Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The number of golden ticket recipients from each American Idol audition city far exceed the number of contestants we meet on the show.

Here are the male singers we didn’t meet during the Chicago audition episode.

I’ve included a blurb on each with information gleaned from their Road to Hollywood videos on americanidol.com.

In cases where a video of them singing or performing could be located, I’ve also included that.

If you know of existing YouTube videos for a contestant who doesn’t have one below, simply let me know and I’ll add it.

Alex Kinsey

This guy from Daytona Beach, Fla., says he auditioned because his girlfriend “really wanted” him to. It worked out OK; he’s Hollywood bound. He says his inspiration is Jason Mraz, who he first saw perform in Florida back around 2005. “When I saw him having fun performing and loving what he did and making me happy and everyone around me happy, I was like, ‘That is what I want to do for the rest of my life.'” Alex says he’s a lifelong vegetarian who doesn’t like sad songs. “Music is the one thing I’m completely content doing. I think that will shine through,” he says of why he could become the next Idol. His favorite past contestants are Blake Lewis and Jason Castro.

“I Won’t Give Up”

Andrew Jones

This guy from Chicago took an interesting path to American Idol. He spent five years in the military, then decided he wanted to become a teacher. So what happened when he stepped into a classroom? “My students told me: ‘Mr. Jones, if I were you, I would become a singer or something.’ So here I am, becoming a singer of something.” He vows to show Nicki he is a superstar. He says his biggest inspiration is his father, who served as his music teacher “for the first eight years of my academic life.” He still performs, and Andrew says he’d like to be just like him. Andrew says he also might have an edge on Idol because he’s been trained in both classical and pop music and is an experienced performer who spent two years living in Japan, performing and touring with the Air Force Band. His favorite past Idol contestant is Jennifer Hudson. He says they grew up in the same town, lived in the same community and performed together on a few occasions.

No video located.

Beau Lastavich

This young man from Big Lake, Minn., says he auditioned because he wanted to meet Steven Tyler. Well … he pauses during his Idol interview … then adds, “who isn’t a judge anymore, unfortunately.” Beau says he’s inspired by the rock music and rock frontmen from the 1980s and thinks he’s unique because of the way he dresses and the fact that he wears his hair long. He also doesn’t just sing cover songs. He writes his own music and works to get the crowd involved whenever he performs. He says his favorite past performer is Bo Bice, one of the first rockers on Idol.

“Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked”

Caleb Flynn

From Tip City, Ohio, Caleb says he tried out for Idol two or three years ago, but didn’t make it to Hollywood. He had to try out again because “music is all I do and what I live to do.” Besides, his wife nudged him into it. Caleb is a music pastor and says the Lord is his inspiration. “That’s my job every week, to go up on stage and connect with the congregation.” He also thinks he has a unique sound and says he’s willing to use the judges’ feedback to improve his music. His favorite past Idol is Carrie Underwood, who he calls amazing, then offers this tidbit: “If my wife dyed her hair blonde, she would look just like her.”

“You Are So Beautiful”

Charles Allen Roach

This guy from Saginaw, Mich., says his mother is his inspiration. He’s been watching her perform since he was 6 and says she’s a great role model for what he’d like to be as a performer. What’s more, she’s supported her family through her career for the past seven to eight years. Charles also says he’s a positive and determined person, who’s always smiling. “And that smile is genuine and real because I’ve been in worst places. Whatever’s going on now, I’ve seen worse and there’s always someone who has a worse story than mine.” He favorite past Idol performers are Fantasia and Joshua Ledet. Right now, Joshua has the edge “because he’s doing it for the dudes.”

No video located.

Devin Valez

So what reaction did this 18-year-old from Chicago have to getting a golden ticket? “I was glad I didn’t throw up because I was really nervous.” We are too, Devin. There was enough throwing up on Idol last year in Hollywood. Devin says his mom is an inspiration because of the way she supports his desire to sing; she was a singer herself. His Idol inspirations include Chris Daughtry, Mandisa, Kris Allen, Colton Dixon, David Archuleta, most of whom, he notes, are Christian performers. What gives him an edge? “When I perform, it’s not just a performance, but me sharing with the audience a piece of me, my who I am, my past, my goals, my future, my emotion. That connection is what’s going to take me far.”

“How He Loves Us”

Jason Jones

This guy from Chicago says his big brother encouraged him to audition because he thought it would be a good opportunity for Jason to get exposure and develop his voice. Jason listened. After all, he lists his big brother — who sings and plays sax — as one of his two inspirations. The other is John Legend. I strive to be like those two whenever I get the opportunity,” Jason says. He also thinks the fact that he’s been playing piano 13 years and is familiar with lots of genres of music will serve him well. Plus his perseverance, a trait he says most past Idols shared. His favorite of those Idols: Jordin Sparks, for her voice and her ability to convey the emotion in a song.

“Home”

Joel Wayman

This guy from Indianapolis is the brother of Amaris Wayman, who also made Hollywood. He says his mom is his inspiration because of the passion and drive she instills in him. As for his favorite past Idol, that would be Katharine McPhee, who he said took his breath away every time she performd on the show. What sets him apart from the other contestants? “I am unique,” Joel says. “I stand out. I am pretty much what the show needs to change their image. They need something more current. That’s who I am.”

“My Last Cry” (original)

Johnathan McNeil

He says he was so anxious about the audition he couldn’t sleep for two or three days. So he was relieved to get his golden ticket; it meant he would rest. A Memphis, Tenn., resident he says his inspirations are Chris Brown and R&B music. “I would compare my style to Chris Brown. We both have very different voices. But he’s very similar to the type of artist I am striving to be.” And, like his favorite past Idol, Fantasia, Johnathan thinks he has a unique voice. “I’m one of those few people on Earth who has a voice nobody else has and you can’t compare me to anyone else.” He also says he hopes to “touch people’s hearts” through his music.

No video located.

Josh Jada Davila

His name is Josh Davila, but this guy from Chicago performs as “Jada” and says he wants to expose his androgynous style to the Idol audience. “I ask my friends, ‘When was the last time we had a Boy George? When was the last time we had a Prince.’ Androgyny needs to be seen more.” He says his favorite past Idol contestant is Kelly Clarkson. “She paved the way for all other contestants,” he says.

No video found.

Josh Stevens

Josh admits he made fun of an earlier contestant who was in tears after an audition. His reaction: “Isn’t it a little early (in the competition) for tears.” Then the guy from Caramel, Ind., got his golden ticket. “Next thing I know, I’m tearing up.” Josh says he gets some of his inspiration from undiscovered artists online, watching their unique popular songs for a reminder that music is forever changing. He’d like to change it, too. Yeh, he’d like to sing Top 40 songs that are popular on radio and in the clubs. But he also wants those songs to have meaning and feeling in an old-school, soulful way. “Not just, ‘Oh, it’s time to dance now.'” His favorite past Idol contestant was piano-playing Matt Giraud from Season 8.

No video located.

Matt Wynn

Matt hails from Flint Hill, Mo., near St. Louis and says he always wanted to perform for a living. He thinks he has a different sound than most male singers. “My type of tone is just different than everyone else,” he says. “I grew up listening to country music. But I sing a mix of it. Country. Pop a little bit. And I have some soul.” He says his favorite past Idol is Scotty McCreery, partly because it was so clear he loved to be on stage. “Every time he performed it put a smile on your face,” Matt says.

“Don’t You Worry Child”

Nicholas Mathis

Nicholas says he auditioned because his mother pushed him to. “She wanted me to be something in life.” He says he comes from the “nitty, gritty, dirty streets of Chicago,” and his mother doesn’t want him to become another statistic. His mother, naturally, also played a key role in him wanting to be a singer through the music she exposed him to. He remembers back when she would play Whitney Houston music. He would listen to her music “and it just made me want to sing.” His favorite past Idol contestant is Fantasia because he can sympathize with her background, if not the exact struggles of her past.

No video located.

Ryan Connor Smith

This guy from Bloomington, Ind., tried out for Idol in Season 12 because he “needed to come back for redemption.” He made it to Hollywood last year, but got cut and says he’s been working hard ever since to make sure his voice is improved. He draws inspiration from his “overwhelmingly supportive” family and from watching other stars perform. His favorite Idol performers are Jennifer Hudson and Adam Lambert. The former has a voice “that isn’t even fair,” he says; Adam “changed how people viewed the show.” As for his music, Ryan says he smiles a lot. But … “When I sing I put a little bit of stank and growl into it. People don’t expect that.”

No video located.