The Voice – Blind Auditions

By starrymag | October 6, 2015

Q) For those who got multiple chairs turn, what is that feeling like when more than one judge turns around for you? And as they’re all begging you to join their team, how do you really make that decision in that moment?

Krista: It is absolutely surreal to have more than one judge turn. It’s a feeling that, you know, I don’t think there is actually any words to quite describe it. And they’re all staring at you and they’re fighting over you and, you know, they’re all so nice and they’re all so they’re superstars. They’re so accomplished and each and every one has such distinctive things that they have to offer to teach us.

Viktor: I mean, for me to decide between four chairs was in itself totally a surreal situation and I was totally in awe that I was standing, on the stage with all four of them looking at me. For me, I mean, it was all about gut decision. So I mean, I was on stage and I got an overwhelming amount of positive criticism from Adam and he was just – he was overwhelmed with my performance. And he was really, really, really I guess lifting me up in some way and so it was very easy for me to decide even though I was originally going to go with Pharrell Williams if he would have turned around. So but I’m totally comfortable with my decision because it’s really, really a good feeling when you have someone like Adam Levine really wanting to be by your side and helping you out as much as possible.

Q) For Andi and Alex, I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit more about the band that you formed, She the Monster. Where did that name come from? It looks like you released at least one EP. And what happened with the band?

Andi: Basically with our band, we started about two years ago and ended last year summertime. And we came up with the name, it was an old 50’s poster that we kind of reconstructed and made it sound cooler. I think it was like the Amazing She Monster or something like that. We were just trying to find something unique and that almost like didn’t really fit our vibe of music so it would be that much more unique type of thing. So that’s that. And what happened with our band, we had a few – there were two South Africans in our band and it was super hard with like Visa situations and stuff like that with them actually performing in the United States, they actually couldn’t on the type of Visa that they were on. And that became a big issue. And also once I was married and I wanted to have kids but I ended up moving to Australia as babies. So it just didn’t work out for us at the time.

Q) Since this band, have the two of you performed much together and how would you compare your music to what you were doing with the band?

Andi: Yes that’s a great question. I guess, I mean, like we perform regularly at our church together so that’s kind of what we’re doing at the moment. What we write together that’s apart from our band, we’re still finding our sound right now at the moment. It’s going to be similar, probably not as electronic and more acoustic to fit our softer voice. I think that’s where we’re going to head towards.

Q) Chance, did you know that music was always something that you were going to do? I mean, was there ever a Plan B, you’re going to be a lawyer or doctor if the music thing didn’t work or was this always number one?

Chance: As long as I can remember, I mean, I have always loved music growing up. Even when I was like three years old I would grab my dad’s full size acoustic guitar and put it on my lap and do what I could with it. But I didn’t really think about what I wanted to do with my life until I was maybe 11 or 12 because I mean, I just loved playing guitar and singing. And I don’t know, just something about it, performing and it just entices me. And honestly I’ve never really had a Plan B because for me if you have a Plan B it means you really don’t believe in yourself. For me to know exactly what I want to do just gives me that extra bit of confidence to keep going.

Q) Viktor, obviously you’re a little more seasoned than everybody. I mean, you’re big in a country in Europe. But how does that play into what you do now? I mean, do you feel like you’re seasoned or do you feel like you’re starting all over again?

Viktor: It’s a very good question. I’ve been thinking about this a lot, I mean, especially when I decided to audition before. It took a lot of guts, it took a lot of sleepless nights for me to decide because it’s a really risky situation because if I don’t do well, if I don’t get any chairs turned then it might be embarrassing to go back to a country where people already somewhat know my name. But I’m the type of person, I’ve always been this type of person that I do it for the music. I don’t do it for the fame, I don’t do it for the radio plays or anything like that. Of course if it comes with it, it’s fantastic and you’re respected for what you do. But I do it for the music so it’s not at all one problem for me to get back to the roots, start down start on zero and build myself up because I have no American audience, like zero. So for me to go to The Voice it’s actually a liberating feeling that I’m working really hard just as everyone else is to find a spot on the show.

Q) Alex, you had mentioned on the show that you’re in a band and you’ve made appearances on some late night shows and other places. How does all that exposure compare to being on The Voice?

Alex: It’s very different because, I mean, for me I was never going on Letterman or Fallon as Alex Kandel, I was going on there as Sleeper Agent because we were promoting an album or a single. I didn’t ever feel – I never felt like I was just going there as myself. So this experience has been insane because it’s me, it’s me completely, it’s me being myself very honestly. And that was like really, really nerve-wracking to know that like I wasn’t behind this like bigger thing, like I wasn’t just a part of a thing, it was like me being myself completely. And also The Voice fans are so crazy in like the best way, like they’re so awesome and supportive that like last night was just so overwhelming like just the flood of like the support. That’s not something that I ever experienced and that was completely different.

Q) What’s it like being the only woman in an otherwise all male band?

Alex: Honestly it has been my whole life my whole adult life especially. So I don’t know any other way of being an artist. So I don’t know, it’s kind of like being in a pack of wolves. It’s just like so much fun and you get to tour around the country multiple times. It was five years of just my family living in a van with them knowing way too much about them.

Q) I wanted to know if after you got all the strong pitches from all the coaches what ultimately made you guys take Adam? And did you both agree or did you guys have to convince one another to go to Team Adam?

Alex: Oh my gosh, yes. Well we had originally – we were really thinking maybe like Pharrell would be a great option for us. That was like our thought before we even stepped on the stage. But then once we were listening to each coach and they each – all of them had such amazing things to say, it was just incredible and like overwhelming really. And with Andi and I it’s so much harder because it’s not one of us making up our minds, we have to agree on what we both decided. And it was a little bit of a long process between the two of us on stage even more than what they showed on the air. But with Adam he was just so passionate and I think that passion was what really drove us to choose him and for us to be on his team. He was really interested in the song choices that he would choose for us which was really huge for Andi and I for a coach to really understand where we come from musically. But towards the end it was really between Gwen and Adam and we just – we were talking privately, you know, trying not to give anything away with who we were like talking about who we wanted to choose. And at the end I’m like okay Alex you just decide. Just say it, just say someone. And it was at that point I don’t even know if Adam was in the mix and I was like okay we picked Adam and that was it. But we felt so much peace about it, like especially when he like fell to his knees and then he ran up and gave us a hug and we were just like okay this feels right. We’re like we made the right decision so it’s all great.

Q) They sort of tell us that they don’t remember the blind auditions because it’s sort of just like a blur for them. So I’m assuming that you all watched the show last night and I’m wondering, you know, what does it feel like to watch coaches, these, you know, highly successful, highly popular musicians fight over you and say such impressive things about you? I mean, win, lose, or draw, what does that do for your confidence and what does that do for you, you know, starting out as a performer in the country?

Viktor: Well I mean, first of all, I mean, I was watching last night the show and I think I was more nervous watching the show than actually being on the show. It was incredible. My fingers were shaking. I don’t even know why, I mean, like I kind of knew what happened. But for example to answer your question, yesterday was the first time I actually heard and understood what Gwen Stefani said to me on stage. So I was in a total blackout on stage so I had no idea what she was saying to me. I was just, you know, left out into the blue. So it’s an incredible feeling, it really is. I mean, it’s ridiculous. I mean, you’re on stage, you’re a singer, you’re trying for years to make it, and all of the sudden you’re on a stage with four super megastars really, really, really fighting over for you. And you don’t even have a chance to actually comprehend it because it’s so weird and out of this world. Did it build my confidence in one way, yes. In one way yes, you get four chairs, you get all this positive criticism, it does. But it also builds my wanting to give more. So when I got off the stage all I was thinking about is how am I going to give more, how am I going to prove that I’m even better than this blind audition. So it kind of brings out the maximalist in me.

Andi: It was surreal being on stage and having all of them turn around for you. Honestly it was such an honor for us. I think that was the main thing going through our head was like holy crap, these people are so phenomenal and it just doesn’t even hardly make sense that they would say something so incredible about us. Yes it was such an honoring experience. And I don’t even know what else to say because it’s just such a weird feeling as well. But really it was just such a thrill and such an honor.

Alex: Yes and I know that like with us being on stage, I mean, there’s so much going through our heads not only as singers but then as a duet trying to, you know, remember all your parts and be on pitch and stay together musically. And I know like it was such a blur because of so many things going through your head but seeing them turnaround is just a whole other feeling, one that’s so hard to explain and describe. But like Andi said, just extremely honoring and I mean, it was just the most surreal experience.

Q) Korin, last night we heard about how you performed in a choir but can you tell us a little bit more about what you have done as a solo artist and what type of music you prefer to sing?

Korin: I actually haven’t done much as a solo artist. The only performing I have actually ever done was in a choir and in my worship group at home and I really haven’t done anything on my own at all. I really haven’t performed. But the music I typically perform is alternative sounding. I mean, I used to sing more rock songs but I kind of went my own way. Because my parents wanted me to sing rock but it just didn’t really resonate as much as alternative indie sounding music.

Q) How did you choose that blind audition song?

Korin:  I heard it one day and I’m a fan of Andrew McMahon’s and so when that song came out the lyrics just kind of resonated with me. I mean, just the idea of like the lyrics have a lot to do with being lost and finding yourself through something. Like for Andrew McMahon it was having his child and for me it was accepting a lot of aspects in my life that were going wrong a long time ago. So it just resonated with me and I felt that I could portray emotion through the song and touch people’s hearts when I sang it. And I hope that’s what happened but that’s what the goal was.

Q) Korin, you mentioned that throughout your life you had people telling you that you couldn’t do it, that you wouldn’t amount to different things. In contrast to that I’m wondering what the past day has been like. I’m sure you’ve had no shortage of calls and texts and tweets and people encouraging you and telling you how talented you are.

Korin: It has been undescribable. I’m like I started like shaking, my whole body shaking because just the response that I have been getting is just so overwhelming and so I feel so blessed and thankful. But yes, just I had like about seven years of non-stop like abuse in school and it just from that point, like from that point to this point is just – it’s almost like a huge weight just lifts off your shoulders. It’s just kind of like a finally moment. And I don’t even have words to describe how thankful I feel

Q) By any chance did you hear from any of those naysayers? Did they maybe say hey we were wrong or we apologize?

Korin: No, I don’t expect that, I really don’t expect to hear from any of them. But that’s okay.

Q) What do you want to tell your Miami fans?

Korin: I want to tell them that I am so excited to represent Miami and I’m so excited to hear from all of Miami and all of their support. And I’m just so happy to be representing the city.

Q) For Celeste, last night we heard a lot about your family situation but I was wondering if you could fill us in on a little bit more about what you’ve done as a solo artist especially since college. Can you help fill us in on that?

Celeste: Since college I’ve done a lot in – I’m basically a gospel artist and I kind of do a lot in that genre. But I’ve done a lot of engagements in churches. I have done – I auditioned actually for kind of like the gospel version of The Voice which is Sunday’s Best. I auditioned for that twice. Neither one of those auditions aired for whatever reason. I’m a military spouse of course so I’ve done a lot of singing in my husband’s unit, you know, on post and things like that, prayer breakfasts and change of commands, you know, start to make connections. It’s very difficult as a military spouse to have – to start a music career if you don’t already have, you know, a mass following. Because as soon as you start to make connections and begin to work with people you’re ready to move and move to another location. So kind of difficult to really get a startup but I’m just really grateful for this opportunity to do what I’m doing now. And, I got one chair but that’s really all you need so I’m grateful.

Q) And are you also a worship leader?

Celeste: I am a worship leader. I was a worship leader for about two years at Cathedral of Praise Church Ministry in Hinesville, Georgia which is right next to Fort Stewart where me and my husband were stationed. We have now since moved to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State so we’re not active as of yet but I’m hoping to very soon. But worship leading is an awesome, awesome thing. It’s where my heart is. I love ushering people into the presence of God and really allowing them to experience that and really get closer to the Lord that way. But yes, I love worship leading. I love gospel music period. And that’s one of those genres where you have to emote because if you don’t feel it – and music period if you’re not emoting then people can’t connect to what you’re doing and you’ll kind of get lost in this also.

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*