Victoria’s Harrison Craig from Team Seal was tonight named The Voice of Australia 2013.
Tonight’s Grand Finale saw Australia vote Team Ricky’s Luke Kennedy, 30 years old from Brisbane’s northern suburbs, as runner-up to Craig, followed by Celia Pavey from Team Delta in third place, with Team Joel’s Danny Ross in fourth.
As the winner of The Voice Australia, Harrison Craig, 18, wins a recording contract with Universal Music Australia, $100,000 and a Ford Kuga.
The winning single Unconditional, which Harrison sang tonight, is available immediately for download from iTunes. His debut album, More Than A Dream, will be released in stores and online on Tuesday, June 25.
Harrison said: “The past few months have been an experience like no other. This show, through Seal and the other artists, has given me so much and provided an amazing launch pad into my career.
“Seal always said, ‘coaches don’t win, the artists do’, but in this case I feel we both have. I feel I am better because of Seal, and because of my experience on this show.”
Harrison first took the nation’s breath away with his powerful rendition of Josh Groban’s Broken Vow in the Blind Auditions, a performance that made all four coaches – Seal, Joel Madden, Delta Goodrem and Ricky Martin – turn their chairs. He chose Seal, last year’s winning coach, to guide him on his journey to victory on The Voice.
In the Battle Rounds, Harrison was paired with 27-year-old music pastor Tim Moxey, performing the Josh Groban classic, You Raise Me Up. Seal chose Harrison as the winner of that battle taking him through to the Showdowns, where he sang Michael Buble’s Home. This brilliant performance won him the audience vote and he progressed to the Live Shows as part of Team Seal’s top four.
Harrison continued his unique “popera” style through the Live Shows, performing Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling In Love, Michael Buble’s It Had Better Be Tonight, If by Bread, the Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody, and his own original song, More Than A Dream.
Throughout The Voice seven of Craig’s performances made the iTunes Top Ten, with three peaking at number one: Can’t Help Falling in Love, It Had Better Be Tonight and More Than a Dream.
At the Grand Finale he was joined by the other three finalists – Celia Pavey, Luke Kennedy and Danny Ross – and the rest of the show’s Top 16 for a rousing rendition of John Farnham’s classic hit The Voice, which will be available tonight for download on iTunes. Harrison also joined Seal onstage for a powerful performance of The Hollies’ He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.
Auditions are now open for the next season of The Voice in 2014. For further details please go to The Voice website www.thevoice.com.au.
Harrison Craig wins #TheVoiceAU 2013
