In the final moments of the blind auditions of season 13 of
“The Voice”
, when there were only a few places left in the teams of Zazie, Vianney, Mika and Bigflo and Oli,
Ella McGregor
was preparing to make his entrance on stage. But for this young teenager from Mauritius, the challenge ahead will overwhelm her emotionally.
“She was sitting there Louane at 16, like you. She knew nothing about this world, like you. And she was nervous, like you
,” Nikos Aliagas tried to reassure her with words full of wisdom.
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TV tonight: our selection of the day
And if the host referred to the singer revealed during season 2 of “The Voice” broadcast in 2013 on TF1, it is because Ella chose to perform the title
Secret
de Louane. The high school student was able to count on the kindness of the telecrochet teams produced by ITV Studios France to accompany and support her. After having passed her turn, time to regain her senses, Ella jumped into the deep end of blind auditions. And released all the tension and her tears once her bravely finished performance. Unfortunately, no coach looked back on his performance.
Also read “The Voice”, his fatherhood, his withdrawal from the stage, his relationship with the star system... Vianney's rare confidences
LE FIGARO. - What was your state of mind when you went to the blind auditions for “The Voice”?
Ella McGREGOR. -
I was so stressed that I felt like I had a blackout. It was a lot of pressure for me, I had this fear of appearing on this big stage in front of an audience for the first time. It was only once I started singing that I gradually relaxed. At the beginning of my song, my throat was still tight and it showed.
How did you find yourself in this casting?
In November 2022, I was rehearsing for a concert and someone spotted me at that time and asked me to send them a song on video. I didn't take it seriously and I didn't respond until March 2023. A month later, the teams from “The Voice” contacted me to do the auditions. I made several return trips between Mauritius and Paris.
Did you hesitate before embarking on such an adventure?
I didn't think I would get far during the casting. When I sent my first video, I didn't believe in the seriousness of the approach. I was convinced that I would not have an answer. I had never experienced that. I love singing but, until then, I had only performed in front of my school and in small concerts.
“I knew I was going to regret it and hate myself if I didn’t go on that stage”
Ella McGregor
What did you expect from your participation in “The Voice”?
I want to become a singer or to flourish in this artistic environment in one way or another. I celebrated my 17th birthday in February, I am still a high school student in first grade. Participating in “The Voice” was like a dream come true. I've been watching the show with my grandmother since I was little. In November 2020, I won a singing competition in Mauritius and I released a song about ecology
Let's do it
in 2022. A year ago, with my friend Oli Adam, we released the title
Mauritian Summer
.
What happened before going on stage
during the blind auditions
?
The first time, I panicked and my tears started flowing. I felt a little unwell and the production brought in another talent to give me time to calm down. Michaël (Besigot, editor's note), the coach who took care of me, gave me a glass of water and reassured me. The makeup artists took care to wipe away my tears and, two minutes later, I was gone.
Have you considered giving up?
Yes, in my head I told myself that I couldn't go. But deep down, I knew I was going to regret it and hate myself if I didn't go on that stage. My big fear came when I realized that I was really in “The Voice” in the Lendit studio. I had to release the pressure of the context and the issue. Telling myself that I had to go, no matter what.
“I was marked by Mika’s words”
Ella McGregor
Why did you choose to sing
Secret
de Louane?
It was one of the three songs I tested during my auditions and the production teams liked my interpretation. They appreciated my sensitivity. I hadn't considered defending my chances with this title but it's true that it allowed me to convey a lot of emotions. On stage, I was scared but I managed to relax little by little. There was nevertheless a lot of pressure because I saw that the chairs did not turn around.
You burst into tears in front of the coaches...
It was all the accumulated pressure that was released at once. There was also disappointment but I know how to accept when I lose. I realized I had completed the challenge, it was done and it was over. I didn't need to stress anymore. But I was sad that the adventure was ending, I wanted to go further.
Mika and Vianney came to console you, what memories do you have of these moments?
I was struck by the words of Mika who told me that I had sung well but that I had stayed in my comfort zone. He was right and it motivated me to come back to “The Voice” by taking his advice into account. I put so much pressure on myself that I wanted to sing as simply as possible. I didn't take enough risks.
“I didn’t let this experience ruin my morale”
Ella McGregor
Behind the scenes, Nikos Aliagas tells you that you should come back on “The Voice” to show the coaches that they were wrong...
I really want to try my luck again. I'm going to let a year pass to devote myself to my studies and, starting next year, I will send a new video to production. I will be 18, I will be an adult and I will be finished with high school.
Did it take you a long time to recover from this first experience
in “The Voice”
?
After my return to Mauritius, I went on a cultural school trip to England on the themes of singing and theater but I no longer wanted to sing. I quickly came to my senses, I didn't let this experience spoil my morale. I put things into perspective, I sang again, telling myself that it was going to go well. Today, I'm back to full strength. After school, I go to my studio and sing!
We heard your father speak to you in English and your mother in French, what are your origins?
We are all Mauritian and we speak French as well as English. I study in an English school. My paternal grandfather was born in England and I have a British passport. My father is an airline pilot and my mother a flight attendant so they are used to speaking several languages.