Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Nov. 15, 2017
By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043
Richfield’s Hannah Mrozak sang one of the most powerful and
meaningful songs of her life during Monday night’s episode of “The Voice” on
NBC — Kesha’s “Learn to Let Go.”
The moving performance was unfortunately not enough to stave
off elimination from the reality television competition. However, Mrozak and
her mother, Melena, don’t believe this is the last the world has seen or heard
from Hannah.
“We’re obviously very humbled by the whole experience and
appreciative for ‘The Voice’ for the opportunity and hope it’ll open the
doors,” Melena said in a phone interview Tuesday. “It just takes one person.
We’re hoping that this enables that opportunity to happen.”
She added, “I think there is more people haven’t seen. I
think they got a taste of what’s to come.”
Since successfully passing the blind audition round last
month, Hannah has had overwhelming support, specifically from fans outside of
her circle of family and friends.
“It feels amazing,” she said Tuesday in a phone interview.
“It’s so unreal to think that so many people support me. I’m very grateful for
it. I think that’s the No. 1 thing. I’m so grateful. I never expected to get
this much love. It’s very humbling.”
Hannah’s growing fan base may have grown following her
performance Monday night.
During the episode, Mrozak sat with her coach Grammy
Awardwinning singer and Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson. In the episode
that aired Nov. 7, Mrozak was cut in the final battle round by her initial
coach, Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine. But Hudson utilized her steal to keep
Hannah on the show for at least one more week.
Before Hannah’s performance aired Monday, Hannah and Hudson
talked about Hannah’s struggles with the suicide of her 15-year-old brother,
Mason. Hannah said she was home and found her brother.
“I have a hard time opening up about it,” she added during
the episode.
Hudson replied, “A loss is a loss. All you can do is do
things that you know that your brother
would be proud of.”
On Monday, Hudson said she selected Kesha’s song because
“it’s a song about letting go and I feel like that’s something Hannah needs to
do.”
Hudson added Hannah draws comparison to Demi Lovato, and
Monday’s performance blew away her former coach.
“I’m super proud of you,” Levine said.
Blake Shelton, country singer and another judge, was also
moved.
“I was mesmerized by that performance,” he said. “I’m going,
‘Who is this girl all of the sudden?’” Hannah’s family, who all watched the
episode together, was equally moved. Melena said there wasn’t a dry eye in the
room.
“It was bittersweet because she’s doing what she wants to do
and what she loves, but to have it that close to her and feel the pain ...,”
she said. “I’m sure it had to be very difficult for her. I was happy for her
and my heart ached at the same time.”
Hannah said Tuesday she forgot how emotional the performance
was because the episode was taped in the summer. She admittedly struggles to
face her emotions. But singing “Learn To Let Go” helped break down those
proverbial barriers.
“I felt like a star was born on this stage tonight,” Hudson
said.
Hannah said Tuesday, “I dedicated the song to my brother for
sure. He was on my mind the entire song.”
This was Hannah’s second time on a nationally televised
singing competition. In 2015, she made the top 48 on Fox’s “American Idol.”
Melena said she clearly saw a different Hannah than the one
the world saw two years earlier.
“She has just matured so much since then, especially
musically,” Melena said. “She really lets it all go. On stage, she becomes a
totally different person almost. Her confidence level has definitely increased.
She’s really finding out who she is as a performer and what music she wants to
do.
“(On ‘American Idol’) She was still figuring things out and
didn’t have the confidence then.”
And being on “The Voice” helped in other areas of Hannah’s
life.
“I think the whole experience has been very therapeutic,”
Melena said. “They asked
a lot about Mason. It was kind of almost like therapy. It’s
good and bad. The pain is still there, but she has a hard time facing it. I
think she did that for a while and now she almost had to do it. I think that
was a little therapeutic for her. She’s letting that pain come out, using it as
a catalyst for her music.”
Mom’s favorite performances were Monday’s and the Nov. 7
episode when Hannah sang “Love On The Brain” by Rhianna.
“It really focused a lot on her talent,” Melena said. “That
was kind of the first time we saw who she was.”
It was Hannah’s favorite, too. And she is grateful of the
opportunity to work with Levine and Hudson, and worked with former “American
Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson in an episode, too.
“She just really helped me find my niche how to dig deep
into my soul and open up and embrace it,” Hannah said of Hudson. “She taught me
that it’s OK to let your emotions out.”
Up next for Hannah is the release of an EP, hopefully by the
end of this year. She said the EP will have five songs with an overall theme of
love.
“It’s all songs I’ve written from personal experiences, past
relationships,” she said. Both she and her mom hope this is the turning point
in the pursuit of her dream.
“I think it’s going to open more doors,” Hannah said. “I was
very happy with the way I was portrayed on the show.”
