Liam McNally
Star Weekly is taking a look back at 2023. Here’s one of our biggest stories from last year.
A Caroline Springs teenager has left judges enamoured on season 12 of The Voice Australia, soaring through her live audition that aired on Tuesday, August 8.
Maree Mamalis took to the stage on national TV and performed a rendition of the Billie Eilish ballad, Listen Before I Go.
Within 13 seconds judge Rita Ora spun her chair to audience applause and by the end of the song the other judges, Guy Sebastian, Jason Derulo and Jessica Mauboy had done the same, making it clear her making it clear her powerful vocal performance had impressed.
Sebastian called her audition “incredible”.
“What on earth just happened?” he remarked.
“You look so sweet, and then that thing comes out of you that is so big and strong.”
Judges clamoured to be selected as the one to coach Mamalis throughout the show, with Derulo even “blocking” Sebastian , a tool each judge can use once per season.
In the end Mamalis selected American singer-songwriter Derulo to be her coach for the show, who said when he was coming to Australia he was promised there was going to be “amazing talent”.
“I have been blown away so early in the show and I think you are a shining light that needs to be shown all over the world, and I’d just love to be a part of that journey,” he said.
The 17-year-old began singing in 2017. Mamalis said she has always been a fan of The Voice.
“As a little girl I would pretend I was a coach and I would sit on a swivel chair with my back to the tv and turn for those I wanted on my team so it was a full circle moment when I was approached to audition for the show,” she said.
“I love that singing makes me feel free and like I can just be myself.”
Mamalis said the response to her performance was gratifying after having her confidence in her abilities shaken by some of her school peers.
“Unfortunately my confidence was brought down by people at school who would bully and would make fun of my singing and mimic me,” she said.
“It really hurt me, but over time I rebuilt my confidence. I wanted to do this and be an example to others who have experienced the same treatment I did, to not listen to others and to follow your dreams and not to give up, it sounds cliché but I am a perfect example of that.
“It has by far been the best experience of my life, to be able to have this opportunity to be able to show Australia my voice and my story, as well as being able to hopefully have a platform to inspire others is such an honour.”
