Log In


Reset Password
Features

Jim And Sasha Allen Represent 'Home' During 'The Voice' Knockouts, Preparing For Tonight's Live Competition

Print

Tweet

Text Size


Jim and Sasha Allen, the father-son duo from Newtown who are competing on the current season of The Voice, are hours away from the first round of live competition on the popular NBC TV program.

The Allens earned a spot in the Knockout Round of NBC’s singing competition, which aired the evening of November 1, after making it through the Blind Auditions and Battle Rounds. The duo is set to be featured on the series again on the Monday, November 8, program when it airs from 8 to 10 pm on NBC.

The appearance tonight marks the first time Newtown and the nation will be taking part in voting to advance the local musicians.

Saturday afternoon, Jim shared on his Facebook page that he and Sasha were at stage rehearsals ahead of the live performances November 8.

“Each act, including us, will deliver one song,” the November 6 post stated in part. “We’re so grateful to you all for the love and enthusiasm you have expressed.”

Last week, the father and son were paired to go up against singer Manny Keith, who their coach Ariana Grande stole from fellow coach Blake Shelton in a previous round for her team. Prior to the performance, Jim and Sasha met with Grande to rehearse the song they had chosen, “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

Sasha shared with viewers that the song “symbolizes how we have gone on this journey together from Connecticut to LA. It’s scary, but I still feel comfortable because we are doing this together and so we have this support system.

“The lyrics bring on another meaning, too; a feeling of home with yourself. I’m trans. I was born female and I transitioned my freshman year of high school. It was a long journey of painful experiences and painful reactions from people. I feel like I have become more comfortable with myself, my identity, and who I am over the course of working with Ariana and finding myself as an artist,” Sasha added.

Upon walking into rehearsal, Jim and Sasha were both visibly shocked to see Grande was joined by special guest mentor Ed Sheeran.

Sasha reflected on the experience of meeting one of his favorite songwriters by saying, “Ed Sheeran — I look up to him so much and I love him so much. He has been such a huge inspiration to me.”

After hearing Jim and Sasha perform, Sheeran complimented them on their clear connection and skill set.

“Jim and Sasha were great,” Sheeran said. “I loved seeing the relationship of a father and son. Loved the use of the instruments in it [including] the first harmonica I’ve seen on the show. Refreshing.”

Grande agreed and noted that she also enjoyed how it was “so wholesome.”

Before they made their way to the stage to perform at the Knockouts, Grande revealed, “Jim and Sasha Allen might have one of the coolest performances of the night I think.”

'What They Do Is So Special'

During the performance, Jim wowed the crowd by playing the harmonica at the beginning as well as playing a mandolin and singing with Sasha.

From the start of the song, coach Kelly Clarkson — who pushed her button in the Blind Auditions for them — was on her feet, clapping and cheering the whole time.

There was even a point when Jim sang out a perfectly executed “Home!” and coach John Legend could not help but react, saying “Yes, dad!”

After their performance, Knockout Round competitor Manny Keith sang “Golden” by Harry Styles and the judges gave feedback.

Legend said, “Jim and Sasha, this connection between you two is so fun to watch and I loved it. It was so good.”

Hearing that, Jim and Sasha spontaneously answered in unison, “Thank you so much,” which made Clarkson so excited.

“Jim and Sasha, it is a magical thing that ya’ll have together. Ya’ll hopefully inspired families to be a little more closer knit,” she said.

Shelton added, “You guys continue to shock me. I’ve never heard that song before, but … the song literally sounds like something you would have written, you know what I mean. I don’t want to know any other version of the song except yours.”

When it came down to their coach’s input, Grande said, “Jim and Sasha, I love how you two blend, and even the crescendo and decrescendo that do you together is so magical.”

After a few suspenseful moments, Grande announced that Jim and Sasha were the winners of the Knockout Round.

She told the camera after, “I absolutely had to pick Jim and Sasha, because what they do is so special. It is also so infectious energetically. I think everyone is going to fall in love with them.”

To watch Jim and Sasha Allen on The Voice, tune in to NBC on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 pm. Also, follow them on Instagram @JimAndSasha.

=====

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.

Newtown father and son duo Jim Allen and Sasha Allen perform “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros during the Knockout Round of The Voice on November 1. The hometown favorites have their first live competition tonight. —Michael Becker/NBC photos
Jim and Sasha Allen stand on stage with singer Manny Keith after performing against each other in the Knockout Round for Team Ariana on The Voice. The Allens advanced following the November 1 appearance, and will continue tonight with the first round of live competition.
Voting opens following the conclusion of a full competition episode of The Voice. Jim Allen shared this graphic on his Facebook page over the weekend. Voting for tonight's program will begin at 10 am and close at 7 am tomorrow morning/Tuesday, November 9. —NBC-TV graphic
Comments
Comments are open. Be civil.
0 comments

Leave a Reply