The Voice – Blind Auditions – Night Five – 2018

By starrymag | March 23, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) Stephanie, I was wondering if you could tell us in a little bit more detail why you went with Adam.

 

Stephanie Skipper:  Adam, when he said something about thinking below just the vocal performance of the song and telling the story, that had been a huge part of my process — not just to sing the notes, because Kelly already did that beautifully, but to tell my story in the moment that I had. The fact that he seemed to resonate with that I thought you know what? I think there’s more here to uncover and discover.

 

Q) And now as a solo artist you had sang Christian music and then with Copperlily, it was more like singer-songwriter type music. Where do you see yourself going now that you’re embarking on sort of a second solo career?

 

Stephanie Skipper: I love pop music. I really do. I love that it is kind of an umbrella of all things. It’s a melting pot of so many different genres. So I really do foresee myself pursuing something that’s catchy but creative and I’m sure there will be elements of that singer-songwriter in there and my little pop rocker will emerge as well.

 

Q) Livia, I was wondering did you consider playing ukulele for your audition considering that it was a big part of your video package?

 

Livia Faith:   I did consider it, but I was so scared that I would mess up the ukulele and it would throw my song off. And I think I just got in my head about it and I didn’t want to jeopardize like messing up the words or the song because I accidently strummed the wrong chord. And so I just really played it safe. And the band is amazing, so I was really honored to have them be the only instrumental.

 

 

Q) During the show last night, you said in your package you were hoping for Blake to turn. And when Blake and Alicia were kind of fighting for you, they said they would work with you to pretty much make songs different. And they pretty much both said the same thing, I thought, similar things. But I was wondering why did you ultimately choose Alicia at the end?

 

Livia Faith:   You know what? I really surprised myself with that one, too. I really went in with in my mind I was like if Blake Sheldon turns his chair, I’m going to go with Blake Shelton. And after we like talked and I heard everything that they had to say, Alicia actually fought really hard and she was like wait. I want to go again. Like she just showed this passion to have me on her team. And then she sang to me, which like I don’t know. My heart just like melted. By the time she finished, I don’t know. My heart just went straight to her. It was like there was this light over Alicia Keys’ head and I was like I have to pick Alicia.

 

Q) For Teana and Livia, you’re both so young. I was hoping you could tell me a little about the biggest performances you’ve done prior to The Voice and then what led you to the show. 

 

Teana Boston:       Hi. The biggest performance that I believe I had before The Voice was singing the national anthem for the Oakland Raiders. It was a huge crowd. It was so amazing to see the love that they showed. And then I also sang at the World Cup Madrid soccer game out here in Santa Clara. And that was an even bigger crowd. So yes, those were both amazing experiences that my father actually gave me the opportunity for.

 

Q) And Teana, about how old were you when you did that?

 

Teana Boston:       That was actually last year so I was 15. Fifteen years old, turning sixteen.

 

Q)  Okay. And then how did you wind up on The Voice? How did that come about?

 

Teana Boston:       My father came across the opportunity for The Voice and he asked me if I wanted to try it out. I was kind of on the fence about it at first, but I was like yes, let’s just give it a try. Let’s just see. And I wasn’t even expecting it to go as far as it did.

 

Q)  And how do you feel about landing on Team Kelly?

 

Teana Boston:  I feel amazing. Kelly Clarkson, she’s so inspirational. She’s so amazing. The advice that she gave me about how I can move forward with my artistry just drew me in — not just because she was the only person that turned around for me, but just because I know that she has been in a competition before and has had this experience. So I knew that she would be able to give me the knowledge that I needed to surpass my performances.

 

Q) And then Livia, can you tell me what some of the bigger things you’ve done prior to The Voice were?

 

Livia Faith:  Absolutely. I think the biggest performance that I had done before The Voice was when I was 14 and I actually turned 15 the week of, I went to IMTA — which is the International Model and Talent Association in New York City. They also have one in LA but I went to the one in New York City and I competed in the singing competition that they had and I won junior singer of the year. I think that was the biggest thing that I had done before The Voice and that was already way out of my comfort zone. So I can’t believe that I actually went for The Voice after that.

 

Q) And how did that come about? How did you wind up on The Voice?

 

Livia Faith:   It’s a funny story really. It’s always been a dream of mine to audition for The Voice. And I just always told my mom and my sisters, who were always like you should audition for The Voice. I was always telling them I wanted to wait until I was older, you know. I wanted to wait until I was at least in my 20s when my voice was mature and I was more confident and in my prime. We were snowed in here in Kentucky for like four days and I guess my sister got a little cabin fever and she got on the computer and just registered me to go audition on The Voice, a cattle call audition in Nashville. And it was really funny. She was downstairs and I was upstairs and she sent me a picture and she was like guess who just registered you to audition for The Voice? And I was like what? So I just kind of did it on a whim and I didn’t really expect anything from it. So this is absolutely crazy.

 

Q)  Well, see that, you owe her a thank you.

 

Livia Faith:  Yes, absolutely. I thank her every day.

 

Q) Tish, I thought it was really interesting that you chose Adam over Kelly. And could you talk a little bit about that and what your approach going into the competition is?

 

Tish Haynes Keys:      My approach initially was to pick Kelly. But the comments that Adam made basically showed that he knows who I am. He’s identified with what kind of singer that I am. And because of that, he wants to help me change and do some things that are just versatile against my voice.  And I wanted to do that instead. I know that Kelly is still an awesome and amazing coach. But my gut instinct was telling me to just go with Adam. I feel that right now, he’s the best pick for me with what I’m trying to do with the show and to show that I’m not only a powerhouse singer or a soulful singer, but I can jazz it up. I can do different varieties and styles of singing. So I thought that Adam would be my better choice.

 

Q) So in what ways would you like to push yourself? What other genres do you like other than just R&B?

 

Tish Haynes Keys:      I’ve pushed myself with jazz, and I don’t do much of it but I can do it. I have sung country before. We do a lot of pop. I do a lot of Motown and disco, stuff like that at weddings a lot. So I push myself with any genre of music. My strongest suit though is R&B and gospel base.

 

Q) Jordan, during your audition Blake mentioned that he heard a little bit of George Strait in your voice. And I was wondering what your reaction to that is. And has anyone ever told you that? I mean, that’s a pretty big compliment.

 

Jordan Kirkdorffer:     Yes, that was a huge compliment. I’ve never been told that before and I grew up in the 90s that was the heyday of George Strait. And so for him to say that, that was a huge compliment. And now that I’ve got it on YouTube, I can watch it whenever I need a little pick me up.

 

Q) And are you worried at all about blending in? I think Kelly mentioned it. Another coach mentioned something about blending in on Blake’s team I guess because his thing is country. So how do you feel about that and how do you plan on standing out?

 

Jordan Kirkdorffer: I’m not worried about that. You watch the seasons over and over and Blake’s got a ton of country people. But I feel like I’m just unique. I’ve got that blend of pop and soul and country. And so I’m not the super traditional country. And I think he’s a great coach that’s going to help me discover my lane in the country music industry. And he’s had a career that’s transcended for a few decades so there’s no better person to be with than him.

 

Q) Who are your inspirations that you look to in music?

 

Jordan Kirkdorffer: I mean, just growing up with the 90s country it was George Strait and Garth Brooks. And then Rascal Flatts as, you know, I got older. And even like Carrie Underwood when she won American Idol, like she’s got a booming kind of rock voice. So I kind of just mix all that. But I mean, I also grew up in the church and my mom played Whitney Houston and all these other vocalists. So I think I’ve just kind of got a mix of all those like pop-country sounds.

 

Q) So my question is for Team Adam. So what were your guys’ first impressions of Stephanie Skipper and what’s her personality like now that you’ve gotten to know her a little bit? If anybody can give a quote, that would be great.

 

Tish Haynes Keys:      Stephanie is amazing. She is graceful. She walks with such confidence. And she’s classy in all of her ways. I’ve been blessed to have met Stephanie.

 

Shana Halligan: Yes, I would like to chime in. She was so inspiring and a light and helped me through so much of the emotional turmoil that can occur in a situation like this. She just really lifted my soul and my heart and has become a dear friend.

 

Miya Bass:   I would like to chime in. I just want to say that Stephanie definitely sings with her heart. And that’s why she’s loved so much. I mean, she’s beautiful inside and out and that’s what really makes her stand out.

 

Gary Edwards:  Stephanie is a class act. And her smile can brighten up an entire room. She doesn’t need to sing, half the time you can just tell by her presence there is something special about her.

 

 

Q) Stephanie, we’re in the state college area. First, you put your solo music career on hold for a while and I wanted to ask a two part question — what drove you to audition for The Voice and can you describe now what it’s like to be on such a massive stage in front of a national audience and with fans apparently on the phone with you too.

 

Stephanie Skipper:   I did take some time off. I just needed to regroup and honestly decide if I still loved singing and if it was something I wanted to pursue. And the answer was yes. But honestly, I was at the gym one morning and I saw that Kelly Clarkson was going to be a coach on this season. I saw something on Good Morning America. So my husband and I went to a venue that night on a date and we’re sitting on the countryside hill and I just said hey, Kelly’s going to be a coach on The Voice this season. And he kind of raised an eyebrow and looked at me and said well are you going to do it? And I thought, I don’t really have much else going on so sure, I’ll give it a whirl. And who would’ve known that a few months later I’d be singing her song for her. And although she didn’t turn, I got my hug and it was just such a surreal, beautiful moment. I still am struggling to find words for it. And that sort of answers the second part of the question. On such a large scale, I have such a deep gratitude for it. I think anytime you shoot for the stars and maybe fall on your face and then decide to get back up and try again, there are so many lessons. There’s such a new depth to the gratitude that I have for this opportunity because I can’t take it for granted. It’s a once in a lifetime thing and it’s really fun to share with my new friends. And I’m deeply grateful.

 

Q) I was hoping those of you we haven’t heard from could talk about your coaching matchups. Let’s start off with Gary. Gary, can you explain why you went with Team Adam?

 

Gary Edwards:      Yes, definitely. Adam Levine to me is the all-around artist. He’s a musician. He’s a writer. He’s a performer. And much like everyone else’s comments about him, you just think that with someone that’s so well rounded, can’t help but grow. And plus, he has one of my favorite artists of all time, PJ Morton, in Maroon Five as the lead keyboardist. So yes, that attitude.

 

Q) Bransen, how about you? Other than your children’s preference.

 

Bransen Ireland:    Other than my children, you know, Blake being a Nashville guy and having strong ties to the songwriting community here in Nashville, which is something that’s been a major part of my life the last six and a half years, it just made sense. It made sense. It felt like that it was something long term that would, you know, possibly strengthen and broaden those opportunities here within the Nashville community.

 

 

Q) Hey Jordan, how about you?

 

Jordan Kirkdorffer: Yes, I mean when I was standing up on the stage like you can’t even describe what goes over you. And Adam said some really great things and just, you know, I couldn’t even describe what it’s like to sit there and hear that from him. But the thing that struck me, I actually asked the question to both of them what they would change about my audition or you know, critiques. And Blake just gave me some very straightforward and honest feedback and to me, that’s the whole reason I came on the show. It’s great to have them turn and like that was just something I’m going to hold onto forever, but then to have him start the coaching and really dive in and not hold back. That’s what I wanted because I want to be pushed and I want to be challenged and grow as an artist. That’s what I went with Blake.

 

 

Q) Shana, how do you feel about winding up on Team Alicia? I tell you, the coaches are being a little stingy with those chair turns this year.

 

Shana Halligan:  That’s who I wanted so I was elated because I felt that was exactly the perfect match for me anyway. Her approach to music and her approach to songwriting feels very similar to the way I create. I’d recently seen a beautiful interview she had done on NPR and how shy she was about collaborating and her process when she writes and produces. And how it’s very recently that she started really doing collaborations in that way where she had to bare her soul in front of another person. And I just completely relate. I am so introverted in so many ways and in my process and my artistic process. So I also knew that I was really kind of an out of the box choice for anyone on The Voice. I’ve never considered myself to be commercial. I’m very kind of avant-garde in my style of music and electronica, jazz. And so I just felt so lucky that she saw me and felt me and really got my vibes and that I could have an opportunity to be placed in a world where so many eyes were on me. And it just blew my mind. I mean, she’s so lovely. She’s such an authentic… beautiful preacher, you know. So, and we go the whole mama thing together and I just couldn’t have felt luckier.

 

Q) And then Miya, you wound up on Team Adam. Can you talk a little bit about that matchup and how you felt about that?

 

Miya Bass:  Yes, well I definitely feel super blessed and I feel like this is obviously something that I will never forget. I was super nervous and I just remember my heart dropping when Adam turned his chair. And you know, I’m just super excited to work with him. He’s like Gary said so well rounded and he has so much experience and I’m pretty sure he can help me in so many different ways. So I’m just here. I’m here for the excitement, honey. Yes.

 

Q) Shana, I was wondering, you’re a pretty edgy artist. And you came out on stage and you gave a really bold performance. You didn’t water it down at all. Could you talk a little bit about that kind of risk taking? And did you even maybe think of holding back a little to please a wider audience?

 

Shana Halligan:     You know, no. I only know how to do things from my heart. And I knew that the only way I was going to be seen is if I just close my eyes and really dug deep and sunk my teeth into the artist that I am and be proud of that and not shy away from that.  The biggest risk for me was doing this show, period. That was the most terrifying out of the box experience I’ve had to date, but magical. And it proved to me and reaffirmed, you know, that as long as I stay true to who I am as an artist, people will connect and people will relate and appreciate that. And so, that was the only way to go for me you know. Go big or go home, you know? So yes, I pretty much blacked out when Alicia turned and saw her beaming smile and then that was the last thing I remember and it was so nice to actually see the show last night and remember something from what happened. It was so magical.

 

Q) Yes, what made you decide to do the show, a big commercial show like The Voice?

 

Shana Halligan:  I’ve been around the block for a while. I’ve tried so many things. And it is something that I wasn’t sure I wanted to do or I’d be comfortable with, because my music in the past has sort of bloomed organically and slowly. And it definitely took a lot of thought.  And my husband and I were sitting on the couch and we were watching it for the first time a few seasons back and there was this one artist — and I wish I could remember his name right now — but he was very James Blake and really interesting and avant-garde. And Gwen Stefani had been working with him. And I just was so captivated by how true he stayed in his lane and he didn’t waver, and he was very nontraditional for The Voice.   And I thought, you know, what? Look at all the love he’s receiving for doing what he’s doing. He’s not compromising. And I’m getting older. My chances are really like running by. So I’m like, let me give this one more go. Let me give this one more go and let me do something that really scares me and see what can happen and what other doors it can open. Because I feel like in this lifetime if you don’t take risks and you don’t do things that really push you outside of your comfort zone, you don’t fully evolve. You haven’t really lived a full life, you know? So I just jumped off the cliff and went for it and I’m really glad I did. I’m really glad I did and very grateful.

 

Q) Shana, I was wanting to know about your dad’s influence on your music.

 

Shana Halligan:  Yes, he’s always been a huge influence in my life. I mean, growing up we had musicians playing in the house, jamming in the house until all hours of the night. A lot of jazz I was introduced to primarily by him, a lot of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald and all of those, Sarah Vaughan. And, he always reminded me that you can’t fix things in the studio. That’s not really being a true vocalist. You have to be able to do it like for real. You have to be able to feel it. You have to be able to write it. And he just really, I was really scared of writing for a long time because he was such a profound composer and rock star and legend that I really kind of shrank in his shadow a little bit. And eventually I started to try some of those things out that he exposed me to. And yes, so he influenced me more than he realizes. And although I’m not a jazz singer, I definitely have a jazz heart in the way that I compose and arrange and the way I hear things, I think is more improvisational and more colorful than traditional. So I owe him for that. And he showed me that you can succeed as a musician, you know? You can do it. Like, it’s not a dream. It’s real. And I grew up seeing and witnessing and that is a true gift.

 

Q) Have you guys ever collaborated on an arrangement to a song?

 

Shana Halligan:     We did once. With my old band Bitter:Sweet, he helped do some really stunning string arrangements for that project and horn arrangements. And I’d never worked with him before and it was so incredible to be kind of peers in this way and really look at each other as musicians instead of father daughter. And I could really appreciate his brilliance and genius in a way I hadn’t been able to so much growing up as his daughter. And he could see, you know, what I was creating at the same time as a musician. And that was the most exciting collaboration ever, for sure.

 

Q) Shana, congratulations on your success and your past success. And I don’t want to make it about your dad, but I was just curious because his band was a big deal and I just want some more info on that. But congratulations and my last question was like what were his thoughts on you going on The Voice and his advice?

 

Shana Halligan:   He was not so sure. He’s such an artist, like he will not do anything unless it’s 100% the artist’s way. And he is not about commercialism, and all this stuff. So at first, he’s like you sure you really want to do this? He wasn’t like totally gung ho. And I’m like Dad, this is a different time and all art needs to be embraced and set on a bigger platform. So he softened and got into the idea and then he was pretty proud in the end.

 

Q) Gary, I was wondering if you would talk a little bit. I really enjoyed your arrangement of “What’s Going On.” That song has been sung a lot on competition shows, but you really put a different twist on it. Could you talk about what inspired that?

 

Gary Edwards:      Sure. I was born and raised Detroit, so you know, Motown is kind of all I know. And you can’t repeat an individual like Marvin Gaye. That’s just – you can’t do it. So what I tried to do is keep kind of the same accents and keep the groove. I think what really made that song back in its heyday was its groove that went along with it. When you think of What’s Going On outside of its original message, you think of how deep it was, yet you could still play it at a party and it would move. And so when I came to the musicians with my arrangement of it and I said hey, start it off slow to kind of get everyone’s attention and then hit straight into that pop, that hump that one-two. And it worked out. And so I would definitely give a shout out to my city for that inspiration.

 

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*