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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah contestants who performed on "The Voice" will soon be performing in their home state. A new Utah company that helps developing musicians will go on tour with the local artists in June.
The music company, Refinement Records, is based out of Draper and got some popular local artists for their first tour. Ryan Innes and Amy Whitcomb sang as soloists on the current season of "The Voice" on NBC and Jon Peter Lewis and Ryan Hayes performed together on the show under the name Midas Whale.
As a result of their similar roots, the four artists spent a lot of time together while they were performing on the show.
"Yeah, and being Mormon that doesn't hurt, being in the same circles there," Innes said.
Since they were all recently eliminated during the "Knockout Round," the artists are all ready to move on to their own futures. However, because they are still under contract with "The Voice" and can't sign with any labels, they're having to get creative with how they move forward.
"So we decided that we would do a kick-starter campaign that would help us create, to crowd fund a record and to take control of our own destiny," Lewis said.
The crowd fund and kick-starter approach helped the group team up with Refinement Records because the company takes uses similar techniques with developing musicians. The company asks the artist to invest some money, and then they provide the studio, recording equipment, and marketing to help the artist produce their own records rather than signing with a label.
"They have all the resources you need here," Whitcomb said. "From vocal coaches to song writers, to management, to promotion."
Refinement Records company founder Adam Reader said he hopes to help develop what he considers a large talent pool in Utah.
