The Voice – Battle Round 1

By starrymag | March 21, 2014

INTERVIEW WITH BATTLE WINNERS PATRICK THOMPSON, JAKE BARKER, SISAUNDRA LEWIS, KAT PERKINS, DANI MOZ AND TJ WILKINS

 

Q) Patrick, I was wondering what it felt like to be stolen because it must have been a moment of low losing the battle but then a high being stolen by someone else.

Patrick Thompson: Yeah. Absolutely. It was such an emotional roller coaster because you get that immediate feeling that oh my goodness, I’m going home and your mind going everywhere. And then they hit the button and I was like a deer caught in headlights. I didn’t know what to do.

Q) Do you feel more pressure coming onto a team that you didn’t originally start on or did they make you feel welcome right away?

Patrick Thompson: Made me feel welcome right away. And honestly it’s an honor to be able to work with not only one superstar but two superstars now. Also, I know what it feels like to go home. And I don’t want to feel that feeling again.

Q) Sisaundra, I’m wondering what you made of what Blake Shelton said about you being the standout on his team that no one was going to challenge you?

Sisaundra Lewis: Wow. What I made out of it. I was just more in shock when he said it because of course we’re amongst so much talent on the team that I was like wow. I just took it as a huge honor and a compliment. And I’m glad that I’m on his team.

Q) And can you talk about your use of the big note? How did you approach that?

Sisaundra Lewis: Well, Coach Blake had told me in rehearsal that I need to pace myself and also The Band Perry. That it’s about certain moments and about not using everything you have. So to dial it back and to know when to use that special moment. And I found that at the end of the song and I just kind of held onto it.

Q) Jake, I know you have some pretty serious stage fright. How was it in the battle round last night?

Jake Barker: Oh man, the stage fright was still there. The cool thing about it was me and Stevie are such good friends and we kind of went into the battle with the mentality no man left behind. And we practiced the song a bunch and the funny thing is we – while we were practicing it, we would look at each other and we couldn’t stop laughing because we were just having so much fun with it. So I think it took a little pressure off of it going on the stage and being with a friend and us pushing each other. The stage fright was there but I have to say I had a lot of fun with the performance because it was great being up there with Stevie.

Q) Kat, obviously, we don’t know who’s going on to the live round and we know you guys obviously can’t tell us. But watching the battle rounds last night, it would seem like the two of you maybe were some early standouts, maybe some early frontrunners in the competition. That’s sort of what we felt as the viewer. For you as singers, do you sort of feel any sort of momentum as you headed into the knockouts?

Kat Perkins: I have to it one step at a time; pretty much one day at a time in this competition because it’s so intense. And there’s so much talent. And for me I think it’s just now focusing on the next round and getting through that. So yes, I feel momentum but only in the fact that there’s work to be done. And that next round is there and it’s just focus time and go time.

Q) Sisaundra, how about you? How did you feel like maybe one round helped propel you for the next round?

Sisaundra Lewis: Of course there’s that empowerment that you have but at the same time we do have to live in a moment I agree with Kat very much so about that. It’s very intense. Everyone’s really talented. And we just bring our best to the stage on that day.

Q) Can you ladies tell us a little bit about what the battle round is like? What it’s like to sort of try and harmonize and pair up well with someone while you’re also trying to defeat them in a competition?

Kat Perkins: The battle round is really fun for me because I love singing harmonies and I love being a part of that aspect of a song or a performance. And so that was really exciting for me to be a part of. I never really thought about it as the defeat. Thank God mine and Patrick’s song was a real duet by Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks. So it was just such a team effort for that song. And we needed both parts to really complete that performance. So all I did was try to focus on doing my part well and blending with Patrick and making it a great performance. And I felt like that was taken care of.

Sisaundra Lewis: Well, I would say that Paula and I spent a lot time in rehearsal as well working on the approach to the song. And ours is more of a battle kind of strong song but at the same time we helped come up and create the parts that we sang so we would feel comfortable on stage with each other. And then who knew what the outcome would be but at the end of the day, we made incredible music in harmonizing together and I really appreciate that so much that we are making friends while we are, you know, you know, at the same time it’s a competition. And for me I’ve never been in a competition so I can’t look at someone like oh, yeah, this is what it’s about. It’s really about I just met you, you have incredible talent and together we’re going to make some incredible things happen. And that’s how we approached it. And that’s how we lived in that moment.

Q) Jake, like Patrick, you were stolen last night but you had the very unique position of being stolen by three of the judges. First off, what was that like? And then why did you ultimately go ahead and go with Adam?

Jake Barker: Gosh, it was like a dream. You go in there and you want the best possible outcome. And I think that was it. Because Stevie’s a friend of mine and to see him go on made me really, really happy. And thank God some of these other guys didn’t get the luxury that I did because Adam said he was going to steal me before or steal one of us before us are even chosen. So we didn’t have the anxiety and emotional battle so it was kind of a relief. But to have all three try to steal me was unbelievable. I honestly felt like I could have just cried at that moment because it was just such a – I don’t even know how to explain it. It was just such a good feeling. It was a reassuring feeling and I was just happy that I got to stay in the competition because I mean I’ve made some great friends out here. I’m learning a lot out here. And I was just so thankful that I had the opportunity to stay.  In the blind audition Adam had said something to me – some constructive criticism about maybe the song being too busy at times. And I’ve gone back and listened to some things and taken that into consideration. And I was really torn. Shakira and Blake both made amazing arguments as well. It was a really tough decision. But I felt like as far as coaching I kind of felt like Adam could help me out a lot with certain things and holding out more of a pure tone. I want to get better. And I feel like he really wants to help me improve on my weaknesses. And I was just excited to be able to have the opportunity to work with him.

Q) Dani, what’s been the best part and maybe the most challenging part for you so far in the competition?

Dani Moz: Honestly, I would have to say starting with the most challenging those steps onto the stage for the first blind audition. By far that’s the moment you’re waiting for, your entry onto this huge platform and this show with all these amazing artists and superstar coaches. That to me has by far been the most challenging is, you know, mustering up the courage and getting yourself ready for that blind audition. And, honestly the best moment for me was the moment that was created last night on that stage between me and DeShawn. I mean, I could only hope as a performer that the audience feels the emotion I’m trying to convey out there on that stage. And I know I certainly felt it. With DeShawn being up there I really let myself just completely let go and sink into it and be emotional in that song and in that moment. And DeShawn is just the real deal. He is the true talent and he’s become such a good friend of mine. And so being up there and having that chemistry be alive and in the forefront was just incredible. So for me that was the best moment.

Q) Kat, same question; best part and most challenge part so far of the competition?

Kat Perkins: I’m going to have to agree with Dani. It’s that blind audition that you spend so much time preparing and that moment is really, really, really intense. And it’s such an unknown. I mean, even the battle round there’s aspects that are unknown but that is just a crazy intense moment of trying to turn a chair and you’re in an audition mode, it’s in a performance mode or having both together. So that’s probably been the most challenging for me for sure. The best part is meeting new people and learning from each other and definitely in my case, my coach Adam Levine. And in our last episode we had an advisor Aloe Blacc and so we learned some stuff from him, too. And I honestly have just never been so in touch with my voice since I was probably studying when I was – 15 years ago. So it’s nice to be back in touch with that and being a better performer and just an all around better person with this experience.

Q) Jake, I’m wondering if between rounds you’re getting a chance to work behind the bar still. And if so, are the customers coming in and like “oh my God man, it’s you?” What kind of reaction are you getting?

Jake Barker: To be honest with you, I got let go from the job when I had left for this because they didn’t know how long I would be gone. So I haven’t been back to the bar. The funny thing is is I live in New York now and nobody notices anybody. So I haven’t had any recognition whatsoever. But I talk to my family back home in Florida and my parents and my sisters are being asked a million questions about everything. So they’re getting it more than I am. I haven’t really had anybody ask me anything to be honest with you.

Q) Jake, your Twitter feeds last night got some pretty provocative and funny tweets from especially young women. You’ve been working on social media for a couple years now. Is there anything special you would tell the other folks on the team who have just started that they should do to keep doing it or to make it better or to get the best out of it?

Jake Barker: Oh man. It’s never been like it has been since I’ve been on the show. But I mean I guess this is definitely important to try to keep up as much as possible and respond to everybody. I’ve got nothing but love and it’s been amazing some of the responses. Some of the things are strange at time and definitely funny a lot of times as well. But you got to take the good with the bad. And you really just have to keep up with it. It’s like a full time job almost as of lately. And I’m sure everybody else can tell you the same thing. It’s never been like it has been until I was on the show. And I’m so grateful for it and thankful for it. And all the love I’ve been receiving I just – it’s overwhelming. So I’m just trying to respond to people as much as I can and let them know how much I really appreciate them.

Q) Now has anybody else got me some really good ones or any really strange tweets or any things on Facebook?

Kat Perkins: I’m kind of new at the whole Twitter thing so, you know, I’m just getting into that and it’s very overwhelming to me right now. But I’m trying to keep up. On Facebook I got an invitation for a date to go tap dancing. I just really wanted to do it and like take a camera and go on a tap dancing date with this man because it was the sweetest message you have ever seen ever and it was such a cute thing for him to ask me to do.

Sisaundra Lewis: I’m like Kat. I’m very new at tweeting and Instagram. So I’m looking at all the cool things. I’m wondering like can I be that cool on social media. So I’m like trying to find that side of me because it is overwhelming. You seen them starting to like roll in, all the alerts and it’s like oh my God, oh my gosh. What do you do? So I’m going to take Jake’s advice because he’s a master at this. Take his master advice and then I’m (studying him) up on Twitter so I can get better at this. But I love it. I love it. I love it.

Dani Moz: I am definitely going to agree with Jake that it’s just been so overwhelming but in the best way. All the love and the outpouring of support coming in from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and all the social platforms. I think it’s just really all about making the connection with these people who are supporting you and reaching out to you. So it’s definitely been time consuming but those connections are so important to us as well as the people who are watching the show and following all of the artists’ stories.

Q) Obviously you guys all know that music is a very difficult industry, very cut throat industry and yet when we’ve been talking to you guys the past couple of weeks, you guys have been mentioning about how well you get along, how you’re all friends, how you don’t really see it as competition. And I’m just wondering do you guys find that unusual or why do you suppose that you all get along so well on the show?

Sisaundra Lewis: Well, this is how I look at it. I’ve met all these amazing voices on this journey. And for me if you receive a gift from the creator, I would be crazy to question him giving it to you or you owning that gift. So I give respect to every singer that can do what they do. And so that to me allows us to open up and be friends and just accept the magnificence of the challenge that’s there. It’s all about love and making sure that we’re nurturing the special gifts that we have. That’s the way I approach every singer.

Jake Barker: I mean I got to say we became kind of like a family. We’re all different in so many different ways and we all love doing this. And not only does it help to have support from each other, I mean although it’s a competition, just because we’re so different it’s easy to become fans of each others. I’m a fan of so many of these guys’ voices. And they’re absolutely incredible. And we’re making connections and lifelong friends with each other. So I think it’s sometimes you look at it as the competition aspect but to be out there with these talented people is just – it’s just so awesome to hear them, to learn from them and, you know, to share different life experiences. And we’re so close because we’re always together. It’s just it’s hard to look at it that way until, you know, the day comes where you’re on stage and for the rest of the time we all get along and it’s great to just hang out with each other and be around so many talented people.

Dani Moz: I completely agree with Jake and Sisaundra. For me knowing that yes there is only one winner that can come out of this competition, it’s just all about enjoying the ride with these tremendous talented artists along the way because the collaboration and the comradery really just helps fuel the fire. I know for me personally it’s just so inspirational to not only hear everyone’s stories but to just hear the talent that – and the voices that come out of their mouths. I know, you know, the music industry is very competitive but it’s also very collaborative. You have to learn how to play well with others. And you’re going to be working with producers, working with managers, working with labels and just other artists as well. We’re all here to support each other. And yes it is a competition, but I think what we’re going to take away from this win or lose are the relationships we’re forming with each other.

Patrick Thompson: I’d just say everybody out there, you know, is not just a musician. It’s not just a person playing music. Everyone out there just has such a love and such a respect for music. And it’s they believe – each one of us we believe that it’s something we can do for a living and actually do something that we love and make a living at it. None of us live in huge mansions and drive fancy cars and stuff like that. We’re all down to earth people. We’re all there for the same reason and it’s the love of music. I don’t feel like anybody really feels like they’re out there like oh, I’m going to get you. But it’s just amazing to walk into a room and with five people and just sing a note and everybody join in perfect harmony like a choir that’s been rehearsing for years. So it’s been a blessing no matter how far I make it in the competition.

TJ Wilkins: I just wanted to chime in and say that I totally, we’ve all heard the stigma about the music industry and like you said as being very cut throat. But I think the really cool thing about this competition is the fact that – like everyone said like we’re all friends. But to add to that, because everybody is such a tremendous talent and because we bring so many different and unique things to the competition, it almost as if – it’s almost as if we’re pushing each other to be our greatest selves. Watching the battles last night, I was really able to see like some really cool things that I took from everyone’s performance in order to make myself better. And so it’s almost as if we’re pushing each other. And it’s beautiful because like everyone said, we’re all friends. And we all want to see each other do well. And I think that’s probably just the coolest thing about this whole experience thus far.

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*