Rising Star Shines Bright on The Voice - Season 24

In my latest novel, The Veil Between Worlds, released in April, 2023, we have a strong female MC who communicates with the dead and a successful rock star with a debt to settle with a Voodoo Loa. What happens when their paths cross in this tale of reincarnation, Voodoo, love, and destiny?

When I create characters, I have a clear image of their physical appearance. Finding the right image for a book cover or promotion is a chore, and I end up settling for the model who comes closest. I didn’t think I could come any closer to the picture in my head of Darrin Cross/Ethan Wylde than the one I’m using in the promotional ads for the successful rock star in The Veil Between Worlds. Why does he have two identities? Chapter three titled Redemption Songs explains it. I even styled Darrin’s hair in the book around the model. He came as close as I thought possible to my image of Darrin until--

As a music lover, I watch singing competitions where I’m seldom happy with the outcome. I swear never to watch again, only to forget those words when the next season comes around. So this time, it was season 24 of The Voice.
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I was excited to see Reba McEntire replacing Blake Shelton as a judge. She had a TV show a few years ago appropriately titled Reba that I enjoyed. I especially loved her cover of Beyonce’s If I Were A Boy. This one is very liberating at the end of Reba’s music video. Niall Horan and John Legend are always fun to watch, and the question of the week is always, what will Gwen Stefani be wearing tonight?
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​As we got into the auditions, as usual, some were more memorable than others, but one stood out and commanded my attention. Why? Well, what if you look up to see who that wonderful voice belongs to, and it’s as if your character that only exists in your head, has stepped out of the pages of your book and into your TV, even wearing the same clothes as the character? All I could see was my protagonist, Darrin Cross. Darrin is a singer that I had described in the book as having a bluesy rock sound and feeling every element of the song. So it was as if Darrin had come to life before my eyes, singing Lewis Capaldi’s Before You Go. After earning three chair turns, he introduced himself as Tanner Massey. Noted!

First came the battles, and Niall paired Tanner with Lennon VanderDoes to sing Billy Joel’s She’s Always A Woman. I often wonder why the judges pair their strongest vocalists together. They want to win this, too, and they know they’ll lose one, so wouldn’t it make more sense to pair a stronger link with a weaker one? What do I know? This was a tough one.

Most of the time, the battles are one person singing their part and the other singing their part with brief interaction, but not this time. I loved the dynamic between Tanner and Lennon. Clearly, they put a lot of effort into this battle that appeared more like a collaboration. Their voices were different, but they blended beautifully. They complemented each other, and what was supposed to be a battle artfully created a mood, like watching a choreographed production down to them striking a pose at the end. How do you pick one from that? It was the most entertaining battle I have ever seen in Voice history.

Lennon is amazing with the high notes, but those runs Tanner does perfectly are so pretty to listen to, so I had to give Tanner a slight lead. But it didn’t matter because it was apparent by the judge’s reaction that whatever one didn’t get picked would get stolen. After Niall said he regretted putting them together, he picked Lennon. Gwen and John attempted to steal Tanner. Hollaback Girl won.

Then came the knockouts! After Tanner touched the hearts of Wynonna and Gwen in the rehearsal show, I couldn’t wait to see what he would do with In My Blood by Shawn Mendez. I have to say I was not expecting to be that blown away. That was one of the most compelling performances I have ever seen. The last time I remember that much emotion poured into a song was Jared Leto in the 30 Seconds to Mars’ official video, The Kill (Bury Me). But aside from being a musician, Jared Leto is also an Academy Award-winning actor (Dallas Buyers Club), so we expect that from him.

In My Blood was a brilliant song choice, and Tanner’s performance was stunning. I did not envy the two girls who had to follow him. They were both exceptionally gifted singers, but that was a tough act to follow. Clearly, he connected strongly with the song. His clear, flawless vocals, eyes, facial expressions, and body language convinced me he needed “somebody now,” and I felt his pain along with the judges. I believed him. Whatever he tapped into to get there, it was beautifully done. There are no words. It was a class act.

Acting is all about becoming the individual you are portraying, and Tanner seems to have a gift for that, too. Broadway could be in his future. Several contestants from television singing competitions have gone on to Broadway, including Jennifer Hudson (The Color Purple) and Constantine Maroules (Rock of Ages). I don’t think Adam Lambert was on Broadway, but he toured with Wicked.

Season 24 was an epic one for The Voice. With that much talent competing in a singing contest, something besides their voice must stand out. Tanner’s convincing performance of In My Blood and his ability to connect with the song and make it believable made him stand out for me. Forget the character connection. At this point, I became a fan. Honestly, what I heard so far was so good that I didn’t have to hear anything else from him for the rest of the competition to make a decision (but I’m glad I did).

Next came the playoffs, and Tanner followed up with another heartfelt and beautifully performed rendition of Impossible, getting him through to the lives. That night, he had a different look, making his entrance rockin' what appeared to be Gwen Stefani-inspired menswear. Instead of leather, he sported a suit that was just as eye-catching as Gwen’s dress and coordinated perfectly. If they were supposed to match, it worked.
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Now comes the time when everything goes amuck. The judges usually get it right, and everything flows as it should until America starts voting. 

In the rehearsal for the first live show, it was disclosed Tanner would be singing Thnks Fr Th Mmrs by Fallout Boy. That was a switch I wasn't expecting. After wowing us with slow ballads, this was a one-eighty-degree turn. But Thnks Fr Th Mmrs and Sugar, We’re Going Down are among my top twenty all-time favorite songs, so I was curious to see what he would do with an alternative rock song. Why should an artist have to stick to one thing? Why not try something new? Even if it hadn't worked, we had heard enough slow songs by this time in the competition to know his voice was amazing. Of course, some won't like it, but you can never please everyone. I applaud him for taking on Thnks Fr Th Mmrs. Kudos to him for that.
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After confidently stating he was making some changes to the song to suit his voice, I was curious to see what he would do with it. He did not disappoint. I loved his spin on it and how he performed it in a way that allowed him to showcase his voice. He slowed down the beginning, easing into the first verse. The chorus was not much different from the original Fallout Boy song. His stage presence was on point as usual, and he rocked it. Patrick Stump and Pete Wentz should be proud. The production was excellent, with the screens, colors, and smoke in the background. Tanner is such a great storyteller, and ​I was especially impressed with the way he was able to take an edgy rock song, tell the story, and make it believable. Loved it!

Maybe, just maybe, the judges should have more input in the end. To decide on a winner, you must be open-minded enough to go outside of the specific genre you like, and many people can’t do that. Some only seem to remember the last song they heard from an artist. Also, some people will vote for someone on the team of a particular judge they like or against someone on a judge’s team they don’t like, which isn’t fair to the artists. My taste in music is eclectic, and my playlist includes everything from Andrea Bocelli to Nine Inch Nails, so maybe it’s easy for me to see it that way. I don’t need to hear a final save song because I’ve listened to enough through all the rounds and have made a choice by then. When someone has been consistently outstanding week after week, one more song will not make or break it for me. That’s my opinion for what it’s worth.

We all know you don't have to win these competitions for your career to progress; sometimes, the ones who don't win do better than the winners. One of the biggest things it does is increase an artist's fan base. I would never have heard of Tanner Massey without The Voice, and I have become a fan. I'm sure many others can say the same thing. Overall, Tanner did well. To make it into the top twelve in such a tough competition is a significant accomplishment. His beautiful voice and charismatic personality will take him far. Not to mention, he is "cute as a button" (Reba).

Tanner is on my YouTube playlist under Artists to Watch and it gets played often. I have to admit that I prefer listening to his version of In My Blood and Thnks Fr Th Mmrs over the original artists. He also has original songs he has written and released, including Ain’t My Party and Break Me. It’s only a matter of time before we’re buying his music. Meanwhile, you can find out more about this aspiring singer/songwriter on his website and by following his social media pages.
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Oh, and if Hollywood ever calls about The Veil Between Worlds, I couldn’t think of anyone better to play Darrin Cross/Ethan Wylde than Tanner Massey.

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