The newest and third season of The Voice South Africa is set to be jam-packed with unique voices, heaps of talent and three new and eager coaches.
The first episode will air at 5.30pm on Sunday February 3 on M-Net and will see rapper Riky Rick, singer-songwriter Riana Nel and rock rebel Francois van Coke make their coaching debuts.
Along with returning coach and 11-time SA Music Awards winner Lira, they cannot wait for viewers to meet the diverse and versatile pool of talent SA has to offer.
“The talent is amazing and it’s definitely going to be a very entertaining season,” said Riky Rick (Makhado).
Nel said: “I’m really excited for viewers to see the transformation that takes place throughout the show. It makes me really proud to see the growth from the blind auditions to now.”
Lira said she loved the fact that the show was all about unearthing raw talent and helping talented individuals to reach their dreams.
Season three will also have a new host in the form of the lively and charismatic Anele Mdoda, and viewers can look forward to some new twists.
In previous seasons of the South African version of the popular music show, the coaches’ chairs turn regardless of whether or not they pushed the buzzer during the blind audition rounds.
This season, however, the coaches will not turn around for unsuccessful candidates, which has proven to be a heart- wrenching experience.
“It’s horrible, because you want to give them constructive criticism and build them up that way, but I turn to Twitter to try and reach out to them.
“All we have to hone in to is a voice, so we’re often highly critical and that makes it really difficult, ” said Lira.
Other changes to look out for in this season include the knock-out rounds taking place before the battle rounds, and a few other surprises.
Van Coke said he was impressed with SA’s talent.
“The talent is really extraordinary and often people have surprised us and not gone for the obvious choice as their coaches, so it’s going to be really interesting.
“I’m just looking forward to having my team beat Riky Rick,” he laughed.
Out of the 49 singers that make it through the blind auditions, only one talented musician will be “The Voice” that wins. But the coaches have a lot to offer to all the contestants.
“Throughout the experience they get to spend time with all of us so they get to learn from four times the experience and four times the mistakes we’ve made. They walk away with all the tools and connections they can use to build up their careers in the industry, “said Nel.
The Voice fans can expect constant witty banter between the coaches and a range of awe-inspiring voices, with the first episode yielding some exciting and very well-deserved four chair turns...