Talia Smith – The Voice Blind Audition

Ain’t she done good,  The Girl From The Backwards!

It’s a BIG FAT nod of approval for Heathrow country singer Talia Smith as she lifts off on the way to jet set rhinestone fame ...(hopefully)

Talia Smith (courtesy of The Sun Newspaper )

The Voice UK 2014 saw the return of country music to the show on Saturday February 15 , 2014 in the form of John Rafferty and Talia Smith.

Described as two "Wannabe" country singers in the BBC telecast segment they both performed on Episode 6 in the Blind Auditions.

First up was John Rafferty a 35-year old Belfast singer, who once, in his slimmer and youthful days was a Garth Brooks impersonator.

He sang John Denver's signature US #2 hit "Take Me Home, Country Roads" but none of the coaches reacted to his audition.

will.i.am remarked that John didn't impart the storyline with his performance - "It sounded like you were reading it". Tom Jones thought it "could of been more grittier" .

The public loved it and further evidence of the UK’s love for familiarity has pushed the song to #1 on UK iTunes Country Songs chart (Sunday 16 Feb). 

For the second time this week The Sun Newspaper ran another exclusive feature (Page 33), on Talia Smith this time with a headline MY BIG FAT GYPSY DREAM....Voice Star Talia longs for the US. 

The Sun Article
Click to ENLARGE

After another stormy affair, when nature, yet again, threw everything it had battering the South Coast of England on Valentine’s Night this was a welcome respite bringing a ray of sunshine to its readership! 

Ahead of her Voice debut performance Smith spoke of her passion for country music, a wish to move to Music City USA  whist remaining loyal to her roots –“You can take the girl out of the trailer but you can’t take the trailer out of the girl!”

So up next on the "Country & Western" Round 2 saw 31-year Romany wife and mum of three Talia to take to The Voice stage.

In the telecast she cautioned: 

"Not everyone's gonna like country music, you can't please everybody so as long as I can do the best I can, I'm OK with that"

You Can Call Me Tal: Voice Contestant Talia gives it her best shot 

singin’ Hell On Heels and She’s A Keeper!

Looking vibrant, vivacious and posed she launched into her take of the Pistol Annie's "Hell On Heels" which was the title cut single and ACM Superstar Women of Country >> taping in Vegas back on April 6, 2011 which introduced the female trio group, that comprises 4 time CMA Female Vocalist Miranda Lambert along with Ashley Monroe, and Angaleena Presley.

The Voice audience reacted positively and immediately warmed to Talia, backed by a great sounding house band.

Sensing his interest in Talia it drew a "I love that" remark from Sir Tom Jones who was being encouraged by coaches will.i.am, Ricky Wilson and pop princess Kylie Minogue (who was not going to be "Spinning Around"), to lasso in the lovely curvaceous Heathrow based country singer during her fab well-rounded audition. 

As she progressed Talia's mum Debbie, immediate family and Talia's country duo partner Kelly Lee (Travellin Rose) looked on anxiously backstage waiting to see if one of the coaches would Turn, turn , turn with Voice co-presenter Emma Willis reassuring them that there was still time left.

Kelly Lee (Travellin Rose) (L), Talia's mum Debbie (second from right)

and family look on nervously as Emma Willis (R) reassures

Just as Smith was finishing her blind auction Sir Tom was convinced, she had for him, pressed all the right buttons and rotated his chair to signify he was glad to be working with the singer/songwriter who was clearly thrilled by his belief.

Made Up My Mind: "There's Only One Tom Jones" - I Want You.

Talia hits all the right notes as Tom hits the button.

"What's your name luv" he asked.

"My name is Talia Smith" she replied.

Tom, who already had "a lot of girls" joining Team-Tom backed up his decision saying: "I loved that, I love country music and I love it when someone puts some drive into it and YOU did! So I couldn't help myself, I don't have anyone like you and I love what you did with that song"

Kylie Minoguemaking fun of his welcome predicament said: "You've got 99 problems, but a girl ain't one"    

Kaiser Chiefs lead singer and Voice coach Ricky Wilson - first referring to Tom said "He's got 99 problems but his pitch ain't one so he doesn't have to do one". Then offering some astute critique as to why he didn't turn around shared "Unfortunately for me it was YOU are British, but you were singing in an American accent, it was perfect, but for me that's not being true to yourself. I'm not saying to go and sing in a Yorkshire accent or ow't.

Responding Talia qualified with "I've grown up listening to country, my influences were Loretta Lynn so that's where the twang comes from"

Ricky: It was fantastic anyway"    

Kylie Minogue: "I'm really happy Tom turned" then "turning" herself to Tom asked "You had a country singer last season didn't you not?

Tom responded "Yes, Mike Ward"

Kylie: So you're in good hands" to which an excited Talia reacted "Yeah, I know!, Thank you!"

Be upstanding for all tonight’s awesome chair-turners. #thevoiceuk… pic.twitter.com/1RsdFpErqw
— BBCTheVoiceUK (@BBCTheVoiceUK) February 15, 2014

Brit Women Of Country unite: The gorgeous Emma Jade (Garbutt) the Doncaster based #C2C2014 Pop Up stage country  performer and Voice 2013 Team Tom contestant lends her support to the gorgeous Voice 2014 counterpart.

Good luck @TaliaSmithMusic !!! #teamcountry
— Emma Jade (@EmmaJadeMusic) February 15, 2014

Talia now  proceeds to the Battle rounds, where Sir Tom will select two of his own team members to sing the same song together in front of the BBC studio audience. 
Good luck Talia - Go Tal It To The Mountains!

Those of a certain age will remember the early days of colour TV and American Western series Alias Smith and Jones which originally aired on ABC from 1971 to 1973 and was shown on BBC2. Well it seems that Smith and Jones is back on the BBC!

>> Watch Talia Smith singing 'Hell On Heels' by Pistol Annies in her Blind Audition. BBC A Review of Episode-6

Follow Talia on Twitter

Download the BBC’s brand new The Voice UK app for 2014 from iTunes! Play the ‘HomeCoach’ game, put yourself in the coach’s chair and decide whether or not YOU would turn for Talia. Plus re-watch ALL the performances from the show.

Music: The Pistol Anniestrack “Hell on Heels” is available on Amazon UK - Amazon.com - UK iTunes (As of Sunday evening February 16th “Hell On Heels has moved up to #44 on the iTunes UK Country Songs chart)

Travelin Rose’s Cinderella Dreaming is available to purchase on: Amazon - iTunes and CDBABY

>> Listen Travellin Rose OMG!! Spotify Webplayer link

Tom Jones was also swept off his feet by Mum-of-two Sally Barker who wowed the veteran, and on this occasion watery-filled eyed, singing star on 11th January 2014 (Episode 1, Blind Auditions).

Fans of Folk music will likely remember the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire native and singer-songwriter known for her solo work and as a founding member of the Cajun, folk, blues and all-woman country outfit The Poozies.

As a Voice contestant she too has joined Team Tom following her delightful and tasteful blind audition singing a cover of Nina Simone’s 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood'. 
In the past Sally has toured with and supported acts such as Fairport Convention.

Check out Sally's compilation album 'Another Train' (>> Title cut audio)  first released in January 2000, available on Amazon UK and iTunes

Talia Smith – “The Voice” Of Country

Talia Smith, one halve of the award winning hot female UK country duo Travellin Rose is set to appear on Episode 6; Series 3 (Blind Auditions 6) onthe BBC 1 show The Voice UK this Saturday Feb 15, 2014 which starts at 19:10 (BBC Programme Page)

Talia Smith / Travellin Rose Photo Montage
CLICK to ENLARGE

Emma Willis and Marvin Humes (who replaced Holly Willoughby and Reggie Yates) will host the penultimate round of blind auditions as the search for the UK's next big vocal talent continues.

Talia Smith
The Voice Blind Audition

Places on each of the coaches' teams are increasingly limited, and the fight for a coveted spot on either Team Will, Team Ricky, Team Kylie or Team Tom is fiercer than ever.

The third series began airing on 11 January 2014 on BBC One, as opposed to the usual start in March. will.i.am and Tom Jones returned as coaches. Kylie Minogue and Ricky Wilson joined the show as replacements for former coaches, Jessie J and Danny O'Donoghue. Emma Willis and Marvin Humes co-presented the show for the first time, replacing.

The Voice UK has been the most-watched Saturday night show on British TV in its first four weeks on air and peaked at over 10 million viewers on the Feb 1, 2014 show. 
On 9 February 2014, it was announced that 'The Voice' has landed its own half-hour spin-off show on BBC Two, which will be presented by Zoe Ball (6:30pm on weekdays from the time the live shows kick off until the final)

On Monday Feb 10th The Sun Newspaper ran a feature on Talia (but not on Page 3) titled “My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding singer Traveller Talia on The Voice”. 
Talia posted on Facebook: I'm in #TheSun Newspaper!! (Page 27) 

Wow!!! I'm in the @TheSunNewspaper today!! Eeeekkkk exciting times...so who's gonna wish me luck!! #Arrows pic.twitter.com/ANuGb5ZwvV
— Talia Smith (@TaliaSmithMusic) February 10, 2014

The Sun wrote: THE VOICE charts new territory this weekend with a singing GYPSY….Country singer Talia Smith lives in a caravan near Heathrow and on Saturday she will be the show’s first-ever traveler bidding for a slice of the pop pie.

The Sun feature
CLICK to read

The lovely professional singer Talia Smith has become the first gypsy/ traveller to audition for 'The Voice hoping to impress judges Sir Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue, Ricky Wilson and will.i.am with her country-infused vocals.

The gorgeous mum-of-three, who juggles singing with looking after her three kids, lives in caravan near Heathrow with her partner Billy and was due to audition with her friend Kelly Leeas part of singing duo Travellin Rose, before her pal pulled out at the last minute. Kelly, formerly from Hatfield now based in Swindon is due to have her third child in February.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "Talia is a bona fide traveller. She loves the life and doesn't care what anyone thinks about gypsies. She's been a professional singer for a few years and has a great voice. It's no surprise coach Tom Jones takes a bit of a fancy to her. "She's genuine proof that the show is about including people from all walks of life. People focus on the former pop stars and the confident stage school types but there are so many different people on the show."

Travellin Rose have enjoyed #1 Chart success and represented the UK travelling to America to win over fans in Nashville.

Talia Smith (L) and Kelly Lee (R)
Travellin Rose Duo

Now Talia is going it alone and hoping to get The Voice judges turning their chairs for her.

According to The Sun newspaper Sir Tom Jones is particularly taken by the performer. Talia herself revealed that she only started singing after having her third baby but had plenty of encouragement from friends and family. “I’ve a lot to thank the gypsy community for as I pretty much lost all my friends when I moved in with Billy when I was just 16,” Talia said. “They made me welcome and have encouraged me to sing.”

Some “fans" of the BBC show are branding Talia “the shows’ Cher Lloyd” who shot to fame on The X Factor in 2010, after revealing her romany background and like Talia, the talented young star was always proud of her heritage and certainly made no apologies for it. Lloyd was raised in Malvern, Worcester with her parents and three younger siblings. Her family is of Gypsy origin and the ‘Swagger Jagger’ hit-maker spent the first year of her life travelling around Wales with her parents in a caravan.

The 20-year old Cher Lloyd who married at a secret ceremony in November 2013 has enjoyed success on both sides of the pond. She headed the UK singles chart with her début single “Swagger Jagger” (sales of 66,316 copies), "With Ur Love" reached #4 in the UK whilst “Want U Back" her début U.S. reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her album Sticks + Stones was #4 in the UK (#9 peak in US).

I’m sure Talia will gladly wish some of Cher’s gypsy luck will rub off on her too and she too might even get to perform with Pop/Country superstar princess Taylor Swift who brought out the With Ur Love singer, cher-ing the stage,  to perform with her at The Staples Center in LA >> Video

Turn, Turn, Turn for Talia: 
She may not have the “X” Factor but the Travellin Rose Country fans most certainly know the attractive Talia has the “C” Factor! 

Recently Talia Smith performed her first solo gigat The River Side Club with her beloved mandolin in Alt Country/Americana/ Bluegrass trio format accompanied by Dobro and Double bass! She showcased a new original song titled "Phoenix".

>> Watch the video (credit Chris Burland) and kindly critique on Facebook at #bluegrassstaines

Career Highlights:

As part of the vibrant Travellin Rose here are Talia Smiths “best bits” to date:

• Recorded a 12 track album titled CINDERELLA DREAMING in Nashville with all the tracks written entirely by Travellin Rose.
• Their first single “Made Up My Mind,” debuted on the Hotdisc Top 40 chart on Dec 11, 2011 at # 2 and on Dec 18th they topped the Hotdisc British and Irish chart . In so doing they gave Forbes # 1 listed artist Toby Keith and his viral sensation hit Red Solo Cup a run for its money.
• In early November 2011 Talia and Kelly Lee were invited to join an International Country Music party of country acts and performed at a high profile pre CMA Award show event at The Cadillac Ranch >> see video  Then they got the chance to glam-up to attend the Country music’s biggest night at the 2011 CMA’s.

• Travellin Rose were the cover feature in Country Routes Magazine (January 2012 issue)
• In the week Jan 14, 2012 their single “Made Up My Mind” was #13 on the International Country Music Chart
• In early June 2012 Travellin Rose represented the UK during the CMA Festival at the “CMA Presents The Aristo Global Show” at the Second Fiddle in Nashville – Arista Press Link . They were interviewed for a Billboard Story for a CMA Festival Week story! - See photo (Travellin Rose (left) strapless bustiers
• On July 29, 2012 Travellin Rose appeared in the UK National newspaper The Daily Star - www.dailystar.co.uk
• In August/Sept 2012 their third single “Girl From The Backwood’s” has spent 3 weeks at #3 on The Hotdisc Top 40 and got to #1 on The British & Irish Chart 
• At the Sept 2, 2012 British Country Music Awards (BCMAwards) Travellin Rose won Horizon Act of the Year UK (Up and coming act, sponsored by The CMA, Nashville TN) and were nominated for Duo of the Year and Album of the Year.

Talia's Vital Statistics:

She writes: I am a singer/songwriter who is starting out in the music industry and needs as much help as possible...I enjoy singing country music, but I can sing from almost every genre, I would love to collaborate with other artists and musicians to learn as much as possible and expand my experience x

Height 160 cm / 5ft 3in  Shoe size 4.0 UK / 5.5 US / 37.0 Euro Weight54 kg / 118 lbs

Hair Colour: Brown   Hair length: Long   Hair type: Wavy  Eye Colour: Brown  Dress Size: 10

Singing styles: Pop  Favourite genres: Country

Influences: Carrie Underwood,  Rascal Flatts,  Loretta Lynn

Websites:

Talia Smith FACEBOOK- TWITTER

Travellin Rose: FACEBOOK

Related Blog Posts: Interview Artist Spotlight - New To You....Travellin Rose

>> Listento some of Travellin Rose songs and interviewon soundcloud.com (27 April 2012)

Music: The album Cinderella Dreaming (UPC 5024545656121; (released Feb 4, 2013) is available to purchase on:

Amazon - iTunes and CDBABY

Other Country artists have previously appeared on the Reality TV shows before:
Sam Hollyman, the talented up and coming British singer/songwriter who recently had a 3-week #1 on the Hotdisc British & Irish Chartwith his single “Where I Wanna Be”, failed to win over the judges on The Voice in April 2013. The then 17-year old “Stafford singing sensation” fell at the first hurdle in the TV talent show when judges Jessie J, Will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones and Danny O’Donoghue didn’t warm to his rendition of Elton John’s ‘Your Song’.

Emma Jade (Garbutt) an unsigned 19 year old country/pop artist from Doncaster appeared as a contestant on 'BBC The Voice UK' after being chosen to join Sir Tom Jones' 2013 team (Image) after performing a cover of Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine" on Episode 2 broadcast on 6 April 2013. Unfortunately Emma Jade left the competition at the third battle round stages episode aired on 25 May,2013 pitched against Mike Ward (cousin of British The X Factor series 2 winner Shayne Ward) performing Stevie Nicks' song "Landslide" (also cut by The Dixie Chicks) - BBC Profile

Emma Jade & Mike Ward (L) on The Voice & Carolynne Poole (X Factor 2012)  

Unemployed joiner Mike Ward (see BBC Profile), who has Irish Traveller roots on his father's side, nailed it, wowing the coaches on the BBC1 show when he aauditioned, who we’re surprised he actually sung country music. Coach Jessie  J said "He's not what you expect" >> Video

The streetwise Salford 23 year old country singer (born 14th Dec 1990) was part of Tom Jones' team singing mostly country and western music and progressed as a finalist in the last Final 4.  He auditioned with the song "Don't Close Your Eyes" from Keith Whitley, with three of the four judges, Jessie J, Danny O'Donoghue and Sir Tom Jones turning their chairs. In the competition he sung "Suspicious Minds" solo and "Green Green Grass of Home" with Jones and was eventually eliminated at the final.

Battling his shyness some were tipping him to be UK’s first big country artist. He wanted to get country music noticed in the UK and bring it into the 21st century. Could Mike be the man to make country music cool?

Country Music People's David Allan(the former BBC Radio 2 Country Club presenter) really praised his performances on The Voice in the magazine making comparisons to George Jones and Keith Whitley. He spoke of his raw emotion and his connected with people putting over the lyrics with his vocal delivery.

So what has happened post The Voice? Well Mike released "When I Was Your Man" (Bruno Mars cover) on 22 June 2013 which briefly appeared at #60 and “Picking Up the Pieces" (Paloma Faith ) on 29 June 2013 which reached #72 on the Official UK chart

No album has appeared and he done some local pub gigs and shared a few low budget videos with fans.

In the January 2014 issue of Country Music People (below) David Allan shares his disappointment on his page as to why the media have seemingly ignored Ward.

Emma Jadealso faded away and didn’t have the money to produce some high tech videos or record any music. She is however going to be one of 27 names to appear on the Pop-Up Stages at C2C Country to Country at The O2 in March – See Blog Post.

Carolynne Poole the "A little bit Country..A little bit Rock n Roll" Leeds based singer-songwriter was another country artist who strived for success via a TV Talent show. She finished in third place in the second series of Fame Academy and on the weekend Oct 6th to 7th, 2012 we witnessed the first time on X Factor UK that a contestant describing themselves as a “country” artist had made it through to the live TV stages of the ITV competition. She fell just short the previous year leaving X Factor at the Judges Houses round. Sadly it wasn’t to last as she was the first 2012 finalist of 13 who had to leave after a controversial and tension-fuelled sing-off elimination.

Since then she has been on the social circuit and making public appearances such as the Stanley Christmas Light Switch and was due to travel to Arizona and visit Nashville in 2013 for song-writing sessions and return in the Autumn with new country songs but it didn’t materialize. I believe I read she will write in America and record some new music in 2014.

It is clear that the very attractive Carolynne has talent and a voice to match with this OntSofa cover of “Telescope” (Hayden Panettiere Cover) last year >> YouTube  

Ironically, under the name Carolynne Good she played the part of a character called Talia (Justin's fiancée) in an episode of ITV’s Emmerdale on in June 2012.

Whether these Talent show artists are restricted by and locked in contracts which prevents them from releasing music and promoting themselves for a specific time period after their TV exits, who knows?

By the time they do they will be sadly forgotten by the public at large who nowadays treat such shows as entertainment fodder and don’t follow through by purchasing the music and are merely passive fans rather than super keen proactive ones.

Wishing Talia Smith well for the Voice on Saturday hoping she will reach The Battle Stages and beyond. Watch this space!   
Check out some fabulous new pictures (copyright Steve Finn) and slideshow at the Daily MAIL !

>> Enjoy a SPOTIFY Gypsy Playlist using this ONLINE Web Player Link - Gypsy Theme

Note: The Playlist below requires you to already have your SPOTIFY application

installed, and OPEN, and is ONLY for users of the online music streaming service