‘The Voice’: Hungarian Pop Star Viktor Király & Sleeper Agent’s Alex Kandel Audition

Caila Ball-Dionne | September 30, 2015 6:14 am

So many hopefuls, so little time.

Actually, scratch that: NBC gives four hours a week to the Blind Auditions on The Voice, so really, there are so many contestants, and so…much…time that Gwen Stefani, Pharrell, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine have managed to wear the same outfits through each and every audition is a modern miracle, especially considering how deeply uncomfortable Gwen’s red pleather pants must be.

On top of the same coach outfits, Tuesday night’s Blind Auditions were met with a Hungarian pop star, a former lead singer, a set of twins and many others. Here’s whom we’ll be seeing in the Battle Round:

Darius Scott, 23 – Texas

Up first is Darius Scott, a musician of many talents. The fashion stylist plays guitar, bass, organ, clarinet, piano, drums and anything else he puts his hands on, but sticks to just the voice for his Blind Audition. It’s a good call, as his run-filled performance of Usher’s “You Make Me Wanna” required a lot of focus. It’s passable at best, but Adam, Gwen and Pharrell all want Darius on their teams.

“It started getting better and better, and then you went to this crazy other level where our minds were blown,” says Gwen.

“This guy is super special,” says Pharrell, noting his range.

“Your sheer ability to hit whatever notes you want to hit; you have that in spades,” says Adam. “You also had this tremendous ability to connect.”

Unbeknownst to the coaches, Darius has an N.E.R.D. tattoo. It’s only fitting, then, that he joins Team Pharrell.

Korin Bukowski, 20 – Florida

Season 9’s Manic Pixie Dream Girl is officially Korin Bukowski. The long-haired singer greets the camera with, “Hello, earthlings,” and reminisces about her habit of playing with dead bugs when she was a kid. Perhaps Korin is Season 9’s first serial killer, too!

Korin sings Andrew McMahon And The Wilderness’ “Cecilia And The Satellite” – because of course she does – and has an inexplicable accent that distracts from her performance. Ms. Stefani, though, Gwenerously turns around for her.

“I really liked your tone, I thought it was really unique and interesting and weird,” says Gwen. “You have a lot of dynamics and a lot of range.”

Krista Hughes – 22 – West Virginia

Small town girl Krista Hughes rode a plane for the first time to come to her Blind Audition, but what she lacks in worldly knowledge, she makes up for with vocal talent. The guitar-playing Krista sings Bonnie Raitt and John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery,” and her beautiful, subtle, controlled tone earns a quick four-chair turn.

“What a beautiful, honest, natural talent you are” says Gwen.

“I would never want you to do anything other than country music, and I can instill confidence in you,” says Adam. “I think that it was flawless.”

“It’s really cool to come on here and be yourself and get all four chairs to turn around and then to land it perfectly,” says Pharrell.

“I’ve got a feeling that some of your influences might not be the stuff that we’re hearing on the radio,” says Blake. “Song choice, for you, might be more important than anybody else who is going to audition.”

The country gal sticks with her country roots, and joins Team Blake.

Chance Peña, 15 – Texas

When it comes down to it, Chance Peña is already a winner. His parents are deeply involved in crossfit – they own a crossfit gym in Texas – yet he has made it this far in life without getting pulled into the cult. He didn’t even mention anything about a Paleo diet during his Blind Audition! In addition to that victory in life, Chance attracts Adam’s attention with his goat-esque performance of Ed Sheeran’s “I See Fire.”

“You guys screwed up so badly,” Adam tells his fellow coaches. “I was so drawn in, I couldn’t believe that these guys weren’t turning around.”

Viktor Király, 31 – Hungary

It’s not every day a Hungarian pop star auditions on The Voice, so this next audition is really something special…or at least different…or at the very least super handsome. English-singing Hungarian musician Viktor Király works the room with Donny Hathaway’s version of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” and earns a four-chair turn in the process.

Race relations expert Blake Shelton marvels, “That guy is white!” Later he adds, “If I was a betting man, I would be saying that man is going to be standing up there in the finale having a shot at this thing.”

Gender expert Gwen Stefani runs up on stage to tell Victor, “I’m the only girl up here, so that means I have double powers.”

Pun expert Adam Levine throws in, “I’m hungry.” Though the rest of his pitch is muffled by groans, he gets out, “I want more than anything to have somebody who’s going to take this the distance.”

Expert on not being a total jackass Pharrell tells Victor, “You’re different, and I think that’s what matters the most.”

Puns win out! Hungarian Viktor joins the hungry Adam.

Cole Criske, 16 – California

Folk singer Cole Criske sings from the heart during his Blind Audition. The teen, who lost his dad in a car accident with a drunk driver, sings John Mayer’s “Dreaming With A Broken Heart” – a song he listened to while getting through the tragedy – and earns the attention of Gwen, Blake and Pharrell. Adam really misses out on this soulful singer.

“I heard this honest voice that was taking the lyrics of this song and making us believe that it was about your life,” says Gwen.

“All of us would love a shot to work with you,” adds Pharrell.

“I had a contestant on my team Season One of The Voice named Xenia,” says Blake, name-dropping a singer from Cole’s hometown of Temecula. “Also, I’ve won this show four times.”

Hoping to make this season the fifth win, Cole joins Team Blake.

Alex Kandel, 22 – Tennessee

Like a tattooed Mary Poppins, Alex Kandel is a nanny who sings with her kids. Unlike Mary Poppins, she also used to be a lead singer in alt-pop band Sleeper Agent. The group has since disbanded, but had a successful run performing on The Late Show With David Letterman, The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon and at Coachella before they parted ways.

In her solo stage performance, Alex sings Echosmith’s “Bright,” and has a unique tone that attracts Gwen and Adam.

“You have a lot of character in your voice,” says Gwen. “As the performance went on, I’ll be honest, there was so much weird tuning issues.”

“You started off really super strong, and when it fell of it just seems like it just needs little tweaks,” says Adam, adding, “Fantastic job.”

Constructive criticism wins Alex over, as she joins Team Gwen.

Celeste Betton, 27 – Georgia

Celeste Betton is passionate about gospel music, but took a break from singing after high school to raise her daughter. She sounds a bit shaky in her performance of Jennifer Hudson’s “Love You I Do,” but hits some big high notes that gets Pharrell’s attention.

“After awhile I began to realize you were singing because it really meant something to you,” he says. “I had to reward all of that ambition on the stage.”

Andi & Alex, 23 – Wisconsin

Closing out the night is Green Bay duo Andi & Alex, a set of adorable twins who think this is their last shot to make it before they settle down and have kids. In case you missed it, these aging musicians are 23. Yep…better get on that quickly. Anyway, the practically middle-aged duo sing Dido’s “Thank You,” and all four coaches turn around for their sweet tone and impeccable harmonies.

“Whether you guys were in unison or in harmony, it was just so incredibly thoughtful,” says Adam. “You guys are one of the most perfectly fitting duos I’ve ever heard.”

“That performance right there truly was phenomenal,” says Blake, adding, “I’m the only person who has taken a duo to the finale.”

“You took a song and we heard it in a whole different way,” says Gwen. “I think we would be an amazing team.”

“Sawyer Fredericks, who was a folk singer, actually won,” says Pharrell of his Season 8 victor. “He was able to do what it is he wanted to do in the way he wanted to do it, and that’s what I would offer to you.”

It’s a tough choice between four fawning coaches, but the girls decide to join Team Adam.

This week may have brought twins, engagements, Hungarian pop stars and manic pixie dream girl serial killers, but Carson Daly promises to save (dramatic pause) the (dramatic pause) best (dramatic pause) for (dramatic pause) last. We’ll find out exactly what that means (twin Hungarian manic pixie dream girl serial killing pop stars who get engaged and have a double wedding?) when the Blind Auditions wrap up on Monday.