Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Kymberlie Joye and OneUp (Jerome Bell and Adam Bastien) perform during the battle round on The Voice Season 15. (NBC Photo)

Kymberli Joye faced a unique challenge in her Team Kelly Clarkson battle round match on The Voice — going up against two singers instead of one during a performance of Shawn Mendes’ “Mercy.”

Yet she prevailed in her match with OneUp, earning a spot in the show’s knockout round.

And she told Voice Views she has her background as a background singer to partly thank for that.

“Being a background singer, I’m used to singing in a group with a lot of people and that really worked to my advantage in this battle,” said Kymberli, 26, of Windsor, Conn.

“And I wouldn’t even call it a battle. I’d call it a performance because OneUp – that duo — they’re amazing. And so we really worked together on arranging the harmonies and things like that.”

At the same time, Kymberli said she “had to really push myself to not get comfortable in the harmonies and in that role and to kind of step out and find moments for myself to shine.”

Watch the performance back and you’ll see her do that at about the two-minute mark, stepping between OneUp members Jerome Bell and Adam Bastien and unleashing a string of killer notes that had Jennifer Hudson tossing her writing pad at the stage.

“I didn’t feel like I had given it my all (to that point),” Kymberli admitted. “So I just went for it. You know, no guts, no glory.”

The coaches heaped praise on the trio when the song ended.

But it was Kymberli who Kelly decided to advance to the knockouts, which begin Monday, Oct. 29. OneUp was eliminated when no one stepped up to steal that first duo to make the show since Season 11.

Kymberli said the battle turned out to be a great learning experience.

“Coming from my background being a gospel singer and a worship leader, it’s not so much about performing as it is about what you’re saying,” she explained.

“And so this round really taught me (that) I have to like open up, engage with the audience and engage with the lyrics of the song and really not be afraid and go out there and perform it, not just sing it.”

The battle rounds continue Monday and Tuesday on NBC.

See also …
Videos from Night 1 of the battles
Videos from Night 2 of the battles
Katrina Cain talks about the side of her music she hopes to display on The Voice
Nastasia Greycloud, Mike Parker talk about their dual battle round success
Chris Kroeze talks about overcoming a battle round obstacle
Steve Memmolo, Anthony Arya talk about surviving the battle round on The Voice
Sandy Redd talks about being stolen and landing on Team JHUD
Michael Lee talks about battling a friend in the battles
Patrique Fortson, Colton Smith talk about taking on a Blake Shelton song

Kymberli Joye rehearses for the battle round on The Voice with Jerome Bell (center) and Adam Bastien of the duo OneUp. (NBC Photo)