A Kesgrave singer who wowed the judges on ITV’s The Voice to win a place in the battle rounds said going up on stage ‘felt like a dream’.
Tania Hambleton, 24, a former Kesgrave High School student, and her boyfriend Ryan North, 30, impressed the panel on Saturday’s show with their sensational rendition of the JCB song by Nizlopi, singing together as duo ‘RYT’.
Three of the four judges were quick to press their buzzers, eager to snap up for the pair for their team.
Olly Murs was first to turn his chair, saying the song was one of his favourites and that he loved the pair’s harmonies.
Jennifer Hudson also heaped praise the couple, saying: “You can feel the love in your music.
“It’s so warming and filled the room.”
Sir Tom Jones was also a fan, saying he hoped they would pick him as their coach.
“I just think you have a lovely sound and you gel together,” he said.
“I just love what you do and I hope that you come with me.”
However, it was Olly who scooped the pair - and he looked pretty pleased with himself in having bagged the first duo of the new series.
Tania said it was an incredible experience singing on such a grand stage.
“Before I felt like we would be fine as we do this week in and week out - I thought ‘we are going to smash it’. “But it’s a different atmosphere when you get there.
“We waited for two minutes in silence before going up - it was the longest two minutes of my life.
“You hear people saying it feels like you are in a dream but I had never experienced it.
“I can’t remember lots of it, it felt like a blur. “It was extra special singing alongside Ryan, I don’t think I could have done it on my own.
“I nearly squeezed his hand off when we walked out on stage.”
Tania’s proud mum Susie described the feeling of seeing her daughter on The Voice stage as ‘absolutely unbelievable’.
She said: “It was the best day of my life since Tania was born.
“Although we knew the result before the show was aired it was still nerve-wracking watching it again.
“I was jumping up and down with everybody again when their chairs turned round.
“It was very emotional.”
In October 2009, when she was just 16-years-old, Tania was picked to sing at a fundraising event aimed at tackling knife crime in the wake of the murder of Harry Potter actor Rob Knox.
After hearing Tania singing on Youtube, Mr Knox’s parents picked the teenager to sing a tribute ballad in his memory.
You can keep up with Tania and Ryan on Twitter @rytmusicduo, Instagram @rytmusic and Facebook at RYT music.
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