Not everyone initially believes that 13-year-old Alicia Calista James is not the brother of Cleveland basketball player LeBron James. Sometimes a beautiful and lively girl is confused with a guy. Even behind the scenes of the children’s “Voice,” the singer had to hear more than once: “Wow! What a cool outfit. All the girls are yours! But Alice - that’s what her loved ones call her - is not offended. In her native village of Karavaevo (Kostroma region), she heard something different. She joined the show “The Voice” with folk song“River”, which was performed 40 years ago by Alla Pugacheva. This is how the girl conquered Nyusha.
Where did she come from?
Alisa, together with her mother Tatyana, comes to filming every time from the village of Karavaevo, Kostroma region. There she studies, rehearses, and trains.
– We used to watch “The Voice” on TV, and in the summer we decided to send an application. This is our first attempt to get on a television project,” explains the singer’s mother Tatyana. - And she was approved. Why now? We felt that Alice was ready - both internally and from the point of view of her voice. Although she has been studying vocals for only two years, and then once a week. Before that, Alisa sang in the choir and went to music school.
During the filming of the blind auditions, the artist behaved completely at ease, as if she knew that they would turn to her.
- Back in music school“When Alice first appeared on stage, the teacher said: “She’s not afraid of anything at all!” continues the singer’s mother. – I was pleased. The same goes for recording blind auditions. We weren't shaking, but Alice was collected - it's best not to even touch her in this state - and ready to go out and sing. This is a pleasure for her.
Although the girl has been singing for only two years, she has already accumulated diplomas and awards. Alisa participated in the Kostroma analogue of the children's “Voice”, the “White KiT” festival and many other competitions - she never returned without prizes.
“I’m not afraid to go on stage,” admits Alice. – But, of course, there was excitement for the first time. I talked to Svetlana Zeynalova (co-host of the project - Author), she calmed me down, we jumped a little, did a couple of exercises so as not to worry, and it became easier. I don't believe in omens and talismans. I rely only on myself.
Why wasn't dad present on the set?
Alice grew up alone. She was raised by her mother and the village street.
“I lived in Moscow, where I met Alice’s dad,” says Tatyana. “Then he was forced to return to Nigeria - he had no opportunity to stay. At one time he called and was interested, but now he doesn’t. I divorced him. She returned to her native village of Karavaevo, Kostroma region. There Alice grew up - without a father. Of course, I had to face problems at school because of my skin color. My eldest son Michael had them, and Alice had them. They called her names, put her in a puddle in November, and pointed fingers at her. We drive into another area where they don’t know us, walk down the street, and hear: “Oh, look! Negro is coming. " Our village is small, and as soon as everyone found out that Alice went to “Golos. Children”, bullying has become less. The attitude has changed - it has become more positive.
Alicia Calista James performed Cuckoo. Voice.Children-4. Blind audition. Fragment of the release dated February 22, 2017. This is not the first performance of Viktor Tsoi’s song Cuckoo on the project in the third season of Golos.Children with this composition Yaroslav Degtyarev lit up.
How does the family live?
The singer's mother gives private lessons. But due to filming in “The Voice”, the practice was suspended. Several times a month they come to rehearsals - by train. There is little money. Therefore, tickets are bought either by local companies or officials. Clothing is provided by the Kostroma company Orby. Once the Karavaevites helped - the people themselves raised money for the James family to leave, when local budget organizations threw up their hands. In another, officials, State Duma deputies Alexey Zhuravlev and Alexey Sitnikov helped out. Each time the family stayed in Moscow with friends.
- We don’t have any money! – exclaims the mother of the young singer. – And everyone who says that in “Voice. “Children” get caught for money, they don’t know what they’re talking about. Everything is fair and free. We are very grateful to Channel One and all the music editors and producers who worked with us. We were also extremely surprised how carefully Nyusha works with the guys. We spent almost a day at rehearsals (blind auditions are shown in the recording, but at the moment preparations are underway for vocal duels - Author). Nyusha worked with everyone, spending so much time! She helped each child and gave advice - such that in our provinces you don’t hear so much useful information. It costs a lot.
What is her hobby?
At home, Alice does not have posters with images of Justin Bieber or Sergei Lazarev. She doesn’t have “favorite” pop songs either. He sings what resonates with his soul.
“We chose the song “River” by Alla Pugacheva with the teacher,” says Alisa. – We needed a short composition to meet the regulations. That's why we took this one. I didn’t expect that the composition of mentors would be new. Only Nyusha turned to me, so there was no choice. But if everyone turned around, I don’t know who I could go to.
Alicia Calista James. Rechenka. Voice.Children-4. Blind audition. Fragment of the release dated February 22, 2017. Alicia Calista James performs the song Rechenka by Alla Pugacheva. Words and music of folk songs. Alla Pugacheva has been performing the song since 1974. Rechenka is a traditional wedding song about an orphan bride. One of the song options serves as an epigraph to the chapter The captain's daughter Pushkin.
And plays basketball.
“We have a section at school, I study there,” says the girl. – Sometimes we go to competitions. I'm interested in a fast and smart sport.
Calista Alicia James, 13 years old. village Karavaevo, Kostroma region
Her optimism is amazing, considering how difficult it is for Alicia to live in the Kostroma village without a father - only with her mother and brother. She knows exactly what she wants. It is difficult to knock her off her intended course: neither ridicule, which she, unfortunately, was deprived of throughout her childhood, nor confusion over the question of “is she a girl or a boy” are able to stop her.
Professional Zeynalova, who plays the role of a child psychotherapist behind the scenes, did not bother to find out in advance at least some details about the child going on stage. But children need an individual approach, and not just jumping with the standard “fence of worries.”
A sweet smile, sincerity, kindness and talent - all this is clearly visible in the girl’s gaze, her conversations and reasoning, and of course in the very performance of the very difficult folk song “Rechenka”. Perform at the national folklore genre Not every performer can do it. This is a special format of song art, expressed in complex melody, large quantities modulations, musical shades, the absence of a standard verse and chorus, as well as in the vocal manifestation of “nationality”.
Alicia coped with all this “excellently” and revealed her vocal potential to the maximum. She not only glorified her native Karavaevo - she managed to “touch a nerve” with a huge part of vast Russia. Thanks to Nyusha - mentor in once again single-handedly “pulls out” talented children, giving them a chance to prove themselves in the future.
“My mother is Russian, and my father is from Nigeria. They met, my brother and I were born and he left. Sometimes once a year he calls, says that he loves us and immediately hangs up.
Maybe I'm unusual. Something. Well, with your skin, your behavior, your hairstyle. My brother and I are called dandelions. I don't like it when people point at me behind my back or when people say something bad. Each person has his own appearance. And I consider it a sin to discuss a person because he has brown skin. It is forbidden. It's unpleasant. You might be offended. "
Alicia performed folk song“River” in Alla Pugacheva’s version is so bewitching that it made mentor Valery Meladze think about eternity and the meaning of life!
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Alicia Calista James from Kostroma spoke in an interview about her sports hobbies - the girl likes to play basketball, works out athletics and choreography. Alicia also remembered her first singing experience - it turns out that the desire to sing overtook her in kindergarten over a plate of borscht!