The Voice – Blind Auditions

By starrymag | October 12, 2015

Q) Amy and for Sydney. I want to ask the two of you a little bit about confidence, in light of what we saw on the show last night. Amy, for several minutes to talk about how good you are, how talented you are and how you could really win the show. What did that mean to you, and what did it sort of do for your confidence?

Amy: I think the entire day was just a blur. It was such a – it was so different than any other performance I’ve ever done before, just because the stakes were so high. And, you know, I’ve been performing for the past about four or five years just in terms of five people to, like, fifteen people and that’s kind of the norm. That’s been the norm for me. So this situation was just so far above and beyond anything I’ve ever experienced before, so I’m still taking time to let it all brew, but at the moment I can think back to that moment and just remember how blown away and how grateful I was for everything – all the comments that they’re making. And honestly, I had a lot of trouble believing the things that they were saying but in retrospect I’m still letting that work on me. And if your question’s in terms of confidence – I feel like I’m growing with that, with all the encouragement.

Q) Sydney, similarly for you, I’ve never seen coaches turn around and watch a performance like they did for you. What did that do for your confidence, and how did that make you feel?

Sydney: Well, going in to my audition, I didn’t realize that there was only spot left. So I was already just terrified as it was. But when I saw that Pharrell turned around, I mean, I felt so amazing because he was my first choice. And then when I saw Blake’s head, and Adam’s head, and Gwen’s head, I realized that there were no spots left and I just – it was just such an amazing moment for me. And to see that, like, even though the coaches didn’t have any spots left, they still liked what I was doing, and I was just so honored to just be able to be in the same room with them and to have them like stand on their chairs was just – it was just incredible.

Q) Going into the competition, Blaine, did you have a coach in mind that you were thinking that you would want to go with, if all four had turned around?

Blaine: I really enjoy all of the coaches’ music. They are all legends, and I have the utmost respect for them. So, I mean, just this opportunity of getting to pick a coach of this magnitude is just insane. I kind of went into it thinking man, if Adam or Blake turns around – I grew up listening to those guys. So, I kind of had it in my mind that Blake kind of has the connections in the music world, but Adam is just a world-renowned front man.

Q) You talk about having those two – the country roots and the alternative roots. I mean, who are some of your influences in terms of alternative rock?

Blaine: Alternative rock, I mean, the Black Keys are big for me. My brother and I both love Young the Giant. I guess those are probably two of the biggest for us. Atlas Genius. We love the brother bands. Kings of Leon. It’s cool when you get to see a family up on stage, just because there’s the different kind of magic that happens in studio and on stage when you just have blood up there with you.

Q) And country-wise? When you do sing the country. Do you go classic country or do you do contemporary country, or a combination of both?

Blaine: Man, when I was a house singer, I did anything and everything they threw at me from Johnny Paycheck to George Strait and, you know, new stuff like Eli Young. But that’s just the growing up in Texas. That’s just what you do. It’s kind of – it’s all around you.

Q) Dustin C., can you explain your selection of Blake as a coach? In the intro clip you seem to be leaning toward Adam.

Dustin Christensen:  Yes. The interesting thing is I actually was always kind of leaning towards Blake, but I kind of was in the camp of any coach would be amazing. I respect what all of those people do. I mean, that being said I was in the camp of I was just hoping one chair would turn around, and that actually would have been easier for me because then I wouldn’t have had to make a decision. But when all four of them turned around Adam spoke first. And he had some very honest and good things to say. And then after Adam spoke I was like, well, I think I’ll go with Adam. And then Gwen spoke, and after that I was like, I think I’ll go with Gwen. And then Pharrell spoke, and I thought I’d go with Pharrell. And then Blake was the last person to speak and after all that with the faces and all that stuff I just, you know, I just I felt like I should go with Blake.

Q) How would you compare the music you’re doing now to the music that you performed with that band?

Dustin Christensen: I think it’s really different. I mean there’s certainly similarities just because I grew up listening to 80s music with my brothers and sisters, and then my dad brought me up on old country stuff like Willie Nelson and George Jones, and it’s always been kind of a big melting pot for me. And when I had that band it was very – it was more alternative rock. And the stuff I do now as a solo artist is more in the Springsteen world with some Americana and country in there. And I think that’s always why I wanted to song write so much, is just because some days I’ll wake up and want to write an 80s rock tune, and some days I wake up and want to write an old country tune. And so it’s kind of all just this one big melting pot, and I think it’s just – it’s veered away from the Jury Town sound a little bit and kind of went into the Springsteen world a little bit, and so, yes.

Q) Dustin M., why did you go with Adam?

Dustin Monk: I’m kind of along the lines of what Dustin Christensen said where when I first went into it, honestly, I was leaning more towards Pharrell than Blake. I mean – and keep in mind, I would be completely open to any of the coaches – me being on their team, obviously. But I went in there, you know. Adam turned around first. And then Blake turned around. So already, it was hard not to be partial towards Adam just because he turned first. And he turned before I even hit my biggest note, so that’s something else that was kind of like in my brain. I was like, wow, you kind of heard my talent in some of the not-bigger notes. But at the same time, you know, I was neck-and-neck. I mean, you know, if me choosing Adam was at 100%, I mean, me choosing Blake was probably at 97. I mean, it was literally that close. I don’t know, Adam’s just a persuasive guy, man. I don’t know really much else to say about that. I mean, he persuaded me and the things that both of them were saying was just mind-blowing to hear. But ultimately, Adam just – I don’t know. There was some connection there. I felt the vibes so I had to go with Adam.

Q) And how would you compare your solo music to what you were performing with We Still Dream?

Dustin Monk: In every way – different. It’s kind of crazy. I grew up, you know – I always feel bad when people talk about you know their influences and their roots, because to be completely honest with you, man, like, I grew up listening to hip hop, instrumentals and like Tupac, you know? And that’s completely honest. And then once I started singing, I mean, I did start getting into people like Gary Clark, Jr. and John Mayer and different people – those genres. But it was kind of crazy because when I got into the band, I didn’t know that genre. I didn’t grow up listening to that genre of music like everyone else in the band did. So I just kind of sang however I felt my voice needed to go to the music. And then, now that I’m doing my solo stuff – which is definitely more along the lines of soul, blues, rock – with even a little influence of pop here and there – it’s definitely completely different than what the band is.

Q) Shelby, I was wondering: you had Adam Levine, Gwen Stefani and Pharrell all turning for you. And I was wondering what made you pick Adam in the end?

Shelby: Well, my heart in the beginning was telling me this whole process – like, well, I want to end up in Nashville at the end of all of this. I should go with Team Blake, and Blake was the first one to turn, and so I kind of didn’t pay attention to the rest. I was like, all right. I came here, I accomplished what I wanted to. But when it came time for their comments, I feel that Adam was focused more on my actual talent and my performance, and I felt as if Blake kind of just like, oh, she’s a country singer. She’s mine. But there was a part of me that I wanted to go with Gwen for a second, you know? I really stand on strong women and, really, that’s – I really appreciate strong women in music, because women in the music industry are so overlooked – especially in country music. Even though she’s not a country artist, I really support strong women in the industry. And then for a split second, I wanted to go with Pharrell because he really saw my heart. And he said last night, you know, like, he saw all the hard work that I was putting in being only 16. But in the end I just – I really appreciated Adam really, really noticing my performance and really paying attention to that aspect. And pointing out that I can do other things than just country.

Q) Shelby, how did it feel to get the final spot on Team Adam?

Shelby: Going into that, I didn’t know that Adam only had one spot until he actually said that. And after my performance, I later found out that Blake only had one spot. So the fact that they were risking their last spot on me both was really – that really meant a lot. But to sell a team, part of me kind of felt bad, and then part of me was like really proud, you know, like I was like – for once in my life I can say I’m proud of myself that someone like Adam Levine would risk his last spot on someone like me – just a small town girl that never believed that she would even set foot on that stage, so it was an awesome feeling to show a team.

Q) And then similar question for Blaine, you got the final spot on Blake’s team. How did that feel for you?

Blaine: Man, yes, I was elated. Throughout the performance I really wasn’t watching the coaches. Part of the time – I guess, most of the time, my hair was in my face so I couldn’t really see anyway. But when I looked up at the end and I saw Blake and Gwen both turned around, so as soon as I saw that, just elated. It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of blood, sweat and tears over the years, and then you have all this build-up and all this stress and anxiety and nerves and jitters. And then, for all of that just to come to fruition is just awesome.

Q) Summer, how did it feel to get that final spot for Gwen’s team?

Summer: Oh, my gosh. It was absolutely insane. And like everybody’s been saying, we had no idea that we were getting these last spots or what was going on, but it was incredible. And I’ve been such a huge, huge fan of Gwen for so long. And for her to turn her chair – especially for a country singer, it was mind-blowing. It was awesome.

Q) Chase, I know you’ve got one important chair to turn around, Miss Gwen Stefani, but I’d be curious to hear from you not only what it was like to have her turn around, but what did it mean to hear from Blake and Adam as well, when they turned and gave you some advice?

Chase: When Gwen turned around, it was almost like this rush of – the excitement that comes with a weight being lifted off your shoulders. And also just the excitement that comes with the fact that Gwen Stefani is just looking at you. And then, the advice, you know – the advice that I got from Blake and from Adam – I mean those are the kind of things – I mean the opportunity just to get advice from someone like that and someone of that caliber is pretty unmatched in anything else. So it’s definitely when they speak, you listen. So it was really just a lot of soaking it in, and really, like, paying attention to what they had to say and all that stuff.

Q) I’d be curious to kind of hear what went into choosing that old-school Coldplay track?

Chase: I guess for me, and the music that I write is always really emotional, and it’s meaningful and it means something to me. And I hope it means\ people can take it on for themselves. So picking that song was something that I just – like, I needed to do because I needed to be able to connect with the emotion and the lyrics behind it. So I just figured if I go with a song that means something to me, hopefully I can convey that onstage.

Q) Summer, what do you hope to gain and achieve out of being on Gwen Stefani’s team, and also her alliance with Blake – did that actually help at all in your choice?

Summer: I mean, her saying that she did have an alliance with Blake – I don’t think that really was the deciding factor for my choice but I picked Gwen because I do sing country, but I have always wanted to bring something a little different than what country has, and I think it’s a little more pop, and I would love to switch it up a little bit in the country world, because I think it’s time for that. And I look up to people like Kasey Musgraves and, of course, Miranda Lambert, because they don’t – they say what they want, and they have their opinions and they say that, you know? And they’re not afraid of that. And I think I picked Gwen because she’s going to have an outsider’s look on what I do and bring something very different to the table for me that I can incorporate.

Q) Sydney, Pharrell is obviously one of the most in-demand musicians – producers – in the entire industry. Obviously he’s worked with the A-List. What has it been like working with him, and how would you say he’s made you a better artist?

Sydney: Yes, I mean, Pharrell’s pretty cool. He is just – Number 1, he is just a genuinely good person. And he just gives off the best energy and is just so great to all the people on his team. He treats us all with just the utmost respect. And that’s what I really loved about him. Yes, I mean, Pharrell’s pretty cool. He is just – Number 1, he is just a genuinely good person. And he just gives off the best energy and is just so great to all the people on his team. He treats us all with just the utmost respect. And that’s what I really loved about him. I remember him telling me that he would say to be confident because we’ve made it this far, and he picked – he would just say, he’s like, I picked you. And like, you are the one that I want and so, like, you need to be confident because you’ve made it this far on my team. And so, it’s just really great for him. He helped me a lot with my confidence and he’s just been so supportive, even though he’s this huge celebrity. So, yes.

Q) Amy, how about you? What’s your relationship been with Pharrell, and how has he helped make you a better performer, would you say?

Amy: Well, what attracted me to Pharrell in the first place was just his unique spirit. He’s got just something so different about him, and it’s undeniable. And it’s actually funny, I thought Gwen was kidding that she said that his looks would be distracting, but when I actually stepped into a room and started working with him, I found myself getting a little intimidated just by being in his presence. When he looks at you, he kind of just – he kind of just looks right through you and he’s so – he just gets to the bottom of – he doesn’t mess around. He gets to the bottom of every issue. And he’s so genuine in how he really wants to help. And he’s got such a keen eye for how he can help. And so just being around him at all – whether it’s just running through a song or getting to ask him about his experience in performing – has already – it’s helped me grow in huge ways already

Q) Blaine, was there ever a Plan B with your life in case music didn’t work out?

Blaine: I had buddies growing up that were just set on doing one thing. Guys wanted to be firefighters or lawyers or whatever, like you said. Baseball was a big deal all my life. And I grew up playing T-ball all the way to high school. And that was Plan A. Music was something my brother and I just did on the side because we loved it and it was a good detox and it was just an emotional outlet for both of us. And our writing – just playing together, it was a good time just to bond. But when baseball went south, music picked up priority, and from then on there was no Plan B. If it’s going to fail then we’re going to fail big. So we’re just going to go all out, man.

Q) There’s high points and low points. Does it help having somebody there – especially a brother there – when you hit those low points? Do you all kind of make each other happy – if you’re feeling particularly down about a gig or something, does he bring it – does it work that way?

Blaine: Oh, yes. I mean, (Brady) is a sounding board. He’s a lot of times the wind in my sails, and man up until this point – from being on The Voice – there’s so much heartbreak, there’s so many contracts that fall through. There’s so many ups and downs. It’s a freaking roller coaster. And it’s hard. It’s hard being a band and trying to get that going, and so to have somebody backing me like that is super important. Team is super-important. And that’s super-crucial is to build the team around you, and that’s how you get to these points.

Q) Well, how does it fall to not have him around you doing this, basically, solo, yourself?

Blaine: Yes, it’s solo. We’re kind of, you know, we’re like, hey – it’s like Chris Martin stepping out saying, hey. I’m Coldplay – we’re Coldplay. But this is a good platform to show my skills as a front man. So he’s 100% behind me, not literally behind me on stage on the kit right now, but he’s got my back. It’s a little weird, but it’s fun to do. It’s a different feel. But it’s awesome.

Q) Shelby, you go from performing in a bowling alley to the Voice stage. How did you prepare for that? How did you handle that pressure?

Shelby: Oh, man. I don’t even know. I go from performing in front of less than 200 people maybe a couple times a month. And to be 16 and go in front of, like, hundreds of people there, four celebrities and to be televised is just huge leap. when I get nervous I get rather quiet. And someone backstage even said to me you’re so calm. And I’m like, I swear, man, I’m really not. I have no idea how I get this together, but it’s insane. I’m so thankful that I got the opportunity to do that. And it was amazing.

Q) And what was the strategy behind picking Stars as the audition song, especially since you’re a country artist?

Shelby: Stars, alone, is just such an emotional song. And when I sing a song, I want to be able to be emotionally attached to it so I can share that. But also, the artist behind it, Grace Potter – she’s a rock singer, but she’s also collaborated with Kenny Chesney, who’s a country singer. So it was very simple to take a rock song by someone who does country music every now and then and to kind of incorporate country into it. So that was kind of the point behind picking Stars was that she can sometimes do country.

Q) Well I was wondering if you thought it might have a broader appeal than if you went up there and just sang a classic country hit?

Shelby: That is true. There’s a lot of country music now that you don’t really have a lot to showcase in. And so I guess to add country aspects into something that I can also belt in, I needed that. And I don’t think I could have picked a better song. I sing that song at home all the time and get a lot of great feedback from it, so. That’s a lot of the reason why.

Q) Chase, I think it was actually in the little after-performance interview – you said that there’d be no measure for how worked you hard for Team Gwen. So I’d just kind of like to hear, if you could give me an idea, of what it will be like working with her or just what you’re excited about with that collaboration?

Chase: I think with the opportunity at hand here, that’s definitely something that lights a fire under you. So it almost turns into this thing where you work hard, but it doesn’t really feel like work because you get to do what you love. So it’s nice being able to, like, wake up and just be excited about going to work. Which is a blessing in itself. As far as with her, specifically, it’s definitely one of those things that – I mean, she’s such a genuine soul. She really is. She’s a sweetheart, and she’s been doing this for a real long time. And I think that it’s one of those deals where it’s like any question I might have, or any issues or whatever, she’s probably already encountered that. And so, it’s almost like it’s like having to go in for a test and she’s the cheat sheet. I need the answer, I can just ask her.

Q) I know people here at home have been waiting for your rasp – for your performance for all five episodes, and I’d just be curious to hear how you feel about the local and national response to you. Your performance airing?

Chase: Oh, man, it’s been a – the last 12 hours have just been pretty insane. Just (before) and the local love – I mean, you know, it’s doing it like Oklahomans do, you know? I think we always come together in times of struggle and in times of happiness. So the support – and nationally too. It’s been unreal.

Q) Amy, first of all, congratulations on the tremendous feedback last night. That song is doing very well on iTunes. How did you come up with that as an audition song selection?

Amy: Dream a Little Dream of Me? I came across this song while I was in college, and – I know it’s been around forever, but – when I started stepping into my love for old standards and the old crooners of like that golden age of music where everything was so simple, but yet so distinctly, profoundly beautiful, I came across this song. And it was like, wow, what a hauntingly beautiful melody, and what a simple lyric to it. And choosing this song, I started to realize just how there actually was a pretty strong parallel to what I was daring – what we’re all daring to do in stepping on to that (final) audition stage. And just the whole sentiment behind the song of when the stars are fading, when everything ends, to hold on to something – to hold onto a dream. And I know that sounds a little corny but I started to feel that in a real way. So that – the song brought on a stronger meaning – a stronger connection through this process and yes, so I’m just – I’m a big fan of the song and I think it was perfect for this (blind) for me.

Q) And you’ve released a couple of EPs already. How would you describe your sound and how are you trying to enhance that through The Voice?

Amy: Well, I – when people have asked me that in the past I’ve said I’m going for, like, a new hybrid of sounds. Because I like so many different kinds – so many different genres of music, and the best way that I could describe it would be “old-timey indie pop.” I think that’s always – you know, any artist knows, I mean – you’re always evolving and you’re always trying to get to that perfect sound. That perfect wardrobe that you want to wear every day. And it’s just such a process and I think going through this – the process of this show is really going to help me just to probe into that in deeper ways and, really, while I’m working with Pharrell we’re still getting feedback from all of the coaches, and also, all of the artists that are still on the show. And being in that environment that is very intense – somewhat like training camp – this boot camp – where you’re influenced constantly and very powerfully by so many different avenues. I just know that I’m honing in on what I feel to be you know my truer – my most true genre. If you will.

 

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*