Kelsey Marie Laverack, a Sebastian native, is set to appear on NBC’s “The Voice.”
Born in Sebastian, Florida, Laverack spent most of her childhood in Fellsmere, where her grandparents resided. She moved to Vero Beach during her eighth-grade year but always considered Sebastian home, where her father, William (Billy) Laverack, and the majority of her family resided.
“I started singing when I was just three years old, making stage appearances at my mom, Nikki Monahan’s shows. When I was 11 years old, I signed my first recording contract in South Florida and became a member of a girl group called Funn Club. This is where I learned how to record in the studio and hone in on the technique side of my voice. I also learned how to perform and work the stage,” Laverack told Sebastian Daily.
At age 20, she auditioned for the first season of “The Voice” as “Kelsey Rey” and received three chair turns from Adam Levine, Ceelo Green, and Christina Aguilera.
“I ultimately went with Ceelo and started my journey on The Voice. After getting unfortunately sent home at the battle round, I came back home, packed all my things, and drove across the country to Los Angeles to pursue my dream of becoming an artist. I have since worked day in and day out in the studio with award-winning multi-grammy artists and producers, and I am now a songwriter and producer myself,” Laverack said.
In 2016, Laverack faced the devastating loss of her father, a turning point in her life. They had always dreamed of her becoming a star, and as he battled illness, she vowed never to abandon her musical aspirations.
“After his passing, I wanted to rebrand myself as an artist and felt there was no better way to honor him than to take the name of his favorite town ‘Fellsmere.’ Although I dropped out one of the ‘L’s’ to make it more personal to me and spelled it ‘Felsmere,’ I know my grandparents, William ‘Bill’ Laverack and Margaret Laverack, and my dad would be so proud I took the name of a town that meant so much to our family. I will never forget the memories we created in the Marsh, air boating and watching the most perfect sunsets together,” she said.
Driven by her promise to her father, Laverack will audition again for The Voice, season 26, which is currently running.
“Be sure to watch me on The Voice, season 26 on NBC, to see what happens,” she said.
There’s no exact date when Laverack will be televised, but her appearance will be soon. Laverack is currently 33 and lives in Los Angeles, California.