BY EMMA ANVARI 

In a year containing a revolving door of challenges for the Arts sector, where more than $94 million has been lost in income since July alone, Monash University graduates have managed to keep the music going. 

Coming off of one of The Voice’s most successful seasons in years, singer-songwriters and solo artists Tanya George and Seb Szabo are still riding the waves of their success after turning a combined seven chairs at their blind auditions. 

This comes as the show’s 10th season was poached last year by the Seven Network from Channel Nine, who dubbed it their "worst financial performer”, and managed to reach more than 1.3 million viewers for its season launch. A figure on par with the viewership of the Tokyo Olympics’ closing ceremony. 

Although neither Monash alum initially set out to audition for the show, or managed to secure the winner's title of The Voice 2021, the aftershocks of this career move are still being felt a month after the show's finale.  

The Victorian government’s recent announcement from Creative Industries Minister Danny Pearson confirmed the return of rehearsals across the arts industries and a $15 million grant to support workers and creatives, making it likely performers such as Ms George and Mr Szabo will be on stage soon once again. 

Here’s all you need to know about Melbourne’s local up-and-coming stars in preparation for their return to the performance scene.

Tanya George

With her four and a half octave vocal range, experience as a street performer and new-found status as a regular across Australia’s festival circuit, it comes as no surprise that St Kilda-raised Tanya George managed a four chair-turn during her blind audition. 

Performing You’ve Got the Love by Florence + the Machine, using only her voice and a looping station, the Monash Bachelor of Music graduate quickly captivated the minds of the judges and audiences alike.

Although a career goal and dream for some, Ms George said her decision to audition for The Voice was a strategic one motivated by lockdowns and the fact Channel 7 was also covering the Olympics.

“I only went on this year because I knew we would be in lockdown and the music industry would be decimated.... [and] I knew show ratings would also be higher because of lockdown,” she said. 

“It just seemed like a good idea for 2021 to stay relevant and have something to look forward to.”

This was not Ms George’s first attempt at The Voice, having auditioned once before as a 21-year-old in 2015, to no avail.

Surprised to have managed to turn four chairs this time around, Ms George said her nervousness and lack of sleep in the days leading up to her audition were only exacerbated by the impending border closures.

“I had to get my manager Dan – bless his beautiful soul – to drive me up before midnight and then stay isolated in a hotel room, so it was quite stressful,” she said. 

The young artist has managed to sell out all of her headline shows to date and has already released two EPs, with live shows on the cards, and an album planned to be released single-by-single later in the year. She has also secured gigs at more than 15 festivals throughout her career. 

As a Monash University graduate, Ms George said she cherishes her time at her “second home” and attributes a lot of her skills and musical control to her university degree.

“It made me a much stronger musician and vocalist – my ear and mind observed everything I did there,” she said. 

Ms George’s vocal control was noted by Rita Ora, who said it was “one of the most powerful traits to have”. 

“There is nothing more satisfying than watching an artist have control on stage,” Ora said. 

You can find more from Tanya here including gigs, singles, merchandise, social handles and more.

Seb Szabo 

A regular on Melbourne's music scene and quickly declared by Rita Ora to sound “hot” at his audition, Seb Szabo, 25, and his raspy and resonant voice were quickly a fan favourite of the season, with his audition receiving more than 132,000 views on YouTube. 

As the only musician in a family full of scientists, the Monash Arts graduate said he was shocked and had “never thought of himself that way” when someone from the show reached out to him for his voice alone. 

“I don’t think I would’ve applied on my own...it would be putting myself out of my comfort zone to put on a performance just focussed on my singing ability,” Mr Szabo said. 

“I feel like I got a lot more confident as a vocalist and understanding how you could use the power of just a voice in songwriting, whereas before I was viewing my voice as a functional part of a song.”

Unlike Tanya George, Mr Szabo did not complete a Bachelor of Music during his time at Monash, instead initially starting with a Bachelor of Arts/Laws and ultimately graduating with an Arts Degree in 2019. 

Mr Szabo said that although there is great value in a music degree, the decision to undertake one inevitably comes down to the kind of musician you want to be.

“I wanted my relationship with music to be what I decided it to be instead of someone telling me to practice, practice, practice,” he said.

“The joy and freedom I find in picking up a guitar when I want to pick it up and writing a song when I feel like it would have been destroyed.”

In preparation for his audition, where he sang Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams, Mr Szabo said he “deliberately [gave] himself as little to think about as possible”.

“The day before, I went and did my laundry down the street from the hotel we were staying at and while the laundry was going on I just paced back and forth out the front and practised the song over and over and over so it was second nature,” he said. 

“I knew if I thought about it all I would psych myself out and be too nervous and I honestly didn’t even pay attention to the chairs because there was a studio audience out the back and I just sang to them.”

On his website, Mr Szabo describes himself as a “sonic poet, blending cinematic indie rock with an intimate, magnetic stage presence”.

In his relatively short career prior to The Voice, Mr Szabo had already performed as the opening act for renowned Australian indie-pop band San Cisco in 2019, released his debut EP Staring Out the Windows in July 2020, performed a sold-out single launch downstairs at Melbourne’s The Gasometer Hotel in May 2021, and won the Queenscliff Festival’s Foot-in-the-Door Competition. 

When asked what he had learned from the experience, Mr Szabo said the idea that you should not make decisions out of fear was one of his key take aways. 

“I realised that when opportunities come to you - even if you feel like you’re undeserving or not ready for them - it means that you are, or that you should believe you are, deserving,” he said. 

“There was an opportunity for [auditioning] to benefit me just as much as it would benefit the show...it was actually a really incredible opportunity to take a few steps forward in my music career at a time where everyone is at a standstill.”

Mr Szabo said auditioning for the show in the midst of a pandemic felt like an opportunity to grow, especially as someone who has never had singing lessons. 

“I met some really great vocalists and musicians and a couple of people in the wider music industry as well, which was nothing but encouraging,” he said. 

Seb’s music, gig information and social media can all be found at this link.