Idol Chatter & Voice Views

On making the finals: “The most helpful thing Usher has been able to tell me has kind of been a carry-over from what Adam told me,” says Josh Kaufman of Indianapolis, Ind., one of just two “stolen” singers to make the finals. “They’ve both focused on the same thing, which is more about energy and performance. Obviously, it’s not just about vocals. You’ve got to connect with the audience. At this point, getting down to the Top 12, the competition is ridiculous. I’m just going to give it everything I’ve got to stay with everybody else.”

His audition: Josh, 38 at the time, sang George Michael’s “One More Try” for his audition on The Voice. His raspy vocals prompted Adam Levine to turn around almost immediately. As Josh showed off his range, Blake Shelton and Shakira followed. Usher joined them late in the performance, giving Josh a four-chair turn. Adam called the performance “unbelievable.” And Josh joined Team Adam.

Since then: He defeated Austin Ellis in the first battle round; they sang Pharrell’s “Happy.” In the second battle round, he lost to Delvin Choice, who also turned four chairs in the blind audition. They sang “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours.” He was then stolen by Usher. He made the finals by singing “It Will Rain” in the Team Usher playoffs. His cover of the song was the second most successful on iTunes the next day, cracking the top 175 on the site’s overall chart and the top 50 on the pop chart.

His background: Josh Kaufman says he’s a father and husband first and foremost and “that’s the most important thing to me.” He was a working musician, who returned to grad school to get a degree in philosophy with the intention of teaching at the college level. But he decided he couldn’t give up music. So to make money on the side, he tutors students preparing for college entrance exams. He says money is tight, and it might be time to look for a “responsible” job. He’s hoping The Voice will help him make a more lucrative living as a singer instead. While “One More Try” is a love song, Josh said it was also symbolic because it represented one more try to make it in music. “Where I am in my life, I need this to happen now,” he told The Voice.

What the show didn’t show: On Twitter, Josh describes his music as “rooted in soul with rock, funk, jazz and blues influences.” And he has performed both solo and as part of a band called The New Etiquette, which also included Ryan Koch and Nate Gray. According to the band’s ReverbNation bio, the trio had played together often with a rock focus, but landed a gig at a popular place called The Chatterbox in downtown Indy that was known for jazz, prompting their music to take a more soulful direction. They released a six-track EP in 2012 that’s available for download from the band’s Facebook page. Oh, and Josh doesn’t just sing. He plays guitar and piano and beatboxes. As a solo artist, Josh released a six-track “American So and So” EP in January 2013. As for The Voice, “this is definitely different from anything I’ve done,” he says in his Voice video. “Sure, I play a lot of gigs. But the kind of gigs I do are at restaurants or bars and half the people aren’t watching. And there are plates clinking in the background.”

Quote: “Way back at the beginning I went to the open calls. I almost didn’t go. My wife was having a bad day. I said, ‘You know what, why don’t I stay home and help you with the kids?’ And she actually pushed me on to this this. ‘What are the chances?’ That’s what I was thinking. ‘What are the chances that’s I’m actually going to make it through.’ Here I am, the last 12. I’m really just trying to savor every step as it comes.”

On iTunes: His four songs from The Voice and the aforementioned EP.

Keeping up with Josh:
Twitter: @iamjoshkaufman
Facebook

Editor’s Note: For links to profiles of all the Season 6 artists on The Voice, go here.

“I Hear You”

Medley

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