BWW Interviews - THE VOICE Artists Chat Blind Auditions - Part II

In the premiere week of Season 4 of NBC's THE VOICE, the first round of artists made it through their blind auditions. They include Cathia and Tawnya Reynolds (Team Shakira) Josiah Hawley (Team Usher), and Midas Whale, consisting of Jon Peter Lewis and Ryan Hayes (Team Adam). The talented singers spoke by phone about their experience thus far on the popular singing competition.

Josiah, why did you choose Usher after singing Adam's song?

Well my original intention was to choose Adam but then after the coaches basically gave their spill as to why they turned around, it just seemed extremely evident to me that Usher was the way to go.

I knew I was going to go for Adam and then they started talking and this is why I turned around and you're basically this and this and I was just like I have to choose Usher. If I don't choose Usher I'm crazy. So I just - that's what I felt in my gut, that's what I did.

This question is for Jon from Midas Whale. Since you're coming into the competition as a duo, do you both feel that you have more to prove?

Well to be honest with you I do - I am feeling that pressure a little bit. I wasn't - when I started the competition I felt like we were - and I still feel this way. I feel like being in a duo is not a detriment but an asset.

But I also feel like that there is a mindset amongst the coaches, they haven't had any duos that have progressed really far in the competition yet so there is I think in their mind that there is I guess just a detriment to being in a duo. I mean, I don't see it that way but I am starting - I do feel that pressure a little bit.

This question is for Tawnya. I wanted to know what it was like to have the other three judges and not Blake turn around and then how you made your decision to go with Shakira.

It was absolutely unexpected and it was not a scenario that once played through my mind. I really went in there thinking that if anyone turned around it was going to be Blake because I was taking a huge risk by singing a 70s Willie Nelson tune and especially being a female. It was a big risk.

So it wasn't even in my mind that Blake wouldn't turn around. And the absolute opposite happened and caught me off guard completely and I had thought it through before, you know, if anything ever happened maybe I would probably go with Adam but when Shakira opened her mouth before she was even done with the first sentence I fell in love with her.

And she is so passionate and that's what drew me to her. She was - she said everything right. And as much as I loved Adam and always said I would go with him there was just something pulling me to her and so that's how I made my decision.

Josiah, what do you hope comes from this? What would be the ultimate gig for you being involved in this and advancing? What would you like to see as far as your career in music?

Yes well as you said, I mean, for me it's the career. That's always been the goal to have that be the main thing. So yes so basically I'm just looking at this is the next step. Regardless of how it goes, whether I win, whether I'm off the next time, like this is the next step to get me out there in front of - well possibly millions of people and get the music career going. And I finally formed a band and I've been writing a lot of songs and so yes, my goal is to get on the road, to get on tour, and yes, just to tour the world man.

Jon from Midas Whale, couldyou guys talk to whether you've always been a folk band or is this something new for you guys.

Have we always been a folk band? You know, we actually haven't done much as a duo before this to be honest with you. We met, you know, just a few years ago and Ryan wrote a folk rock opera and he and I have been, you know, working on that together. And, I mean, we both individually have done a lot of folk music together in the last, you know, couple - last few years.

But, you know, I mean, this whole like the duo itself is pretty new. So I guess to answer your question, for as long as we've been a duo we've been doing folk music.

Tawnya, could you talk about how you think Shakira will be able to help your career?

Absolutely. There is no one bigger than Shakira. She is a worldwide artist, she has more fans than anyone can count, and she knows what she's doing.

And it would be amazing to bring fans of hers that maybe don't really know a lot about country music or, you know, maybe really never gave it a shot before, if she brought them into our world and showed people that country can be bigger than just Nashville and just what it is. And I think it would be really cool just to add her flavor to what I do and see where we can go, how far we can go with that.

Cathia I thought you really showed great stage presence last night. What can you tell us about who you are as a performer?

As a performer I guess I just try to go with what feels natural to me. I smile a lot, I'm a very bubbly person, and I just want to transmit my positive energy to anyone who is watching me. That's one of the reasons why I picked Shakira because I know she can help me with my stage presence.

Cathia I was wondering if you plan on continuing to sing songs in Spanish throughout the course of the show.

I've thought a lot about that. I do feel like I want to interchange between both markets, both the English market and Spanish music market. So I think that the next step would be for me to sing an English song and show people that I can sing in English. So, I mean, it's something that I will decide as I go ahead in the show.

Tawnya, I know that there have been several country singers on the show and some of them have gone fairly. Do you think that a country singer has the opportunity to win a show like The Voice?

I absolutely do, I mean, why not? I mean, this is a platform that showcases really raw and true talent and country music is really seeping into the pop world these days. And what I do isn't necessarily that but being on this platform could give me that opportunity and I don't see where there is any reason why a country music singer could not do it. I mean, it's there for the taking.

Having Shakira as your coach instead of Blake who has mentored tons of country singers, how do you think that will effect your time on the show?

I really think we may have shocked a few people. I mean, I think people were shocked that Blake wasn't turning around anyway. But I think we may have shocked people by her picking me and me picking her. I mean, it's a very unlikely pairing and one that is going to be really fun to watch.

And I think that by bringing her fans into it and people that wouldn't maybe watch me on Blake's team may be more interested because I am Shakira. And if I would have been with Blake I may have gotten lost in the shuffle a little bit and sort of, you know, just in the typical country artist. But this way this is a brand new take on what I do and something different to offer the people watching.

Was there any specific reason why you didn't go with Usher or were you just really drawn to Shakira?

Both. I think I was also really drawn to Adam, you know, I mean, that was really a difficult decision. It just in the end made sense with her. But as for Usher he just - he didn't really have a lot of input.

And I kind of figured, you know, he turned around really late and I kind of figured that Blake urged him to and that wasn't really a great reason to go with somebody if they just turned around just because. And I don't know the true reason but he didn't seem all that enthusiastic about working with a country artist like me in particular.

So he just didn't have a lot to say to me which is fine, you know, sometimes it just doesn't click between two people or two genres or whatever but it just didn't feel right, it just didn't feel like something that he was really into.

My question is for Jon Peter Lewis. What motivated you and Ryan to audition for The Voice?

What motivated us? I don't know, I mean, I think as a musician, you know, you try to pursue every avenue in front of you, you know. And some friends of mine had been saying that I should Go On the show. And, you know, I wasn't - at first, you know, I was hesitant because of my history with American Idol.

But when I found out that they would allow a duo I, you know, immediately kind of thought that would be really interesting and fun to do and asked Ryan if he wanted to do it and well, and that's where our name came from.

So that's really - it's really what it was. It was just kind of like one of those things that the more I thought about it the more I was like, you know, why not, we should give it a shot.

What was it like to have all four judges spin around?

It's really validating, you know? I mean, it's kind of one of these things where, I mean, you're up there and you're singing and you're doing your thing. And I remember just having like at first, you know, when I started singing and no one was turning, I mean, I was having like this mini panic attack and thinking oh great, you know, this is going to be the worst night of my life.

And then suddenly, you know, Usher turns around and then by the time they had all four turned around I just - it was overwhelming, validating, it was a phenomenal feeling.

I wanted to ask Josaih, will you be incorporating more of the beat box stuff that you do in that music?

You know, for original stuff no I normally am not a - I normally don't have any beat box. I love rhythm, I'm a very rhythmic person so I will let the drums cover that. I'll let the drums do it and I'll just focus on the singing and playing guitar.

And what kind of music are we looking at, just different styles or what kind of sound are you guys making?

Man I really like rock like pop rock. It's very big sounding. I'm influenced by like Queen and Muse and I love jazz, Ella Fitzgerald. So it's a very kind of a big rhythmic somewhat aggressive but still like, you know, pop rock.

My question is for Jon with Midas Whale. What made you decide to audition for The Voice ten years after Idol and also not to mention Idol in your back story at all?

Well, you know, the decision to not, I mean, I don't make the editing choices for the show so, you know, so whether or not, you know, Idol was mentioned is not necessarily up to me. But, you know, like I said earlier, you know, I was hesitant to audition for The Voice having, you know, been through a reality TV singing competition before.

But, you know, something my experience has taught me is that I think which common sense could teach anybody this but it's a phenomenal platform and, you know, a great way to kind of put yourself out there. And I like the idea of doing kind of something new, doing something that wasn't really about me but about just - but about a duo which I think was kind of interesting.

And how do the two shows differ?

Well to tell you the truth they are - so far what I love about The Voice is the way that they treat their contestants. I mean, I think that there is a very like supportive atmosphere here, you know, for contestants.

I mean, you don't have to stress out about getting in front of a judge who might ridicule you for millions of people to watch. You know, it's a very different atmosphere. It's an atmosphere that is very conducive for, you know, good music and good feelings I guess.

Jon, what do you hope to accomplish this time that maybe you didn't get to accomplish the last time with Idol?

To win. I mean, I would love to accomplish that. Aside from that, I mean, I think this being a different project and not necessarily being about me, it's more of a duo. It's about getting a new project, some recognition, and some exposure.

This question would be open to anyone who is on the call. Most of you either released original music or posted covers to Youtube at this point. If you could have Voice viewers to hear one song you did before the show, what would it be and why? Is Tawnya on the line?

Yes I'm here.

Yes I know you've got a couple of CDs out. Could you answer the question first?

I do, yes absolutely. I've recorded - I've written so many songs, it's definitely hard to choose from and I have recorded two albums. But there's actually a song called I Like the Way You Drink and it's just a fun song and it kind of, you know, it's a country song but it brings it into today and it's something that I think people could get a hold of and sing along to and really sort of, you know, get an idea of who I am as far as my personality. But that can go either way.

Joshua?

I released a three song acoustic demo and so the song I would want everybody to hear is called If I Had You Here and it basically is just about my moving to Los Angeles and the whole experience and what that was.

So it's just about new experiences and just excitement and change in life and being able to go with someone you love to experience new things. And yes and having the one you love by your side to experience the new things in life. So that's what I want everybody to hear.

How about Jon Peter?

Yes, I've got a song called A Song for Christopher Columbus that I really like, it's off of my - the last EP that I released.

I mean, it's not really - at first I wrote it as a joke because I wanted a song that could be played on the radio and I thought it would be fun to write about a holiday that wasn't Christmas. But then the more I started writing it the more I thought it was kind of an interesting song. I like it.

Is Cathia online?

Yes, well I actually have a couple of songs. I've been writing a lot of original music. I have this one song called Be All Right which is really about picking yourself up when you feel like giving up, you know, never give up.

And I do have - I sang Listen by Beyonce at the Apollo Theater a couple of months ago and I just think it's a really cool rendition. I changed it up. And it would be awesome if people decided to check it out just because it does show that I sing in English as well as Spanish.

MEET THE ARTISTS

Cathia (Team Shakira) - Bronx, NY
Born in the Bronx, 19-year-old Cathia is one of three Latin artists on Team Shakira. She attended LaGuardia High School, a.k.a. The Fame School, and has performed at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater. Cathia is inspired by Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion and is currently studying music business at Baruch College. Follow Cathia on Twitter @cathiasings.

Josiah Hawley (Team Usher) - Ft. Smith, AR
Originally from Arkansas, Josiah currently lives in Los Angeles working as a model while he pursues his career in music. Not only does Josiah sing, he can also beatbox and loves to ride motorcycles. Follow Josiah on Twitter @josiahhawley.

Midas Whale - Jon Peter Lewis and Ryan Hayes (Team Adam) - Rexburg, ID, Cheyenne, WY and Bear River, UT
One of three vocal duos competing on this season of "The Voice," Ryan and Jon met at an open mic night and play all of their own instruments - guitar, trumpet, accordion, harp, drums and piano. Both come from large families, but have yet to settle down themselves. They are inspired by Simon & Garfunkel, The Everly Brothers and Van Morrison. Follow Midas Whale on Twitter @midaswhale.

Tawnya Reynolds (Team Shakira) - Nashville, TN and Capitan, NM
Originally from New Mexico but now based in Nashville, Tawnya is a country/folk singer who has been singing and playing guitar since she was six. Her determination is unparalleled, and she moved to Nashville 11 years ago with only $200 in her pocket. Since then, she has struggled to find success but she keeps performing, writing songs and working hard to gain recognition. She is a big fan of Merle Haggard, Vince Gill and George Strait. Follow Tawnya on Twitter at @TawnyaReynolds1.

The Voice
Mondays (8-10 p.m. ET) and Tuesdays (8-9 p.m. ET) on NBC

"The Voice" returns with the strongest vocalists from across the country invited to compete in the blockbuster vocal competition show's fourth season. Celebrity musician coaches Adam Levine and Blake Shelton return along with new coaches, Usher and Shakira, while Carson Daly continues to serve as host and Christina Milian as social media correspondent.

The show's innovative format features four stages of competition: the first begins with the blind auditions, then the battle rounds, the knockouts and finally, the live performance shows.

During the blind auditions, the decisions from the musician coaches are based solely on voice and not on looks. The coaches hear the artists perform, but they don't get to see them -- thanks to rotating chairs. If a coach is impressed by the artist's voice, he/she pushes a button to select the artist for his/her team. At this point, the coach's chair will swivel so that he/she can face the artist he/she has selected. If more than one coach pushes his/her button, the power then shifts to the artists to choose which coach they want to work with. If no coach pushes his/her button, the artist is eliminated from the competition.

Once the teams are set, the battle is on. Coaches will dedicate themselves to developing their team of artists, giving them advice, and sharing the secrets of their success, along with help from their celebrity advisers. During the battle rounds, the coaches will pit two of their own team members against each other to sing the same song together in front of a studio audience.

After the vocal battle, the coach must choose which of his/her singers will advance to the next round of competition, while the losing artist is available to be stolen by another coach. Each coach has two steals available during the battle rounds.

At the end of the battles, only the strongest members of each coach's roster remain and proceed to the knockout rounds. The artists will be paired again with a member of their own teams, but this time they find out only minutes before performing with whom they are competing. The artists each select their own songs to perform individually, while their direct competitor watches and waits. They are vying for their coach's confidence and decision to take them to the live shows. Their coach will choose the winner and the artist not selected will be sent home.

In the final live performance phase of the competition, the top artists from each team will compete each week against each other during a live broadcast. The television audience will vote to save their favorite artists and the two artists with the lowest number of votes will be sent home each week. In the end, one will be named "The Voice" and will receive the grand prize of a recording contract.

"The Voice" is a presentation of Mark Burnett's One Three Inc., Talpa Media USA Inc. and Warner Horizon Television. The series is created by John de Mol, who executive-produces along with Burnett, Audrey Morrissey, Stijn Bakkers and Lee Metzger.

Photo credit: Trae Patton, Adam Taylor, Paul Drinkwater/NBC

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