Idol Chatter & Voice Views

His audition: Austin Ellis of Annapolis, Md., sang “Drift Away” for his audition on The Voice. “I got a couple lines into my song and between closing my eyes and singing passionately, I kind of saw in my peripheral that Adam had turned,” Austin recalled during a conference call with the media. “It was so quick and then I had to swoop my head across so that I could make sure that I wasn’t hallucinating.” Adam was the only one to turn around, but Austin said he got great feedback, including from his new coach who said “he heard something special going on in my voice,” Austin said.

His background: The Voice showed just a snippet of Austin’s audition, but the show’s website says he struggled with his weight and bullying growing up and then, after discovering music, he lost 80 pounds and turned his life around.

What the show didn’t show: On Facebook, Austin writes that he was raised on equal doses of R&B and rock. Asked about his own style of music by Fanlala.com, Austin described it “as soulful, genuine and real. I come from a hip hop/R&B background, but I play acoustic guitar. I’m really a singer-songwriter, but fall into the pop category. Almost like Sia, which is more indie.” He’s already released an independent EP and album and plays upwards of 200 shows per year. Austin has a degree in songwriting and music business from Middle Tennessee State University. On Facebook, he says “music saved my life.” Asked to explain, during the conference call, Austin said he grew up “in a pretty rough situation as a kid and by the time I was in high school and going into college, I just was unhappy. I had the opportunity to go in some really negative directions and if it wasn’t for picking up a guitar and working on it, I don’t know exactly where I would be, so it definitely on multiple occasions in my life has kept me in a good place and kept me doing something positive.” Now, through his music, he’s hoping to inspire others to do something positive and make good decisions.

On having Adam as a coach: “I really respect Adam and Maroon 5 as artists, and to be working with him and his style of music, I think it’s awesome. He’s got a great wide taste (in music). Where I come from musically is similar. I’m a songwriter and come from a soul background.”

On iTunes: His audition song, plus a five-song self-titled EP from 2010 and a 13-song “Coming of a.G.E.” album from 2012. You can check out full-length versions of the songs from the EP on his ReverbNation page. And be sure to check out “False Alarms” from the album.

Update: He lost to Josh Kaufman in the battle round; they sang Pharrell’s “Happy.”

Keeping up with Austin:
Twitter: @austingellis
Facebook
YouTube
Website

Editor’s Note: For links to profiles of all the Season 6 artists on The Voice, go here.

“The A Team”

“Home”

“Whole New Thing” (original from 2012 album)