Bodie

A singer adept at crossing genres, bodie weaves pop and alternative textures into faith-centered material. Runner-up status and audience acclaim on the 2022 season of The Voice followed his striking gospel cover, which signaled the spiritual direction his work would take.

California-born Bodie Kuljian spent his early years attending church and exploring artistic expression. Alopecia was identified during his teenage period, complicating efforts to belong among peers. After earning his degree from Vanguard University in 2015, Kuljian balanced duties as a worship leader with graphic design and photography assignments that sustained his wife and children. Across the span from 2017 to 2022 he issued a regular sequence of original tracks, one of which was the 2019 EP Me and You, that occupied territory between lo-fi pop and R&B.

His trajectory altered sharply once he tried out for the 22nd season of the NBC program The Voice, in which contestants pursue coaching through blind auditions and vie for viewer support that leads to prize money and a recording deal. Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar for the Fray's "You Found Me," he secured a rare four-chair turn when Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, John Legend, and Camila Cabello all turned around. He joined Shelton's roster and drew consistent praise for fresh readings of songs by the Backstreet Boys, Post Malone, Halsey, Harry Styles, and further acts. During the finale bodie revealed his faith commitments by delivering the program's last selection before finishing second: "Gratitude," written by contemporary worship artist Brandon Lake.

In the wake of those appearances, bodie devoted 2023 to independent releases, then re-recorded "Gratitude" as the first single under a new agreement with gospel label Provident. The full-length EP Happy to Be Here followed the next year.