Idol Chatter & Voice Views

His audition: Jeremy Briggs, 26, of Sacramento, Calif., sang “Bad Company” for his blind audition, displaying a nice rasp and one of the better rock voices the show has heard. Blake Shelton turned around quickly. Shakira joined him before he launched into the chorus the first time. Shakira reminded him that she started out as a “rock chick.” And in a bit of a surprise, Jeremy decided to join Team Shakira.

His background: Described as a classic rocker by The Voice, Jeremy says he got his first electric guitar at age 12 “and started hammering away.” But baseball was his first love through high school. After college, he coached baseball for one year, but decided it wasn’t going to work out financially. He got a job with the California Unemployment Board of Appeals. After work, “it’s off to gig at night.” He’s the lead singer for a rock band called Relic 45 and hopes to make music his full-time occupation. “I’m very fortunate to have a job, but that’s not my career,” he told The Voice.

On choosing Shakira: “You know, I kind of went in just wanting to leave it up to the moment,” Jeremy said. “I just felt that Shakira was more passionate about what she was saying. And I decided to just go with my gut and pick Shakira.”

What the show didn’t show: On Facebook, Jeremy describes himself as a “northern California native with a soul drenched in southern rock.” And if you’d like to check out some of his work with Relic 45, the group released a five-track EP in 2012. Head to the music tab on Jeremy’s website and you can listen to full versions of all the songs. In his Voice meet the artist video, Jeremy says he wasn’t nervous for the blind audition, something he attributes to all the shows he’s done over the years. Among other things, he’s hoping Shakira can help him connect with every song he sings. Sometimes his band’s shows run for four hours, Jeremy says, and it’s tough to stay “in the moment and be part of every word you’re singing. If she can help with that, anything technically really, I’ll be grateful.”

Quote: “I never thought I’d be on Team Shakira. What she said just hit me.”

On iTunes: The Relic 45 EP and his audition song.

Update: Her lost to Clarissa Serna in the battle round; they sang Foreigner’s “Cold As Ice.”

Keeping up with Jeremy:
Twitter: @J_BriggsMusic
Facebook
YouTube
Website

Editor’s Note: For links to profiles of all the Season 6 artists on The Voice, go here.

“Free for None” (from the Relic 45 EP)

“Cherrington Lane” (from the Relic 45 EP)

“Settle Down Fine”