2 scoops’ talent woos TV audience

Hawaii now has a second performer to root for on two wildly popular television singing competitions. First there was 17-year-old Deandre Brackensick of San Jose, Calif., who is known for his traditional Hawaiian falsetto singing and is one of 13 finalists on Fox’s "American Idol." (See the results from Thursday night’s show on hono­lulupulse.com.)

Now, Hawaii-born Cheesa Laureta, 21, is making her mark in the vocal arena after winning her first duet battle as a member of Team Cee Lo on Monday’s episode of NBC’s "The Voice."

Laureta, who goes by her first name (pronounced CHEHS-uh), said she didn’t know what to expect during her blind audition Feb. 27. During that phase of the competition, coaches Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton sit with their backs turned to the stage as contestants perform. If they like what they hear, they press a button to swing their "I want you" chair around to face the performer. If more than one coach presses the button, the contestant must choose which one to work with in future stages of the competition.

"It was crazy," Laureta said in a Feb. 29 telephone interview. "Before I got on stage I was really nervous. I was really preparing myself to say my thank-you speech — ‘Thank you for the opportunity to sing on this stage. I love everybody’ — (and leave.) When (Green) turned around it was the greatest feeling I’ve ever felt."

It was a moment Laureta had been hoping for ever since she left Hawaii to live and work in Los Angeles in 2006.

"It took five years to get to this point. … It’s hard moving from Hawaii where a little bit of people know you, coming to L.A. where nobody knows you and you have to start all over, (but) you work through it."

Laureta’s dreams of a musical career began when she was 4. She performed in Hawaii with her brother, singer-musician Troy Laureta, as A2C. Their final performance here was in William Daquioag’s "Young Pinoys: Showcase of Stars" show at the Pearl City Cultural Center in August 2006. Less than a week later they were in L.A.

Cheesa was just 15.

"It was one of the biggest decisions that I’ve ever made in my life. My dad supported (our decision) but he didn’t really want us to go to the path of becoming a musician because it wasn’t a stable type of career, but it was what we wanted and we moved to L.A.," she said.

Her parents and a grandfather moved as well, all living together in cramped quarters, working hard and struggling financially. When Laureta graduated from college last year, she began to wonder if the time had come to set her dreams aside.

"I knew I wanted to do music but nothing was pushing forward at the time and I was thinking, ‘Should I go back home?’ Should I quit? Should I do what my dad wants and be a nurse?’"

She and her brother auditioned for "American Idol" but weren’t selected. They made some recordings and both tried out for "The Voice" but only Cheesa made it to the blind auditions.

Although working with Green can be intimidating "because you don’t really know what he’s looking for," Laureta said he has already helped her become more confident about who she is as an entertainer.

"(He) has taught me to just be myself and trust my instincts, and whatever I feel as an artist is right for me — that’s what I should go with. It took me a while because I’ve always tried to be like what people want me to be," she said. "I’ve finally come to terms with myself that my opinion matters.

"He’s taught me to do it for me and always trust myself. Don’t think too much, just sing with your heart."

She adds that although Green "comes off as, like, crazy and wild, he’s really sweet and really easy to talk to. I love the guy."

With the teams chosen, "The Voice" moved to the next phase of competition, in which the coaches preside over duet battles to cull their respective teams from 12 to six singers. The "live rounds" commence April 2, allowing viewers to vote for their favorites on the way to determining the ultimate winner.

In Monday’s duet battle, Green picked Laureta over teammate Angie Johnson as both sang the Bonnie Tyler hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart."

Laureta said she is counting on isle fans to support her and Team Cee Lo as it has supported competitors with Hawaii ties on other shows.

"(Hawaii) will always be my hometown. You can take the girl out of Hawaii, but you can’t take Hawaii out of the girl," she said.