Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Calvin Lockett of Raleigh-Durham, N.C., performs during the blind auditions on The Voice. (NBC Photo)

“We’re 10 days apart, so he was always one of my best friends,” Calvin says. “We always used to talk — we would watch it and say, ‘We’re going to do this one day.”

Tragically, the cousin died in an accident three years ago.

But Calvin said making Season 17 of The Voice gives him a sense of “we said we were going to be here, and we’re here.”

Calvin made The Voice thanks to an impressive blind audition cover of “Just My Imagination” that prompted three of the show’s superstar coaches to turn their chairs. He opted to join Team Gwen Stefani.

Here’s what Calvin, 25, of Raleigh-Durham, N.C., told Voice Views about his blind audition experience.

Voice Views: How did you wind up auditioning for The Voice Season 17 and what prompted you to do it?

Calvin: So, I was approached by one of the casting directors for the show a few years ago. And I was never in a position to be able to do it back then. I was living in Nashville, working a full-time job, was on staff at my parents’ church as well. So to give up all of that to audition for the show didn’t seem feasible at the moment.

But when I moved to North Carolina, I wasn’t working and had way more open space and opportunity to do so. So, when it was presented to me again, I had a “why not?” moment. And I did it.

Voice Views: Why did you choose “Just My Imagination” for your audition song?

Calvin: My grandma is a huge Temptations fan, and I felt it would show my ability. The song is so different from what I personally like to sing, so I wanted to be able to show that I could do that too.

Voice Views: Did you have a preference for a coach heading into the blind audition? And why did you decide to join Team Gwen?

Calvin: I think it was always going to Gwen. Either Gwen or Kelly. As much as I ADORE John Legend, I think for strategic purposes, it was always just going to be them.

Voice Views: What was that blind audition experience like, and did it help to have Blake Shelton turn so quickly?

Calvin: Being on that stage in that moment was magical. I was doing my best to take it all in and perform at the same time. Not the easiest thing to do. It actually made me a little more nervous when Blake turned because I had a “oh shoot, he’s actually looking at me” moment. But at the same time, it was so relieving. I was honestly just extremely grateful for it all.

See also
Meet Calvin Lockett of The Voice Season 17