The Voice – Battles Round One

By starrymag | March 12, 2015

Q) Hannah, obviously you were very good in the blind audition, but when we saw you in the battles, the coaches, I mean, they were practically stomping over each other to get you on their team. They were very, very impressed with you. What sort of did you learn or what sort of process did you go through would you say to have the improvement that we saw from the blind audition to the battle round?

Hannah Kirby: Well, Sarah and I – we worked really hard on the song. And I think just spending so much time on both of us wanting to be in sync, like we both wanted it to be so good, not only for ourselves but for each other, so that the battle would be the best that it could be. And I think just all of that work just turned out a really fantastic product for both of us.

Q) Brian, you were competing against Joshua Davis, playing guitar and performing a song that seemed to be in his wheelhouse, Knocking on Heaven’s Door, but you guys definitely held your own. How do you feel about, you know, still being on Team Blake now and Joshua being on Team Adam? Do you think that gives you guys an advantage or gives Joshua an advantage?

Brian Johnson: Well, I mean, the song in general we were both really happy with. Knocking on Heaven’s Door, Bob Dylan is a very simple, you know, solid song. And we just worked really hard to make it the best song it could be, like Hannah was saying earlier. For both of us we went into this thinking the end goal has to be that one of us wins and one of us gets stolen and that was kind of our mindset from the get go. And I think that Joshua would agree that, like, it worked out best for both parties in this situation. And I think Adam was such a good spot for Joshua. And I mean, like I have loved working with Blake and I’m excited about working with him in the knockout rounds as well.

Q) How Country Feels seemed to be a good start for you with the battles. I think you’re winning over all the ladies last night, especially with Christina Aguilera.

Cody Wickline: Yes, that’s pretty awesome. Yes, it really was.

Q) Now that you’ve made it through the first round of the battles, where do you go from here?

Cody Wickline: Well now, you know, it goes to the knockout round and everything and so that means, you know, we’ll be paired up again and – but this time we’ll do individual songs. So that’s what happens next.

Q) For Sonic, I just wondered if you thought you had it in the bag at the end of that competition or did you kind of feel this could be it.

Sonic: Wow. I don’t know, honestly. I was really struggling in rehearsals so I didn’t really know at that point. I just wanted to get up there and kind of give it my all and leave it all on the stage. And I worked really, really hard with that song and it ended up working out for me. But I like to stay pretty humble and just go into it with a positive mindset.

Q) Cody, I believe Blake Shelton is very much a Cody Wickline fan. He made that very aware last night. How does that make you feel to know that you’ve got a superstar on your side?

Cody Wickline: It makes you feel – it’s really surreal that you’ve got somebody as big as Blake Shelton that has got your back and really believes in you, you know. It’s unbelievable. I never thought I would actually make it this far. And to have – for me to be able to make it this far and then to have somebody like Blake kind of in my corner, on my side it’s really – it’s remarkable. It really is.

Q) Travis, of course, you looked like there for a minute you were not going to make it but then Blake just took you at the final second. Did that really shock you? I mean, were you thinking you were going home?

Travis Ewing: I mean, that was a difficult performance for me because obviously The Temptations is kind of something that Anthony has been doing for a really long time and I hadn’t heard the song before I was given it by Pharrell. So being on that stage and Pharrell looking at me, I was accepting my fate. And even though Blake had said in his comments that he would have picked me, I still wasn’t sure that he would be putting up a steal for that. So yes, I mean, I said my thank you’s and my goodbyes and I started to move forward off the stage and he hit his button which was – I think you could probably see it in my face. I was pretty surprised and pretty relieved. I learned something new for sure.

Q) Paul yesterday we talked about Lyle Lovett. I did listen to it again. I almost have to agree with you. But were you a big Beatles fan before you did this; before the song last night?

Paul Pfau: Oh, of course I was a big Beatles fan. Like I said in the – in my interview on the show, like that – one of the first moments I ever had that inspired me to really want to start playing guitar and even playing – even singing was listening to that exact song in my dad’s car. And so to be able to play that on national TV with one of my best friends, Meghan Linsey that was like one of the coolest moments so far. I mean, it was – yes, I just hope I made Paul McCartney proud. I hope he’s not mad at me.

Q) If you had a chance of doing a Beatles song, is there one you would like to do?

Paul Pfau: Oh man, there’s a hundred I’d like to do. There’s so many. While My Guitar Gently Weeps would probably be a good tune for me because like I said I’m a guitar player, I love shredding, I love that bluesier kind of sound and Clapton was the guitar player on that recording and he’s one of my favorites. So I would love to do that. That would be super cool.

Q) For Meghan, you came on The Voice to launch your solo career and Blake didn’t hit his button at first and then last night you lost the battle, but then all three judges hit their buttons to steal you. How did you feel when that happened?

Meghan Linsey: It was just surreal. It was cool because Paul – I feel like everybody is saying this but Paul and I, we worked really hard on our song trying to make it really hard for the judges so that one of us would win and one of us would get stolen and that was kind of the end goal. So I’m glad we accomplished that. And it was really exciting to have all three judges want me on their team was really, really cool.

Q) And how did you end up choosing Blake? Was it because of your personal history with him?

Meghan Linsey: He said some things that didn’t really make the episode, but I just felt like he really got me and was – just really believed in me in that moment and so I just felt like – I just went with my gut and that was what felt like the right thing to do.

Q) Sarah, you’re selling it this season and I feel like you don’t believe in yourself as much as other people do. I mean, I feel like you’re shocked at moments and now you’re going through to the knockout round. How did you feel last night after winning that battle which I’ve got to give kudos to Hannah too because it was unbelievable.

Sarah Potenza: Thank you so much. Well, it’s not that I don’t believe in myself. I’ve always believed in myself and I’ve always worked really hard to climb every mountain that I’ve climbed in my career. But it’s like every yes that I’ve heard, there have been like a hundred nos. There have been like a hundred times that I’ve been disappointed or been like I worked so hard and put my all into this and it was just kind of another more fuel for the fire of being like – of being an underdog. So then to come into this thing on The Voice and then to turn four chairs and then to win this battle against this incredible, incredible singer, it just – it really was like I really didn’t expect to hear my name especially after the coaches all had said so many great things about both of us, but they really were very, like, surprised with Hannah’s performance. I really expected it to be like similar situations that I’ve had in my life where it was like oh you did a great job, but for whatever reason we’re going to go with the other person. And so I just didn’t expect to hear my name.

Q) Hannah, after they called Sarah’s name for winning the battle, how confident were you that you were going to get stolen?

Hannah Kirby: Well, like I said earlier, Sarah and I went into the battle. And I feel like you – to give an amazing battle you have to go into it thinking okay, whoever loses is going to get stolen. One of us is going to win and one of us is going to get stolen. Therefore, we’re both going to win in a way.I went in there with that belief that no matter what happened, one of us would be stolen. And so after Sarah’s name was called, which – and honestly she says that she was surprised but I wasn’t surprised, you know, because I think that we’re both fantastic singers and it could have been either one of us and our voices are really different. So it’s just, like apples and oranges kind of thing. But I was just happy to be stolen and I went in there with the belief that one of us would be stolen. And I kept believing that while I was standing there. And I think I had to or you’re going to break down and be a wreck and that would not be pretty. So, I kept believing that and then that belief came to life.

Sarah Potenza: Yes, I think we both just believed that. From the very beginning we just were both just like there’s not going to be like a winner or a loser, there is just going to be like us doing everything that we can for the sake of the song to make this, like, an awesome performance, a piece of art, a piece of, you know, theater on TV and like we just really worked really hard on the song. Every night for weeks leading up to it we would go out into the parking lot and practice our choreography, we would practice the song vocally for like two hours, like, every day. We just wanted it to be, like, really incredible and we wanted us each to leave space for each other to shine so that – we both have big voices so that there was space enough for both of us to really make this on our own and really show off, but also do what was best for the song. And we just went into it thinking that if we did that, neither of us could lose no matter what the outcome was.

Q) Cody, Blake talked to you about coming out of your shell on stage. How are you feeling as you do more on The Voice stage? Compare your battle round experience to maybe your experience during your first blind audition.

Cody Wickline: I feel like I was more open and put a lot more energy into it, you know, kind of coming out of my shell getting away from the guitar and kind of being able to move around and work the stage a little bit. I really enjoyed that, you know. I kind of felt like it helped me focus more on getting connected with the lyrics and the performance and kind of helped me put a little bit more personality into my performance.

Q) Blake made a comment at the end that he had to go with the gut feeling of where he thinks you can go from here and he chose you. So what are your thoughts on that, that Blake is supporting you and may be interested in seeing just how far he can take you?

Cody Wickline: Yes, I think definitely from hearing that I think that it’s really a blessing, you know, to be on that stage and it’s even more of a blessing to have a coach tell you somebody like Blake Shelton tell you that he really, he believes in you basically. I think that regardless of what may happen as far as the turnout of the show and stuff I definitely think that me and Blake will be working together for a long time. He’s got that sincerity in his voice when he tells me something and I feel like he’s really supportive of my career because he believes in me a lot

Q) Mia, a lot of you guys have a lot of great coaches and great mentors. I would say though your team having somebody like Pharrell and Lionel Richie with their enormous amount of talent but also their years in the industry. What sort of advice are they giving you not only about singing a song and being on stage but just the music industry in general?

Mia Z: They’re both very, very – since they’re that soul and R&B and that blues so they definitely understand it and they get it. So, it was just the advice of staying Mia Z and like staying me and singing from my heart and going out there on the stage with Ashley and just giving it all together. So basically just that kind of stuff.

Q) Cody, last night during the battle round with Matt did you get any chance, I guess, at the end of the battle round and after leaving the stage to talk with Matt to see what he was going to be doing with the rest of his career?

Cody Wickline: I did, actually. You know, I got to talk to him for a little while afterward because we had to record and everything together. And he really seemed really positive. He said going into this he said I really – all I wanted was to be able to have the opportunity to let the nation hear my voice basically. And he’s such a respectful guy, I mean, as soon as I seen him afterwards he come up and shook my hand and gave me a big hug. And he just said I’ve got your back, brother. He said, I’m supporting you all the way. And he still does. We’re still talking and everything. And I just talked to him last night, actually. I texted him and – but he seems really – he’s a real positive guy anyways, you know; he has a real positive attitude about things. And I think that he’ll definitely – I think something good will come out of all this for him. He’s a very talented guy and it was a privilege to get the chance to perform like we did on stage. I mean we went out there and we put on a really good performance between the both of us and I think he was really pleased with that, I really do.

Q) For Meghan, I guess it’s a real pleasure to get back to working with Blake Shelton again.

Meghan Linsey: It is man. He’s awesome so I’m excited to be on his team. I think he really supports the singers on his team. And I think all the coaches are awesome but I do notice that Blake in the long run it seems like he really tries to help out the people on his team. And so I feel like he’s a sincere guy and it’s good to be on his team.

Q) Well, with Blake Shelton believing in the female country artists and knowing that there is a shortage of female country artists in Nashville today, you’re pretty much in the catbird seat right now.

Meghan Linsey: Yes, I mean, and I’m experimenting with all kinds of sounds on the show and everything too but yes definitely I’ve made a career in country music and I love country music and I love writing country songs. So yes I think I’m in a really good spot on Blake’s team for sure.

Q) Meghan, were you disappointed since you had worked with Blake before when he didn’t press his button the first time?

Meghan Linsey: No I really wasn’t. I was just glad that anybody pressed their button. And I actually walked out there really wanting to be on Pharrell’s team and so it was really exciting when he turned around for me and the other two coaches as well. So yes I was just thrilled to just get on the show and to be on Pharrell’s team. And Blake is awesome but I really, you know, it wasn’t like a worry for me at all or anything.

Q) For Tonya, what is the best advice that you got from Ellie that we didn’t see on the show?

Tonya Boyd-Cannon: Her best advice was everything was amazing and great advice that she gave me. But the most important thing was just to never lose who I am as a vocalist in the song and to relax and just as Adam had also agreed with her was just to sing in the pocket more rhythmically. So that has been a lesson for me and it continues to be a lesson to this day. So she is golden for that, her name is not Ellie Goulding for anything. So she’s golden for that tool and skill set that she supported me.

Q) Brian what about your coach, what about Meghan? What did she say to you that maybe we didn’t see on the show?

Brian Johnson: Working with Meghan was incredible. She had so much positive things to say about Joshua and I. And at one point like we’re practicing the song and she made a comment about making sure that we have emotion in the song so that was my main intention and Joshua’s main intention when we were practicing. And then as we get to sing the song to see her react emotionally to the song, it was just a huge honor to be able to sing in front of her and to see someone as successful as Meghan Trainor not just for her popular songs but she has been in the writing game in Nashville for so many years and written songs for artists that I look up to. So just to be able to work with her and to see that she likes the music and the voice that I’ve been putting out there is a huge honor.

Q) So Tanya, I want to take you back to your blind audition when you first performed on The Voice. Why did you pick Adam and did it have to do with the fact that he was the first one to push the button? Because I think there were a lot of people surprised that you sang a Pharrell song Happy for your blind audition and yet you chose Adam. Can you talk about that?

Tonya Boyd-Cannon: Sure, sure. That’s the number one question I get from everyone. Thank you for all the love and support from New Orleans, back home. Adam, it wasn’t about the chair being turned first. It was about the message of who would work allow me to stay out of my comfort zone. And all three coaches gave their pitch for me to choose them. However Adam made his comment in his pitch Tonya you’re bad, you can sing, you can sing anything. However, there are some things that we need to work on with pitch and we need to work on with your rhythm of singing.And that spoke to me because I could easily sing something as far as being in my comfort zone with some soul, some R&B, some rock some jazz. However I want someone who’s going to challenge me and take me outside of that. It was an honor to be validated by Pharrell when I sung his song. And it gave me even more courage. And for him to validate that also confirmed my decision of who I chose because as he encouraged me and he told me he said Tonya you’re bad. You sung that song like no one else. I mean, that confirmation was truly rewarding. And when after speaking with him and then knowing that my coach was there to support me and also to push me the more it confirmed my choice, my selection and to this day I stand on that. I stand behind my coach because I know my coach believes in me and he supports everything that he has given me and he supports also what I’m going to give back.

Q) So my question, Blaze, is coming from the Bahamas and moving to the United States at a young age, it seems like your family particularly your father was always in your corner. I just want to see if you can describe how your family and friends feel about you being on The Voice and like what do they say and how does that inspire you.

Blaze Johnson: Man, it inspires me a lot. It means a lot when I hear my family is really happy. Because back in Bahamas there’s not a lot of big things that happen really in Bahamas in the Caribbean. But just the fact that just to make my father and my mother proud they have worked so hard all their life and tried to do their best for me be able to give back to them and to show them that they didn’t fail, that they didn’t mess up or anything that’s the biggest thing for me to show them that like they didn’t make a mistake that they made the right choice. And I want to be able to give them everything they gave back to me. And it’s a humbling thing and I’m very, very proud to say that they’re my family. I want to make them proud.

Q) Sonic, now you have had some challenges with having hearing issues and it seemed like you were struggling a little bit in the rehearsal. What did you do to prepare yourself for the actual battle rounds? Because it seemed like you blew it out of the park. Is the hair a thing that may have given you an advantage?

Sonic: I struggled a lot, I struggle a lot as a singer with only having one ear. And even my good ear is kind of like borderline normal. But I never like to make that an excuse. I drilled myself and you probably heard in the rehearsal with Christina. What I did since everyone is really singing practicing their songs while filming or doing something like that, I would try to sing my song through on my part while people were singing because it’s really distracting. And I worked really hard and I practiced a lot every day and I stayed up really late until I got it. I think, I mean, I was like hoarse probably two days before my battle and because I was singing so much. I actually had to go on vocal rest. But I just yes, I put in a lot of work.

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*