An Edinburgh teenager who reached Saturday’s final stages of The Voice Kids says the competition is the best experience she’s ever had.
Elyssa Tait made it to the final 16 acts out of around 60,000 entrants.
The 13-year-old was contacted by The Voice after a YouTube video of her singing Billie Eilish’s Bond theme No Time To Die won fans online.
She says her first blind audition in front of the panel of celebrity judges was nerve-wracking.
Elyssa said: “I was so nervous, I can’t even describe it.
“But when Danny and Pixie turned around I was just so happy – and the nerves all went away and joy and emotions all came flooding in – I was just so happy.”
Elyssa didn’t make it to the final four contestants, with singing duo Andrea and Shanice winning the competition.
But she said the entire experience changed her life.
She added: “Singing helps me connect with lyrics so I feel like it brings more emotion – and if I feel emotion then the audience feel emotion.”
Elyssa and her parents travelled down to London throughout the filming process.
Her dad Douglas said: “Just to see the band, the backstage, the runners, there are hundreds of people involved – and for Elyssa to be part of that is great for her future.”
Elyssa is hoping to pursue a collaboration with her fellow semi-finalists.
She added: “We are hoping to keep in touch and sing covers or maybe write our own stuff together, so I think that’s the next step.”
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