Karl's still THE name on the street

He made it through two rounds before losing in the head-to-head. But on the night he was knocked out of the show pop producer Will.i.am, a judge on the show, gave him some invaluable advice.

“He told me I needed to go and write my own stuff,” Karl told Herald arts recently.

“He thought that would be key to me becoming a successful crossover artist, as not many classical artists do write their own stuff.” And so Karl went on to write his first song, Everything I Am.

“I really wanted to write something everyone could relate to. It could be about a loved one passing away or someone leaving

your life — it’s a message of how to cope with that. It’s about saying goodbye and being strong.”

The next part of Karl’s plan was to use the song as the title track of his proposed new album.

However, without a recording contract he had to raise the money needed to record an album himself, and so he turned to website www.pledgemusic.com

“It’s basically a crowdfunding website that helps with music projects,” explained Karl.

“I did a demo version of the album, which is also called Everything I Am, and Stratford people started saying they liked it. I also performed songs from it at the Recreation Ground’s Bandstand a couple of months ago in aid of the Stratford Cancer and Eye Hospital Appeal and that helped spread the word too.

“Then the Glasgow Philharmonic Orchestra heard through the grapevine about the album and sent me a demo with the hope of getting involved.”

The former supermarket worker from Balsall Common added: “Once a 42-piece orchestra was involved we needed to raise some serious funds, but the people of Stratford have been amazing and I owe it to them, it’s their album.”

The album, which will be released via pledgemusic.com, will include other favourite covers, such as Karl’s showstopping version of Nessun Dorma. Meanwhile, he has been busy over the festive period starring as Prince Michael in Snow White at De Montford Hall, Leicester, which runs until this Monday, 4th January. “

It has been great fun,” he told us, “I really don’t want it to end.”

And how was Christmas? Did he get any good presents? “Yes, it was great. We ate out to give mum a rest. Present-wise, I didn’t really need anything. I’ve had a really lucky year that money couldn’t buy!”

And so what’s next in 2016? “I’ll be back busking in Stratford soon. It’s the best way to get a following. People know me and are always really supportive.” T

he Voice returns to BBC One this weekend.