In Partnership with The Voice
From being an award-winning singer-songwriter and genre-blending artist, to representing Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019, Kate Miller-Heidke has seen and done it all across her impressive career. Now, as she steps onto the coaching panel for the latest season of The Voice, she’s ready to focus on inspiring a new generation of artists.
“It’s a big shift from being on the stage performing to having all the power and trying not to get drunk on it” she quips, reflecting on her past experiences in the limelight.
But when Miller-Heidke first received the offer to become a coach on the 13th season of The Voice, it took her by surprise. “It wasn’t something that was in the plan,’ she admits.
With over two decades of industry experience up her sleeve, her enthusiasm for the idea quickly grew, and she decided the timing was right to take on a new challenge.
Miller-Heidke says it’s the format of the show that initially drew her in. “It’s the idea of listening to someone’s voice in that pure sense without being distracted by all the context around it.”
So, with thousands of great singers in Australia, what made her turn her chair around this season? For Miller-Heidke, it’s not enough to have a powerful voice; the ability to connect with an audience is crucial.
“What I’m really looking for is personality,” she says. “I want to find someone who has a story to tell, someone who intrigues me and makes me want to hear more.
“I’m looking for an interpreter of a song, someone who can bring their own essence and emotion to their performance.”
And while she did a lot of work with contestants on the technical skill of singing, she says an even bigger focus of her mentoring was psychological. “It’s the psychology of being able to tap into your emotions and communicate those effectively, but also the psychology of dealing with really nerve-wracking situations and having a sense of calm and focus.
“I struggled with nerves and I still get super nervous before every gig so I was forced to learn certain psychological techniques that kind of broke that final flight pattern in my brain and allowed me to not completely lose it under high pressure situations.”
As The Voice approaches, Miller-Heidke’s role as a coach is sure to bring a new energy to the show. And she says fans have a lot to look forward to this season. ‘The level of talent in this season is extraordinary. And I think we have a more diverse lineup of singers, diversity of genres, singing styles, identities. That part of it is really exciting and I think there’s quite a few surprises in there.”
The Voice starts Monday, August 19th, 7.30 on Seven & 7plus. Can’t wait? Check out a sneak peak of what to expect this season here.
