To most everyone's surprise, Xenia Martinez, the shy, 16-year old high school student from Temecula, California made it to the final 8 of NBC's Season 1 of The Voice, placing 2nd on Team Blake to Dia Frampton. She auditioned with the song, "Breakeven," and was vied for by two judges, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton, but eventually chose Blake as her coach.
She later emerged victorious over Sara Oromchi in the battle round phase, singing a duet of "I'll Stand By You." Two of the studio versions of her live performances, Jessie J's "Price Tag" and "The Man Who Can't Be Moved," charted on the Billboard Hot 100. "Price Tag" entered the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at 116 before climbing to 99 on the Hot 100 charts the subsequent week. She still keeps in touch with her coach, Blake Shelton, as well as past contestants such as Dia Frampton, Nakia and Vicci Martinez.
Unlike many of the contestants, who have professional experience and polish, but just haven't made it big yet, Xenia looked very uncomfortable on stage. But the voice; THE VOICE!
Many of the acts onthe show you could say you've seen before in the guise of a professional who's preceded them; The hard rocker, the cowboy hat-wearing country singer, the quivering-voiced folk singer. 
She later emerged victorious over Sara Oromchi in the battle round phase, singing a duet of "I'll Stand By You." Two of the studio versions of her live performances, Jessie J's "Price Tag" and "The Man Who Can't Be Moved," charted on the Billboard Hot 100. "Price Tag" entered the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at 116 before climbing to 99 on the Hot 100 charts the subsequent week. She still keeps in touch with her coach, Blake Shelton, as well as past contestants such as Dia Frampton, Nakia and Vicci Martinez.
Unlike many of the contestants, who have professional experience and polish, but just haven't made it big yet, Xenia looked very uncomfortable on stage. But the voice; THE VOICE!
But Xenia sounds like no one else. Her discomfort on stage is endearing her voice a surprise, ala Susan Boyle- but cuter and 40 years-younger. She's so shy she said her high school classmates didn'teven know she could sing.
The contestants are originally picked with the judges facing away from them. The judges only cue to their talent is what they hear; the "voice." It's no surprise Xenia was selected in that first round. That's she lasted THIS long is a complete surprise. Host Carson Dailey, right in front of her, said just that. If the criteria is the voice, Xenia had the most unique, and pleasant one in the contest. If you root for underdogs you loved Xenia.
NOTE: As an aside. She altered the lyrics during Her rendition of "Break Even" a song by the Irish band, The Script. In the original recording, The Script's lead singer Danny O'Donoghue, sang, "Prayed to a God that I don't believe in." Xenia sang, "Prayed to a God that I do believe in."
Xenia was originally signed to Universal Republic Records, and released her debut EP Sing You Home on December 20, 2011. It peaked at #3 on the iTunes Pop charts, and #10 on the iTunes overall charts.
She has since recorded a music video for her EP's lead single, "Sing You Home."
Xenia was featured on Blake Shelton's 2012 Christmas album, Cheers, It's Christmas, providing vocals for the song "Silver Bells."
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Xenia has such a unique voice. Very raspy. She
ReplyDeletejust needs to come out of her shell. I'm sure
that she's going to have a fabulous singing career. Good Luck Xenia..