The Voice – Knockouts Night Two

By starrymag | March 27, 2015

Q) But for each of you, you had the opportunity to work with a who’s who of the industry. You’ve had an opportunity I’m sure to watch the episodes. I’m not sure how long it’s been since you guys filmed the episodes we just saw. But going into the live round and going into this final phase of this competition, I’m wondering what is your mindset? How are you feeling, and what is sort of your plan going forward?

Meghan Linsey: Yes I think for me the mindset is I feel like I finally kind of hit my stride this week with, as far as coming out and singing something that I felt was truly unique to who I am and really hit my stride kind of as an artist this week. I feel like people are finally starting to see that. So for me I think moving forward is just about continuing to better myself, and  while this is a competition I think really the only thing you can control is what you do on that stage. And so I think moving forward just trying to beat my out sing what I did the last week and outperform myself every week and just really competing with myself and just trying to be better.

Corey Kent White: Yes I would say my mindset is just to kind of keep my head down, stay focused on why I started this competition in the first place and just continue to work hard. And yes, I mean that’s my mindset is continue to keep my head down and work hard.

Hannah Kirby: My mindset moving forward is to stay positive and believe in myself and this dream and to continue to give performances that I’m really proud of because I feel that the best performances I’ve ever had have been on The Voice and I’m really thankful to have that opportunity and I want to work hard to make use of it going into the next part of the show.

Caitlin Caporale: My mindset is to really stay focused. I feel like the live shows is where you really have to give it all you have and again, just outdo your last performance. So I really just am going to stay positive and work very hard to continue on and hopefully to the end of the show.

Q) We certainly see all of you grow throughout this process. And I guess if you had to pinpoint one bit of advice from whoever it came by — either your coach or some of the guests — what would’ve been the most important thing that you’ve learned that they told you that you learned about yourself and that’s really brought you this far?

Caitlin Caporale: Pharrell has given me so much advice. I feel like just my confidence telling me to not be in my head and to really go for it is the best advice that he’s given me. He knows that I have that capability of hitting those high notes and really just going for it. So just the validation from someone like Pharrell is so important to me and I feel like it’s making me into a better artist.

Q) Was there one moment that actually kind of clicked in your mind going, “Wow, you know, everything just kind of changed for me. Now I understand what he’s saying”?

Caitlin Caporale: I feel like with the knockout performance with Warrior, you could see in the rehearsal with Nate Ruess. I sang it through the first time and the word (can’t) he told me could be even more accurate and to not think about it. So I took that advice in the second take and I really hit it and went for it. And at that moment I thought to myself that’s exactly what he’s saying, to not be in your head. Just go for it because you have it.

Corey Kent White: I think for me, the best piece of advice, or the one that sticks out the most, is you know, my eye contact with the audience. I’m a pretty introverted guy by nature so being on stage is, I have to almost step into a different role. At that point you’re an entertainer and – yes. So connecting with the audience through, you know, not closing my eyes has been the single biggest piece of advice that I’ve gotten. And I really worked on that in the knockout rounds and I think it was a big difference between the battle rounds and the knockout rounds.

Q) Well, you mentioned how being a part of a band – I know that’s kind of a certain mentality when you’re part of a band. You don’t want to stand out in the thing. But how does it feel now, being front and center? Have you gotten used to it?

Corey Kent White: Yes I’m still getting used to it, you know. But at the same time, it feels – it’s still natural, you know? It’s not something that’s too far outside of my comfort zone, but I’m still growing in that. So it’s not necessarily a completely new role for me being the band that I had it, was still all under my name, so I was still the front man in that. But I’m definitely still growing and learning as a performer and Blake’s done a great job helping me with that.

Q) Hannah, one advice thing that kind of sticks out with you?

Hannah Kirby: Well Blake has told me multiple times to use my range and that that’s really important for me as a vocalist to showcase that. And before coming on the show, there were a couple of notes, letters on the piano, that I never really went for because for some reason I felt like I didn’t have that vocal range in me. And so when I decided to go out for The Voice I was like you know what? I really need to reach for that because it’s important and it’s going to help me in the show. And so to do that and then be on the show and have Blake say, “Yes you have that range. You need to use it,” it’s super encouraging to me and has totally boosted my confidence as an artist.

Q) Meghan, you’re kind of the veteran, one of the veterans of the group. So you probably heard a lot of advice over the years. And was there some of that advice from one of your coaches or the advisors that you kind of knew but when they said it you remembered it again? Was there ever an instance like that?

Meghan Linsey: I think there was — not in this past round but the week before when I was working with Pharrell and Lionel Richie. They were talking about me using my eyes and singing out more. And I think for me as an artist I feel like I’m always trying to get so much into the emotion of the song and I want to feel everything I’m singing. And it’s almost counter intuitive for me to sing outwards. And as a performer I think it’s so important to obviously want to bring your audience in. And so I think I had kind of an a-ha moment because it was like I’ve heard this before but it’s like when Pharrell and Lionel Richie are telling you this, it’s like ok obviously something’s going on that I need to change. And so, I – yes, I really took that advice to heart. And I think I really – that’s something I worked on and I felt like much better in my live performance because of that advice.

Q) For Corey, I was just wondering if your grandfather actually got to see the performance and what was his feedback?

Corey Kent White: Well unfortunately, my grandfather passed away three days before the premiere of the show and that was a pre-recorded episode, so we weren’t able to get that changed in time. But in the live rounds I’ll be updating America on that. But last night was a pretty emotional night, getting to watch that with my family. And we had a watch party and got to be with my grandmother and that was a special moment but it was pretty emotional.

Q) I wanted to ask you, how did it feel at that moment that you finished the song, knowing what the song meant to you? And then you saw how the crowd and the coaches reacted, how did that performance feel?

Corey Kent White: that was unlike any performance I’ve ever given because I’ve never quite had an experience like that. I never been having to worry about losing somebody that’s pretty important in my life. So it was a completely different experience than any other performance I’ve ever given. And as soon as I was done, it was kind of – it was almost a relief. I think I wanted to honor him with that performance and really make him proud. And I knew that it was never about the results of it. It was how I approached the competition and I continue to move forward with integrity and just not compromising who I was as a person. And that is really what he would be proud of. So it was just kind of a relief to get to the end of that performance and know that I had done it in a way that would’ve made him proud.

Q) I noticed that the watch party last night — because obviously you knew what was coming because you had already lived it and it had already been taped — but how was it to sit there and watch yourself go through that? I mean, I would think that would just be doubly difficult. And then you went over and you hugged your grandmother. And did she say anything special to you?

Corey Kent White: Yes. It was actually harder to watch it than it was to actually perform it. I think I held it together pretty well for the performance, but watching it back and being there with my family and knowing that he had already passed on was just a – it was tough to watch it. But I got to go over and hug my grandmother and she just said, “He would be so proud of you.” So it was a special moment and, you know, I just couldn’t fight back the tears anymore.

Q)  I wanted to ask you about your rapport with Blake Shelton because you guys – you’re a dyed in the wool country singer from what I can tell. And he is a straight up Oklahoma country guy. Obviously you picked him to be your coach. You did have a choice. So can you talk a little bit about making that choice and the rapport you guys have formed working together?

Corey Kent White: Yes making the choice initially was – I had already had my mind made up before I stepped on stage that I wanted to work with Blake. Wanting to have a country music career and being from Oklahoma, those were some important factors. But I will say, Pharrell made it much more difficult than I ever expected another coach could make it. And once I did choose Blake and got to spend some time with him and work with him, I just have a whole new level of respect for the guy. He’s completely genuine. He’s the same guy on and off the camera. And he does really take the time to work with you and if there’s nothing that needs to be fixed he’ll tell you, and if there is something he’s not afraid to tell you the harsh truth and make you better because of it. And that’s what I think I appreciate most about him. And once I did choose Blake and got to spend some time with him and work with him, I just have a whole new level of respect for the guy. He’s completely genuine. He’s the same guy on and off the camera. And he does really take the time to work with you and if there’s nothing that needs to be fixed he’ll tell you, and if there is something he’s not afraid to tell you the harsh truth and make you better because of it. And that’s what I think I appreciate most about him. And he’s also got a great reputation for helping out some of his team members after the show. And yes, I’m really looking forward to see what the show brings and then also what after the show brings.

Q) Hannah, how does it feel to have the entire town of Sulphur Springs behind your back when you perform?

Hanna Kirby: Well, it’s not that it was unexpected but to be home and to see everybody and to see the signs and to have everyone come out every night to watch parties and different stuff — even when they don’t know if I’m going to be on that night — it’s just really amazing and I’m really thankful that I grew up in a town that’s so loving and supportive. And I’m just so thankful for everyone and I love Sulphur Springs, Texas.

Q) For Deanna, I’m wondering if you watched last night’s episode, if you heard the comments obviously that were made about you. Obviously they all find that you have a lot of potential. They also think you could definitely be a threat to this competition. I’m wondering how did that make you feel and where would you say your confidence level is going into the lives?

Deanna Johnson: It was prerecorded. I didn’t have a whole lot of confidence coming into it. But after getting everybody’s reactions from blinds and from knockouts, it’s been really great. It’s really helped my confidence with people being so supportive. So going into live, I’m feeling really, really good. I’m excited.

Q) And you sung some songs that maybe people would find a little unusual maybe — not necessarily the songs that are as popular right now. I really like your song choices. I’m wondering if you thought about moving forward, if you would continue on that path or if you think you might try to do something a little bit more modern?

Deanna Johnson: I like singing songs that the lyrics really speak to me. And it doesn’t really – I don’t really think about if it’s, you know, a newer song or an older song. It’s to me I really like the lyrics and that’s just all that I’m always going to go to. So yes, if there’s a contemporary song that I’m really liking those lyrics, then I’ll probably sing that, too.

Q) How did it feel when he announced your name as the winner of the knockouts over Blaze?

Deanna Johnson: My goodness. I really was – I don’t know if you could see it on TV but I was bawling, like it was really bad — a bad, ugly cry that I was doing. But I was not expecting it. Blaze was the one person that I would not want to battle. He was such a good guy, such a good singer. And I was really not expecting that. I thought he killed it. So my heart just dropped. I was so grateful to my coach for picking me.

Q) Song choices we’ve learned is really an important part of this thing. You could be the best thing in the world, but if you song choice isn’t right it may not get you forward. I guess my question is do you sometimes second guess yourself? What makes you choice to do the song you do? What is that final thing that you say, “This is the one I’m going to do”?

Hannah Kirby: Well for my song for the knockout I had a really deep, spiritual connection to that song. It talks about having a higher love, and I think that in all relationships that you have, a person should have a higher love, basically not a love that’s going to bring you down but that’s going to bring the best out in you. The song also talks about it says, “I’m not – I’ll wait for it. I’m not too late for it,” and I feel like a lot of young girls and guys are searching for that love that’s going to be the true love in their life. And so I really feel everything that the song is saying and it really spoke to me and I’ve loved that song for a long time. So it wasn’t difficult at all for me to choose that song.

Q) So I guess for everyone it has to be a really emotional connection. Obviously that’s 80% of the thing. Same for everybody else, anybody else want to speak about picking songs and what they mean? Obviously Corey, we know what that song meant for you, but what else goes into picking a song?

Corey Kent White: for me week in and week out it’s something that I could – my song choice revolves around what I could see myself singing beyond the show. Like if I were to put out a record, are these the kind of songs that I would want on that record? So that plays a huge factor into it. Another thing is, are people going to believe it when I sing it? I think in country music especially that’s a really important part of having success in the industry is if people believe whatever you’re singing about. So I would say those two things are probably the two biggest factors for me.

Caitlin Caporale: I would say picking a song that I can really connect with lyrically because if you don’t connect with it that way, your performance can fall flat. The audience doesn’t believe it. You don’t believe it. And like Corey said, I think it’s really important to pick a song that represents you as an artist — not picking a song that is so out of your style that it doesn’t make sense. So I think lyrically and picking a song that represents you is most important.

Q) And Meghan, like all of us there’s tons of songs you’d love to sing. You don’t have to name which one it is. But is there one song that throughout this process that you really have to – you’re going to want to sing, you’re going to have to get out there and do?

Meghan Linsey: Yes I mean I have a few things up my sleeve, you know, that I would love to do. It really is just about showcasing yourself as the type of artist that you want to be. And you know, at the end of the day, if I’m being really honest, it’s like we’re on a singing show and so finding moments to shine and finding things that you can really let loose and sing on I think is important.

Q) And what kind of artist do you want to be, do you see yourself after this is all said and done?

Meghan Linsey: I think for me the one thing that has always been consistent in my artistry is that I’ve always been really soulful and I’ve always tried to sing from a really honest place. And so I’ve done the country thing for a long time and now I’m kind of moving over into the soulful pop realm. And I don’t think much has changed with me vocally as it’s just the types of songs I want to sing and what I’ll do with production moving forward on a new project.

Q) Hannah, how surprised were you when Blake stole you back?

Hannah Kirby: Well I was surprised, but more than that I was just so excited and so happy that he stole my back. And it feels like sort of like going home, being back on Blake’s team because that’s where I started in the competition. And so I feel really good about being back on Team Blake going into the live playoff. And I was surprised but I feel so good about it and I’m really excited to work with Blake again.

Q) Deanna, there was a note of nerves made about this performance. At that point, were you kind of sure that you were going to make it through? I mean, you said that you weren’t but did you feel a little more confident after that moment?

Deanna Johnson: When you’re on stage it’s so much louder and I didn’t even hear him. I didn’t even hear that note he had. So when I was behind him, I didn’t hear any of those hiccups. I only found out about the hiccups when I was watching and when I heard some of the coach’s comments. But I never even heard it, so no, that didn’t – that gave me no comfort.

Q) Corey, obviously, you’ve been performing on national television in terms of having these episodes that have been pre-taped air, but is there something different about preparing to go into live television performances? What is your kind of approach to that as you’re going into the live playoffs?

Corey Kent White: Yes I mean I guess it is a little bit different obviously in that we’re not prerecorded anymore. But it’s the same competition. It’s the same format. The bottom line is the competition is just so tough — so like these people are so amazing, they’re great artists — that unless you perform your very best, I just think anybody could send you home. So same mental preparation for me is just to go out there and stay in my lane and do what I do best. I couldn’t compete with singing some R&B or some soul like some of these other people, but I just sing country music and try not to screw it up and just do what I do best. And that’s kind of the way that I’m approaching this thing and hoping to move on by getting the country vote.

Q) How do you follow up a performance like the one that we just saw, digging that deep emotionally for a song. Do you have other songs that you feel like would make you – because did it kind of surprise you when you watched it back? I mean it was like you’ve been great all along, but it was like you were a different person because you dug so deep. Is that going to be hard to do again in a follow up?

Corey Kent White: Yes I think that like we’ve all been talking about, I think that song choice is going to be a crucial part of delivering a powerful performance like that. And I also think there’s a time and place for that kind of stuff. I don’t think you can fabricate that kind of emotion. That’s just what I happened to be going through at the time. And I think that the fact that I spend most of my time in Nashville writing is another big reason why I connect with the song lyrically. I’m learning how to write those kind of songs too, but the song choices is going to be the biggest thing. And I don’t think every song has to be a really emotional – that song almost brought me to tears, so I don’t think that every song has to be like that. But I think every song needs to be just as believable and that’s what I’m striving for. And that’s what I’m looking for when I pick my songs is are people going to believe what I’m saying and am I going to be able to deliver it with the same intensity that I delivered that song with.

Q) You obviously made it doing this music thing. I you hadn’t gotten this far, or if music hadn’t worked out, was there a plan B? Or was there never going to be a plan B?

Caitlin Caporale: Well music has always been a part of my life. I mean, singing since I was about three years old. I really didn’t have a backup plan. I always thought that some way, somehow I would make music work, whether it be singing or writing or just being in the entertainment business itself. That was always my number one goal. I never had the dream of being a teacher. I mean, I just really wanted to be out there performing and I had the support from my family and friends to really pursue it and go for it. I believe really in positive thinking, so I’m happy that now The Voice is giving me this platform to live out dream.

Hanna Kirby: Yes my entire life, all I’ve wanted to do is be a singer. When I was a teenager I was really extreme in my emotions thinking if I can’t do music then I just can’t do anything. I’ll have to crawl in a hole somewhere. But I sort of realized that we as artists, we’re musicians and there’s never going to be a time in our lives wherever we are, whatever we’re doing, that that’s not who we are. It’s a part of who we are. And I’d love to have the opportunity to make money off of that, but I’m going to do it, whether I’m making big money or I’m making no money at all.

Deanna Johnson: I agree with Hannah. Lord have mercy, that’s what I was thinking. But no, my dad probably – I’d probably end up making money if I wasn’t – if I couldn’t make money on singing I’d probably – I was thinking about doing nursing. But then I saw how much work nursing was and I don’t think I’m that intelligent. So I think I was just going to go into business or something. But I’ve always loved to sing and I can’t – I’m always going to sing whether I’m making money off of it or not.

Corey Kent White: Whenever I was younger, I kind of wanted to be a professional athlete and then I quickly realized I didn’t have the size for it. So I switched over to music and I’ve been doing this for a while. I actually got put in a western swing band when I was 11, so we’re almost ten years into it. And that was – all that experience built up just made me realize how much I love doing this. And yes, I’m in the same boat. I mean, I used to drive from Oklahoma to Atlanta and play at (Eddie’s Attic) for $100 and just hope that I made enough money while I was there on CD sales to get home. And it was definitely never about the money, but obviously at the same time you have to make a living. And I was going to do whatever I needed to do to make a living but also keep music as a very important part of my life.

Q) Meghan, I’m sure this all kind of applies to you in one way or another. I mean, this is something you had to do, I would imagine.

Meghan Linsey: Yes I mean I started playing in bands when I was 14 in Louisiana. And then when I was 18 I moved to Nashville with nothing — with no money and no job and really no help. My parents helped to get me there and then they left me. I’ve had to find my own way. And I’ve been in Nashville for 11 years now and I’ve been through record deals and publishing deals and been dropped and, you know, gone through a lot of stuff. And so I think if it wasn’t what I really wanted to be doing, I would’ve quit a long time ago and moved back home.

Q) Corey, is there a song coming up in the live rounds that you’re looking to do, that you’re excited about doing?

Corey Kent White: I’ve had a couple in mind. I’m looking to do some of the songs that kind of helped shape my taste in music. So I would love to do a Garth Brooks song. I would love to do a George Strait song, but make it my own. So in terms of specific songs I guess the ones that are kind of staples for the shows that we play and “Much Too Young” by Garth Brooks is one of my favorites and “Unwound” by George Strait. Just some of the classic hits that helped me form my taste in music.

Q) Hannah, how does your song choice reflect on your personality and your mood?

Hannah Kirby: Well my song choices are usually dependent on if I have like a deep, spiritual connection to the song. Lyrics are incredibly important. I want to sing music that puts out a positive message to the world and talks about issues such as who you are as a person. And I think that’s a really important thing that people need to know who they are and know what they want. And so songs that have a deep meaning, a deep spiritual meaning and are really relatable to anyone — wherever they are in the world — that’s the kind of song and the music that I want to sing and that I want to play.

Q) What songs are you thinking of to perform next?

Hannah Kirby: Well, I love alternative music so I’d love to do Florence and the Machine, something like that. But also some classic stuff — Fleetwood Mac would be awesome. I just have a lot of favorite songs and a lot of favorite artists, so it’s tough for me to figure out exactly what I want to do when it’s a situation where I can’t do original music.

 

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*