The Voice – Blind Auditions – Night Four – 2018

By starrymag | March 11, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) Last night’s show we got to hear Terrence explain why he picked team Alicia. I’d like each of the others of you to explain why you landed on the team – why you decided to join the team that you decided. And if we could start off with Spensha please. Why did you join Team Blake?

 

Spensha Baker:     I moved to Nashville about six years ago and really fell in love with country music. I had grown up listening to Bryan White and Shania Twain. And, you know, obviously my musical journey led me to gospel. But I ultimately fell in love with country music again and knew from being a fan of the show that I wanted to work with Blake from the very beginning. And so when he turned around I knew that was the right decision.

 

Q) Wilkes, how about you? Why did you go with Team Blake? Adam was putting on a hard sell?

 

Wilkes:  Yes that’s true. The main reason I went with Team Blake is because it’s really important to me to be able to get along with somebody I’m working with personally. And not that I wouldn’t get along with Adam I think I would. We connect on a lot of points but me and Blake are both southern guys we both come from the same background. We’re kind of cut from the same cloth. And I just knew walking into a room with Blake we would immediately connect and get each other and there wouldn’t be that awkward moment of getting to know somebody because we come from similar backgrounds. So mine was more about working with him directly then any sort of professional and musical approach. I just wanted me and my coach both to be comfortable in the room together and have a real connection so I felt a personal connection with Blake and went the direction.

 

Q) Alexa, I think we can guess in your case but we didn’t really get to hear you say on The Voice. So why did you go with Kelly?

 

Alexa Cappelli:     Well I’ve always grown up listening to her. She’s always been someone that I looked up to musically and as a person as well. I love that she’s never really been stuck in one particular genre. She’s very soulful, she’s done pop, she’s done classic rock. And I love the fact that she hasn’t been stuck and that’s what I want to do with my music. And one of the songs that I sing for my school that’s the reason I’m there that’s the reason I made it here in all honesty it was kind of full circle that she turned for me and I was just very thankful. So yes I’m super excited. And she’s just someone that I’ve always looked up to and I had to go with my gut.

 

Q) JessLee, I think you had a choice between Blake and Kelly. We didn’t get to really see it but can you tell me why you went with Blake?

 

JessLee:  Yes for actually for months I’m a visualizer. And it was kind of predecided for the longest time, because I had a picture of Blake winking at himself like he does and had the I want you sign lit up. And it was something that I just really had pre-visualized. And then when it actually happened I can’t lie it was a hard situation in real life because when Kelly had turned as well they’re both just such amazing established artists. But Blake really knocked it in when he made a point to say that it’s similar to Cassidee Pope and that was a big deal to me because Cassidee is probably one of the closest artists to my style of what I want to do with music to where it’s that rock kind of country feel. And when he made a point to bring her up out of the blue it definitely just confirmed that he was the right match for me.

 

Q) Hey Megan did you have a choice on the coach or was Alicia the only chair turn?

 

Megan Lee:  Hi. Alicia’s turned for me yes, there was the only one.

 

Q) How do you feel about having Alicia as your coach and did you have a preference going into the blind audition?

 

Megan Lee:    Oh yes going in I honestly didn’t really have a specific preference. You know I look up to all of the coaches equally and they’re all people that I grew up listening to. Honestly going into the blind auditions I just didn’t really have a choice. And I was down for whoever was interested in working with me. And I was super, super happy that Alicia turned because I do love R&B and soul. And that’s definitely one of the main genres that I like to sing including pop. And, you know, she does it all so I’m really, really lucky that she became my coach.

 

Q) Jordyn, same question to you. How do you feel about having Alicia as your coach and was she the only one to turn?

 

Jordyn Simone:   Yes Alicia was the only person to turn for me. I was really fortunate enough to get a chance to only have the choice to work with her. I think she’s absolutely amazing. And I think although it would have been amazing to have a four chair turn at the same time it would’ve given me too much options and I’m to indecisive. So it was amazing to get the chance to just see her and just for us to connect on a deeper level with the music. So I was really glad that she turned for me.

 

Q) Terrence, I was wondering if you could describe your reaction to having all four chairs turn and turn as quickly as they did?

 

Terrence Cunningham:   I was in shock quite honestly. A funny story when I was singing we don’t hear when they press that button because that would kind of startle you during your performance. So I was singing the song and early on in the song people started cheering. And I said oh my God I must be doing really well. But apparently they were only cheering because Adam had turned around. So I looked up and I could see Adam out of my periphery.  And so in that moment I was like, oh my God I made it on the show which is, you know, what we were all endeavoring to accomplish. So at that point I just went back to singing the song again. And I honestly didn’t know that they had all turned until the song was over and everyone was kind of standing up and I was trying to take in the whole moment. And then I saw on the bottom of their chairs where it says I want you.  And I just thought oh my goodness I just I’m still in shock now and it happened a couple months ago. So it was just it was amazing. It was life affirming when you choose a life of artistry and you’re not always guaranteed your next meal but anything in your life that’s worth anything you’re willing to sacrifice for it. And so in that instant it all mattered. It all, you know, it all came together.

 

Q)Yes, yes. And I wanted to ask you about that arrangement of “My Girl.” Did you write that?

 

Terrence Cunningham:   Yes I did. The story behind that is a good friend of mine got married about a year ago and she said hey I want to walk down the aisle to My Girl but can you sing it slow? And I thought what? I said yes I’ll make up something. And I ended up getting that same song for the show so it was such a blessing because I had already written it in a sense before The Voice asked me to do it.

 

Q) Wow cool. Now you have had no formal music training in my right?

 

Terrence Cunningham:   Other than piano lessons when I was in elementary school no.

 

Q) Spensha, could you talk a little bit about growing up in San Antonio just like maybe your high school years at Judson and being part of that Army household?

 

Spensha Baker:     Yes. So my father he was stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas and got re-stationed to Fort Sam Houston here in San Antonio. I went to Judson High School for my freshman and sophomore year of high school. You know, I love Texas. And I’ve been a very fortunate military brat where I haven’t lived, you know, in 30 places. Most of where I’ve lived has been in Texas so I really do consider Texas my home. And obviously, my father was in the Army. He just retired after 30 years. My mother was in for 13 so it was a very interesting childhood. I did my first two years at Judson High School and then I ended up moving to Nashville before my junior year but ended up finishing high school in Tennessee. But the great thing about spending a majority of your time somewhere is that you really get to dig roots and I really feel that, you know, my roots are here in Texas. And I’ve had the opportunity even in my music career to sing across churches in Texas and events and festivals. And so this is really where, you know, I grew my wings as far as singing. And my journey has started here and so to be on The Voice this season and to be representing Texas is such an honor for me since I’ve spent the majority of my life here so I’m really honored.

 

Q)  Did you come up with that arrangement of Blackbird? It was very unusual and very beautiful very sweet.

 

Spensha Baker:     Yes I originally heard “Blackbird” via another vocal competition show and was really inspired by a version that was done on that show. And then that was maybe four or five years ago. And so, you know, not knowing that The Voice was in my future that version really stuck with me and so I played it on the piano and I would sing it kind a cappella for people when they’d asked me to sing. And then when The Voice opportunity came I just really felt in my heart that that would be a good song choice one because of the message and two because I could put my own spin on it. And I was really grateful that we came up with something slower and more heartfelt with a little bit of soul in there and something that could really relay the message of the song since I’m such a fan of the original.

 

Q) And you’re enjoying working with Blake? Is he a goofball in person as well as on TV?

 

Spensha Baker:   I have been a fan of The Voice since season one and a fan of Blake since forever. And, you know, to watch him on the show and the way he works with his artists he really allows them to be themselves. But he is a goofball. He’s so funny. And he’s also very authentic and genuine. And he inspires you to be that way. So I’ve had a blast working with him and I can’t say it enough how honored I am that he turned and that, you know, he believes in me and I can’t wait to see, you know, what the future holds.

 

Q) Wilkes, what was your reaction when you got two turned chairs and then, you know, when you decided to go with Team Blake?

 

Wilkes:   Well my reaction was kind of a little bit of disbelief that I not only got two chairs but that I got Blake and Adam because I knew those were going to be the two that I was going to have trouble deciding between. So it was really great and kind of my worst nightmare at the same time. I didn’t want to choose between them. But it was super cool a very unique feeling I never felt before obviously. But very humbling that both of them would hit their button and turn around for me. The thought process going into choosing Blake like I said a little bit earlier was mainly from a connecting personally standpoint. I just I knew we would be able to get along together and he would get me and I would get him without even really trying because we have a similar background. And he’s just a really cool guy fun guy to be in. You can tell he’s a fun guy to be in a room with so if I’m going to be in a room with somebody working through stuff I would rather it be somebody that I share a lot of common ground with. And just on a personal level I share more with Blake even though on the surface I may share more musically with Adam me and Blake are more similar personalities. So that’s 90% of why I chose Blake.

 

Q) Okay sure. And then is there anything you can say about what people can kind of look forward to on the show like are you hoping to introduce some of your original work?

 

Wilkes:   I would love to. If I make it to the point to where I can introduce original songs I obviously will if I get the chance. But if I don’t from here to however long I’m on the show I’m going to try to reveal a new part of myself. I tried not to show too many of my cards at the blind audition but the goal was to get some chairs without showing everybody everything I have. So from here on out every song I’m going to try to get in another element I haven’t gotten in, in the previous song keep building my voice up and stepping up the ladder as opposed to just linear performances.

 

Q) All right and then is there anything that you would like to say about having lived in Waleska. I know you’re originally from Cedartown but you’ve lived in Waleska for some time right?

 

Wilkes:   Yes I have. I for one love Waleska. I love the fact that there’s not much to do here. There’s not much things in Waleska at all but everybody in Waleska is super amazing, super nice, very inviting. No matter where you go it’s a really great place to be. Anybody that comes down here and visits me loves the people, loves the area it’s a beautiful place to live. And I think we’ll be here for really long time. Plus as Blake pointed out to me recently it’s fun to say Waleska Wilkes so it kind of has a ring to it.

 

Q) And then I saw that you had previously been in the Christian band High Flight Society and then Disciple. Do you still have kind of Christian themes in your music or have you gone in a different direction since then?

 

Wilkes:   Musically lyrically and thematically I’ve always had Christian based themes but it’s never been super overt. So I’ve always kind of walked the line regardless. So even though my music isn’t overtly Christian and it’s still not now it will at least – you can at least categorize it as inspiring. But I do write I mean I write 75% of my songs are about my wife. So it’s about love and God is love. So, you know, you can take it how you want to take it but it’s – I walk a blurry line but I’m on ashamedly a believer and I wear that on my sleeve but I don’t necessarily brand myself as Christian music.

 

Q) Okay. Is there anything else that you would like to say to the, you know, people in your hometown?

 

Wilkes:   I love all of you all and thank you for the support in advance.

 

Q) Terrence, they didn’t touch on it on the show last night but that move to LA judging from what read on your Facebook page was it was a little bit of a struggle for you. It sounded like you were homeless at one point had to move back to DC a couple of times. Can you talk a little about that move and then what stabilize things for you in LA?

 

Terrence Cunningham:  Oh absolutely. Yes when I moved here about two years ago strictly kind of on faith and I’m sorry I moved here strictly on faith about two years ago. And I would stay with a friend here, stay with a friend there, stay in a hotel. So I really I had no clue how it was going to work out but that’s kind of how faith works right? It’s like you if you believe in yourself and you believe in a higher power that watches over you and you believe that, that power will provide for you then there’s really nothing you cannot accomplish. So what I would do is I would check into a hotel and I would check out and sit at Starbucks pretty much all day because I had really nowhere else to go. And then I would check into another hotel and you can’t check in till three so check outs at 12 so I would sit at Starbucks for a couple hours and reach out to friends to give me money, reach out to my parents which is hard when you’re 35, 36 years old to admit to your parents well, you know, mom and dad I don’t really have any money. Can you help me? And it’s a truly humbling thing to have to do. But I feel like it’s a necessary humbling because it reminds you that everyone can be vulnerable. And so it was a blessing that – and it also showed me compassion in people because friends don’t have to let you stay at their homes, friends don’t have to open up their homes to you for days weeks sometimes months on end to let you sleep on their coach, to let you eat their food, to let you use their utilities and, you know, take showers.  So it was a tremendous blessing. And had it not been for my family and friends I would have never been able to make it in LA. And one funny tidbit is when we first moved into the hotel for the first sequester on the show that was the same exact hotel the first hotel I lived in when I got here.

 

Q)  Oh wow.

 

Terrence Cunningham:  And so it was such a 360 thing for me that I’m checking to that hotel in January and stayed there for a couple of days and then checked back into that hotel in August and was being paid to be there. So it was really just a full circle kind of thing for me. And the majority of the time living in LA I was living in the hotels for the show that’s where I was living. And on our times off or would sometimes go back to DC and crash at my parents place or crash with friends here in Los Angeles. So yes that’s how that went.

 

Q) So it was the opportunity for the show that stabilized things for you out there?

 

Terrence Cunningham:           Oh absolutely yes.

 

Q) Okay. And have you released any music? I was just wondering have you…

 

Terrence Cunningham:           No.

 

Q)  …released any music to this point? Okay all right. And when you do what can folks expect?

 

Terrence Cunningham:    I think they can expect a myriad of things. I was raised in the church. My mother was the choir director so obviously I got every solo. And what’s wonderful about the church is that it gives you a stage it gives you a platform. And it’s also good because they encourage you especially if you’re young they’re not going to laugh at you. So it was the church so that’s a huge influence on me. And of course there’s the R&B, and there’s the soul, kind of jazz aspect. So I think it’s really going to be sort of a cornucopia of themes that I’m going to try to put together to make something very special.

 

Q) Alexa, I was wondering how an 18-year-old knows about a semi-obscure song from the 70s like “I’ve Got the Music in Me”? Where does your knowledge of classic rock come from?

 

Alexa Cappelli:     Yes I grew up with my dad playing his Beatles records and all these classic rock artists from his time and then that he really enjoyed listening to. And I just remember – he was also a musician as well and a lead singer at one point.  But I remember when I was younger he had his buddies over and play in the garage and I would just sit at the door because it was too loud to be out there myself but I’d sit there and I’d listen to them. So he had a big influence on that part of my music taste. And then also being at OCSA I’ve been exposed to so many different music genres. I actually sang “I’ve Got the Music in Me” for a Generations of Pop concert that we had last year and that was by far my favorite song that I sung at OCSA definitely just because it really encompassed a lot of – even just the beginning line, you know, “I ain’t got no trouble in my life no foolish dreams and if you cry.” I love those lyrics. And I think Kiki Dee is a super iconic female artist in that industry or in that genre. And so I just love that song. And I love the storytelling aspect of all of the classic rock songs like Tom Petty, and Eric Clapton, and the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt I love all of them. But I also love a bunch of other genres as well.  And I think it all kind of meshes together and what I want to make in terms of my music in the future. But yes there’s been a lot of influences on my music tastes but definitely my dad and my school have had a lot to do with it.

 

Q) Who were some of your favorite artists?

 

Alexa Cappelli:     Oh man that’s a hard one. I think my favorite artist right now is Andy Grammer, Ben Rector I love pop artists like that with a little bit of funk and definitely a good feeling to their songs like I said classic rock Eric Clapton, the Beatles, the Eagles as well as Kelly I mean obviously. She’s really cool that I – I grew up listening to her. She was just that one you’d always sing karaoke’s songs to. So yes. There’s a long, long list. I’m sorry I’m not being super specific or anything but…

 

Q) Spensha, when you moved to Nashville was that a family move or was that a move to – for you to pursue new music in Nashville?

 

Spensha Baker:     That was a move to pursue music. That was around the time when I had split from the label that I was with Interscope Records. And my mother and I were trying to figure out what the next step would be. And I was feeling extremely discouraged and really kind of lost. And my mother had been praying and really trying to strategize about maybe what could be the next move. How can I continue my musical journey after such a big hit? And one day she, you know, asked me how I felt about moving to Nashville? And so we literally got into a U-Haul and drove to Nashville from Texas. And it actually – it turned out to be one of the best decisions that we’ve ever made.

 

Q) Okay. Why do you say that?

 

Spensha Baker:     Because we knew well my mother and I knew that, you know, I needed to be somewhere where I could be surrounded by music, by labels, by other starving artists, by where I could be inspired creatively to write music. And really in Nashville is where I started my songwriting journey. And so it ended up adding so many more elements to my life. And besides the fact that it’s a music mecca it really kind of changed who I was as a person and as an artist. So, yes I’ll be forever grateful for that move and that experience.

 

Q) Okay. And what were you doing in Nashville? Where you’re performing under the – under your own name?

 

Spensha Baker:     I was.

 

Q) Okay because it’s like on YouTube there are tons of videos right after Star Search but then you just sort of vanish.

 

Spensha Baker:     Yes. So after my record release in 2008 I toured basically on that record for three years until being split from the label. And then obviously those opportunities dwindled, you know, kind of diminished and I had to figure out what was next? I ended up obviously graduating high school and doing some college ended up working a nine to five. And so music kind of was just something on the side. It became more of a hobby. It became far away yes which was the reason…

 

Q) And then how did The Voice opportunity come up?

 

Spensha Baker:     Well my mother and I had been watching since season one. We’ve been big fans of the show. We were – I hadn’t sung in three years at this point. I had no interest in ever singing ever again. I always told myself I’m not doing that again. There was too much heartbreak, you know, I don’t have the passion for it anymore I had all sorts of excuses. We were watching a season of The Voice and my mom turns to me and says, you know, they’re going to be doing auditions in Austin, you know, you should just go. And I just said okay.  And so we ended up driving to Austin and I stood in line with thousands of other people and hanging on a hope and a prayer. And I auditioned. And the whole time I was thinking I’m not going to make it – this is probably going to be it for me and they’re not going to really like, like me. And here I am watching my blind audition on TV. So, it makes my heart full. I thank God for the opportunity but I also thank God for my mother who really pushed me back into music and gave me that push I needed to say, you know, God’s not done with you yet. You still have purpose left. And I think we all could use cheerleaders like that in our lives and I’m grateful that I have one who happens to be related to me.

 

Q) Spensha, you had sung gospel that was, you know, the music you recorded but what is it that is drawing you to country right now?

 

Spensha Baker:     Well I actually I grew up listening to country music. It was intertwined in my gospel roots growing up. And I’ve always attributed, you know, or always have mentioned Bryan White and Shania Twain because they were the main country artists that I listened to growing up. And obviously my musical direction went towards gospel music and I had some success in that genre.  And when I moved to Nashville, obviously that is a major, major genre there. So I ended up sort of rekindling this sort of romance and this sort of familiarity with it again. And I ended up really not only enjoying it and being a fan of country again but then I started feeling in my heart like this is, you know, this is very relatable to where I am in my life right now and I really started praying about maybe pursuing country as a genre. The first country song I sang in Nashville was “The House that Built Me” by Miranda Lambert. And I remember singing it for my mother in our living room and her, you know, kind of crying and bursting into tears and me as well. And I realized in that moment that I had a personal connection with country and really not foreseeing the future and really never foreseeing The Voice happening but it’s very interesting that The Voice did come into my life because it really confirmed that this is what you’re supposed to be singing and and the fact that, you know, I’m a little bit more soulful in the way that I sing but I realized that country music is something I needed and that it had my heart the moment I open my mouth and sang Miranda Lambert. And so that’s where I am now. I love country music. I love the storytelling of it. I love the connection. I love the authenticity. And I love the direction that country is going in and I’m very happy to be a part of that.

 

Q) Wilkes, I know that you write country music for a living and then you sang a 90s pop rock song for your blind audition. So what – how would you describe what you sing now? What can we expect from you on the show?

 

Wilkes:  Basically the best way I can describe myself you’ve kind of just said it on accident is I sound pop rock but I write country songs. Like that’s very no brainer sounding but it’s the truth. I write country songs on paper and I’m a country guy so they come out country but all of my background has been in pop rock music as far as the way that I produce, and the way that I play guitar, the way that I play drums, the way that I do – arrange all of my stuff are pop rock based. So it’s just pop rock songs with a country lyric whether that’s up to the listener to decide if they think it’s more country than it is pop rock or if it’s just a little bit of a country lyric on a pop rock genre that’s up for debate. But yes the general succinct answer would sound kind of pop rock but its country songs and up for you to decide how you want to label it.

 

Q) Jaron, could you describe your daily life in Charlotte and the challenge of working a nine to five while pursuing a musical dream?

 

Jaron Strom:   Charlotte’s an amazing city. It’s, you know, it’s a growing city. And it’s a banking city so naturally as a Web designer coming out of college for design I, you know, found my place in the corporate world of banking and working Web sites and marketing teams. And I work for Ally Bank. And working a 9:00 to 5:00 job in the corporate world where you have to dress a certain way and play a certain part that is a juxtaposition to the lifestyle of my music, and being creative, and a different style of clothes, and staying out late and setting up and just being a rock star at night and corporate designer by day. So you pretty much just have to keep a good schedule, you know, eat healthy, stay healthy and just focus on your dream at the same time as your job but know that your career and job really supports and allows that to happen. So my daily life is working nine to five during the week, you know, performing and doing shows at night and on the weekends. And sometimes, I have to sacrifice and take days off of work or half days if I need to travel for a show that’s several hours away.  So that’s pretty much my everyday life but at the same time I don’t think that I would be happy just with a nine to five job and I don’t think I would be happy just doing music and maybe not able to support myself or, you know, some of the lifestyle thing that I like to do. I like to travel the world. I like to, you know, be comfortable so they both play hand in hand.  And it’s just a very enjoyable lifestyle living a creative daily life with my job as a designer and pursuing my dream of music at the same time. So it’s awesome.

 

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*