Newbould competes on ‘The Voice’

Class of 2021 alumnus pursues dream in music industry

RIYA MAHANTA & KATHERINE WU Editorial Board

Class of 2021 alumnus Zach Newbould competed on “The Voice” this past season, quickly becoming a fan-favorite before being eliminated during the Battle round by coach Camila Cabello.

Newbould auditioned for “The Voice” when he was 15 years old but was denied prior to going on the show. The producers invited him back to compete this season, making the audition process faster.

“I got my few songs and did an online audition,” Newbould said. “They passed me through, and from then on, there’s really not much preparation. You go, learn the song and perform it within a week.”

Going into the show, Newbould had Blake Shelton as his first choice and Cabello as his third choice. When selecting a coach, he had the option between Cabello and his second choice, Gwen Stefani.

“I wanted to pick Gwen to begin with,” Newbould said. “She was my second pick…but I had this gut feeling I was supposed to go with Camila.”

Zach Newbould’s brother, sophomore Jack Newbould, enjoyed being able to preview the audition before it aired.

“I got to see ‘The Voice’ earlier on,” Jack Newbould said. “That was cool because it was before anyone else saw it on TV. I knew the results a month early, but it was hard to keep a secret.”

According to Zach Newbould, his audition experience was dreamlike.

“The moment that the coaches turned around, my whole body just went numb and I was just like, ‘Holy…that actually just happened,’” Newbould said. “It was like when something happens that’s so surreal that you don’t believe it yet. It was like I was looking at two holograms, because you see these people all the time but you never actually see them in person.”

SUBMITTED ZACH NEWBOULD

Lincoln Street Elementary school chorus teacher Katrina Whalen first inspired Newbould to pursue singing.

“We all had to take chorus in elementary school and I wasn’t even really into singing back then,” Newbould said. “I would sing at home, but Mrs. Whalen was the one to give me my first chorus solo, which really got me started.”

Whalen remembers being surprised by Newbould’s voice.

“I had in my mind who was going to audition and who I might choose from,” Whalen said. “Zach was a bit of a surprise because he was so quiet, but I remember distinctly, when I heard him singing I was like, ‘I need to find a way to make sure he has a solo because this is a beautiful voice.’”

Although Newbould wishes he was able to stay on “The Voice” longer, he appreciates how much he gained from the experience.

“Meeting all the other musicians and just being put in that atmosphere makes you so much better,” Newbould said. “You pick up little things from different artists and start applying it all to yourself.”

His time on “The Voice” led to new opportunities for the young artist.

“The best part is the fact that I can make music my job now because [“The Voice”] made it so much easier to get gigs,” Newbould said. “Everyone really loves to hear that you were on ‘The Voice,’ so it just opened up that avenue.”

As of Feb. 27, Newbould has released one song on Spotify, titled “Blue Lights,” which was inspired by a realization he had when hanging out with friends.

“After ‘The Voice,’ I just sat down and started thinking,” Newbould said. “I realized that I was out in California doing [the show] whereas my friends were at college. We all met back up and still get along but we’re all a little bit different and that’s what inspired the idea. It was basically just about all the things I’m going to miss, getting older even though I’m not old yet.”

Newbould has been writing more original music, which he plans to release soon.

“His room’s right next to mine, so I just hear him singing all the time,” Jack Newbould said. “I hear him coming up with stuff late at night. He’ll be singing, keeping me up.”

Whalen is proud of Newbould.

“It was just really exciting, not for his accomplishments, but just the fact that he’s out there following his dreams,” Whalen said. “That’s the really exciting part for me. He is doing what he wants to do and that’s what makes me the happiest.”

Newbould is hopeful and passionate about a career in music.

“I want to be able to release my own music and make a living off that,” Newbould said. “I want to tell people stories and get a bunch of listeners, have people want to come see me and be able to sell out venues.”

This article was published in March 2023 on arhsharbinger.com.