Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Mendeleyev listens to the coaches’ feedback after his blind audition on The Voice Season 17. (NBC Photo)

You might say that worked out okay.

He turned all four coaches chairs with his cover of “Girl from the North Country” by Bob Dylan.

And he wound up joining Team John Legend for Season 17.

Here’s what Mendeleyev, 28, of Santa Barbara, Calif., 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?

Mendeleyev: I received a phone call from a McNulty casting scout who really likes my music. After sending in videos and other interviews he asked me to come in for the actual audition.

Voice Views: Why did you choose “Girl from the North Country” for your audition song? And did you consider it much of a risk to perform it without the band?

Mendeleyev: It’s one of my favorite songs and represented an era that my mother exposed me to… song reminded me of her. I chose to not perform with the band after we did a band rehearsal. It just didn’t feel right… I think I represented a rawness in the show and adding any other instruments only took away from that by raising the production value.

Voice Views: Why did you decide to join Team John Legend?

Mendeleyev: He has always been an inspiration to me. By far the best pitch! Also he’s the only one that knew Richie Havens…

Voice Views: And what was that blind audition experience like? Turning four chairs and hearing all that wonderful feedback from the coaches?

Mendeleyev: It was absolutely surreal. At first I was just trying not to fall asleep that day. I was so exhausted. And then, as I was heading to the stage, they called for a 2-hour lunch break! But I did not expect the four chairs and was very happy to hear all of the kind and authentic words they had to say.

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