FROM country pubs to the biggest stage on Australian television, Elias Lanyon has proven just how good a singer he is.
The “boy from Boort” has made it through the blind auditions on the television singing competition show The Voice.
The 20-year-old performed David Kushner’s Daylight on the opening night of the 2024 season in front of judges Adam Lambert, Guy Sebastian, Kate Miller-Heidke and LeAnn Rimes.
All bar Lambert hit their buzzer and turned their chairs, competing for Lanyon to join their team.
In a pre-performance package, Lanyon told viewers he was a fourth-generation sheep and cereal farmer in a “place in the middle of nowhere”.
“Being a farmer is sort of hard yakka,” he said. “Just all hammer and tongs to make sure it all turns out all right.
“We have around 1500 sheep on our property; there is a lot of day-to-day work that goes in to looking after them.
“Making sure they are all fit and healthy … they do become a large part of your life.”
The country landscape was the heart of Lanyon’s music.
“After a long day on the farm, I tend to take the guitar down to the paddock and just relax,” he said.
“I’ve never had any proper singing lessons before so I just go down and play some tunes to the dog.
“If it’s smiling at me I think I’m going a good job … I’m not sure if I sound any good, though.”
Lanyon said performing on The Voice stage was “pretty terrifying”.
“Coming from a small country town, I’m not really used to playing in front of that many people,” he said.
“Being in front of this many eyes will be quite scary.”
After rapturous applause from the audience, the judges were full of praise.
“That was incredible,” Miller-Heidke said. “I just love the grit you have in your voice.
“That was emotionally underpinned and authentically felt inside that song.
“You belong on team Kate.”
Lanyon’s parents admitted their admiration for Miller-Heidke, leaving the other judges content with Lanyon’s ultimate decision.
Sebastian also praised the grit in Lanyon’s vocals.
“That’s why I turned, because you have something unique,” the long-time judge said.
“It takes you away from perfect singers because you have that grit.”
Lambert described Lanyon’s voice as “mature, lived-in and weathered”.
Lanyon opened for Shannon Noll at River Daze 24 in Barham in March.
“I have been doing mainly pub gigs since I was about 15,” Lanyon said.
“Mainly covers of different songs, like old, new and popular songs.
“My favourite songs to play are Mumford and Sons songs.
“You can really blast them out, play them as loud as you want, and they are really just more fun to do.”
Around the traps, you can regularly hear Lanyon play at The Exchange Hotel in Kerang or the Four Posts Hotel in Jarklin.
He is on all streaming platforms under the name Elias Lanyon Music.
Lanyon will be developed and mentored by Miller-Heidke before he returns to the stage next week to battle it out with members of the same team.
Watch Lanyon’s performance on 7plus.
