The Voice – Knockouts Night Three

By starrymag | November 5, 2015

Q) Riley, can you tell us a little bit about how you felt to be in that situation again, to be in competitive rounds and not knowing if you were going to advance or not? Can you tell us a little bit about how you were feeling? And also, you had some pretty stiff competition. How would you say that that helps you become a better performer?

Riley: It’s definitely been stressful. Because being in that moment you don’t really know, what’s going to happen and you’re not really in control of the situation. So it kind of freaks me out a little bit. But yes, I’ve been put up against two really, really, really amazing performers so it has been a little bit intimidating and nerve-racking but at the same time it really helps me up my game and, you know, give it everything I’ve got. And I think at the end of the day it kind of shows through and continue to get so lucky with these amazing fields but, yes.

Q) For Zach, I was hoping you could fill us in on what we missed because obviously we didn’t get to see your knockout round live. So I was wondering if you could tell us how you picked your song and how you felt about going against Chris Crump. And why you think the tide turned in your favor.

Zach: Yes. It was really intimidating when I found out when I saw Chris on the other side of the stage and deep down inside I was like awe, another hard one to go against. And to go against anyone on Team Blake is a little bit intimidating. But as far as knockouts it’s been a challenge going against older people and, you know, being one of the younger people in the competition. And like what Riley said, I really had to step-up my game for this performance. I think this song really pushed me because it was a lot higher in my register and I really wasn’t comfortable to clear the song in my voice. But Blake really saw the potential I had and how hard I worked on this song. Getting to work with Rihanna and Blake at the same time was really a unique experience I would say because I don’t ever think you’d get them two in the same room again working on a Hunter Hayes song. So that was really cool and it really opened my eyes to a lot of possibilities with my song. And I’m really hoping to make the song my own. And I think that Blake noticed that. And Chris really had an amazing performance and it was awesome to be on the same stage with him and get to hear him sing. And I went after Chris so that allowed me to, you know, really think about what I had to do to prove to Blake that I can move forward in this competition and make it to the last (faceoff).

Q) And based on the feedback that you got, did the coaches compliment you on anything in particular?

Zach: Pharrell really had nice things to say about, you know, putting me in a much higher song. The past two performances I’ve had they’ve been a little bit lower in my register and I really got to show the deeper side of my voice. I mean for this one they really noticed that I took on the challenge to take on a song much higher in my register.

Q) Evan, I know you’ve not been on the live shows before but what do you feel like is going to be different on the live shows in terms of that level of competition that you’re going to be facing?

Evan: Well obviously now that we’re in the Top 20, the stakes are really high. Everyone that’s here had amazing performances and a chance to build-up a good fan base. And of course, we’re going into a part of the show now that two out of three that will go through on each team are decided by America’s vote. So in a way I like to think about how it’s really, whether or not you go through is really not in your control anymore. All you have control of is that you can go out and do an amazing performance and still not capture people’s eyes the way you wanted to or ears the way you wanted to. And you could still go home even if you do a really good job. So it’s very different in live. The preparation is different that we’re doing right now than has been in the past and everything moves a little faster and everything, you have to really be on your toes. But I, with my stated background, this, what live is going to like reminds me a lot of doing like a theatre production where you’re like running on and off stage and there’s going to be like multiple performances. And so I’m really excited about it. Just a bi stage and the excitement of it. I don’t really know exactly what to expect. I know what song I’m singing and I’m ready to do my song. And everything else is completely a mystery to me.

Q) Riley, that last time you kind of mentioned that you felt pretty confident or just felt really good in your performance when you went up against Evan and you felt that you did everything that you wanted to do. And you kind of put it all out there. Was that the same this time? I mean did you go in feeling like you did what you needed to do and that you gave the performance you wanted to give?

Riley: Yes, for the most part I definitely felt like that. It was obviously (intimidating) going by someone, going against someone who was so, you know, seasoned in the music industry and just so talented and powerful. I was guessing who am I going to be against trying to put the pieces together because you really honestly don’t know. I had guessed that I could possibly be put against Regina. And I was like of course, I don’t get battles with Regina. But the knockout was good. It was good. So I felt when I performed I felt really good. There were a couple spots in the song that during my rehearsals I was getting really in my head about and I was getting really must focused on nailing them and the more that I just focused and focused and worried about them, the worse it got. So I think I could have performed a slight bit better in certain spots but I’m overall very happy with the way my performance was.

Q) Emily Ann, you were great last night. I just wanted to know your reaction about Blake saying about your lungs have potential and you’ll be played on a radio one day. What was your reaction to that?

Emily Ann: I was honestly, that was a huge compliment. And I was so overwhelmed after my knockout just because of how supportive he was and the things that he was saying about me. But it means so much to be 15 years old and have someone like Blake Shelton say that he believes in me and say that he thinks that I have what it takes to actually, like, do this for the rest of my life. So it was incredible. I’m honestly still kind of (run away) by it when I think about it and I’m really thankful for his belief in me. And it just blew me away that he said that and that he actually believes that.

Q) Evan, from what we’ve seen on television, it seems like you’re quite a student. Always receptive of the coaches. Very appreciative of the mentors. Obviously, we felt a lot from you coming into this competition. But as you’ve been a part of the show what would you say you’ve learned and how would you say you’ve grown as a singer and as a performer?

Evan: Oh wow, that’s a great question. I’ve definitely seen a lot of growth in myself throughout the show especially as a vocalist. Musicianship is something I’ve always looked on, to play a lot of instruments and play a lot of music. But I would say my actual singing and using of my vocal instrument is something that I haven’t put as much time to. And that’s something that the vocal coaches on the show and Pharrell and (Adam) and Rihanna, all of them just helped me to grow so much and I so appreciate the show put so much emphasis on the voice. Funny, it’s called The Voice. But I feel like that’s the part of my musicianship that’s grown the most in this process and I put a lot more emphasis on my musicianship and writing before this competition. And I can do so many things with my voice now that I wasn’t able to do even three or four months ago. And I owe all of those coaches and mentors so much. I know that they have so much more knowledge and experience in music than I do. And I think if I were anything but a sponge, I would be doing myself a huge injustice in taking away an opportunity to make myself better.

Q) For Jeffery, I understand it correctly, you had pretty much not performed between high school and the time you appeared on The Voice. I was wondering, how can you explain the success you’ve enjoyed? Today, your song is the most popular on iTunes.

Jeffery Austin: Yes, it’s been really exciting. It’s very weird. I kind of put music on hold and completely focused on a professional career other than going into music. So, being able to have the response that I have now is incredible because it’s something I’ve always wanted. And I’m so excited for the reception. And touched by (Emily). I get to show America what I’m made of especially (by my) performance.

Q) Do you think there’s a bigger area where you’ve improved as a result of your time on the show?

Jeffery Austin: Oh yes, absolutely. Probably the biggest area that I improved on and really showcased last night was the emotional connection to the song. I’ve always approached a song from the technical aspect just like a trained vocalist. And so never really focusing on the emotion and just slide by on, you know, technical positives in my voice. So being able to emotionally connect and really put that through to the song is what Gwen focused on with me and she really wouldn’t let anything slide. So if she didn’t believe me when I was singing, she told me and she was like sing it again until I believe you. So having her as a coach really pushes forward because to be honest, she doesn’t care as much about the vocal ability that you have as an artist as long as it’s just an honest performance. So that’s just really what I’ve been focusing on.

Q) Riley, after not being able to choose your song last time, what went into your decision to sing “XO” last night?

Riley: I went through a lot of different songs. I sat up in my house and, you know, I just sang through like literally like 50 songs. And I wanted to capture something that was Beyonce that I was really trying to do. And I think that, you know, the type of music that I really want to make is pop music but it has the R&B more soulful influence. And I really thought that Beyonce is like insane at doing anything but she really just does R&B so well. And I think that “XO” is one of her more poppy songs. So I decided that it would be a good song to really showcase what I do and what I want to do.

Q) Regina and Mark, I was wondering if each of you could explain to us a little bit more about why you selected the song you did and what adjustments you made during the rehearsals that made the performance turn out as well as it did.

Regina: Well, I wanted to give a little bit of music especially from where I’m from, what generated. And I wanted to give homage especially to the greats in the music industry. And with Gladys Knight, I mean my goodness it was really something. Of course, when I chose the song I was oh God, what did I do because with Gladys Knight. And I wanted to let it have the originality of the original song but give it a little bit of Regina. And that’s how I approached it. I went over it several different times and several different ways. As I’m sure all of my fellow colleagues could say, we probably go over these songs a billion times and change them a billion times. And it’s like when you’re on there, I guess all of it just comes to life. And it happens the way that it’s supposed to happen. And that’s how I went after it. And I’m very honored to even cover a Gladys Knight song and that’s how I look at it.

Mark: Yes, I chose “Stand by Me” because I really love the song and I really love the message. I love classic songs. I wanted to put a Mark spin on it. Make it a little current. Make it a little contemporary but not lose the message. I’m thankful for Rihanna. We both worked on that and we accomplished that. So that is why I chose that song and how I accomplished it.

Q) Evan, I wanted to find out you all of course were mentored by Rihanna. What was it that, what advice did she give you that you really took away from that session with her?

Evan: Hmm. Well she cleaned-up a lot of what I was going to do with the song. I was going to use the mike stand and my instrument and make it a little more intimate. But she really encouraged me to dig into the song emotionally and understand what message the song is giving and how much that message hits home to people. And then you adjust your performance around what the message of that song is telling you the song. So it seems emotionally if you don’t set-up your performance that extends emotionally, it’s not going to have as much as an impact as it could. Like take away the guitar. Take away that mike stand. Like use the stage and just like pour your heart and soul into it. So she really, really helped me just to do that, to pour my heart and soul and emotion into my performance and focus on that aspect of the performance over the technical vocal of the performance.

Q) Mark, was it hard for you when she gave you that advice to step away from what you in your mind had been planning on doing?

Mark: Not really because what she had asked me to do with the song was what I had done with my first couple of performances. So use the stage. No instrument. Not like I had been hiding behind my guitar up to this point. Actually I was trying to add my guitar as kind of a new element to the performance I hadn’t done yet. So it was very, very comfortable for me. It wasn’t what I was planning to do with the song but I guess she was right. It was the right avenue to take the song in. And it was just as comfortable for me as playing my instrument and going without it, it didn’t matter to me. I wanted to do whatever was going to help the performance the most.

Q) Riley, kind of you were on a different team and had different coaches last time. What was it like or what type of advice did you learn from having two female coaches? And did that help you in a different way?

Riley: I definitely was so glad I got to be with Gwen even if it was for only one round. I am so glad and I would not take it back for anything. If anything, you know, it obviously helped me musically very, very much and Rihanna is my biggest influence in my life. I love her. And so that was the biggest thing having her in my life and telling me, you know, all of these things. I think that the main thing that really, really helped me and I’ve been saying this for a while now, is I was having a little bit of trouble figuring out my style. And the fashion aspect. And Gwen really helped me so much and it didn’t show it in the actual, because they put the show on T.V. But we spent a good ten minutes talking about what I wanted to wear and they really did. They were like I get you and I know what you want to wear. And they helped me basically just I went back and I changed my entire wardrobe like the day before. So I think that’s the main thing that I’m so grateful for because now coming back, I just have a little bit more confidence. And now that I’m in outfits and stuff that I really love, it really helps me to be more confident on the stage and sing and focus on the music and all. And I don’t have to worry about do I look good in my outfit. Like she really, really helped in that aspect.

Q) Regina, you were great last night. I wanted to know your reaction to bringing Gwen to tears?

Regina: I was crying myself on the outside. I was overwhelmed. I heart was thumping. Gwen has such a beautiful spirit. I mean every time I’m in her presence it’s like a tender spirit that’s connecting. That’s how I feel. And I was just amazed and I was very grateful that happened. I mean I don’t even know. Words can’t even express how, to know, to bring someone to tears is just, it’s a gratefulness is all I can say. And I’m just grateful. Thank God that happened.

 

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*