THE WINNER OF THE VOICE 2012

Having originally left home at 13 and lived in more than 20 refuges since, for Karise Eden, the winner of the inaugural season of The Voice, hers is a genuine rags-to-riches story.

The 19-year-old, who hails from the New South Wales Central Coast, triumphed in Nine's blockbuster reality series, defeating Queensland crooner Darren Percival.

Speaking after her victory, the husky-voiced singer was swift in utilising the oft-used reality show cliché in describing her climb to the top.

'He's helped me through thick and thin,' Eden says of Seal, her coach on The Voice.

"I had a really big journey from when I first walked into the auditions," she said. "I never thought anything good like this would happen. I went through every single stage and looking back it feels so long ago, but it's also gone really quickly. Seal and I just worked and worked to perform the best I can."
Eden established herself as a strong favourite to take out the title after dominating the Australian download sales charts last week, following her performance a week ago of the classic Leonard Cohen track Hallelujah.
However, following Sunday's two Grand Final night performances, recordings of both her original track I Was Your Girl and her cover version of Stay With Me Baby both spent time at number one on the download chart.
"I knew the original went to number one and it was breathtaking," she said. "I co-wrote that song with my adopted sister and (when we found out it had topped the charts) I just grabbed her and we cried. To think that we wrote this song in bunk beds in Kinroy and it's just gone to number one on iTunes ... It's something that's changed my life."
In taking out the price, Eden landed a $100,000 cash prize as well as a recording contract with Universal Music.
On stage, Eden is a steely-eyed performer boasting a huge, raspy set of lungs that instantly recall Janis Joplin. However in person, Eden possesses a warm, natural charm.
Asked to recall her memories of being announced winner last night, Eden giggled self-consciously.
"I remember grabbing mum and telling everyone this is my mum," she said. "To have (my family) there
- my mum, my sister and two aunties - I wouldn't have had it any other way."
She was also effusive in her praise of Seal, her coach through the ten-week series.
"He's a lovely man that I love dearly," she said. "He's helped me through thick and thin."
Eden and her coach come from vastly different worlds. How did she bond with the British superstar?
"The main thing is being musicians," she said. "Being musicians, you can sit and talk straight away. You get to learn about personal history and personal stories. You talk about things. And our personalities clicked.
"Seal said to me numerous things, but one of the things he did say was that there was nothing else and that if you stand strong, that is all there is. If you want to be an artist, and you want to be a singer, there is nothing else and you put your heart and soul into it. It's really taught me that. I had no direction before I started the show, and now I know what I want and you'll be seeing me out there."
Asked to pinpoint her musical direction, she pauses for a moment.
"I would like to say I am a bluesy-soul type singer and I imagine (recording) that type of music and maybe (also) a bit more commercial twang on the side as well. I can't wait to see what gets pulled out."
Now that the competition has concluded, Eden concedes she is still unsure just how her year will unfold. Today she completes a round of radio interview and next Tuesday she embarks on a nationwide 11-day promotional tour.
"I don't know! I don't know anything at the moment. I just want to relax and have fun and embrace it all and take it in."
Clearly though, for a singer who has dealt with significant personal trauma and issues of self-esteem, the win is a massive accomplishment. Just how much has her confidence risen?
"Can you put a level or number on it? I do feel a lot more happier now. I can hold my chin up now and know that I am ok."
Asked what she would say if she could travel back in time and talk to herself when she was at her lowest point, she is unambiguous.
"I'd say 'everything's going to be alright'," she said.