Idol Chatter & Voice Views

New post-Voice music out includes singles from Brooke Simpson, Thunderstorm Artis and MacKenzie Bourg.

Here’s a bit about each of those releases.

The links take you to the songs on Apple Music.

Brooke SImpson from The Voice Season 13

* Brooke SImpson, a Season 13 finalist, has released “Haliwa,” her second single since finished fourth on America’s Got Talent this summer. “I wrote this song about my city … about the women that inspire me and the tribe that made me, my tribe, The Haliwa-Saponi Tribe,” says Brooke, a Native American. “This song is my heartbeat. I wanna dedicate it to indigenous people everywhere. And no matter who you are, i hope this song makes you proud of who you are.” Brooke is also being featured on billboards in Times Square and Los Angeles aspart of Nike’s N-7 collection honoring and supporting Indigenous communities. And she has a big home-state show planned for Dec. 11 at the Rocky Mount (N.C.) Event Center.

Thunderstorm Artis from The Voice Season 18

* Thunderstorm Artis, a finalist on Season 18, released “All Is Fair in Love and War” earlier this month. It’s a song that’s been in the works for a while, he says. “I’m excited for everyone to hear this version.” It follows “Even If” as the second single of 2021 for Thunderstorm. He’s currently on tour with Jake Shimabukuro and played Ram’s Head on Stage in Annapolis, Md., Sunday night. Check here for other upcoming dates.

MacKenzie Bourg from The Voice Season 3

* MacKenzie Bourg from Season 3 released “Heavy” on Friday, a song he says helped him cope with his grandmother’s death. “A few months ago on my birthday, my Nonna passed away unexpectedly,” he writes on social media. “I didn’t get to talk to her that day on the phone, didn’t get to tell her bye, how much I loved her, how thankful I was to have her in my life. Of course, I have before many times, but not having that final moment of closure has weighed on me to a level I didn’t know possible. About a year ago, I wrote ‘Heavy.’ I didn’t realize then that a song I wrote for someone else going through such a brutal time would end up being for me.” MacKenzie was also fourth on Season 15 of American Idol.