EP about a journey of self-discovery was four years in the making and begins with “Lost Boy,” a song Joshua started while participating on The Voice back in 2014. “I wasn’t proud of who I was or what I was doing,” he writes on his website. Highlights include “Waterfall,” where the Philly-based artist is joined by a full choir, and the funky and soulful “”M.Y.F.R.”

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Tim Atlas
“All Talk” EP
Released: March 6, 2018
Finish: Knockout round, Season 9

Tim serves up seven tracks of electro-pop on his first major project since a 2013 EP called “Lost in Waiting.” “Compromise,” released as a single, had been streamed nearly 12 million times on Spotify by early April. But “Talk” is my favorite song on the new EP. Tim, who has done production work for some of his Season 9 colleague, produced this project with the help of Jesse Barrera.

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Dwight & Nicole (Nicole Nelson)
“Electric Lights”
Released: March 2, 2018
Finish: Knockout round, Season 3

After her run on The Voice, Nicole Nelson rejoined her pre-show duo, Dwight & Nicole, with Dwight Ritcher. Drummer Ezra Oklan joined them for this project, their first EP after releasing three full-length albums, including “Shine On” in 2014 and “The Rear Window Sessions” (2016). Be sure to check out the anthemic and soulful lead single “Wait,” featuring a rousing vocal from Nicole.

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Jessica Childress
“Days”
Released: Feb. 23, 2017
Finish: Battle round, Season 4

Jessica calls her first full-length album “a collection of all my most important moments in my life to date” and “a glimpse” into my heart. “Starting Today” makes for a catchy lead single. Other standouts among the 10 tracks include “Run,” the sassy “Tell Me” and the more pop-oriented “Far Away.” Post-Voice, Jessica previously released a five-track EP called “Don’t Forget Me” in 2014.

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Darius Scott
“Young”
Released: Feb. 16, 2018
Finish: Top 20, Season 9

Darius certainly grabs you’re attention with the opening track here, complete with a horn section and the proclamation that “the old me is dead / I’m back alive/ and I’m better before it.” Before the 13 tracks end, he also gets a nice vocal assist from India Shawn (on “Ex-Nihilo”) and sprinkles in some words of advice from his father (like on “Spirit”). “It’s important to hear what the elders have to say,” Darius says. “No matter how cool we think we are, they’re the OGs.”

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Jordy Searcy
“Dark in the City” EP
Released: Feb. 15, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 7

A superb singer-songwriter EP from a 24-year-old who clearly has something to say and something worth saying. And you have to love the way he uses one of the seven tracks to share the poem “Colorblind Christianity.” When he’s singing, Jordy’s at his best on “Love and War in Your Twenties,” “Explaining Jesus” and the outstanding title track, “Dark in the City.” This marks Jordy’s second EP since The Voice, a followup to 2015’s “Seasons.”

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Lex Land
“A Valentine” EP
Released: Feb. 16, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 2

Lex serves up four doses of her quirky brand of acoustic, jazzy pop, including a song in French. And despite the title, the lead track — “But Not for Me” — is an anti-Valentine’s Day as you can get. “I never want to hear / from any cheerful Pol/yannas,” sings Lex, “they tell you fate supplies a mate / it’s all bananas.” OK then.

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MJ Songstress (Melissa Jiminez)
“See Me” EP
Released: Feb. 16, 2018
Finish: Top 20, Season 6

Two years after competing on The Voice in the U.S., Melissa made it deep into La Voz… México. This marks her first release since either show and features an introduction on which MJ talks about finding herself, followed by six tracks of smooth R&B / pop. Her voice is pure gold on the album-closing “Human,” easily the album’s best track.

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J’Sun
“Maze” EP
Released: Feb. 13, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 4

J’Sun has been a YouTube favorite since 2006, amassing more than 60,000 followers and 11 million views on his cover videos. The New Yorker appeared on The Voice in the spring of 2013 at age 26 and this marks the first major original project. The five songs include a throwback sounding ballad called “Fool for You” and an addictive opening dance track called “Immortal.”

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Clarissa Serna
“Hey, Hey”
Released: Feb. 2, 2018
Finish: 2nd battle round, Season 6

Pre-Voice, Clarissa released a self-titled pop-dance EP. Here, nearly seven years later, she rocks out. And you have to love the wild abandon she shows on the Latin-flavored “El Dorado” and the head-banger “Lost My Mind>” She serves up eight tracks, and even raps a bit on the bonus track “”Bout It.”

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The Cyberiam (Keith Semple)
“The Cyberiam”
Released, Feb. 2, 2018
Finish: top 20, Season 9

Talk about a musical 180. Keith Semple’s first post-Voice venture was a country-pop-rock EP called “Anytime Anywhere,” full of tightly composed, radio ready songs. Here, he goes progressive rock with bandmates Tommy Murray, Brian Kovacs and Frank Lucas. If you like instrumental interludes, you’re in luck. Not one of the 10 album tracks is less than 5 minutes long, half clock in at more than 8 minutes.

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Amy Vachal
“Strawberry Moon”
Released: Jan. 31, 2018
Finish: Top 9, Season 9

Amy’s ethereal vocals on this 11-track album will remind you why she did so well on The Voice. The album features 10 originals — all of which Amy wrote or co-wrote, plus a cover of Mumford and Sons’ “Below My Feet.” Make sure to check out “Golden Boy” and “Wait,” the only pre-released track.

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Hanna Eyre
“Invevitable” EP
Released: Jan. 30, 2018
Finish: Top 24, Season 12

A five-song debut EP from Hanna, who has kept quite busy since The Voice. She’s performing with four guys in a pop-rock band called The Ashleys — named after their favorites teachers at the Orange County School of the Arts. And she’s working on a concept album called “Sonder.” Here, we get two versions of a song called “Parachute,” and Hanna isn’t too proud to include a few flubs on the second.

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Josh Hoyer and the Soul Colossal
“End of the Night” EP
Released: Jan. 26, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 12

Here’s an EP that will leave you wanting more as Josh serves up three tracks from a writing session with Nashville songwriter Jay Knowles and Jon Coleman, Trace Adkins’ band leader and producer. The title track and the pop-soul EP closer “Rosario” are especially impressive.

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Matthew Schuler
“Baby Steps” EP
Released: Jan. 26, 2018
Finish: Top 6, Season 5

With a spot on the new “The Voice: Neon Dreams” Vegas show coming up in June, Matthew released his first major project since starring on the show. He told Voice Views it took a while to figure out a musical direction, a theme prominent on the EP’s six tracks. Make sure to check out the catchy “Secret Things.”

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Gary Carpentier
“My Time” EP
Released: Jan. 13, 2018
Finish: Battle round, Season 13

Gary’s debut EP landed just a month after Season 13 of The Voice ended, but he said he’d been working on the project for about a year and figured “My Time” was an appropriate title after the exposure he enjoyed from the show. Along with “Soul Set Free,” the title song also one of the best of the five singer-songwriter sounding tracks.

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Caroline Pennell
“Phases”
Released: Jan. 12, 2018
Finish: Top 8, Season 5

Though she’s released several singles since the Voice, this marks Caroline’s first major project. She described it as a coming-of-age EP. Remember, she was just 17 on the show; she’s now 22 and has relocated from New Jersey to L.A. Top tracks include “Drive Me Home,” also a single, and “Every Time I Go Home.”

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