Thunderstorm Artis gained national acclaim when he appeared on season 18 of The Voice. The Hawaii native used a combination of original songs and covers to make his way to the finals. Ultimately, he finished second. Now, Artis is taking on another season of tough competition on American Idol.
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The American Idol season 23 premiere is still almost a week away. The first episode of the new season will air this Sunday (March 9). However, the show has been holding auditions since August. Last night (March 2), ABC aired a sneak peek of the premiere after the Oscars. That early look showed Artis wowing the judges with an original song titled “Don’t Let Me Let You Go.” Watch him earn his Golden Ticket to Hollywood below.
[RELATED: Former ‘The Voice’ Finalist Is Set to Compete on the New ‘American Idol’ Season]
Thunderstorm Artis Introduces Himself to American Idol Fans
Some American Idol fans will remember Thunderstorm Artis from his time on The Voice. Those who don’t were able to learn a little about him during his audition. For instance, Thunderstorm is his real name. “That’s the name my mama gave me,” he told the judges. The name, he said, is “on the birth certificate, passport, driver’s license.”
“My parents thought they were going to have twins and they wanted to name one Thunder and one Storm. But they said I was a fat baby so they guess God put the both in one,” he explained, getting a laugh from the judges.
The 28-year-old singer/songwriter explained that he was born and raised in Hawaii but moved to Nashville to follow his dream of being a musician. He currently lives in Music City with his wife and two children. His marriage inspired the song that helped him win the Golden Ticket. “It’s about mine and my wife’s journey,” he said of the song. “It’s just about the hardships of a relationship as well, especially in the times when you feel like you might be pulling away at times and it’s important for that other person to be an anchor for you,” he added. “This song is a little bit about how she’s my anchor and holding me down in the times when I’m weak.”
Featured Image by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
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