'Our people have so much to share': Pacific singers inspire on The Voice Australia

Two Pacific voices have made waves on The Voice Australia this season.

Fiji's Joseph Vuicakau and Papua New Guinea's Chris Cobb delivered captivating performances with their powerhouse vocals and heartfelt delivery.

While Cobb was eliminated in the knockouts, a brutal night that saw nine contestants sent home, Vuicakau sung his way into the semifinals, which took place on 17 October.

For both artists, The Voice was not just about personal dreams - it was about representation and standing on a global platform and showing what Pacific talent can achieve.

Vuicakau's blind audition performance of Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' earned him a coveted four-chair turn.

"I was just in the song and then I realised, everyone had turned. I was shocked, like oh, this is actually happening!"

Born in Sydney to Fijian parents, he says his musical journey began long before the show.

"Music has been a big part of my upbringing; having played in church, and my grandmother was a big support and my dad's side are very prominent musicians back home in the islands."

Despite his background, he admits joining the show was not originally part of the plan.

"I was actually scouted to come on to The Voice. I was a bit hesitant to go on a show like this, but with strong encouragement from my wife and family, I decided to just have a crack."

Family has been at the centre of both men's musical journeys.

Chris Cobb, who hails from Bougainville and Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea, says his wife and four children were the heart behind every note he sang.

"I was really nervous, but when the doors opened up and I walked out on stage, there was no time to be nervous."

"My three-year-old daughter was on the left wing, crying a lot, and naturally, as a father, I just wanted to go over there to her and give her a cuddle. So in my head, I'm like, dude, just sing to your daughter to comfort her."

That emotional connection carried through his rendition of Cold Chisels 'When The War Is Over', earning him his own four-chair turn.

"It was a surreal moment. I spaced out, I started to see my little daughter, I started to see my family, I started to see Papua New Guinea, all my wantoks in PNG, they were just in my headspace. I was just in a flow state of emotions, it wasn't till way after the performance that I realized, oh my gosh, I've got four judges that turned around."

Both singers describe The Voice experience as a journey of self-discovery and storytelling through music.

For Vuicakau, every round, especially when performing a competitive duet, brought new lessons in artistry.

"You're trying to find a balance, to pay homage to the song and to complement the other singer, but also to showcase what you have. If you give too much, that could be your downfall. But for me, as long as I'm happy with my performance, that's what matters."

Both singers chose Grammy award winner Richard Marx as their coach.

Vuicakau says he helped him refine his art.

"Richard was a good mentor for me to really hone in on the things I needed to work on. It helped me ground myself and really give the emotion that a song needs."

Chris also reflected deeply on emotional storytelling in music, especially during his knockout round performance of 'In the Stars' by Benson Boone.

"I had lost a very close brother of mine to pancreatic cancer, so when Richard gave me that song, I was like, this is the outlet for me to grieve."

He poured that pain into the performance.

"For an artist, it's so important to connect with the material. Us human beings, we're emotional beings so if you just give technical and you don't have any feelings, then people won't engage, people wont react. There's always an importance for artists to balance the technical side as well as the emotional delivery of a performance."

While Cobb was eliminated just shy of the semi-finals, Vuicakau says having another Pacific Islander on the show was "the cherry on top" of the experience.

"Having Chris on the show, having another Pacific brother, was such a blessing. For Pacific Islanders, we share a common kind of humor and even just our mindset behind preparing. It was great to have that with Chris."

Cobb feels the same way, saying his support lay firmly behind his brother in song as he advanced to the semi-finals.

"For my brother Joseph, and also to all his family in Australia and Fiji, I'd like to say a big bula vinaka (Fijian greeting). The whole Pacific is looking at him with pride. Both of us walked, and I fell short, but he's gone in, and he's got a couple more steps to go."

"Regardless of what the outcome is, we're all so proud of him to have made it a step closer. Every step he takes represents our story, our voices, our love, and our spirit."

Vuicakaus semi-finals performance of George Michael's 'Freedom '90' was met with standing ovation, however his Voice Australia journey ended there.

Beyond the competition, both artists say they have their own projects in the works.

"I've got some really nice songs that will resonate with a lot of people," Cobb says.

"The main idea for me right now is to polish those songs up, get them out, and back them up with live shows."

He's hoping to go on a regional tour in 2026, performing across the Pacific and connecting with fans who have followed his journey since that first blind audition.

He says he hopes their stories encourage others from the region to chase their dreams.

"My advice is to remember that when we move into higher levels, it's not just about the God-given talent - it's about work. Ninety percent of it is work ethic, and ten percent is what God has given us."

For Vuicakau, he says the world needs to witness the talents of Pasifika people.

"If we can do it, others can be inspired to pursue whatever their gift may be; music, fashion, the arts. Our people are so talented, and we have so much to share with the world."

He says he has other future aspirations in music too.

"I'm definitely in the process of some originals as well. With a baby on the way, that's the priority, but there is something in the works, and a possible tour."

The recorded episodes of The Voice Australia air on Sunday nights on Australia's Channel 7 and 7plus.