Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Kevin Farris performs during his blind audition on The Voice Season 18. (NBC Photo)

But Kevin got both of those coaches to turn with his spirited performance of “Home” by Johnnyswim.

Then Nick started quizzing Kevin about the music he prefers to sing. Kevin just happened to mention he’s a fan of the song “Lovebug” by the Jonas Brothers.

Next thing you knew, Nick was on stage performing “Lovebug” alongside Kevin.

That sealed the deal. Kevin became the final singer to join Team Nick for Season 18.

Here’s what Kevin, 33, of Arlington Heights, Ill., told Voice Views about his blind audition and his original music.

Voice Views: How did you wind up auditioning for The Voice Season 18 and what prompted you to do it? Had you ever tried a show like this in the past?

Kevin: I ended up auditioning after I was contacted through Instagram by a producer. At first I thought it was just a prank. But after following up, I decided to give it a shot!

Voice Views: Why did you choose “Home” for your audition song? What’s your performance history with that song (for instance, is it one you’ve played often)?

Kevin: I had been covering “Home” in my sets and shows for a while. The song has so much character and depth and I feel the style it portrays pretty accurately defines my “sound.” I’m such a fan of the way Abner and Amanda write (from Johnnyswim) — and I truly feel like more people should know about them.

Voice Views: Did you have a coaching preference heading into the blind audition? Why did you choose Nick as your coach? And how much of a factor was the fact that he took the stage to sing a short snippet of “Lovebug” with you?

Kevin: I am a huge fan of John and Nick and felt like it would be tough no matter who turned. When I was younger, I was a chaperone for my now sister-in-law and her friends to a Jo Bros concert. I was pretty blown away by the show they put on … it felt pretty bizarre that I was now impromptu “jamming” with one of them on stage. All of those coaches have such unique takes on building artistry into this wild Voice world. Nick coming up on stage definitely influenced my decision. I was super excited to jam with him and also felt like we’d be a good match. That truly was a tough decision. I consider John one of the greatest artists of our generation and someone I look up to and admire immensely.

Voice Views: What was that blind audition experience like? John, who’s stingy with chairs turns, turned around very quickly, and you got amazing feedback from the coaches?

Kevin: I got pretty lost in what I was doing almost instantly. The crowd seemed to really get into the song and I felt like I was transported back home to a bar in Chicago. I remember kind of forgetting where I was and then when I looked down I saw John and my brain short circuited a little bit. As far as the feedback goes, that was humbling. Anytime you get some encouragement or validation from your contemporaries it feels good. I like to say, “Most musicians I know (myself included) all have a little crazy in them” 🙂 Kind words go a long way!

Voice Views:Can you tell me a bit about your original music, how you would describe your sounds and whether you have plans to release more original music anytime soon?

Kevin: My original music is why I do this, I think I’d be in a strange place If I wasn’t able to write. I would classify the sound as folk/pop/rock I suppose. Doing The Voice is such a great opportunity to potentially showcase my work as an artist! I’ve got music up on all of the streaming sites (Spotify, Apple Music, Itunes, Youtube) and have been writing in preparation for a new EP as well. I’d be absolutely honored if people took a look at what I’m doing as a singer/songwriter. Truly means more than they could know.

For more on Kevin, his original music and his social media links, head here.