The Voice – Blind Auditions 1

By starrymag | September 26, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) Sarah and Kennedy, both of you are so young.  You’ve entered the competition where some of the other artists have been performing and singing as long as you’ve been alive.  I was just wondering if each of you could tell me why now was the right time for you to enter this competition, as opposed to waiting a little – until you were a little older.  And if we could start with Kennedy please.

 

Kennedy Holmes: Hello.  I think that now would be the right time for me to try and come into this competition.  I think that it’s mainly because, you know, why not?  Just why not in a way because I think it’s good to start my career at a young age, try to learn from all the other artists that are in the competition, because they are all amazing.  So I think that now is just a good time and yes.

 

Sarah Grace:  So I feel like it’s time for me to take advantage of this opportunity, because I have been playing with my band for about five years now, and it’s just what I really love to do.  I feel like, as of right now, I’m trying to change directions, change the direction of my band from a three, four hour cover band to more of a one and a half, two hour original band.

And I feel like the right way to do this would just be to strengthen my exposure, and this is a great opportunity to do that.  And I’ve just had a really good time on this show, and I’ve met so many amazing people and it’s really, really helped with our band.  So that’s why I feel like this is the right time.  Thank you.

 

Q) Radha, I was wondering how you felt about Adam last week blocking Jennifer – because you did admit that you would have chosen her.

 

Radharani Martinez:  Yes.  so it was honestly in pain watching it happen because, you know, the fact that each coach is allowed to have one block, and I heard that I was the first block (unintelligible) really, really crazy to me.  I’m so happy and I’m so shook honestly.  You guys heard that

 

Q) So what is it like working with Adam as a coach?

 

Radharani Martinez:   So working with Adam as a coach, I really love working with Adam as a coach because he’s very honest.  I’m the type of person that really likes kind of really straightforward honesty and kind of it’s okay to be hard on me a little because, you know, I really take constructive criticism really well.  And so, so far working with him has been so amazing because he really knows I have a lot of potential, and I feel like he’s really bringing it out of me.

 

Q) Kennedy, what was going through your mind when you were standing on stage singing with iconic Jennifer Hudson?

 

Kennedy Holmes: Hi.  So honestly, when Jennifer said that she was going to come up and sing with me, one, I was trying not to cry all over again because I knew that I would have to sing.  But if I’m being completely honest, I just I was so in the moment and I was just extremely honored that Jennifer wanted to sing with me, and that she was so open about it. She was down.  She was ready.  So it was a blessing honestly just to be there with Jennifer and with all of the other coaches.

 

Q) Hey Patrique.  I know that you made headlines in music in Indiana as a very young person, and again in – I know you were on Idol in 2003.  At some point obviously you moved to Atlanta and it seems like you’re back into music, but there might have been some time when you weren’t into music. Could you just tell me a little bit about your evolution and where did you audition for this year’s season?

 

Patrique Fortson:  Yes, I was born and raised in Indiana and started singing at a very young age.  I actually did my audition here in Atlanta.  The producers found me from a clip and I was able to come and do a private audition.  And I started singing at a young age, but I’ve never really stopped singing.  It’s been kind of a continuous journey that’s brought me to being blessed to be on The Voice.

 

Q) Kameron, in the edited clip last – that we saw last night, you picked Blake and Blake didn’t even say a word to you, I mean or barely a word to you.  I was wondering if he did get to talk to you, if he did get to provide you any feedback, and if you could explain why you went with him.

 

Kameron Marlowe:     He gave me some feedback.  He said that I sounded a lot like a few country artists that he respected, which I really appreciated.  But working with him and I just knew going up there if he turned his chair, there was no other option for me.

Blake Shelton has been a hero of mine for years and years and years.  So to be able to work with him one on one was something that was so special to me and so magical.  And being able to just be around all these people has been such a great experience.

 

Q) Mercedes, I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about what it was like returning to The Voice for a second time.  How have you grown since the last time?

 

Mercedes Ferreira- Dias:   Well, I just think in these past couple of months, I definitely have developed my artistic style a lot more, and have gotten into finding out who I want to be as an artist.  And when I was given the opportunity to come back and audition, I leaped at it just because, you know, I always say this is – kind of one of my mantras is that your chance to succeed goes all the way down to zero if you don’t try.

So it’s like if I wasn’t the last time, like it cost me.  Like it might be a result of that.  It was just a tremendous amount of self-growth, not only as an artist, but like as an individual.  And, you know, being back up out there and on the stage and then finally getting attention, was just an amazing experience.

 

Q) Could you talk a little bit about the decision to choose Blake over Kelly.  Was that totally about your mother?

 

Mercedes Ferreira- Dias: That’s funny.  Actually in all the interviews and just in my head, when I was going to perform, I said to myself that if Kelly turned around, I would 100% pick her.  And then when I got up on the stage and Blake was the first to turn around, followed by Kelly, just he said all the right things and I went with my gut decision just to go with Blake.

 

Q)  Patrique, if I could just talk to you briefly again.  Can I ask about your visual style?  I know Adam loved your look this time.  I also know that when Simon Cowell took a look at you a few years ago, he wasn’t as appreciative.  Do you feel vindicated in that regard?

 

Patrique Fortson:   I wouldn’t say I feel vindicated because one thing I am is very confident.  So one person’s opinion is never going to shatter me or shake me in any way.  You know, I’ve always been one person that’s very comfortable in my skin, in who I am, how I dress, what I like.  So I mean, you know, I’m not ignorant enough to think that everybody’s going to like it.  But, you know, in this industry, you kind of have to eat the meat and spit out the bones, and it’s one of those scenarios.

 

Q) You talked about your gospel music career during the clip on the show.  Can you talk a little bit more about what you’ve done more recently, like right before The Voice?

 

Patrique Fortson:         Absolutely.  Actually this year in April, I released a project with my church.  The song that I’m on is actually number 12 right now on the Billboard Gospel charts.  So, you know, gospel is always going to be something that I love and something that I do.  I’ve just been able to branch out and do other types of music as well to broaden who I am as an artist.

 

Q) Okay.  And what’s the name of that project?

 

Patrique Fortson:     It’s called Fresh Start Worship.  The song that’s out right now is called Mention.

 

Q) I wonder if you could talk a little bit about what it’s like to re-enter the world of singing competitions after so many years.  What’s the difference between 2003 and 2018?

 

Patrique Fortson:         Absolutely.  So I think the major change has been with me.  I know who I am as an artist now.  It was a 23 year old person versus a 38 year old.  So I’m just more settled in who I am as a singer, as a person.  I know what I want to do.  I know what I don’t want to do.  And I think that confidence will shine more now.

I was, you know, I was so young then.  I only really knew gospel music at that point.  So I’ve just grown myself as an artist and I just feel more comfortable on stage now and things of that nature.

 

Q) Do you view yourself as a purely gospel singer?  Is that the world you work in?

 

Patrique Fortson:    No, not at all.  I definitely want to do R&B and soul music.  But I would – I’d never disrespect how I got my start.

 

Q) Indianapolis hosted auditions in January, and I was just wondering if anybody was in Indianapolis for that, possibly Tyshawn or Kennedy even?

 

Tyshawn Colquitt:      Yes, I auditioned in Indianapolis.

 

Kennedy Holmes:       This is Kennedy.  And yes, I did audition in Indianapolis.

 

Q) Oh, amazing.  Just briefly if each of you could talk a little bit about those days.

 

Tyshawn Colquitt:      Ladies first.

 

Kennedy Holmes: So basically I started off with an Instagram knockout that I did on, you know, Instagram.  And then they wanted me to come out to Indianapolis to go for the open call, so for like the front in line class.  So I came up with that and it was like a little knock out thing that I did against another person that was trying to be a contestant.  And then she won it, but they wanted to give both of us a red card.  It was a cool day, and actually I hadn’t expected it, but it was extremely fun.

 

Tyshawn Colquitt:      Yes.  OMG.  This was a really exciting experience, especially from the beginning.  Growing up and doing music, I’ve performed and I never really thought that in a million years that I would be on a national television show to compete.  And I just – everybody’s been telling me all my life.

And so I chose to submit a video on The Voice just to humor everybody, to make everybody off my back.  And so I submitted a video that I did when I won Apollo in New York.  And literally within the week, one of the producers hit me and said, is it possible for you to come and have a private audition in Indianapolis?  And I was like oh wow.

And instantly from there, the journey began.  And the date I had to do the audition, I’m coming from Columbus, Ohio.  It was a bad snowstorm and it was so difficult getting there.  I was literally two hours behind.  I thought I missed my opportunity. I thought everything was like by default (unintelligible), but the guy was like, you know what, because I had on this super loud suit, I always come with a crazy artistic bright suit.  And so I came and he was like, you know what, just this time, I’m going to let you come in.  So you better do your thing.  And so he allowed me to get through the door and be able to get in line, and so here we are.

 

Q)  I was hoping those of you we haven’t heard from about your coaching decision, could explain why you went with the coach you did.  And if we could start off with Sarah first.  Sarah, why did you pick team Kelly?

 

Sarah Grace Kimberly:   That’s a really great question.  so I chose team Kelly because I recently started listening to her music, and I really wanted a coach who I felt was similar to me, not only in music taste and style, but also personality wise, you know, because I wanted a coach that I would enjoy spending time with.

So watching Kelly on last season, I realized how similar we were, and I actually get told that a lot.  So I was like I realize how similar our personalities were.  I’m super bubbly.  She’s super bubbly.  She talks a lot.  I talk a lot.

And her last album that she put out, I can tell there’s a lot of blues influence, especially in her song Slow Dancing and Whole Lot of Woman.  Those have a ton of blues influence and I just love her tone.  And Kelly is also a Texas girl.  So that was a big part of my decision because I’m from Houston.  And so I’m always out to represent Houston.  That’s all of us Texans’ mission.  And our favorite thing to do is talk about Texas.

So I was faced with the choice of someone from Texas and someone from Oklahoma, and I don’t know where Jennifer is from.  But I was like I definitely got to go with my Texas girl.  And also the jacket did push me a little over the edge.  I’m actually wearing it right now.

 

Q)  Tyshawn, how about you?  Why did you go with Jennifer?

 

Tyshawn Colquitt:      It has always been my life dream to meet Jennifer.  Like that is the dream girl.  And I am telling you from the beginning, when I saw Dream Girls, from her coming off of a television show and then landing a movie like that, it was just big news to me.  It was like she made something that seemed so impossible possible and I definitely admired it.

Every time Jennifer Hudson opens her mouth, it’s warm.  it’s strictly the feel like – it just it really moves me and I felt with the voice that I have and the love for music in the States, I felt like she was the best coach to help me dress to meet my voice and get me ready for these big platforms because I just want the world to really take me in.  And I feel like she was the best coach to be able to help me hit the whole world.

 

Q)  Tyke, I know you didn’t really have a choice of the coach, but how do you feel about the match up with you and Adam?

 

Tyke James:    Adam is like a blessing and I had no idea.  Like if everyone were to have turned around, I don’t know if I would have gone with him right at the start.  But now that we’ve worked together in season, I can’t imagine being with any other coach.  Seriously it’s such a sick match up.  I’m so stoked to be on team Adam.

 

Q) Radha, how about you?  Why did you go with Adam?

 

Radharani Martinez:   Yes.  So hi there.  Thank you for this question. I decided to go with Team Adam.  Actually before all of this, I remember The Voice was asking us like, who would you choose?  Who would be your first choice?  Actually if Kelly would have turned, Kelly would have definitely been my first choice.

But, you know, everything that happens, it turned out to come out – like the outcome was completely different than I thought, and honestly way better than I ever I thought and I’m so thankful for being on Team Adam because he’s honestly – even just the moment that he turned around and looked at me like that, I kind of just really knew that I had it.  Like he turned around pretty fast I feel.

And The Voice showed the scene where he pressed the block button already.  And to know that I was going to be the block on Jennifer, I was actually potentially going to choose Jennifer as well and because he really fought for me, and decided to do that first thing in the season, I feel that it really, really spoke to me, kind of triggered a little, you know, emotion in me.

So it was – I thought from that moment it had to be either Adam or Jennifer, but Jennifer got blocked.  So Adam did.

 

Q)  Patrique, how about you?

 

Patrique Fortson:         For me, it boiled down to what each of them said to me when they were kind of going back and forth.  And I felt like Jennifer would just understand me more.  I feel like our journeys are very similar.  She’s a music lover of all genres, and I felt like she would get who I am, but would also challenge me as well.  So that’s why I went with Jennifer.

 

Q)  And finally, Kennedy, why did you go with Jennifer?

 

Kennedy Holmes:       So – well, I think that I said it before, but knowing that one of my first performances, I sang, I Am Changing.  I knew that kind of going into this competition, I knew who I already wanted to go for.  But then when I started to watch more videos of  Jennifer and, you know, I looked up Jennifer Hudson coaching on The Voice and I started to watch some of her videos and what she was looking for.

And when I saw that, how good of advice she would give and how she takes her contestants under her wing.  And, you know, I was like, that’s what I want in a coach.  I want to know that my coach believes in me, no matter what, and I want to know that, maybe – even if I don’t go as far as I probably would have liked, that Jennifer will still be there and she’ll still try to help me be successful in my career.

And then just knowing that Jennifer cares, that’s really something that I was looking for and that I was happy that, you know, even – and also when – like Patrique said, it also came down to when all the coaches started talking, because if I’m being completely honest, when Adam did start talking, he was very persuasive.  So it was between Adam and Jennifer.

Deep down I knew I still – I had to pick Jennifer, but, you know, Adam was still up there.  But when Jennifer came up and sang with me, I knew I had to go with her.

 

Q) Tyshawn, you performed for some of our events here and in Russia.  But can you tell us how you felt performing for millions of people?

 

Tyshawn Colquitt:      It was definitely an amazing feeling. But it was like after Jennifer had shared my post on her page in December of last year, I was like oh, I have to go to The Voice now.  She’s going – she’s the coach of The Voice.  I have to go.  I have to go.  I have to go.

And so I was super pumped up because I’ve won Apollo and New York six times.  And I was like okay, I’ve got this.  I’ve got this. I came to a rude awakening when I got to do the blind, and it was like boom, I’m singing to peoples’ backs.  Like I’m singing to peoples’ backs in front of this massive audience and this is televised all over.

And my heart is like OMG, it’s like a real nerve wracking experience, just waiting and anticipating, like which one of the coaches are going to turn?  And then when I went and hit my falsetto, my high voice, it was like there it is. Jennifer turns around and instantly my heart is pounding and I’m like I’m struggling with my nerves and trying to make sure I don’t forget the lyrics.  Don’t stop singing.  Keep singing.  You’ve got to finish the song.  And then after the last two seconds of the song, Blake turns around, which totally shocked me.  Like – it like threw me.  I’m like oh wow, Blake loves me.  Blake wants to be my coach.

And I was just overwhelmed and being on television, in front of everybody and finally having this opportunity so that my siblings could see me on this platform, was the best feeling ever.  My siblings went crazy.  Like they went crazy.  It was like a big riot in my house. Like it was like, “Oh, you’re on TV.  You’re on TV.” And they saw themselves within the story.  It was so empowering and inspiring to see myself even being there, I was inspired, but to see myself visually and the whole world just to see me, that was the best thing ever.

 

Q) This question is for Kennedy.  You mentioned that you are also a dancer.  Have you ever considered that as a career?

 

Kennedy Holmes:       Hi.  So growing up, I do a lot of things, meaning I play volleyball.  I run track.  I dance.  I do musical theater.  So, you know, it always comes down to what do you really want to do in life?  What would be the best way for you?

And when it comes to dancing, I still dance and yes, I have thought of dancing as a career, but at the end of the day, I used to take dance classes and it would always be between like okay, well there’s this dance thing going on, but then you also have a music performance.  What do you you want to do? So I think that I knew deep down that dancing just wasn’t my true passion.  Like there’s no comparing when it comes to dancing and singing.  I would choose singing over it every day.

So I knew that, dancing was something that I was serious about, and at the end of the day, when it does come to singing, you know, just like Beyonce, I can.  Like it’s very useful when it comes to your singing career because you can always use it when you’re singing and dancing on stage. But dancing, I keep it in my back pocket because, you know, it’s a little advantage.

 

Q) Yes.  How does your dance training inform your musical career?

 

Kennedy Holmes:       It influences my musical career, well one, it helps me with my stage presence.  I’ve noticed that.  For instance, when I would be in a dance class, my teachers would be like, look up, because I used to dance while looking like down at the floor.  Probably shouldn’t have been doing that.  But I noticed that as I started singing, I put a lot of emotion in it. So I think that dancing involves a lot like, it just helped with stage presence.  It helped me figure out what I was feeling as I was singing.  So, dancing overall just helped me a lot.

 

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*