The Voice UK: Carrickfergus singer-songwriter Robbie McMinn on taking part in hit ITV show
A Carrickfergus musician who was picked for Sir Tom Jones’ team on The Voice UK has described the experience as a “massive honour”.
Robbie McMinn appeared in series 14 of the hit ITV show, making it through the Blind Auditions round after his performance prompted the Welsh singing star to turn his chair around.
The 20-year-old is no stranger to the stage, with music and performing having been part of his life for a long time. “I actually came from more of a stage and theatre background before really finding my feet as an artist and songwriter,” Robbie said.
"Over the last few years I’ve been really fortunate to take my music to a lot of different places and play everything from smaller, intimate shows to festivals and much bigger stages. This year in particular has been a really exciting one for live music, with shows across the UK and further afield. I’ve been playing both solo and with my full band, and getting to bring my own music to new audiences has been brilliant.”
Auditioning for The Voice UK was a “pretty surreal” experience, Robbie added: “There are obviously a number of stages involved before you ever get anywhere near the chairs, so it was something that had been going on behind the scenes for quite a while before anyone watching at home knew anything about it.”
Meanwhile, recording the Blind Auditions was very different from a normal gig. “You’re very aware of what those four chairs represent and of the calibre of artists sitting in them, but once I started singing I tried to treat it like any other performance and concentrate on the song – no matter how terrifying it was!
“Seeing Sir Tom Jones turn around was something else entirely. He’s an absolute legend and someone whose career has spanned generations, so to have him hear something in my voice and decide that he wanted me on his team was a massive honour.
"It meant even more because I was able to go onto that stage as myself and represent the kind of artist I want to be. I’ll never forget seeing that chair turn.”
Closer to home, support for the local singer-songwriter since has been “incredible”. Robbie said: “My friends and family have known about my music and supported me for years, so finally being able to share something on this scale with them was really special.
"What has probably surprised me most has been the response from people I’ve never met. I’ve had so many lovely messages and comments from people who watched the performance, both locally and from much further afield.”
While his time on The Voice UK came to an end following the Battle round on October 10, Robbie remains grateful for his time on the show. “The Voice has obviously been a huge experience, but for me the goal has always been to build a career around my own songs and identity as an artist,” he added. “I’m looking forward to releasing more original music and continuing to develop the live side of things.
"More than anything, I’m just grateful that people connected with the performance. If appearing on The Voice introduces somebody to my music who might never otherwise have heard it, that’s a pretty amazing thing.”