Idol Chatter & Voice Views

His audition: Jordy Searcy, 20, of Fairhope, Ala., auditioned with Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love.” Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani turned their chairs around when he hit the chorus. Pharrell Williams soon followed. Jordy opted to become a member of Team Pharrell.

His background: Because his blind audition was part of a montage package, we weren’t treated to a pre-performance interview with Jordy. The show’s website says he comes from a musical family; his dad writes music and his mom is a vocal coach. Jordy began singing and writing songs at age 15. He now gives guitar lessons and attends college for music business.

What the show didn’t show: Being from a beach town, Jordy’s other hobbies are surfing and skateboarding. In fact, he was at a skate park, and somewhat out of breath, when he called in to participate in a conference call with the media the day after his auditioned aired. “I like to say I’ve never had a real job,” he says. “I’ve always done music. Between music and school and skateboarding and surfing, that’s kind of what I do all day.” School is the University of North Alabama. Music has produced a five-track EP called “Oceanside” in 2012 and a 10-track self-titled album in 2013 that included four of the tracks from the previous EP. You can check out full-length versions of his original music here. Be sure to check out “Next to You” and “I Have Found a Friend.” Another track is called “The Surfing Song.” Jordy refers to himself as a singer-songwriter whose very much a feel-oriented guy when it comes to music and never envisioned himself on a TV show singing covers. But once he auditioned, he knew he’d like to have Pharrell as his coach. “Just because of his track record as a producer,” Jordy explains. “Every time he puts out a song, the first time I listen, I’m kind of like, ‘That’s kind of weird.’ The second time I listen, I’m like, ‘That was genius.'” He told his local newspaper his favorite piece of advice from Pharrell so far was” “Don’t overthink, over feel.” Oh, and that 2013 album was financed in part by a KickStarter campaign. One of the rewards offered to donors: a surfing lesson from Jordy, of course.

Update: Jordy was eliminated from the show when he lost a battle round match against Taylor Phelan. They performed “Breakeven” by The Script.

On iTunes: The aforementioned EP and album, plus his audition song.

Keeping up with Jordy:
Twitter: @jordytSearcy
Facebook
YouTube

“Skinny Love” (cover)

“Come Back to Me” (original)

“Blindsided” (cover)