Bryan Olesen
The Voice season 25 · Third place
Where are they now
Bryan Olesen, also known as Bryan David Olesen, has sung lead and played guitar in VOTA, earlier called Casting Pearls, since 1997. He was lead guitarist and a background vocalist with Newsboys from 2004 until January 2006, and he is featured on that band's 2004 album Devotion. VOTA albums include Really Great Sinners, Casting Pearls, the 2008 album VOTA on INO and Columbia, Love Found Me, Fearless, and Back To The Start in 2026.
Key figures
- Career score8 points of 100Rank on Encore Index: #159 (tie) of 365
- Studio albums1 studio albumRank on Encore Index: #105 (tie) of 182
- Wikipedia views, 12 months9,626 pageviewsRank on Encore Index: #172 of 303
- Wikipedia views since 2015267,274 pageviewsRank on Encore Index: #137 of 303
Interest over time
Monthly views of the English Wikipedia article, July 2015 – September 2026.
Career
- 1997
In 1997, Bryan Olesen and bassist Case Maranville formed Casting Pearls with drummer Shane Coop.
- 2004
Bryan Olesen is featured on the Newsboys album Devotion, released in 2004.
- 2004
In February 2004, Bryan Olesen was officially announced as Jody Davis's replacement in Newsboys.
- 2006
In January 2006, Bryan Olesen left Newsboys to focus on VOTA, then called Casting Pearls.
- 2008
In 2008, Casting Pearls changed its name to VOTA.
- 2008
VOTA released the single Hard To Believe in 2008, and I'll Go and Honestly in 2009.
- 2009
On May 2, 2009, Hard to Believe was No. 17 on the R&R weekly chart for the United States.
- 2010
VOTA toured with BarlowGirl in 2010.
- 2012
In 2012, VOTA released the single God of the Universe.
- 2013
Love Found Me came out on January 8, 2013, and VOTA gave the album away free as a campaign with Tiny Hands International.
- 2016
In 2016, VOTA released Fearless to support 300 children in Panali, Nicaragua, with Food for the Hungry.
- 2018
By 2018, VOTA was a duo, with Bryan Olesen on vocals, guitar, and bass and John Wooten on drums and keyboards.
- 2020
In 2020, VOTA covered I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For.
- 2023
In December 2023, VOTA released the single Souled Out, featuring Amirul Hazmie.
- 2024
The Voice, season 25
Third place
- 2025
In 2025, VOTA released the singles Hold for Applause, Fix You, and Try.
Discography
All releases are credited to VOTA.
| Title | Type | Year | Label | RIAA certification | U.S. sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Really Great Sinners | Album | 2000 | self-released | Not documented | Not documented |
| Rock | EP | 2002 | Big Box Records | Not documented | Not documented |
| Casting Pearls | Album | 2004 | Big Box Records | Not documented | Not documented |
| Casting Pearls (national CD-DVD re-release)Alternate edition | Album | 2005 | Inpop Records | Not documented | Not documented |
| Live in Wichita | Live album | 2007 | Inpop Records | Not documented | Not documented |
| Rock (re-release as VOTA)Alternate edition | EP | 2008 | Big Box Records | Not documented | Not documented |
| VOTA | Album | 2008 | INO/Columbia | Not documented | Not documented |
| VOTA: Special Digital EditionAlternate edition | Album | 2009 | INO Records | Not documented | Not documented |
| VOTAAlternate edition | Album | 2009 | INO/Columbia | Not documented | Not documented |
| God of the Universe | EP | 2012 | Big Box Records | Not documented | Not documented |
| Love Found Me | Album | 2013 | Big Box Records | Not documented | Not documented |
| Fearless | Album | 2016 | Big Box Entertainment | Not documented | Not documented |
| Back To The Start | Album | 2026 | independent | Not documented | Not documented |
Sources
- Bryan Olesen — Wikipedia, April 21, 2026.
- VOTA — Wikipedia, May 14, 2023.
- VOTA (album) — Wikipedia, August 1, 2025.
- Vota — Jesusfreakhideout.com, October 10, 2026.
- The Voice (American TV series) season 25 — Wikipedia, October 9, 2026.
- Casting Pearls (album) — Wikipedia, May 27, 2025.
- Newsboys — Wikipedia, October 6, 2026.
- The Story Behind the Christian Rock Band VOTA, Featuring The Voice Hopeful Bryan Olesen — American Songwriter, March 4, 2024.
- Monthly pageviews of the English Wikipedia article "Bryan Olesen", July 2015 – September 2026 — Wikimedia Foundation.
Other The Voice season 25 finalists
- Josh SandersRunner-up
- Nathan ChesterFourth place
- Karen WaldrupFifth place
- Maddi JaneEliminated in the Top 9
- Madison CurbeloEliminated in the Top 9
- Serenity ArceEliminated in the Top 9
- Tae LewisEliminated in the Top 9
- L. RodgersEliminated in the Top 12
- NadègeEliminated in the Top 12
- Zoe LevertEliminated in the Top 12