The Voice – Battle Round 3

By starrymag | March 28, 2014

Q) Bria, from what I’ve seen and from what I know of you, I mean, it seems like you’re a great singer and a great performer. But it looks like you’re the kind of singer who likes to be in control on stage. I’m wondering, how much of a challenge was it for you in the battle round to have to share a song with someone else?

Bria Kelly: I mean, like I said during my interview, it’s not every day, because I come from such a small town, that I get to sing with someone as good as Tess. Because, again, I’m not used to singing with other people. Like I’m the frontrunner of my band. And when I do sing with other people, like they’re singing harmonies behind me. So it wasn’t, it wasn’t that hard. I thought it was cool. Like to be honest with you, I thought it was a cool experience. It’s not necessarily the fact that it was difficult. It was different and I really, really enjoyed getting the opportunity to be able to just make a kickass performance.

Q) Can you tell us a little bit about how you prepared for that battle round and for the second battle round. Obviously, you got a lot of good feedback from the four coaches. How does that help you and how did the input that you got from your mentors, how did that help you as well in your preparation for these two battle rounds?

Bria Kelly: It really helped to know that I was, I stared off like singing the song like definitely like with my tough face façade that I have. Obviously, like I come off like, and like to be bad ass. But for this song I definitely had to become a little bit more vulnerable onstage. Wow. And, I, I mean, I didn’t have my guitar so I had to like move around but basically vulnerability is like a keeping that I took away from all of the, all of the feedback, all of the comments that I got from Jill and Usher was definitely just being able just to open myself up.

Q) Madilyn, I was wondering what it was like to be able to perform with someone who’s from your same city and how that was able to affect the way that you’re able to work with Tanner?

Madilyn Paige: Well it was really amazing how it worked out that Tanner and I just happened to both end up on the stage and battle each other so it was just like really crazy how that worked out. I think it really helped us build a chemistry because we kind of come from a similar background and we had, I think we had pretty good chemistry from the very beginning which was really cool. And I think it made my performance better because we were, we just had so much in common and I think it really worked to our advantage. So it was really cool.

Q) Is there was maybe a piece of advice from either Usher or Jill Scott that they gave you during your rehearsals that really stuck out to you?

Madilyn Paige: Yes. Tey said a lot but one thing that really stuck out to me was when Jill Scott, she said to use my eyes and to just be in the moment when I’m singing and that really stuck out to me. And I think I’m going to definitely try and use that in my performance from now on.

Q) Madilyn, it was interesting to see Jill Scott be the coach for you and Tanner. What was it like having someone like her sort of giving you input and giving you advice?

Madilyn Paige: It was really cool to see how she taught us and kind of her strategies that she used and actually, she went, her and Usher together they were great teachers together and they were a team. And she, it was just really interesting to see some of the things she told me and tips she was able to give me were just really spot on. And it was really incredible to work with someone who has accomplished so much, but such an amazing experience that I got to work with someone like that. So it was really cool.

Q) After your performance, it seemed like all the comments were sort of about how cute and adorable you guys were. Do you ever get tired of those kinds of comments?

Madilyn Paige: I don’t think I could ever get tired of it. I mean, it’s I just, it’s so flattering to me and it’s so, you know, I think that such, I mean it makes me more happy because I really think Tanner and I were trying to come off as some people who are in love and people who had a good chemistry. And so with all the comments saying how they we were adorable and stuff like that I think is just showing that we succeeded in doing that. So, I think it’s really cool that they’re saying that. I don’t think I’ll ever feel to get sick of it. Who knows, maybe I will but as of now, I’m just, I’m just really grateful and happy.

Q) If you could just maybe share a little bit about how this last round and this last battle with Tanner and working with Jill Scott, how all that has I guess, in what specific ways did it help you grow both as a singer and as a performer?

Madilyn Paige: Well I’ve never really sang like a duet with somebody on stage. Like I have usually just either been in choirs or I sang along. So for one thing, singing a duet was really different and something that I had never done up until now. So just that in itself was a challenge and a learning experience. And it also really helped me grow because I had to like convey emotions. I had to act like I was in love with this person and I’ve never had to do that and I don’t have a lot of experience so that was a bit of a challenge. But I think it really did challenge me but I think from challenges come great learning experiences and this entire process so far has been such a big learning experience for me. I have grown so much from being put in these positions where I have to perform. And that’s something I’ve always struggled with. So I’m definitely just all the tips I’ve received for performing and all the things that I’ve had to do, have really pushed me and helped me grow.

Q) Could each of you just pretty much tell me that whole emotional thing you go through from the time it’s called who’s the winner to the time you’re stolen.

Tess Boyer: I will tell you that is was the most emotional moment I have ever experienced in my life. Bria and I are very, very close, so our battle is bittersweet but when I heard her name announced that she won I had that moment of oh my gosh, my best friend just won the battle. This is so exciting. And I started crying tears of joy and then if finally dawned on me oh, crud, I lost my battle. I could potentially go home. So the tears then turn into I don’t want this experience to end whatsoever. So then a person asked us if there’s anything else we had to say to our coach and just pouring that emotion out and saying, you know, thank you so much and that I’ve made you proud which is what it’s all about, you know, growth and learning from this experience. And then like to have, press this button and to know that I’m still in a competition. It was just so overwhelming. It was so baffling and then I got to be reunited with Bria and then we could share the same emotion. So it really truly is the most crazy rollercoaster that you have ever been on.

Josh Murley: I guess it was totally different because she totally, Shakira waited until I was literally almost out the door. So it goes, it goes from I don’t know. I think the feeling is definitely, definitely a lot more especially when you’re kind of just accepting defeat. And then you’re on your way out. And it just yes, I thought I, when I heard the button I thought I actually had like ran into something or kicked something over. Or I don’t know. I didn’t know what to think. So, I don’t know. It was amazing. I was definitely, definitely a relieved.

Q) And for both of you, making the transition to another coach, is it really pretty seamless? Or I mean, does it take a little adjusting

Tess Boyer: I think that it’s definitely different especially in my case from going from Usher to Blake. They are two completely different people in regards to coaching techniques. But it’s such a wonderful thing and in several interviews they’ve asked us, do you find that an advantage or a disadvantage and quite frankly it does come as an advantage because you’re getting two pieces of advice. You’re getting two different approaches on your vocal ability and your artistic choices. So it definitely is hard making that transition but I would say I wouldn’t have it any other way and it truly is an amazing experience. And I think that I can speak for everybody that’s been stolen in this competition that we are so, so humbled and blessed to be in this position and that we are honestly going to make the best of our experience and keep fighting.

Josh Murley: She got the words entirely out of my mouth. I’m going to go ahead and say ditto.

Q) Chris and Miranda, Dawn and Hawkes. These battle rounds have traditionally been a real problem spot for duos. You guys made it through. As it turned out, you’re the only duo to make it through. Was there any particular strategy you took to the battle round?

Hawkes: I think the main focus was to try to fix what Adam had coached on and what he expected to see from us and it was so nice that it lined-up with our perspective on the battle going into it which was to focus on showcasing and performing more than competing.

Dawn: And, yes, well I think it helped that Josh was our friend previously from home so it just felt like we were onstage playing music with our friend and I think that that’s why and why I play music is to have fun performing and to make it all about the music, not about a competition. Even though it is a vocal competition, my heart is in creating the music.

Q) So you knew Josh prior to this from when? Had you performed together previously?

Dawn: Yes, like every step of the way, we were excited to see someone we knew as part of The Voice was already like wow. And then to be on the same team was another wow. And then to be paired up together.

Q) Josh and Miranda, do you think now that Texas music, especially Austin and the rest of them, is finally starting to get the prominence it deserves, especially when folks like you all are getting on The Voice? Do you think it’s slowly getting respected the way it should be?

Josh Murley: I’m going to let, I’m going to let, I definitely, I definitely feel it’s, I definitely feel it’s I don’t know, I feel it’s gotten it for an all amount of time now.  Austin is – they’re calling it the music capital but it’s a little weird. Austin’s to the point of kind of getting really, really saturated so it’s hard to find a, I don’t know, a lot of musicians won’t do as much as they actually probably want to or should just due to it being so overflowed with musicians. I think, yes, definitely think Texas is finally getting the credit it deserves.

Dawn: The Folk Festival. I mean well Texas is such a big state and it’s known for lots of different types of music so being from here you can’t help but be influenced by all of those different musicians. I do think that there’s a good number of people on The Voice this season who are from Texas and I was, you know I had some Texas pride in finding that out with Deja and Clarissa and I know I’m leaving people out. I’m just like yes, Texas pride all the time.

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*