The Voice – Blind Auditions – Night Four

By starrymag | September 30, 2016

Q) My first question is for Preston and Christian. We didn’t get to see your auditions last night so I was hoping you could tell us what we missed. How it went, why you chose the song you performed. How you feel about been on team Blake that sort of thing. And if we could start with you Preston.

 

Preston James: Well you did not get to see my performance last night. We were both montages, you know. But man it’s great to be on team Blake. I’m really excited. But what’s really cool is that when I was five years old my mom was a publicist for Miranda Lambert. Which, you know, as you know that correlation. But my mom was a publicist for Miranda. And I took Miranda to my kindergarten Valentine’s Day party when I was five. So the next day my mom’s job was to, you know, release the news that Miranda and Blake were together at the time. And I had like a huge crush on Miranda at the time. So I still felt like I had a little bit of a bone to pick by the time I got here. But by the time I was on team Blake I was so excited. It was so much fun and, you know, it was just so crazy, you know, that whole story that I just told you. Just to come back and I hadn’t really thought about it until, you know, before blinds. And I was like oh yes this is my time.

 

Q) Did he turn early in your performance, late in your performance?

 

Preston James:       He turned like right towards the end. Like I was like literally holding out like the last note of the song. And I was looking like in the opposite direction. And I was having fun no matter what. It was like just such a cool experience. And I just noticed everybody was like cheering. And I looked over and I was like oh that’s so crazy I didn’t even see him like or hear him turn. I was just in my own world.

 

Q) And then if we could go to Christian please.

 

Christian Ferman: Yes so, yes unfortunately you didn’t get to see my audition. But I think it went great honestly. Obviously with just the nerves that I had going in I was super nervous, got up on stage. But I think I sang pretty well. Blake turned I think like right before the chorus of my audition. So I was pretty much chilling for the rest of the song. So I was super happy when I saw him turn. I was just honestly shocked to even be there. I went into the audition – right before I went up I kind of went in thinking man, you know, there’s like so many talented people here. I’d honestly be fine with not getting a chair. Because I know that there’s just so many great talents here. And yes just to get one chair to turn. I mean that was – for me that was a big thing. And that was just super awesome for me to experience. And yes just like being on team Blake is not something that I thought would happen but I mean I think it’s awesome. Blake is awesome. And yes I was just stoked to be there. As far as like song choice. But yes as far as song choice this is one of my favorite songs actually. This is probably like my top two favorite bands right now – NEEDTOBREATHE — and so for me to sing that song on the show was like super important for me. Especially with the genre and like the subject matter of the song with it having just such a positive like subject. Like that’s the type of – that’s the type of genre the type of subject matter that I’d want to pursue as an artist and in music. And so yes I think that was a really great representation of me. Who I’d want to take after and who I’d want to be as an artist. So I was excited.

 

Q)  Gabriel, Broadway readers are already rooting for you. Based on your experiences for your awakening. And I know that you said in your bio that you realized that at some point Broadway was not the right place for you but I was wondering if you would ever consider returning and how you felt the experience helped you prepare for The Voice?

 

Gabriel Violett:      Absolutely I would consider returning. You know I don’t – I’m never – I’m too young to start considering taking things off the table now. But it helped me prepare for my experience in The Voice in so, so many ways. It was really interesting going through the process and preparing for it and just seeing places where I would like have, you know, have these reservoirs of knowledge of things that I hadn’t thought about in years. But like oh I did this in a show one time or oh this seems familiar because I had – had worked on it during tech and whatever. And like to be able to take from that experience and then kind of overlay that with what was going on here and help it be a little bit less intimidating and a little more familiar because I had already, you know, been through some of those steps. But it definitely a completely different beat. But it was nice knowing that I was coming at it after going through something like Spring Awakening and like the whole press push that came with that. It was, you know, nice to be in somewhat familiar territory.

 

Q) Darby, I was wondering how you felt, the experience of being on the Olympic review. Did that bring you a lot of attention before The Voice actually premiered?

 

Darby Walker:       It absolutely did. It was truly and unbelievable experience to watch myself air after the closing ceremonies of the Olympics. It’s one of those you could never even possibly imagine. And I think because there was so many people that were tuned in that organically watched it really was something special to have people call me up and just see people writing in the comments everything that they were. It was really nice. Because it gave me opportunity to have time to respond to everyone to really see who is responding to my music and what I was putting out there. It was so special.

 

Q)  And you had quite an audition where you had both Miley and Alicia join you on stage to sing a bit. That must have been very exciting.

 

Darby Walker:       It was. It was crazy. It was – it’s one of those things the only way I know how to describe it to people is in the moment. It was the most natural feeling in the world. I was singing with these people. It was artist to artist having this good time singing. And when I got home that night and laid in my bed I was, like, oh my goodness Darby, what in the world did you just do? Like I just sang with two of my biggest idols. So wrapping my head around that and letting that process it took a while. But it was truly an unbelievable experience that I’m not going to forget any time soon.

 

Q) Now you had both of them on stage with you but you ultimately decided to go with team Miley. Could you talk a little bit about that?

 

Darby Walker:      I can that – oh my goodness. So I did ultimately decide to go with Miley for a multitude of reasons. One – just so you know I’ve always been a huge Alicia fan. I have the upmost respect for her in the world. I am in love with her. But there was something about Miley that felt right. In fact Miley – my first concert I ever went to was a Hannah Montana concert. So me and Miley go way back. But no she was someone – she resonated with where I was and what I’m trying to do as an artist. She really, really understands what it means to be unique. And be original and be bold and have no fear whatsoever. And that’s something that I’m all about. I always say I’m a story teller. And that is what she is — that’s what she stands for — if that makes sense. So I felt like I wanted to be on a team where I’m going to get to grow and expand my story telling skills. So this couldn’t be – it couldn’t be an even better fit. And Miley has a heart of gold and I’m so excited to be on her team.

 

Q) For Simone and Gabriel, most of the artists – we got to hear at least a little bit of why they made their coaching decision last night. But we really didn’t hear from you two. So, Simone I was hoping you could tell us why you went with team Adam?

 

Simone Gundy:     I ultimately – ultimately my choice was very strategic. A lot of the conversation that happened when I was on stage was – some of it was not aired. And so a lot of that was, you know, Adam letting me know that there was – that he had fought over Ally who I’m sure you guys saw on the previous episode. And Miley was definitely saying some things that were like oh-my-gosh she was after my own heart like it was unreal. Are you reading off of some sort of paperwork about me? Because she was just saying things that were just so in tuned with what I wanted. So it was a very tough decision but ultimately I was following my heart but at the same time I was remembering where I was. And this is a competition and ultimately you have to be strategic.  And one of the things that Adam point out was that with Ally being on Mileys team and us both kind of being in the R&B soul powerhouse arena it was going to be kind of one of those conflicting things. And so I definitely – I definitely felt that point of view and being a viewer of the show in previous seasons that’s proven to work in peoples favor. And not so much when there being as strategic about it and they’re being solely led by their emotions and the moment. So I definitely kind of pounded down, honed my brain in for a second but had to remember where I was. And ultimately that was why I went with Adam. I just felt that it was a good strategy. And I mean Adam – he has this crazy appreciation and knowledge of music. Like you cannot deny it. I mean he’s been in the industry over a decade. And has worked with some power houses and, you know, he knows – he writes amazing music. He just has such an appreciation for artistry and how could I not want to just, you know, latch on to that bank of knowledge? You know, it’s just too invaluable. So that was definitely another reason because he was another one of my first choices before I even stepped on the stage anyway. So I definitely did not walk off the stage disappointed in any way shape, form, or fashion.

 

Q)   And then if we could go to Gabriel. Why Alicia?

 

Gabriel Violett:      Well it was interesting. Because actually leading up to the blind auditions beforehand I was really gung-ho on Miley, I really wanted Miley to turn around. But then something – I don’t know I just started having this inkling in the day’s right before the blind auditions and I kind of started changing my answers in interviews. They would ask me who I wanted to turn around and I just kind of started having this feeling like, you know what I – I really should be thinking about what Alicia Keys could bring to the table for me. Because that’s so much more in the wheel house of what I like to sing and the kind of music that I naturally gravitate towards. Obviously seeing her turn her chair so quickly for me I can’t not respond to that. You know, that makes me feel pretty special. And then whenever she talked there’s this like – she has the most incredible presence and there is this like undeniable hush that comes over a room whenever she starts talking.   And she’s – it’s just – when she talks to you, you feel like there is no one else in the room, she is completely focused on you. And it feels just so natural and organic and nurturing and it was almost like an ethereal quality. It was not like anything I’ve ever felt before and it just felt – I don’t know it just felt too right. I couldn’t say no.

 

Q)  Nolan, I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about what it felt like to go from no chairs to four chairs.

 

Nolan Neal:  There’s like no explanation for how great it felt.

 

Q) Did you come back a little nervous that you wouldn’t get any chairs again?

 

Nolan Neal:    No. I was just hoping to get one chair. I was just hoping Adam would turn around and recognize my voice. That’s all I was hoping for and really – but I believed in that cover of the song. Because I had been doing that song for like 10 years it’s my favorite cover song. So when I saw the chairs turn around and we were – cause remember in season 10 everything was way more dark in there. It was way more dark. And then there’s way more lights going on, on season 11. It’s way more lit up. That was cool.

 

Q) So did you go into the audition thinking you might choose Adam if he turned?

 

Nolan Neal:  I knew for a fact I mean, you know, I promised my son I was going to choose Adam. And everybody was like you better choose Adam. But then once the chairs did turn and everyone started talking I really wanted – I was about to pick Miley I was so close.

 

Q) Michael, we didn’t get to hear a whole lot about your musical background in your intro package. I was hoping you could tell us how you got involved in music. What type do you typically play at the restaurants? And what type you would play if it was the Michael Sanchez Show.

 

Michael Sanchez:   I’m from San Diego. I’ve been playing piano since I was like five or six. Took lesson back then. And yes so I’ve been doing that. And when I was a little kid I – I’ve always had a hard time speaking. And I had a speech impediment when I was kid like in elementary school. Where, you know, I actually had to go to classes, you know, to have them fix my S’s and R’s. And I’d stutter and mumble. It was not a good situation. So I felt always like a really awkward weird kid as a young kid. Like I didn’t have any way to communicate. That was kind of my issue. So once I got out of, once I – music was, you know, one of those things that was really important to me when I was kid. So I had like an old record collection that was in my parent’s room that I would always listen too. So I felt like music would help me communicate. So then when I started, you know, singing and playing piano at school. Like at a talent show, something like that and all of the sudden people were like hey who’s this guy? You know what’s going on? I felt like they were – oh here’s my voice, you know. Here’s my ability to communicate. So yes. So then – music really helped me find my voice – my confidence in communication. And then as far as the restaurants go. I’ve been doing, you know, piano bar type stuff for – oh boy. A while – since I was what – five or six years now? And yes. So I play – my style there is kind of whatever people request. It’s kind of my main gig. Is just going okay what do you want to hear? Somebody comes in and they throw down 20 dollars and they go I want to hear Taylor Swift. Okay well you play Taylor swift. Or I want to hear Michael Jackson and you play Michael Jackson. So it’s just a great job for – and it’s all stuff that I really like. And I’m an old soul. I’m kind of – I’m young. I’m 25 but I listen to really old music and I’ve kind of grown up on that. So that’s kind of what I do at restaurants. And I will see – what other question do you have for me?

 

Q) If it was the Michael Sanchez show what type of music would you be performing?

 

Michael Sanchez:  Number one I really like old music. I just – it just speaks to me and part of me I’m just kind of, you know, that’s what I like. So I do like – I really like Jazz a lot and I’m really into like R&B and Soul. I also do a lot of church music. I’m a Christian and I do a lot. I’m a worship leader in San Diego so I’d – love to do music like that too. So I’m kind of trying to figure out right now too what direction I want to go. Because – since my jobs require, you know, so many different types of music, you know, you have to sing Country, Jazz, Rock and Roll, whatever, you know, they need. And it’s – I can do that. So I’m trying to figure out what do I want to do and what kind of opportunities are available. So, you know yes.

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*