The Voice – Blind Auditions Night 4

By starrymag | October 2, 2014

Q) Katriz, I’m wondering to what do you attribute the success you’ve had singing thus far? In other words, how is that at such a young age you’ve been able to win the competitions that we saw that you had won and how is it that you’re able to sing the way you sing, again at such a young age?

Katriz Trinidad: I mean I guess just the experience of grabbing the opportunities that I can to just compete with others and learn more about myself as an artist is what really helps me to push through – through the song “At Last” because before I did my final I was really nervous. The nervous just really rushed into me, and that’s why I took a really big breath before I sang “At Last.”

Q) Have you had any sort of singing lessons?

Katriz Trinidad: Yes, I do. I have private lessons, but my teacher became a teacher at school, so he’s been busy, so I’ve been kind of just working on my own. But I do have mentors that help me when I need it.

Q) Jean, I was surprised that you weren’t a four chair turn. I’m wondering – I thought your performance was really good. What did you think of it and what can we expect the next time we see you on stage?

Jean Kelley: Thank you, first of all, for saying that, appreciate it. I was totally psyched about those two chairs. I liked the performance. I was a lot more nervous than I was expecting to be, but I overcame it the best I could. I just wasn’t seeing chairs turning until the end, so of course that kind of gets inside your head, but I was very excited when Gwen and Blake both turned their chairs.

Q) And moving forward what can we expect from you?

Jean Kelley: Hopefully great things. I’m definitely going to work really hard and keep pushing myself, probably start taking vocal lessons because it’s probably about time for that and just do my best and try to make myself and my family and friends proud.

Q) Gianna, Rebekah, and Grant because we saw so little of you on last night’s show. I was hoping each of you could tell us how you got started in music, what you’ve done musically to this point, what genre of music you prefer to sing

Gianna Salvato: I got started in music – my family was pretty music oriented. Growing up they were always playing music. My sister played music. My brother was also into it. So I think just growing up around it there was kind of no other choice other than to participate. And I used to just watch my sister play the piano, and then I started playing. So I sort of was integrated into it. And I am going for like a pop, R&B, like a pop/soul type of thing. That’s the genre that I’m going for. This show of course is the biggest thing by far that I’ve done. But I think the other big thing was like about a year ago I sang at  event in Los Angeles with him at the Nokia Theatre. So that’s definitely – those are the two biggest things.

Grant Ganzer: I first got started playing music – in school I wasn’t like really the most athletic kid, and that’s what most of the kids were striving for. So in choir class when I found out that I could hold a pitch or keep a rhythm and people noticed that, I just kind of ran with it. And I just saw that as my – as what I was good at and what I could kind of shine as. And I’m really working towards like a neo soul style. I want to appeal to that soul audience of – because neo soul is kind of making a comeback right now and I want to play music to those people, I guess. I’ve really just been perfecting my craft and trying to work towards that soul style.

Q) Ethan, you had said you thought you were going to go with Blake. What is it about Adam that makes him so compelling that you just had to change your mind?

Ethan Butler: You’re right. I was very much bent on choosing Blake from the beginning. But in the heat of the moment when you’re on that stage, things change. And you can actually feel the energy of the other person that connects with you the most. And so I wanted to pry a little bit deeper to see which one I really wanted to go with, which is why I asked the question, “What do you think I need to work on?” And Adam answered that question very precisely and actually hit on things that I knew already that I needed to grow in. So the fact that he was able to hear that and address that really pushed me over the edge, and that’s why I chose him.

Q) Chris, you had thought about going with Pharrell, hadn’t you?

Chris Jamison: Yes I had. Pharrell was at the top of my list before I went on stage. And then once I got on stage and kind of what Ethan said applied to my same sort of thing. I’ve always loved getting like constructive criticism and using those things then to move forward and to kind of just better myself as a musician. And the fact that Adam took a chance and kind of just told me exactly how he felt and told me that I wasn’t perfect and that there was things I need to work on, but he was willing to help me to work on those things, I took that to heart and like I said before, I love constructive criticism, and that is the main reason why I went with Adam.

Q) Well which was risky for him because everyone else was praising you while he was the one coming up with the one constructive criticism. Again, obviously some people would go, “I don’t know,” but of course for an artist, that’s what you want to hear.

Chris Jamison: Yeah, I mean, but like I said before, that’s a big thing for me is just improving and how I can make myself a better artist and a better musician. And I think that’s what this whole show is about is trying to better yourself as a musician and find your place in the crazy music industry. So that’s exactly why I went with Adam.

Q) Jonathan, we didn’t really know who you were going to pick. Was Adam pretty much your choice going in or did you have a leaning towards someone else?

Jonathan Wyndham: Honestly, I actually had Pharrell at the top of my list. I think it was just his enthusiasm and the way he was – I don’t know, it’s also the history I have with Adam Levine’s band. I love them. I used to – when I first learned guitar, I worked my way through that entire first album of his. So like the music’s really close to my heart, and I was just really humbled and excited to get to work with him.

Q) Gwen is pretty open about if she thinks a guy is cute. And I think all of you received that kind of thing as well as Tanner. Jonathan, to hear Adam say you’re like Super Man? How does that make you feel?

Jonathan Wyndham: : It’s just pretty humbling. I mean, you kind of melt when Gwen Stefani says it, but that kind of thing, bone structure, you can’t claim any of that. I mean it’s not like it’s going to go to my head. It just is what it is. I’m very thankful for that and it’s very flattering.

Chris Jamison: Yeah, I mean, when Gwen said that I was obviously taken back because she is a beautiful woman and very easy to look at. And I was obviously, like Jonathan said, like it’s not like – I’m just a lucky guy. I was given, I guess – I don’t know how to answer that without sounding like a complete flake. My head is huge because like – I mean, I don’t know, it’s just an amazing experience. There’s no way to describe it really without – I don’t know – it was awesome.

Ethan Butler: So I think that getting that compliment from her seriously made my night, apart from any musical constructive criticism or compliment, that was by far a highlight for me, and something I’m kind of taking away with and putting in my back pocket.

Q) Tanner, could you just talk a little bit about what it was like coming back for the second time? Were you more nervous? Less nervous?

Tanner Linford: Yeah, so originally coming back I thought that I was going to be less nervous. I felt like I had come a long way since last time as far as confidence and everything. I had taken all the opportunities that I was given to perform. But then when I actually got on the stage and I saw the backs of those chairs again, all the memories started coming back. The fear and the doubts kind of start settling in. So yeah, at the beginning especially I think I was really nervous. It showed in my voice. I was pretty shaky at the beginning. Then as the song went on, I got a little more control of myself, and I just tried to pour my soul into it at the end there.

Q) I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anybody in my life look as relieved as you did at that last note when Blake turned around. Could you talk about that a little bit?

Tanner Linford: Yeah, that was the craziest thing in the world for me. I went from a state of like total despair to like complete and utter giddy happiness. So really a bizarre emotional experience for me, but one of the greatest things that’s ever happened to me, and I’m so grateful to Blake for that.

Q) It had to be kind of nice that the returning judges both remembered you.

Tanner Linford: Yeah, that was nice. I mean they’ve seen so many contestants go through the show since me, so it was really nice that they even remembered my face.

Q) Several of them obviously made comments. And you said so in your interview – you said yourself that they thought you were a girl. But Adam had an answer for that as well.

Tanner Linford: Mm-hm, yeah. Yeah, they thought I was a girl. I thought that was kind of funny. That’s one thing, I mean, I obviously never really thought about that. But that’s probably partly because I know I’m a dude and I can see. But it was really funny hearing that from them. I have been told that in the past. The first time I heard it was actually during Season 6. Some people who heard me during one of my rehearsals, when I came out they said that they thought I was a woman, so it’s really kind of funny hearing that. I don’t know what kind of weird girl they were picturing in their minds, but yeah. The comment really doesn’t bother me that much though because Adam and Pharrell have been told the same thing, and they’re both amazing artists. So yeah, it’s not a big deal for me.

Q) Chris, you were talking about part of the reason you picked Adam is because you appreciate constructive criticism, and I’m wondering how your background as a conservatory student at Capital University might have prepared you for that?

Chris Jamison: Yeah, well, not even just at Capital, but I used to be involved with a lot of like musical theater like after-school programs where we took classes and I was a part of Broadway, not on Broadway, but we did like – I was in a few performing groups where we performed like Broadway standards. And so we would always, like in rehearsals and everything, that was obviously a big component to everything was we’re working on trying to learn dance moves and sing at the same time and so the director would always tell people if you’re not aligned, if you’re not doing something correctly, to point it out because at the end of the day we all have to look as if we’re one cohesive unit. So from a young age, I’ve always had people giving me constructive criticism and telling me what to do and what I’m doing wrong and how to fix it. So it’s always been a big part of my performing, I guess, background is people tell me what I can improve on. So for me, I know some people will take that – some people don’t take criticism as well as others, but I guess I’ve learned from different opportunities that I’ve had that at the end of the day, any criticism is all just about bettering you as a performer and as a person. So it’s always been a part of my life.

Q) Specific to the show, with your auditions and as you move on to the next step, are you able to consult with professors and past sort of mentors who know you from your past?

Chris Jamison: Yeah, I mean, well it worked out really nicely on the show. On the show I sang “Gravity,” and “Gravity” was one of my first songs I ever sang in the rock ensemble at my school. And so that was like where I had my first chance to perform with like a full band. And I had the opportunity to work with other people and my professor as well who was in charge of the group. I got a lot of criticism and constructive stuff whenever I was in the rock ensemble, whenever I performed “Gravity” in the ensemble. So whenever I got to sing it on the show, I kind of just used what I had learned previously from the rock ensemble and kind of applied it to my performance.

Q) Yeah, four chair turn on Tuesday night’s episode. Difficult song, A Great Big World’s “Say Something.” Was there a story behind that song?

Jonathan Wyndham: That song is such a heartfelt – I mean, when I think about songs that are super well written, I think about guys like Bob Dylan and all the writers that have gone through the line. And the first time I heard that song, what I was left with was wow, that’s a super emotional song. And I’ve been in a lot of relationships, and that song’s really hit home on a lot of different levels, from girlfriends to – I mean that song came out right as – it was really hitting the radio hard when my grandfather passed away, and that was just – it just really hit home. So there was no other song I would have chosen.

Q) You nailed it, a lot of emotion. Tell me what can we expect from you this season?

Jonathan Wyndham: I’m just going to continue to go out there and not choke and – I mean sing songs to the best of my ability.

Q) And what’s on your iPod right now?

Jonathan Wyndham: A lot of times I will pore over songs I’ve just written, so I’ve got one I just wrote with a dude in Charlotte. And then I love Ryan Tedder. His production’s so good, so everything OneRepublic’s on there. And then got that song by Milky Chance.

Q) Gianna and Grant, we didn’t see our auditions so I was hoping you could each tell us a little bit about how our audition went. How quickly did you get someone to turn around? What type of feedback did you get? And how did you select the judge you selected? Gianna, if we could start with you.

Gianna Salvato: Well, I sang, “Glitter in the Air” by Pink for my audition. And I was a bit nervous. Well, actually I was very nervous, not just a bit nervous. But I walked up, I was singing, and maybe about 15 seconds in, I saw Gwen turn, which was crazy. And Gwen ended up being the only judge that turned, so I didn’t get to select, but it doesn’t matter because she was my first choice anyway. So that was great. But yeah, Adam said that he really liked my hair, so that was nice because I do have very bright red hair. And then Gwen was just saying that she thought that my vibrato was really unique and that she liked the last scene I guess of my voice because when I sing up high, it gets a little bit like that, which was nice because there have been moments where I’ve been told that sounds weird or why can’t you sing clear up there? And it’s just something that happens. And Blake, he really – he seemed to like – I mean he seemed to like me. I don’t know. He said that he thought it was very emotional and he liked that I could connect to the song. And then Pharrell was just talking about how he liked that I was connected to it also and that I was really connected — I don’t know if I already said that — that I was really connected to the song and that I made New Jersey proud, which is nice because I want to make where I’m from proud. So yeah, that is basically what happened.

Q) And were you happy with your performance?

Gianna Salvato: I was happy with my performance. I feel like it was the biggest thing that I’ve ever done, so obviously it’s not going to be – I’m definitely my biggest critic so there’s always things that I’m going to think need improvement but overall I was very happy with my performance and I feel like I stayed in tune with the song the whole time and tried not to psych myself out.

Grant Ganzer: Yeah, I felt amazing about my audition. I got on stage and I sang a song called “Unaware” by Allen Stone. He’s one of my favorite artists and I’ve really just been in love with his music for the last year or two. And I got on stage and I sang. The whole cut was a verse and then two choruses. And Blake turned his chair on just that first high note in that first chorus. And I was kind of singing to the left side of the audience when he turned his chair because when those chairs are turned away from you, it’s kind of daunting. Like it’s a really good way to psych yourself out if you just perform to those four chairs turned around. So I just performed to some people in the audience there and saw the lights go off out of the corner of my eye, and I saw that he turned. And yeah, when we all went into blinds, we said a lot to each other – all we need is that one chair, like that’s all we want. If just one person turns that’s enough. And I really feel that way about Blake turning. That’s all I really needed.

Q) And what type of feedback did he give you?

Grant Ganzer: He said he really liked the soul that I had in my voice. And he liked how much passion I put into that song.

Q) Craig in your after interview on YouTube you talked about how church was pretty important to you in the beginning, how you sang a lot in church. Why, what is it about church that I guess teaches you how to sing?

Craig Wayne Boyd: I think it’s more – at least for me, it was about the emotion behind singing that I learned from church. I grew up in a spirit church and a Pentecostal home that was something that was – everything was you sang to God. That’s what it was about. And it was about the emotion that was put into it. And you just put every bit of your heart and soul into it, and that’s something that I took from that.

Q) Ethan, you have a big church background. Would you have been where you are now without that kind of training in church?

Ethan Butler: No, and surprisingly singing didn’t even come for me until I started playing guitar around 13. So it was actually more the musical influence that really pushed my vocal abilities, I would say. And yeah, it was again just being surrounded by other musicians in more of a relaxed setting, and it just really produced a lot of creativity and yeah, that really that just hit home for me.

Q) Toia, I wanted to ask you about song choice. “One and Only,” one of my favorite songs. Why that song in particular for you?

Toia Jones: I chose “One and Only” because for me it was – I felt like I was pleading at that moment and taking a short amount of time to get the message across. So I feel like that song really came from a place, a genuine place.

Q) Amanda, did you hesitate about that or are you very proud of that, if that is indeed what has happened the first time on The Voice? I mean I think it’s a milestone for the show.

Amanda Lee Peers: Yeah, she’s a really huge part of why I started to get back into music again. So, I definitely wanted her to be a part of the experience as well.

Q) Do you think that attitudes have changed a lot in America to where now that’s more acceptable on primetime television on a big show like The Voice?

Amanda Lee Peers: I think people are – it’s out there a lot more. And I think it’s definitely like a good time for people to not just talk about it, but maybe to see we’re just normal people. You know what I mean? It’s not anything strange or weird. But I think The Voice is the perfect outlet for that because, it’s not focusing on any certain relationship but it’s just part of the reason that someone – that they’re inspired to do music. So I think it’s really cool that The Voice showed that.

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*