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By
Krista
Interview with contestants from
"The Voice" on NBC 10/2/18
NBC UNIVERSAL Moderator: Abby Freemire October 2, 2018
1:00 pm CT
Operator: Ladies and gentlemen thank you
for standing by. Welcome to the Voice Season 15 Artist
Advancing Press and Media. During the presentation all
participants will be in a listen-only mode and afterwards
we’ll conduct a question and answer session. As a reminder
this conference is being recorded on Tuesday, October 2,
2018. I would know like to turn the conference over to Abby
Freemire with the Voice PR. Please go ahead.
Abby
Freemire: Hi everyone. Thanks so much for joining our call
today. Joining us today from Team Adam we have Steve Memmolo
and Anthony Arya. From Team Blake we have Dave Fenley and
Rachel Messer. From Team J HUD we have Audri Bartholomew and
Natasia Greycloud and from Team Kelly we have Chevel
Shepherd, Delaney Silvernell and Kymberli Joye. Out of
respect for all journalists queuing up please ask only one
question at a time and you will have the opportunity to
follow-up. And I will now turn the call over to the question
answer portion.
Operator: Our first question comes
from the line of MJ Santilli with Mjsbigblog.com Please
proceed.
MJ Santilli: Hi. This question is for Dave.
I was wondering I know you were a contestant on AGT in 2013
what made you decide to give The Voice a shot?
Dave
Fenley: Hi. During that whole 2013 experience, you know, I
don’t feel like I gave it my best and I had a death in the
family that kind of helped me make some decisions that it
was time to just really move forward with my life and start
doing something different when it came in regards to the
show. When this opportunity came around it was just - it
just seemed like the last shot for somebody like me and I
really wanted to see if I still could be relevant and it was
so much fun. So I think that that’s pretty much why I really
wanted to give it one more shot. Why not right? Mid-life
crisis.
MJ Santilli: Could you compare the two
experiences?
Dave Fenley: Absolutely. This one was so
much more I guess communal. We’re all musicians. We’re all
singers. We all have the same skill. We all have the same
mindset. We’re all working towards the same goal. So I made
a lot more friends and a lot stronger relationships than I
did on America’s Got Talent just because we didn’t have as
much in common.
MJ Santilli: Yes. Well thank you.
Operator: Thank you. And our next question comes from
the line of Jamie Steinberg with Starry Constellation
Magazine. Please proceed.
Jamie Steinberg: Hi. This
question is for Audri. I was wondering if you could talk
about what it was like for you getting to sing with Jennifer
Hudson?
Audri Bartholomew: Yes of course. It was
really exciting because obviously you don’t expect to go in
and come out singing with a coach. So I remember just I mean
she was like it’s one of my favorite songs and I was like oh
well in that case, my God - I took the opportunity to get to
sing with her. I mean she’s obviously an amazing singer and
she’s someone that I look up to a lot in the industry as she
has put her toe in every type of genre and it’s something
that I would want to do as I grow up and become an artist.
And I just felt so honored that she would allow me to sing
with her. So it was a really cool experience.
Jamie
Steinberg: Well it was beautiful so thanks so much for
sharing it with us.
Audri Bartholomew: Thank you so
much, thank you.
Operator: Thank you. And our next
question comes from the line of Mark Franklin with Voice
Views. Please proceed.
Mark Franklin: Yes my question
is for Audri as well. Audri how are you doing?
Audri
Bartholomew: I’m good. How are you?
Mark Franklin:
Pretty good. Hey great addition. But you went right down to
the wire before Jennifer turned her chair around. I was
hoping you could tell us what that felt like as you were on
stage whether you were sort of beginning to give up hope or
anything like that?
Audri Bartholomew: Yes that was
definitely a trying moment. I just remember that no one was
turning and I was like okay so I have literally five
seconds. I have this one last note so let me just pull out
all the stops and just keep this note as long as I can and
hopefully someone will turn around.
So I was
definitely getting nervous like I could definitely see her
myself and I was like oh no. But yes I’m just so glad she
turned her chair. When I saw it I was like kind of closing
my eyes and my hand was in the air and I heard it and I was
like, oh, and my eyes opened and I saw J-Hud and I was so
thrilled.
Mark Franklin: And you held that note
forever. How do you feel about the match of you and Jennifer
as a coach?
Audri Bartholomew: I love our pair
because I obviously have a musical theater background and
she’s been a dream girl so she’s someone that I’ve been
following for years and years. And have in that connection
of both of us, you know, being on a competition show like
this I think that we get along great and our humor is very
similar as well.
Mark Franklin: Okay. Thank you very
much and best of luck.
Audri Bartholomew: Thank you
so much.
Operator: Thank you. And our next question
comes from the line of Beth Beacham with Hollywood Junket.
Please proceed.
Beth Beacham: Hi everyone. Hi, my
question is for Chevel. Hi Chevel.
Chevel Shepherd:
Hi.
Beth Beacham: Hi. How are you?
Chevel
Shepherd: I’m good. How are you?
Beth Beacham: I’m
great, congratulations.
Chevel Shepherd: Thank you.
Beth Beacham: I was watching the show, it looked like
you talked to Brynn Cartelli before your audition is that
right?
Chevel Shepherd: Yes.
Beth Beacham: Now
I was curious, did she have anything she said or anything
that made an impression of why you chose Kelly ultimately?
Chevel Shepherd: Well Brynn didn’t really make me change
my mind to pick Kelly. She did say like don’t give up on
your dreams, you can do this, it’s going to be great. So she
was really inspiring because she won last season but she
didn’t really change my mind at all.
Beth Beacham:
Okay great. I was just curious if maybe she, you know, there
was an impression of the coaching style and what not because
you wanted to choose Blake originally so I was just curious
about that. If Chloe had been there or someone from Blake’s
team would that have made a difference maybe, no?
Chevel Shepherd: No. I was pretty much going with my gut and
the advice they gave me, so I don’t think that would really
have pushed me on one side of the other.
Beth
Beacham: So what was it ultimately the Kelly said that made
you want to - her as a coach?
Chevel Shepherd: She
gave me advice like that I was in my head a lot and I do
agree with her. And I feel like since she’s so versatile
since she’s not all country but she does work with some
country artists that it could kind of make me different and
take me on a different path.
Beth Beacham: Okay
great. Thank you so much. I look forward to seeing you more.
Chevel Shepherd: Thank you so much.
Operator:
Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of MJ
Santilli with Mjsbigblog.com Please proceed.
MJ
Santilli: Hi. This question is for Kymberli. What does it
feel like taking that step forward to the front of the stage
I mean, you know, considering your background and, that you
had been singing as a background singer?
Kimberli
Joye: Yes well thanks for the question. I love being a
background singer. It’s such a challenging and great
opportunity. But over the years I’ve realized that as much
as I enjoy that I just didn’t feel sensible being in the
background and so to take that step forward it was
definitely nerve-racking, definitely nerve-racking and I was
very nervous. But it also felt like I was stepping into a
purpose, like I was stepping into my place in the world
where I was supposed to be. So it felt really good to step
out on faith and go for my dreams.
MJ Santilli:
What’s it like working with Kelly?
Kimberli Joye:
Kelly Clarkson is amazing. Not only is she such a sweet
person and a sweetheart but she really pushes her people to
step outside of their comfort zone and step outside of the
confines of maybe just their genre and really go for it.
MJ Santilli: Great, thank you.
Kimberli Joye:
Thank you.
Operator: Thank you. And our next question
comes from the line of Jamie Steinberg with Starry
Constellation Magazine. Please proceed.
Jamie
Steinberg: Hi. My question is for Steve I was wondering I
was wondering how often do you get that Ben Affleck
comparison?
Steve Memmolo: Oh as you can probably
tell from listening not very often. I mean I can’t walk down
the street too much in Boston without someone asking me if I
know that I look like him which is an interesting question
because if you think I look like him so much I probably have
heard it before. But yes I don’t know, if I don’t leave the
house, I don’t hear that much at all.
Jamie
Steinberg: And with Adam on as your coach are you
anticipating maybe whether or not you will hear from Ben to
officially get...
Steve Memmolo: I don’t know.
Jamie Steinberg: ...him to (unintelligible) your photos?
Steve Memmolo: Yes, you know, I don’t know. I think that
would be really cool. I mean if you watch the show you know
that I also do comedy and improv and I kind of envision some
kind of skit where, you know, when Ben gets better maybe
comes out of rehab and goes back in time ten years and then
I show up and I don’t know but anyways I - something kind of
cool...
Jamie Steinberg: Hot Tub Time Machine 3 is
that what we’re going with?
Steve Memmolo: Yes or
just like a time machine that only makes you go back in time
five or six years I don’t know. But it’s just that would be
really cool. Any opportunity to get to work with him would
be cool as a fellow Bostonian I mean.
Jamie
Steinberg: Well think you so much for your time and we look
forward to seeing you. And I guess you should’ve ended your
audition with how do you like them apples?
Steve
Memmolo: Yes I’m going to have to work on my Ben Affleck
impression if I’m going to stay on the show.
Jamie
Steinberg: I guess going forward you’ll have to.
Steve Memmolo: Yes, yes. Thanks so much.
Jamie
Steinberg: Take care.
Steve Memmolo: Take care.
Operator: Thank you. And our next question comes from
the line of Mark Franklin with Voice Views. Please proceed.
Mark Franklin: Yes my question is for Steve as well.
Steve how are you today?
Steve Memmolo: I’m great.
I’m fantastic. How are you?
Mark Franklin: Good. Hey
you talked about how you’d like to get to the point where
you’re doing more of your own music during your bio clip.
Steve Memmolo: Yes.
Mark Franklin: I was
wondering if you could describe that music to us and tell us
whether you’ve released anything this month?
Steve
Memmolo: Yes I have a few singles that are out on Spotify
and iTunes. So I have a soul crooner kind of a background.
And I’ve definitely tried to meld those two worlds together
and create kind of a throwback pop music that’s also kind of
relevant. The newer stuff I’m working on I would call it
soul, electro soul. And the stuff that I do have out I would
call it kind of more soul pop. But it all has this very
Motown crooner feel. It’s like Sinatra meets Frankie Valley
and Stevie Wonder all rolled into one. But I definitely I’m
trying to bring that old soul feeling into call it pop, you
know, current music.
Mark Franklin: Okay good. And
why did you go with Adam?
Steve Memmolo: You know,
like I said on my interviews and on the show I’ve always
been a fan of Maroon 5. Songs about Jane was one of my
favorite albums in college. And I just thought man it was
such an obvious choice being a male front man -- you know,
I’m a front man in my band as well -- we have a lot of the
same influences. I had to go do some digging but I found
that he was inspired by Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding at a
lot of the same, you know, we just have a lot of the same
taste in music so it just felt like the obvious choice. And
like I said I go with my gut and that’s what was talking for
me that day.
Mark Franklin: Okay thank you very much
and best of luck.
Steve Memmolo: Thanks so much.
Operator: Thank you. And our next question comes from
the line of MJ Santilli from Mjsbigblog.com Please proceed
MJ Santilli: Hi this question is for Audri. What did you
learn from yout dad, you know, the rapper about music?
Audri Bartholomew: Yes growing up, my first experience
in the studio was with my dad. We kind of have like an
in-home studio so anytime he would make songs he would
always ask me to sing on his tracks and whether it would be
like little ad libs or actually singing the (hook). I
remember when I was 3 years old there was like an interlude
on one of the songs. And I remember like hearing myself say,
‘Daddy, daddy push me faster,’ and I was on my little
swings. So he just puts those little sound bites from me.
And I think I learned about how to relate to people through
music from him and yes just the basic fundamentals, you
know, what a 16 bar is and things like that and so yes.
MJ Santilli: Could you talk a little bit about some of
your other musical influences?
Audri Bartholomew: Yes
Beyoncé is definitely my biggest musical influence. I just
admire how hard-working she is and she’s a great performer.
And I think that’s what’s important about being an artist is
not only having that vocal ability but also being able to
entrance your audience through performance as well. Vocally
obviously Whitney Houston is a legend and she’s someone that
I definitely look up to and aspire to be.
MJ
Santilli: Well thank you.
Audri Bartholomew: Thank
you so much.
Operator: Thank you. And our next
question comes from the line of Beth Beacham with Hollywood
Junket. Please proceed.
Beth Beacham: Hi. This
question’s for Kymberli. Hi Kymberli.
Kymberli Joye:
Hi.
Beth Beacham: Hi. How are you? Congratulations
and I was wondering when Jennifer was blocked how were you
feeling inside? Like what was your reaction? Were you upset
or what were you thinking?
Kymberli Joye: Well I
didn’t really realize that Jennifer had been blocked until I
was finished singing and when I saw that my first reaction
was to laugh just because of Jennifer’s facial expressions.
I love her and, you know, I feel bad that she was
disappointed but I will have to say that I’m slightly
grateful for the block because before going in I was torn
between Jennifer and Kelly if they both turned around. And I
was like God I don’t know how I’m going to choose if both of
them turn around. So I like to think that God help me out on
that one and made the choice a little easier but it was
crazy. It was a crazy feeling. It’s big thing for a coach to
use their block on you so I’m humbled and honored for that.
Beth Beacham: Okay thank you. Best of luck.
Kymberli Joye: Thank you so much.
Operator: Thank
you. And our next question comes from the line of Mark
Franklin with Voice Views. Please proceed.
Mark
Franklin: Yes my question is for Chevel. Chevel how are you
today?
Chevel Shepherd: I’m great. How are you?
Mark Franklin: Pretty good. Hey was that the Chevy
Chevel that was supposed to be your first car that we saw
you and your dad working on in the bio clip?
Chevel
Shepherd: No that was not a Chevel.
Mark Franklin:
Okay. But you owned a Chevel at some point?
Chevel
Shepherd: Yes, my dad bought me a 72 Chevel for my first car
but we had to get rid of it because I couldn’t reach the
pedals and I couldn’t see over the steering wheel.
Mark Franklin: Okay. Can you tell us anything more about
that? Did you guys have to restore it or anything?
Chevel Shepherd: Well he bought it and it was just the body
and there was no motor in it or anything. So we were going
to build it together so that whenever I drove it it was just
a memory me and my dad have of us working on it together.
But after I sat in it we decided to get rid of it and we
didn’t really ever start building it together.
Mark
Franklin: Okay. And have you gotten a replacement?
Chevel Shepherd: Not yet but we are going to get another
Chevel and hopefully one that’s were put together so that we
can work on it and make it to where it fits me better.
Mark Franklin: Okay. All right. Thank you very much
Chevel.
Chevel Shepherd: Thank you so much.
Operator: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen as a reminder to
register for a question it’s 1, 4. Next question comes from
the line of MJ Santilli with Mjsbigblog.com Please proceed.
MJ Santilli: Hi. This question is for Natasia. Was
wondering if you could share why you chose Jennifer instead
of Kelly?
Natasia Greycloud: That’s a great question.
I actually went completely with my gut on stage. I was
leaning towards Kelly to begin with but I definitely look up
to both of those artists. So yes it was just kind of a
matter of like in the moment like going with what I knew was
going to be right for me. So you can see a little bit of
surprise on my face when I chose Jennifer but it was the
perfect choice and I’m just glad I went with my got.
MJ Santilli: Yes can you talk a little bit about working
with her?
Natasia Greycloud: Yes, she’s incredible.
She’s really like the perfect coach for me. She has like
people have said before, she has so much experience and
theater and film and music and just being an artist in
general and she understands the whole process. So she has
definitely pulled out a lot of things in me as an artist
that I am grateful for.
MJ Santilli: Thank you.
Natasia Greycloud: Thank you.
Operator: And our
next question comes from the line of Krista Chain with a TV
Megasite. Please proceed.
Krista Chain: Hi my
question is for Dave. I just wanted to know did you have
your mind set that you were going to pick Blake before you
went on and did you ever think about choosing Kelly?
Dave Fenley: Oh, you know, my mom had told me going into it
that she was, you know, the whole neck hug thing was totally
genuine like she wanted it so bad. And I had a good feeling
that I want to go that way just for her. But you don’t know
who’s going to turn in a moment and Kelly was so sweet and
so convincing and pouring love and it really did make it
hard. I think in my gut I knew where I wanted to go and I
think that’s why I chose Blake.
Krista Chain: Okay
well thank you and congratulations. I really enjoyed your
songs.
Dave Fenley: Thank you so much.
Mark
Franklin: Thank you. And our next question comes from the
line of Mark Franklin with the Voice Views. Please proceed.
Mark Franklin: Yes my question is for Dave as well. Dave
great audition. How are you today?
Dave Fenley:
Great. I’m good. It’s crazy. My phone is going to melt from
all the (unintelligible) stuff.
Mark Franklin: Hey,
you wound up singing Make America Great Again at the
Republican National Convention. I was wondering if you could
tell us how that opportunity came about, what it was like
and whether you’d do it again in 2020 if you got the chance.
Dave Fenley: Okay so there’s a former contestant from
The Voice actually a friend of mine named (Geordie
Thursday). And he had the opportunity to go and perform at
the Republican Convention and his booking person contacted
me and said, you know, (Geordie) said, ‘You might be a good
fit and want to do this.” So yes I mean I like money so I
said I do it. And then for a birthday present so friend of
mine I was like let’s just have some fun and write a song,
and see what happens.
And so we wrote the song Make
America Great Again and, but sure enough they said, ‘Yes we
want you to perform that at the convention.” So that I had
to perform with GE Smith and it was just an amazing
opportunity. I’m not an overly political person at all. And
in lieu of, you know, the tide of America and things like
that it probably wouldn’t be a good decision for my career
to align with anything right now politically so I’m not sure
if I would do it again in 2020 but it was an amazing
experience and quite an honor.
Mark Franklin: Okay
all right. Thank you very much and again best of luck.
Dave Fenley: Thanks a lot.
Operator: Thank you.
Once again ladies and gentlemen as a reminder to register
for a question it’s 1, 4. Next question comes from the line
of MJ Santilli with Mjsbigblog.com Please proceed.
MJ
Santilli: Hi. This question is for Rachel. You seem to love
old school country and I was wondering if you could describe
your sound?
Rachel Messer: Well thank you so much.
Yes I do definitely love the classic country and I pull a
lot of my influence from, you know, the classics like Dolly
Parton and Patsy Cline and definitely, you know, Tammy
Wynette and also Reba McIntyre. A lot of the classic country
sounds is just what I’ve grown up on.
MJ Santilli:
Yes what does your - like how do you incorporate that into
your sound like the music that you make now? Is it, you
know, just completely old-school or do you have some
contemporary influences?
Rachel Messer: Yes I mean I
love newer country so, you know, I definitely feel like I
would describe my sound as, you know, the old school with a
modern twist on to it. But yes definitely, I definitely love
the classics though I love to incorporate, obviously a lot
of steel and things like that.
MJ Santilli: Well
thank you.
Rachel Messer: Thank you.
Operator:
Thank you. And the next question comes from the line of Mark
Franklin with Voice Views. Please proceed.
Mark
Franklin: Yes so my question is for Rachel as well. Rachel,
why Blake?
Rachel Messer: Oh my goodness well going
into it, you know, I had my heart set on Blake Shelton. And
I just felt like, that he would be a really great match for
me style-wise and also he does seem like a very relatable
person. But, you know, Kelly turned around and she was just
being so sweet and I was almost convinced. I almost went
with Kelly but I just had to go with my gut and it was with
Blake.
MJ Santilli: Yes she is putting up quite a
fight.
Rachel Messer: She was. It was very
(unintelligible).
MJ Santilli: Okay thank you very
much.
Rachel Messer: Thank you.
MJ Santilli:
Goodbye.
Operator: Thank you. Once again to register
for a question it’s 1, 4. We have another question from the
line of Mark Franklin with Voice Views. Please proceed.
Mark Franklin: Yes this is for Anthony. Anthony how are
you?
Anthony Arya: Hi good. How about you?
Mark Franklin: Hey Anthony I was wondering if you could tell
us a little bit about why you decided to try out? You’re
just 15 as the show said as opposed to waiting a little to
do that?
Anthony Arya: Well, you know, on the show
like I said, I’ve been busking and performing for a few
years and I really felt like I was ready when the
opportunity popped up. And I was actually part of the
Instagram Knockout contest on Instagram casting for the show
and that’s how I got started working with the Voice. And I
have been watching since season one and so it’s just been a
dream come true to have that opportunity to come on the
show. And I really thought I was ready to share my voice.
Mark Franklin: Okay. Then how do you feel about the
matchup of you and Adam?
Anthony Arya: I’m so
thrilled to be able to work with him. I mean he started his
band Karas Flowers which turned into Maroon 5 when he was in
high school so I really admire that. And I think he
obviously has so much success in the music industry that
it’s just a dream come true to be able to work with him.
Mark Franklin: Okay. Thank you very much and best of
luck.
Anthony Arya: Thank you.
Operator: Thank
you. Ladies and gentlemen as a final reminder please press
1, 4. And our next question comes from the line of MJ
Santilli with Mjsbigblog.com Please proceed.
MJ
Santilli: Hey, this question is for Delaney. Hi.
Delaney Silvernell: Yes. Hello.
MJ Santilli: I was
wondering I know that something that Kelly told you was that
she compared you to herself and said that maybe you were in
your head too much. And I was wondering, you know, if you,
what you thought of that observation in is if - and I’m
sorry and if she has helped you with that issue?
Delaney Silvernell: Yes well first of all I was really taken
aback when she said that because it was so true. And I was
surprised that she could really just pick that right out
from my minute or minute and a half of singing. I think it
was extremely intuitive of her to do. And obviously like
growing up listening to Kelly Clarkson I’m so flattered that
she saw a little bit of herself in me, you know, very
encouraging. And yes I think she is a great fit for me as a
coach just because she was able to identify that in me and
has been really helpful.
MJ Santilli: Well and what
did you think of her comparing you to Cassidy Pope? Were you
surprised by that?
Delaney Silvernell: Well before
that I wasn’t extremely familiar with Cassidy Pope. I do
remember her winning a few years back so I recognized the
name. But, you know, looking at her now she’s got a
successful career and seems to be doing really well so even
that was super flattering to me so...
MJ Santilli:
Great, thank you.
Delaney Silvernell: Great, thank
you.
Operator: Thank you. And our next question comes
from the line of Mark Franklin with Voice Views. Please
proceed.
Mark Franklin: Yes and I had another
question for Chevel please.
Chevel Shepherd: Okay.
Mark Franklin: And Chevel I wanted to ask you pretty
much the same question as Anthony. You’re only 16 and you’ve
auditioned for a show where you’re up against some really
seasoned professionals. I was wondering why now is a good
time for you to audition? What prompted you to do that?
Chevel Shepherd: Well I have always watched the Voice
since the beginning and I’ve always loved how it was
different from other shows that are on like American Idol
and everything. And I like how they listen to your voice and
how they work with you instead of just putting up against
like a whole bunch of people like American Idol does. So I
thought it was different. And I’ve always wanted to start a
career for myself because I love to sing and perform so I
just thought I’d do the Voice and give it a try and here I
am.
Mark Franklin: Okay, great addition. Thanks
again.
Chevel Shepherd: Thank you so much.
Operator: Thank you. And there are no further questions at
this time Miss Freemire.
Abby Freemire: All right
then that wraps our call for today. Thanks so much everyone
and enjoy the rest of your day..
Operator: Thank you
ladies and gentlemen. That does conclude the conference call
for today. We thank you for your participation and ask that
you please disconnect your line.
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