I mean, obviously theres no substitute for being with people and for being in that atmosphere, which is electrifying,

"But I have to say Im really surprised, and impressed, by how theyve pulled it together.

Boy George and Rowland will appear to be able to interact normally with the artists, and Aussie coaches Delta Goodrem and Guy Sebastian, thanks to a carefully redesigned set.

We look like were there but neither of us has got any legs, Boy George joked.

My legs are quite short anyway, so Im good with it.

This season he has two Western Australians on his team: 37-year-old Roxane Lebrasse, from Westminster, and 18-year-old Sebastian Coe, from Mount Pleasant.

Both are established singers but Boy George said experience wasn't always an advantage in the competition.

There isnt a sort of rule that says if you have years of experience youre going to come on the show and youre going to nail your blind, or youre going to do the next performance, because the show is probably throwing new situations at you," he said.

For me, everything matters: how you win a thing, how you lose it, how you hold your face. There are so many things we look at, as coaches.

Speaking as last years winning The Voice coach and someone who continues to have singing lessons and acting classes, he added: Its trusting yourself, its connecting with the viewers.

"Its all stuff like that that I pick up on because its stuff Ive done.

"All you really want to do as a coach is build someones confidence.

He says he's very comfortable with his team this year and isnt coveting any of the other coaches artists.

I have to say, this season, no.

"I mean theres loads of other people I think are great and I dont think theres any obvious winner this year I have no idea who is going to win.

While The Voice has already seen coaches accusing each other of cheating in their quest to produce the winning artist, Boy George said the bickering wasn't personal and five years on, he was still enjoying it.

You know Ive lived an interesting life and Ive got a lot of wisdom to impart and if people think thats value, then thats great.

The Culture Club frontman hasnt wasted any time in lockdown in the UK.

Instead hes been working on a new version of the bands 1983 smash hit Karma Chameleon, in virtual collaboration with a 16-year-old girl in France.

Obviously, through The Voice, people approach you and you get a lot of emails from people so I met a young girl last year, whos got a beautiful voice, and she had done this version of Karma that was so different to the original and then Ive redone it," he said.

"And, honestly, its really beautiful if a bit weird."

The Voice airs on Nine, the owner of this publication, Sunday nights at 7.00pm and Monday nights at 7.30pm.

See the rest here:

The Voice turns to technology to keep Boy George and Kelly Rowland on board - Sydney Morning Herald