Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Just Sam performs during the Hollywood’s final round on American Idol. (ABC Photo)

You never would have known it from her solo cover of “I’m Here.” She had the Idol judges on their feet thanks to her vocal and her passionate performance.

It capped a solid Hollywood Week for Samantha Diaz, aka Just Sam, a 20-year-old subway singer from Harlem, N.Y.

She also impressed the judges with a genre night performance of “Hearts Ain’t Gonna Lie” and with a duet round performance of “mercy’ with Sheniel Maisonet.

Next, she’ll be shown competing with the Top 40 in Hawaii, vying for a spot in the Season 18 Top 20.

The pre-taped Top 40 episodes will air at 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday on ABC.

Here’s what Just Sam told Voice Views about her Hollywood Week experience.

Idol Chatter: Hollywood Week is notoriously difficult. How was it for you and what was the most challenging aspect?

Just Sam: Hollywood Week for me, was extremely tough. It was more than I expected it to be. I knew that I would be around other musicians and that it wouldn’t be a walk in the park, but being around so many talented people and hearing how good they were and how professional they sounded was challenging for me.

I started to get in my head which caused me to have stress-induced sickness and that made it super difficult to perform. The most challenging thing for me was trying to sing when I barely had a voice, but only because I knew that there were so many other people there that wanted it just as bad as me and they actually had their voices. It was scary and challenging.

Idol Chatter: Can you explain your solo song choice for the final round — “I’m Here” — and why you felt that was the best song to sing in that situation?

Just Sam: I wanted to sing a song that I could dedicate to my twin brother (same birthday same year same everything , grew up together, just not blood related) and so I started looking through my options for something and I thought that if he was looking down at me watching me sing “I’m Here” that he would be so proud of me and that he would know that I was doing that for him.

I also love Cynthia Erivo, especially in “The Color Purple,” and that song really speaks to me. I only wish that I completely had my voice so that I could’ve nailed it the way that I wanted to.

Idol Chatter: What’s been your favorite American Idol performance so far and why?

Just Sam: Honestly, I’m undecided on which is my favorite performance so far, but if I had to choose one I’d say the performance where I sang “Hearts Ain’t Gonna Lie.” When I walked on to that stage and saw my papa, aunty and uncle sitting there smiling at me, it was like I got a rush of this beautiful feeling .

I just remembered my audition and felt so safe on that stage and then they put money into my lucky box and I almost dropped. I honestly couldn’t believe that that was actually happening to me. It was more than a perfect moment. It was beyond perfect and I will never ever forget that.

Idol Chatter: How did you wind up auditioning for American Idol Season 18 (Season 3 on ABC) and what prompted you to do it this year?

Just Sam: I remember being younger and watching Fantasia on American Idol. I remember hearing her story and thinking, “Wow, that could be me.” And I remember thinking how, although she had it rough, she still managed to make it there and win.

I’ve always wanted to audition, but before I turned 18 I would look up American Idol auditions and either miss it or it would be too far for my grandmother to take me. I honestly never expected them to come to NYC. But when I saw that they would be in NYC in 2019, I immediately signed up. And here I am now.