Ogden woman wows judges of NBC’s ‘The Voice,’ advances
An Ogden woman now studying music in Boston wowed the judges of “The Voice,” the NBC television program, and will advance to the “battle rounds” of the program, featuring aspiring musicians from across the country.
Sydney Kronmiller, a 2014 graduate of Bonneville High School now studying at Berklee College of Music, made her debut during the blind audition rounds of “The Voice” in an episode that aired Tuesday night. She sang “Latch,” originally performed by Sam Smith and Disclosure, garnering the interest of judges Camila Cabello and Gwen Stefani.
“That definitely was one of the bigger things I’ve done, especially in front of those kind of musical superstars. I’ve never done anything like that, so that was pretty big,” Kronmiller, who’s 25, told the Standard-Examiner in an interview Wednesday. Kronmiller ultimately selected Cabello to be her coach.
In the program, the judges serve as coaches for different teams of performers that impress them and the artists practice under the tutelage of them and other advisors. Kronmiller and the other singers face off in subsequent episodes of the program and the pool of talent is ultimately winnowed to one winner.
Next in the battle round, to air starting around mid-October, Kronmiller will perform a duet with another member of Cabello’s team. Aside from Cabello and Stefani, the other coaches — all of them recognized artists — are John Legend and Blake Shelton.
Kronmiller and her duet partner will “go head-to-head, one stays, one goes home type of thing,” she said, saying little more given program rules about the information they can divulge.
Though offering no specific insights into what’s to come, Kronmiller said being on the program has been exciting. “Performing was definitely an adrenaline rush, very cool experience. The reaction was super fun as well,” she said.
Kronmiller has a deep voice, which impressed Stefani. “Your voice is so low it’s incredible,” she said.
Legend also had good things to say. “I was truly impressed with your range. Not many people can sing that low and go so high. That was impressive,” he said.
Kronmiller initially attended Brigham Young University-Idaho, served a church mission and then transferred to Berklee, where she’s pursuing a music, writing and production degree.
Her dad, Micah Kronmiller, encouraged her interest in music from a young age. “It definitely started with singing from when I was very little. But then my dad stuck me in piano lessons when I was 8 and then guitar lessons when I was 9 or 10,” she said.
The interest stuck and as she grew up she performed locally with a trio made of her, her sister and her sister’s friend in school productions and more. She likes pop music, rhythm and blues, and jazz. “You know, a variety,” she said.
To get on “The Voice,” Kronmiller created a profile on the show’s website, which invites would-be performers. She was ultimately called back by program producers, leading to the airing of her performance on Tuesday, which was actually taped last June.
She’s looking forward to what’s coming, though she was sketchy on details.
“I’m very excited, honestly, for everyone to see what my partner and I are working on for the battles because it was such a fun experience. I love the partner I was with. I love the song choice that we had. We were really able to make it our own, make it unique, so I’m really excited for everyone to see that,” Kronmiller said.
Her mom and stepdad are Natalie and Sean Harris and her stepmom is Cydney Kronmiller, all residing in Weber County. She has five siblings and spoke to the Standard-Examiner from South Ogden, visiting for her brother’s wedding. She returns to Berklee on Sunday.
“My family and friends have been so, so excited for me and so supportive and have just made the experience all that much better. They’ve been rooting for me the whole time,” Kronmiller said.