Ten lucky locals are trying out for five audition spots on the hit show "The Voice."
Last week, the local San Diego artists commandeered NBCSanDiego's studio to record audition songs in the hopes of making it one step closer to competing on NBC's "The Voice."
Each day this week, two of the vocalists "compete" on NBCSanDiego News in the Morning via back-to-back videos, then fans go to NBCSanDiego.com's Facebook page (you have to "like" the page") to vote on the matchup. The winner of each of the day's competitions are announced the following day on NBCSanDiego News in the Morning and are guaranteed an audition in Los Angeles for "The Voice."
SoundDiego bloggers Rosemary Bystrak of sdDialedIn.com, T. Loper and Chris Maroulakos (both of OwlandBear.com) and Gwendolyn Jackson of SanDiegoRiddimVibez helped select the 10 hopefuls.
The singers nominated by our bloggers were the Ambassador, Matt Commerce, Erika Davies, Greg Gibson, Marie Haddad, Stevie Harris, Alyssa Jacey, Jesse LaMonaca, Ashley Matte and Tori Roze.
Country and jazz vocalist Erika Davies has been singing onstage since age 8 and saw recent success for her rendition of "I Love You, I Do" in the popular "Where Did We Park?" Subaru commercial.
American/jazz vocalist Miss Erika Davies has been singing onstage since age 8 and has seen success for her rendition of "I Love You, I Do" in the popular "Where Did We Park?" Subaru commercial. She just released a new album, "Galaxy Lakes."
Roze, of Tori Roze and The Hot Mess is a multi-instrumentalist and soul/jazz singer. She's been playing the trumpet since age 10 and writing her own songs since she was 16.
LaMonaca, who fronts Jesse LaMonaca and the Dime Novels, here in San Diego, is fresh off a 10-show tour across Australia.
After having to sell her own piano while in college, Haddad regularly snuck into a well-known San Diego hotel after hours to practice on their ballroom's grand piano. She now fronts her own group and just received her third nomination for a San Diego Music Award (for Best Acoustic Act).
Commerce, aVirginia-born San Diego transplant, was a champion athlete until a rugby injury forced him to take a break from sports. While recovering, he taught himself to play guitar and is now an accomplished folk/blues songwriter.
A Southern gal, Matte moved to San Diego about six years ago and started performing at venues in Pacific Beach. The bluesy soul singer has since formed a formidable following and signed with Coach House Records. Matte recently released her second studio album, "No Number No Address."
Funk/soul singer Harris comes from a family of musicians and performs with the Styletones and also fronts Stevie and the Hi-Stax.
Jacey is no novice to the world of professional singing; in the past six years she has performed in over 500 concerts, released five self-produced records and gone on four nation-wide tours.
Gibson was able to fully realize his belting potential after a long-term recovery from surgery on his vocal chords. The soul-infused singer/songwriter performs regularly at the Casbah and the Ruby Room, and just released his debut solo record, "Black Glass."
The Ambassador is reggae/soul/rock performer Stephen G. Lewis, who in addition to singing, plays guitar and melodica.
So far, in Monday's matchup, Commerce "bested" the Ambassador 471 to 367, and in Tuesday's voting, LaMonaca is being eclipsed by Matte by a 3:1 margin.
