Being pitted against one another on national television is enough to stifle most relationships.
But this isn't the case for 'The Voice' alumni Prinnie Stevens and Mahalia Barnes. In fact, the divas were friends long before auditioning for 'The Voice' and met by attending jam sessions in Sydney's soul and R&B scene. “We met at a gig no doubt,” Prinnie explains. “We’ve become really good friends over the years and really quite gradually. Funnily enough it’s everything but music that has ... made us friends.”
However their relationship was challenged when Joel Madden had the singers compete against each other for a spot to continue in the talent quest. But Mahalia says the experience only strengthened their bond. “When he put us together we really learned a lot about our relationship.
He called us out straight away and [said]: ‘You’re both know-alls, you’re both strong women and you’re both mums'. He highlighted a lot of our things in common that we may have taken for granted because when you’ve known someone for such a long time you don’t think about those things. “When we sang together in the battle there was a huge amount of support, outrage and all sorts of reactions.
It caused such a reaction that ‘The Voice’ asked us to perform together again for the finale, which was an amazing honour to get to do that.”
The duo’s endearing friendship and on-stage chemistry proved so popular that they were approached by Universal Music to record a cover album of duets. “It represents where we both started as artists,” Prinnie says.
“Even though now we’re very different, we both come from the same kind of place and have the same kind of influences – Aretha Frankin, Tina Turner, The Supremes – all these songs and artists who shaped who we are now.” Mahalia adds: “It’s heartfelt, honest and raw – what you hear is what it is and what you will hear on the show. It’s a melting pot of everything we love and everything that inspires us.”
Prinnie and Mahalia Dates
Palms at Crown, Melbourne, November 2The Hi-Fi, Sydney, November 10 (all-ages show)
The Gov, Adelaide, November 24 (all-ages show)
Redlands Performing Arts Centre November 29
Twin Towns, Tweed Heads November 30.
Come Together’ is out October 5.
