Jordan Smith breaks The Voice’s ‘curse’

Jordan Smith doesn’t look like a pop star. But that’s the whole point of The Voice. The NBC reality TV show seeks out undiscovered vocal talent from anyone, not just those who have the kind of physical appearance which generally appeals to many young pop fans.Sadly, this has proved to be a possible drawback for some of the past winners. Critics also suggested the show is cursed in that few of the winning artists have enjoyed a successful career.Perhaps Jordan will be a notable exception. The winner of season nine last December, the 22-year-old Harlan, Kentucky native stormed straight to number two on the Billboard 200 with his debut album, “Something Beautiful.” This was the highest entry and biggest sales week for any contestant in the history of The Voice.“I’ve watched the show from season one,” Jordan smiled. “It was my dream to just have the chance to appear on The Voice. I have to confess I did occasionally allow myself to dream about winning but I never expected it to happen.”He initially auditioned at an open call in February, 2014.“I got a callback so thought I might make it but didn’t hear anything more. I figured it was either not the right time or just not meant to be. I was thinking about trying again last year when I got a call from a talent scout who had seen a video of mine online. He wanted me to audition for The Voices and didn’t know I’d auditioned before. This time, thankfully, it all worked out.”Despite making the show, Jordan insists he had no expectation of winning.“I always thought they looked for an artist and I never saw myself as anything more than a singer. I’d sung in the church choir since childhood and in the Lee Singers at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. I received vocal training in college and must have given well over 500 performances so everything I did at Lee prepared me for my appearances on The Voice.”One of the factors Jordan learned from his time at Lee was the confidence in preparing for a performance translating into an absence of nerves.“It’s all about preparation for me. If I’ve done a good job preparing for my performance then I’m not nervous. This was the case for all of my performances on The Voice. I was happy to spend most of the pre-show time laughing and joking with the production staff because I knew I was prepared and ready.”The reaction to his performances finally convinced Jordan to regard himself as an artist.“People were seeing things in me which I certainly didn’t see in myself. I actually thought I might be fooling everyone. It was only after I sung Halo in the live play-offs that I felt like I had something to say as an artist.“My coach, (Maroon 5 vocalist) Adam Levine, and I changed the arrangement and did something different with the song. It was after this that I began to see myself not just as a singer but as an artist.”Having won The Voice, how did Jordan decide what type of artist he was going to be?“This was one of the things I learned on the show. Stay true to myself, don’t try to be something I’m not. There is nothing wrong with throwaway pop but those sort of songs are not for me.“I performed many inspirational songs on The Voice and these connected with the viewers. I’m all about music which provokes emotions. I realised how powerful music can be when it comes from your heart and really means something.”Despite his success on television and now in the charts, Jordan believes the most important thing he has done in recent times was propose marriage to his long-term girlfriend, Kristen Denny.“We’ve been together for three-and-a-half years. Kristen is a speech therapist working with special needs kids. I think this is wonderful and infinitely more important than anything I do.“She’s been with me for every step of my musical journey and has always been my biggest cheerleader. She’s seen me at my worst and most disappointed but always saw positive things in me long before I could see them in myself.“We’ve thought about marriage for quite some time so everything that happened recently gave me the perfect opportunity to propose. No matter what may happen in my music career, I’m just so happy that Kristen and I will be together for the rest of our lives.”in briefZayn MalikThere is yet more UK and US chart success for Zayn Malik.The former One Direction heart-throb had already simultaneously topped the British and American charts with his debut solo single, Pillowtalk. He has now matched this feat with his first album, “Mind of Mine.”This is the only occasion in Billboard history that a British male solo artist’s debut album has entered the chart at number one. George Michael was the last British man to top the Billboard 200 with his debut album but “Faith” took nine weeks to reach pole position in 1988.A delighted Zayn said: “I want to thank all the fans and my team at RCA and First Access Entertainment for everything they’ve done to help me start my journey as a solo artist. I can’t believe that I’ve managed to achieve all this success. I don’t take the support I’ve received for granted.”In other news, Zayn apparently wishes to rid himself of all ties to his former fiancée, Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards. When they were engaged, Zayn bought a three bedroom bungalow for Perrie’s mother, Debbie. But this was not a gift. The property is owned by Zayn who has now instructed Debbie to leave. Word is that legal action has been threatened if she fails to comply.Good CharlotteIt was October 2010 when American rock band Good Charlotte released their last studio album. A year later, fans were concerned when it was announced that each member would be going their separate ways for the foreseeable future.Three years had been the longest gap between their previous albums. As time passed, it seemed increasingly unlikely that anything more would be heard from Good Charlotte. But things changed last November with news of their hiatus ending and the release of a single, Makeshift Love.The song is track two on Good Charlotte’s sixth studio album, “Youth Authority,” which is scheduled for release on July 15. The official video can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV5JxCbz-UIA second single, 40 oz Dream, has also been issued. A lyric video accompanying the song is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q7FdMFWFxYThe band’s previous albums, “Good Charlotte,” “The Young and the Hopeless,” “The Chronicles of Life and Death,” “Good Morning Revival” and “Cardiology,” are all posted in full on YouTube.BeyonceBeyonce has designed her own line of fitness workout clothes. Her Ivy Park range will be in stores from April 14. They are described as “merging fashion-led design with technical innovation creating a new kind of performance wear.”A video/commercial narrated by Beyonce promoting her products can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA1Wp1kfDfEThere is more to see at www.ivypark.com but do not visit this website if you are adversely affected by flashing images.The HummingbirdsNot to be confused with a defunct Australian indie band or an American roots music duo of the same name, Liverpool pop quintet The Hummingbirds recently released their debut album, “Pieces of You.” The entire album, plus their “Out of the Rain” EP can be heard on iTunes.The video for their single, Home, appropriately using home movie footage, is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWDVQyezaiY An official video for Love Just Ain’t For Me, a live rendition of Way Into Your Heart, some covers and acoustic versions of other songs are also posted on YouTube.If you enjoy their music, the best way to keep up with the band is via www.facebook.com/wearethehummingbirdsUK