Presented by
Moments That define Audible's
For decades, singing competition shows have become deeply ingrained in pop culture and produced artists who are dominating the music landscape. Now, a fresh new audio-only option has arrived to change the game with Breakthrough, a new Audible Original series led by mentors Sara and Kelly, with host Daveed Diggs
Head here for a general overview of what the show's about, but if you want specifics, you're already in the right place: Below, find a handful of clips from across the first Breakthrough season, snippets that are emblematic of different aspects of the series, from Sara and Kelly sharing wisdom with each other and contestants, to the singers working on their craft and sharing their stories.
Kelly And Sara Discuss The Latest Challenge: A '60s Cover Song
Throughout the series, contestants are tasked with delivering a number of different performances, but with varying conditions each time. Sara and Kelly speak about how a '60s cover song challenge offers the perfect opportunity for the singers to show off their ability to interpret different material and deliver a fresh performance. They're not looking for simple karaoke performances, though, as it'll take fresh perspectives on the songs and powerhouse vocals to impress artists as accomplished and discerning as Sara and Kelly.
Sara On How She Learned To Accept Feedback She Didn't Agree With
Breakthrough is primarily focused on the five contestants, but it also offers a window into the minds of Kelly and Sara, two deeply accomplished and respected musicians in their own right. Here, Sara looked back at times when she was the one receiving feedback instead of giving it, and how she didn't always agree with what was being said. She spoke about how frustrating that process can be, but also about how she found a perspective that allowed her to grow from the criticism, even if she didn't think it was spot-on.
Melanie Is Struggling To Keep Up With Her Life And The Competition
While being on a major singing competition and receiving guidance from Sara and Kelly is an amazing opportunity for an up-and-coming musician, that doesn't mean the whole experience will be without issues. At one point, contestant Melanie revealed that she's not able to just put her life on pause for the competition, so it's been a real balancing act for her. This is a key part of the show: You get to hear standout, undiscovered talent while also learning about what their unique journeys, good and bad, have been like.
Contestant Sasha Gets Advice During Her Studio Session
Breakthrough singers have the privilege of studio workshop sessions with accomplished producers, including Erin Tonkon, who worked on David Bowie's final album, Blackstar. She pulled from her wisdom to deliver advice for contestant Sasha in the booth, letting her know that her ability to reach an emotionally vulnerable place while singing is her "superpower," and that she should consciously channel that into her singing.
Contestant Blaze's Mentor David "Swagg R'Celious" Harris Gets Deep With Him
On his journey, contestant Blaze was assigned a fantastic resource in his corner via Grammy-winning songwriter and producer David "Swagg R'Celious" Harris. The two got in the studio and it's there that Harris came through with some inspirational words that helped Blaze maximize his vocal and performative potential: "We need that emotion, because what's from the heart touches the heart. We are conduits of emotion through music, so if it's making you emotional like that, that's what we want to capture."
BREAKTHrOUGH
We know you want to follow this journey and hear more Breakthrough, so go on and stream them via Audible here.
5