Season 22 of the top-rated NBC reality show singing competition The Voice! is currently underway and we couldn’t help but notice the mesmeric vocal chords of contestant Dia Malai who auditioned for a spot with a cover of Mary J. Blige’s classic hit, Real Love.
“We are lovers through and through/And though we made it through the storm/ I really want you to realize, I really want to put you on/ I’ve been searching for someone to satisfy my every need/ Won’t you be my inspiration?/ Be the real love that I neeeeeeed,” she belted out to judges who couldn’t keep “ears” off her.
The 26-year-old’s vocals were top-notch, according to the show’s vocal coaches and earned accolade from singer and songwriter John Legend, who was the only coach to turn his chair during her performance.
“Dia, I love that you came out and told the crowd to get out of their seat,” he said during the post-song feedback. “I loved your energy, your confidence. I feel so lucky that I don’t even have to fight for you, you’re just on my team. Yes!”
Pop sensation Gwen Stefani agreed, calling her performance “unbelievably cute,” adding, “There were so many good notes and tones. You did a great job and I know that John is gonna be a perfect fit for you, so I’m looking forward to seeing what you do on the show.”
The contestant and newest member of Team Legend shares the same first name with Dia Frampton, an efficacious front frontrunner from the show’s early seasons. She has since gone on to launch a successful solo career after snagging second place on the inaugural season of the singing competition.
The Voice! originally premiered in 2011 and is based on the original The Voice! franchise, which began in Holland. The competition seeks to find unsigned singing talent aged 13 or over through public auditions. Selected candidates are trained and critiqued by four coaches who are all on a quest to find America’s next new “voice.”
Did you miss the episode? Don’t fret! You can stream it on NBC here.
