Santa Rosa singer-songwriter Lindsay Bruce's run on reality TV show "The Voice" ended Tuesday night when she lost in a head-to-head singing battle.
But the 25-year-old Ursuline High and Santa Clara University graduate said the experience of just making it onto the popular NBC singing competition already has boosted her career.
"It was such a great experience to be around so many talented people," said Bruce, a former model who as a 13-year-old wrote a book and song about her uncle, who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. "Working with these amazing coaches and performers opened my eyes to what I need to do to succeed."
Bruce faced off against contestant Kristen Merlin, a fellow member of the team of Colombian pop star Shakira. Both performers sang Reba McEntire's "Turn On the Radio," but Shakira chose Merlin to move onto the next round.
Bruce said the song, a kind of country anthem, provided a challenge for her style and approach.
"It was a scary song for me," she said. "I'm the girl who sits on the stool with my guitar. Having to belt out a big song like that took a lot of work. I thought I did great, but it definitely was out of my comfort zone."
Bruce said the experience taught her she could push her limits, but also to appreciate her strengths.
"(Judge) Adam Levine told me that my voice was like bullet-proof glass," she said. "For me that was just the greatest compliment. In a way, even in not moving forward, I still feel like I won."
Bruce said she's heading back to Nashville where she's been living the past three years trying to make her way as a songwriter. Only now, she returns armed with the confidence she can sing her own material.
She said she has already benefited from the exposure she received on "The Voice" in becoming one of about 50 performers to make the nationally televised auditions and then being chosen to move forward to the second round.
"I've done two photo shoots this week, and now I have a band," she said, adding she has a number of shows booked and will be updating her website and recording a new song.
As for the performers left on "The Voice," Bruce says she'll be rooting for the woman who beat her.
"I'm her biggest fan," she said of Merlin, a native of Massachusetts. "She has an amazing and powerful voice. She deserves to move on."
You can reach Staff Writer Elizabeth M. Cosin at 521-5276 or elizabeth.cosin@pressdemocrat.com.
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