Team Usher Interview
Q) Josiah, can you tell me what you've learned so far, the most important things you learned so far while being on The Voice? And has Usher told you some pretty crucial advice, maybe off camera, that really stands out in your mind as far as being real helpful so far?
Josiah Hawley: Absolutely. I feel like I've really learned a lot throughout this whole process. A big thing again, is connecting to a lyric that's not my own? That's been a big thing. And then learning how take a song that's not my own, and to make it my own. And to really connect with an audience and really make them feel, you know, what I'm feeling when I'm singing it. So that's been a big part of this process, and Usher, he's been a great coach. He's given a lot of great advice. And the most poignant advice he's given recently is just, "You're doing great, like you're sounding great I guess, but we really need to really hit your stage presence. That's what we need to really hone in on." Because I have a lot of energy, so especially with my next song that I'll be performing, I move a lot. And he's like, "Dude, that's great, that's exciting. Be you." He goes, "But maybe just kind of bring it down just a little bit right at the beginning, that way it will free you up to be open later in the song." So yes, lots of great advice.
Q) What song is that going to be, can you say yet?
Josiah Hawley: I cannot. I cannot. But it's going to be some rock song.
Q) Is it hard choosing material, or easy for you guys? What's the process selecting songs for your talent?
Josiah Hawley: It's very difficult for me to pick songs. Most of the time I don't do covers because I perform and write originals. So it's difficult trying pick the right song that shows who I am as an artist, but yet still highlights my voice. And then has a lyric also that I can connect to. So there's a lot of details that go into it. Yes, it's difficult sometimes.
Q) Are you nervous about the live playoffs, or are you excited?
Josiah Hawley: I'm really excited, I'm really excited. It's just another opportunity to be in front of America and to really show another side of myself.
Q) For The Swon Brothers, what did you take away from the coach's comments after you all performed last night. Did they say anything that worried you or that spurs you to work on something, or were you satisfied or?
Colton Swon: I think it's a scary thing to get satisfied in this competition. It's really a scary thing to get satisfied in this competition. It was really great to finally get some props from Adam, because we hadn't received that yet. And we're doing our job I think as artist, growing our fan base even just, and throughout the four coaches' opinions. So it was really nice to see him give us some props. Usher is always a character, has always got something really cool to say, or just some witty thing to say. And so it was really cool. But at the same time we weren't satisfied and we won't be until we go home. Or we're in that finale. And that's just the outlook you got to have on this thing. I mean you can be here one day and gone the next. So you got take everything to heart, but at the same time keep building and growing as an artist. And never get too comfortable.
Q) Cathia, is it true that you are studying Music Business? And is that a direction that you would see yourself continuing in? And maybe what, in particular about the business appeals to you?
Cathia: Well yes. I'm studying Music Business at Baruch College in New York. It was more of like my backup plan, because my goal is to be on stage and to make a living off of that that, and sing. I've always been very interested in the music business itself. Like what happens behind scenes, and the whole business aspect of it. Just because a lot of my family have gotten degrees in Business.So I definitely wanted to see that as well, and that side of the music industry. So I thought that would be my backup plan. But my main goal was always to sign before, yes.
Q) Do you think that the two are mutually exclusive, like you have to only focus on one or the other?
Cathia: I think so actually. Well you can try to do both, which is what I was trying to do, but when you get into the business side of things, it gets very academically challenging. Like I had to take a bunch of economic and Calculus course, so it was definitely interesting. And I did try to balance both as much as I could. But I do try - I do think that you should really put more of your energy in one.
Q) Michelle, what appealed to you about The Voice, considering you were already part of band and had, you know, put out some music?
Michelle Chamuel: Well The Voice just seemed to have such a positive message and vibe. There was no part that tore anyone down, or said like, "Ha-ha these people didn't make it." And so I'm really, really vibe with that. And wanted to help support a show that spread a positive message and have it hopefully support me. And I just saw the show and it looked like a place thatI hoped and felt that I could call like a family and a home for a certain amount of time. And so I just kept trying, I tried three times. And the third time seemed to work out for me.
Q) Vedo, can you describe how much interaction you get with your teammates? We usually, you know as the viewer, we see one or two people at a time in a room with Usher, so it's unclear how much you all get to kind of hang out together or work together.
Vedo: Really man, we all interact well man. We actually - we see each other every day, we talk to each other every day, man. We're like a big ole family man, for real. So although people see that we're only in there with a couple people, but we in there with everybody. Everybody is like family, everybody is funny and cracking jokes. You know, make fun of each other. That's just the way - that's just how we do it. So we interact with each other a lot. And we become closer man.
Q) Josiah, competing on The Voice, how much more difficult or how easy is it than say, kind of slugging it out in the clubs with a band? It's kind of different kind of pressure?
Josiah Hawley: Yes, it's very different, it's very different. With my own band, usually I've written most of the songs and I'm the one scheduling all the rehearsals. And I'm the one who booked the venue itself. So there's a lot more pressure on me in other areas, as opposed to in this, the pressure is really just focusing on the music. I get to focus solely on entertaining, solely on practicing, focusing on my voice, and so it's a very welcome change in that. Because I just get to work on doing what I do and what I love the most.
Q) And what would you say to America for the live voting? What would say to convince them to vote for you?
Joshiah Hawley: I would say I've learned what it means and what it takes to work really hard to get somewhere. And my goal is to continue working very hard and thank you so much for all your support. I appreciate you.
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