Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Jake HaldenVang, 24, of Fort Mill, S.C., during his blind audition on The Voice. (NBC Photo)

He certainly got off to a fine start with his blind audition, part of the show’s Season 17 premiere.

His version of The Revivalists’ “Wish I Knew You” turned three chairs and landed Jake a spot on Team Gwen Stefani.

Here’s what the 24-year-old from Fort Mill, S.C., told Voice Views about his music and his blind audition experience.

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

Jake: Auditioning for the Voice has always been something I longed for every season that passes by. I hit a period in my life that was sort of a turning point a couple of years back when I started drifting away from playing in a band unit and more towards being a solo artist and I wouldn’t have auditioned if it weren’t for that decision.

Voice Views: Why did you choose “Wish I Knew You” for your audition song?

Jake: The song “Wish I knew You” honestly fits a particular pocket of my style really nicely. It fills me and the room with energy when I perform it and I vocally feel very free and natural with it. I add a little bit of a different flavor to it and attack it a little differently, but it’s just a superior song.

I also feel a special connection to the song because of its powerful and poignant message of wanting to see and connect with that special someone through the welcoming eyes and openness of our youthful and un-jaded hearts. The mood of the song just speaks to me and hits all the special feels … Like wanting to get to know someone with a carefree spirit in our hearts. I always want to carry that type of spirit around with me.

Voice Views: Why did you decide to join Team Gwen? Was there anything in particular she said that lured you in?

Jake: When Gwen gave her “pitch” to me, I was already close to sure that I was going to pick her if she turned around for me, but when she said, “I have a lot of songs for you”, it really sold it for me.

I think she could understand what type of artist I am the best because I am a divergent artist with many flavor pallets musically speaking and she understands what being unique feels like and song choice will play into that, I think. And she’s the one I wanted all along.

Voice Views: You’ve been fronting your own band for a while now, but it doesn’t appear you’ve released music yet. Is that the case? If so, do you have plans to anytime in the near future and how would you describe the band’s sound?

Jake: I haven’t released music on digital platforms but I have released a couple of CDs in the past. I also have music that I plan on releasing at the right time. I would describe the sound of my original works to be on the cutting edge of ultra-modern sounds and retro sounds as well. Like taking the best of yesterday and tomorrow and putting them together. I call it “Retro Relevant” or you could also say I’m trying to make music that is timeless.

The genre cross-over is a factor as well so you would definitely hear subtle pop, blues, R&B/hip-hop influences over rock undertones. It’s soulful music. It’s emotional and hooky and my goal in writing are to make mega-hits and make music that speaks to my soul. If it doesn’t do 1 of those 2 things, it goes in the trash.

See also …
Meet Jake HaldenVang