Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Micah Iverson performs during the knockout round on The Voice Season 18. (NBC Photo)

Micah Iverson was among the six contestants who advanced on The Voice Monday night as the result of knockout round victories.

Micah performed “Graveyard” by Halsey and went up against Tayler Green, who covered Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.”

Going with what she called “a gut feeling,” Kelly Clarkson named Micah the winner, saying he seemed finals bound following his battle round.

That means Micah, 25, of Atlanta, Ga., advances to the show’s Top 17.

Here’s what he told Voice Views about his knockout round experience.

Voice Views: Can you elaborate a bit on that knockout round sound choice? Why you decided to go with “Graveyard” by Halsey?

Micah: “Graveyard” was not my first choice, but I am a big Halsey fan. I thought I could do something more creative with the arrangement before knockouts, but unfortunately, the contestant schedule limited us in some ways. My original piano arrangement was changed several times with the band, and finally, Kelly put her own spin on the song. Overall, I was mildly satisfied with the final arrangement. It felt unsure of itself. It isn’t a song for everyone, but part of me liked that I wasn’t singing the power-ballad everyone expected me to sing. In retrospect, I would’ve chosen a song that allowed me to showcase more of my vocal strong points.

Voice Views: What’s your performance history with that song? Is it one you’ve performed live often?

Micah: This was my first time performing the song.

Voice Views: How did you feel about your chances of advancing once the performances were completed?

Micah: I thought I was going to lose. I had mentally prepared myself for losing back when I first learned about mine and Tayler’s songs (Editor’s note: Tayler sang “Time After Time”). The ensuing rehearsals only made me believe that further. My largest regret was not being able to sing to my strengths in front of James Taylor during rehearsals, but he was very gracious despite not knowing the song.

Voice Views: Singers are now through three rounds of the show. Can you pinpoint / explain the biggest improvement you think you’ve made to this point as a result of the show?

Micah: My stage presence has improved remarkably. The blind auditions, and Kelly’s coaching, affirmed that I have something to offer in this competition and as an artist in general. I feel like that has given me a license to be myself on stage.

Voice Views: And, finally, during this lockdown period, what have you been doing to stay musically sharp and make sure you’re ready when competition resumes?

Micah: I have been working on a lot of my own music. I’ve really enjoyed the time away from the show to recoup and just enjoy watching the other performers each week. I’ve been regularly playing music on guitar and piano, as well as singing and expanding my range. Overall, I’m happy for the downtime and excited to bring my A-game in the lives.

See also …
Meet Micah Iverson
Micah talks about his blind audition
Micah talks about his battle round match