KUALA LUMPUR: Claudillea Holloway blew viewers away when she took the stage on reality talent search The Voice UK with her powerful vocals last month.
Coaches Olly Murs and Meghan Trainor loved her performance of Queen Of The Night Aria, and she chose Trainor as her mentor.
Asia One reported yesterday that Holloway, 24, who is of British and South African parentage actually fell in love with music during her 14-year stay in Kuching, Sarawak.
"I lived in Kuching when I was 2, and I made a lot of friends who were of Kelabit ancestry. The aunt of one of my friends introduced me to the traditional guitar called the sape," she said.
"She and other Kelabit elders taught us many wonderful stories passed down through their songs."
Holloway added that she was fortunate to learn the sape at a young age.
"This had a huge influence on my love for music. I am very keen to incorporate it respectfully in future performances."
When she was 11, Holloway moved to Kuala Lumpur, where she discovered classical music.
"We went to watch a concert by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, and here is where I fell in love with classical music," she said.
She then began taking vocal lessons, and decided to become an opera singer.
At 16, Holloway left Malaysia to join a fine arts boarding school, Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, the United States.
She later furthered her studies at the Manhattan School Of Music, majoring in classical voice.
In New York, Holloway landed a role on the off-Broadway production, Whiskey Pants: The Mayor Of Williamsburg.
In 2018, she moved to the United Kingdom.
"It is a tough world being a musician. I have been juggling multiple jobs.
"These include teaching singing and piano, working at a cafe, and booking musicians for events."
She chose to join The Voice to get her big break.
"Meghan taught me to be myself on stage, and not be apologetic about it.
"Getting to know her, I've come to respect how much of an amazing songwriter and musician she is."
Holloway still travels to Malaysia at least once a year to visit her family and friends.