Idol Chatter & Voice Views

CammWess and Mandi Castillo perform during the battle round on The Voice Season 18. (NBC Photo)

Kelly Clarkson said she has “a musical crush” on Mandi Castillo.

John Legend said she “can do it all.”

And now the four-chair turn recipient from The Voice blind auditions is headed to the knockout round.

That’s because John declared Mandi the winner following a battle round performance of “Senorita” with teammate CammWess.

In truth, both singers received high praise for the performance. And Camm wound up advancing as well, stolen by Kelly Clarkson.

Here’s what Mandi, 23, of San Antonio Texas, told Voice Views about her battle round experience.

Voice Views: What do you think was the key to your success in the battle round?

Mandi: I feel like my energy on stage was the key to my success on this battle round. It was a very spicy song that needed attitude, and I feel like I delivered that.

Voice Views: How did the song choice work for you? Did it pose any special challenges?

Mandi: I liked the song choice because it was fun and challenging. I’m not used to singing pop music, so it was cool to tap into it. Since it was a fun song, Cam and I had to convey that in our performance which was probably the most challenging part. The song is extremely sexy, and Cam and I barely knew each other. However, we made the best out of it and had so much fun.

Mandi Castillo performs during her battle round match on The Voice Season 18. (NBC Photo)

Voice Views: Entering the battle round, did you have much experience performing duets or in a group? And, if so, do you think that worked to your advantage in preparing for the battle and how so?

Mandi: Going into the battle rounds, it was definitely something different for me. It was challenging because I had never done a duet on stage, but I’m glad I got to have the experience and it allowed me to learn more about myself as an artist.

Voice Views: Anything else you’d like to add about the battle round experience?

Mandi: I just want to say that even though this is a competition, in a lot of ways it doesn’t feel that way because the experience is so fun and educational. I’m honored that John has believed in me coming this far and can’t wait to continue to make him proud.

Voice Views: And, obviously, you can’t talk about song choice, but is there a side of your artistry you haven’t gotten to display yet that you hope to in coming rounds?

Mandi: There are many sides to my artistry that I haven’t showcased yet that I plan to show the world later in the competition. I’m not limited to the kind of music I enjoy singing and creating. I want everyone to vibe with me, not just one audience. That’s my goal in this competition and music industry.

See also …
Meet Mandi Castillo and learn about the music she’s released
Mandi Castillo talks about her battle round on The Voice