Category: General

🎤 Where Are They Now? Brian Fuente – From The Voice to Nashville Entrepreneur

Published on September 25, 2025, By John Phillips

Brian Fuente posing in a leather jacket, showcasing a stylish and confident look.
Image Credit: Jackson Free Press Source: Jackson Free Press article

Brian Fuente blends Southern grit with soulful vocals and a modern rock polish — a sound that’s matured into something uniquely his.

Brian Fuente appeared on Season 2 of The Voice, joining Team Blake Shelton. His standout moment came with a fiery rendition of “Paris (Ooh La La)” by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. This performance showcased his raw vocal edge. It also highlighted his stage presence. Though he exited during the battle rounds, Fuente left a lasting impression.

🌟 Life After The Voice

“Whoever you are, I hope you find your way.” — Brian Fuente

After the show, Fuente planted roots in Nashville, both musically and entrepreneurially. He married fellow Voice alum Jordan Pruitt (Season 3), and together they launched Aero Bar, a mobile cocktail experience that’s become a local favorite. Their ventures expanded into electric RVs and lifestyle branding, blending creativity with business savvy.

Musically, Fuente’s solo work reflects a mature voice — emotionally resonant, grounded in Americana, and unafraid to explore vulnerability. His songwriting invites listeners into stories of reflection, resilience, and quiet triumph.

🎶 Highlights from Their Musical Journey

🎵 Whoever You Are 💬 A melodic invitation to self-reflection, wrapped in warm instrumentation and lyrical sincerity.

đź”— Listen on Apple Music

🎧 Albums & EPs Fuente’s catalogue includes heartfelt singles and EPs that explore themes of identity, love, and reinvention. His sound bridges Southern rock and indie soul, with standout tracks that reward repeat listens.

🌍 Where to Follow Them

đź’¬ Final Thoughts

Brian Fuente turned a brief moment in the spotlight into a multifaceted career. He’s created soulful tracks. He has also pursued entrepreneurial ventures. He’s carved out a lane that’s both grounded and evolving. Fans have plenty to look ahead to.

Easy Homemade Pizza + A Perfect Wine Match

🍽️ The Ritual

Another Friday, another delicious dilemma: what wine pairs best with homemade pizza?

Our tradition is simple — pizza night every Friday. It’s easy to make, satisfying to eat, and always open to improvisation.

Three slices of homemade pizza topped with cheese, mushrooms, green peppers, and sausage on a white plate.
The Pie. – Photo by myself

Ingredients

  • 1 store-bought pizza shell
  • 1 can of Western Family Original pizza sauce
  • Mushrooms, green pepper, and onion (rescued from the fridge)
  • Leftover mild Italian sausage (from the freezer)
  • Shredded pizza mozzarella

🔥 Assembly & Bake

No instructions needed — just layer, bake, and enjoy.

🍷 Wine Pairing

Wine: 2019 Garnacha Tinta — Las Moradas de San Martin Initio Reserva Region: Madrid, Spain Vivino Rating: 3.9

Pizza is naturally wine-friendly, especially when topped with savoury sausage and roasted vegetables. This Garnacha was fruity, bold, and balanced — perfect for the cheese’s richness and the sausage’s spice.

Label of the 2019 Garnacha Tinta wine from Las Moradas de San MartĂ­n, featuring text and details about the wine.
Photo – by myself

đź“ť Final Thoughts

A simple meal elevated by a thoughtful pairing. Whether it’s a weeknight ritual or a weekend treat, pizza and wine never disappoint.

🎤 Where Are They Now? Angela Wolff – From The Voice to Soulful Storyteller

Published on September 10, 2025
By John Phillips

A woman with long brunette hair smiles confidently, wearing a black leather jacket and a grey scarf against a vibrant red background.
Image Credit: The Voice Wiki – Fandom

Angela Wolff first captured hearts during Season 1 of The Voice, delivering a powerhouse rendition of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” that left audiences stunned. But her journey didn’t end when the cameras stopped rolling—in fact, it was just beginning.

🌟 Life After The Voice

“Angela’s voice doesn’t just sing—it speaks to the soul.”

Since her time on Team Adam, Angela has carved out a niche as a deeply emotive vocalist and songwriter. Her collaborations with cellist Bryan Gibson have become a signature sound—cinematic, intimate, and hauntingly beautiful.

🎶 Highlights from Her Musical Journey

🎵 Song💬 Description🔗 Link
Rolling In The DeepHer breakout moment—raw, fierce, unforgettable.Watch
Unchained MelodyA tender, haunting duet with Bryan Gibson.Watch
You’ll Never Walk AloneA powerful anthem of hope and resilience.Watch
EverythingA poetic, introspective single released in 2024.Listen

🎧 Albums & EPs

Angela’s 2015 EP Surrender & Release is a masterclass in emotional storytelling. Tracks like “Armour,” “Honeybee,” and “Holding Hearts” reveal her depth as a songwriter and her ability to turn vulnerability into strength.

🌍 Where to Follow Her

đź’¬ Final Thoughts

Angela Wolff may have started as a contestant, but she’s grown into a true artist. Her music is more than entertainment—it’s an invitation to feel deeply. Stay tuned for more updates in this series as we continue to spotlight past contestants who are still making waves.

Hot Dogs and Wine

We went all out tonight. Hot dogs, potato salad, macaroni salad, real salad and leftover pasta. Of course you’re wondering what wine would go with that. The winner, completely by fluke!

We have been liking Spanish wines lately,especially Rioja. This one is reasonably priced, a nice wine that Vivino rates as a 3.7. It fits our profile perfectly. Recommended as a decent wine to sit and eat hotdogs with.

Have a great evening. Will be a much better recipe on Sunday.

A Series On The Voice

Logo featuring silhouettes of three musicians with microphones and a guitar, surrounded by a blue circle and text that says 'LET'S CATCH UP'.

I will pursue a series of follow-ups with past contestants on The Voice. The plan is to pick a singer from each season in rotation randomly. This is the first post in the series. I will try to contact each choice and do a quick interview if they are willing. The interview will not include their time on the show. Instead, it will focus on their career since then. It will also cover what is happening now and into the future.

Once again, wish me luck. If there were a contestant you’d like me to contact, send me an email at johnlorieh@gmail.com and I will see what I can do

One-Pan Caprese Chicken Thighs

A skillet with cooked chicken thighs topped with cherry tomatoes and fresh spinach leaves, ready to be served.
Image by CG_erious from Pixabay

These one-pan Caprese chicken thighs incorporate all the flavors from a Caprese salad. They are turned into a main dish skillet meal with chicken. Why, yes, please! We like this dish with a green vegetable or salad, with warm crusty bread. As usual, I forgot to take a shot of my dish. I even forgot to note the wine we paired with it. No matter, it was very good and will make it again, and again.

Here we go.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 3 tablespoons good quality balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced, divided
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 4 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
  • torn fresh basil leaves for garnish

Directions

As always, pat the thighs dry and then season with salt and pepper.

Grab a large mixing bowl. Combine the balsamic, broth, tomato paste, and lemon juice. Do not add the zest yet. Add the honey, 1 TBSP of minced basil, and the garlic.

Throw in (gently) the chicken thighs and mix until coated. At this point, you have two options. You can cover the result and refrigerate it for up to 4 hours. Alternatively, you can carry on to the next step. Up to you, either way the next step is the same.

Gently place the chicken and mixture into 12 inch skillet over medium heat. When the liquid boils, cover and reduce heat to med/low. Simmer for 7 minutes or so, turn the chicken and increase to medium, uncovered. This should take 7 minutes or less for them to no longer be pink in the middle.

Remove the chicken and juices to a serving dish. Tent to keep warm. Wipe the skillet and add the oil. Add the tomatoes once the oil is hot. Watch for splatter. Let them sit for a few minutes until they blister. Stir then allow them another couple of minutes. Add a pinch of salt if desired.

Once the tomatoes are done, pour them over the chicken, top with mozzarella, lemon zest and basil. Serve promptly.

Iconic Athabasca Falls: A Timeless Picture from 2011

Way back in 2011, I posted this one as the first picture I personally took on here. It is fitting today as it is a shot of Athabasca Falls, which is close to Jasper, Alberta. I haven’t heard anything about the status at the falls yet, but I’m sure we will at some point. It was a terrible day for the people who lived there and a tragedy for the rest of the world. It is iconic, beautiful, and basically irreplaceable.

Concha Y Toro Gran Reserva Carmenere 2020

Photo by Is It Possible To See It All

This superb example of Chilean wine is a must. The grape is grown in the Cachapoal Valley in Chile. An affordable Gran Reserva at an average price of $21.46 CAD, it is rated as 4.0 by over 800 users on Vivino. This app is worthy of a download as it gives you valuable information on a wine by just taking a picture as it sits on the shelf of your favorite wine store.

Not light, not to bold. I’d say a very traditional wine. Leans to the smooth side, almost silky and is reasonably dry. There is definitely cherry and some oak. We see this as a fine complement to salmon or pasta, and would not be out of place with a nice ribeye steak. Best served at 15 degrees C, I would serve to anyone at any time with any meal.

The Voice – A New Series – The Intro

Have you ever wondered what happened to that voice, the one you liked in season something? Did they continue their careers, or fold their tent and join the labour force? In this series, we will touch on some of the over 1000 contestants that have appeared in this franchise, at least the American version. I hope you find this interesting. I follow independent artists and offer support wherever I can. Most of these artists, who have continued, are basically independents. I found a list on Wikipedia and will use a random number generator to tell me which artist I will follow up with. I will also attempt to make contact and hopefully produce an interview. There should be some interesting conversations.

Remembering Melanie

Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk, professionally known as Melanie Sakfa and widely known as singer Melanie, passed away on January 23, 2024. She was born on February 3, 1947, in New York City.

She began her career singing in coffee shops, as many did then. After spending time in college, she began singing in various NYC clubs, eventually signing her first recording contract with Columbia Records. After some releases, she signed with Buddha Records and a string of hits started.

Her first major success was “Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)” in 1970. This was followed by a great version of the Rolling Stones hit “Ruby Tuesday” in 1970. In 1971, she recorded her most successful tune, which went global, “Brand New Key.”

She continued to record over the years, with several charted songs and albums, her last being recorded in 2010. A pioneer of today’s music, she performed at Woodstock and many other major events of the period. Another talent that will be missed but will live on through music.

Have a listen to the song “Brand New Key” and live as always. Please support live music and also patronize independent artists.