Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Reagan Strange performs You Are the Reason during The Voice Season 15 semifinals. (NBC Photo)

Reagan Strange says some of the biggest life lessons she learned on The Voice came from the night she couldn’t sing and its aftermath.

Voice fans surely remember the results night when Reagan couldn’t perform.

She nevertheless wound up winning the instant save and advancing to the Top 8.

And the #FireAdamLevine hashtag exploded on social media after he encouraged fans to save Reagan over DeAndre Nico, who had performed.

My exit interviews are conducted email Q&A style, so there isn’t an opportunity for followup.

But I asked Reagan if there was anything she wanted to say to set the record straight about the Top 10 Week controversy.

Her answer strikes me as thoughtful and quite mature for someone who’s 14 and was just 13 when she auditioned for The Voice over the summer.

Here’s what she wrote:

“Well, that was rough. I didn’t see a lot of the division that America saw because my mom kept me very disengaged from my social media that week. But I know it was there.

“Having said that, I will say a lot of things moved really fast that night. The production crew, medics, legal and my mom all made decisions in real time with a live TV show going on in the background. I do believe that we made the best decisions we could with what was happening in the moment.

“Every single contestant on this show worked far more than one night to be where we were, including myself. No one would have predicted that the evening would have given the results that happened.

“I think Top 10 week gave me some of the biggest life lessons I learned while I was here. Don’t comment if you don’t know the full story. Invest in the people that you want to invest in you, that invest in you, and leave the others alone if you can’t be nice. Be the best you that you can be. I truly believe being kind will never be a choice you regret.

“Moving forward, my hope is that people will focus on the insane amount of talent that was and is on this show. One of the four left is going to be The Voice, and any of them deserve to win. Everyone worked so hard.”

Now, with the Top 10 week brouhaha in the rear-view mirror, here’s what else Reagan had to say about The Voice, her Top 8 finish and her plans for new music.

Voice Views: Where do you see The Voice experience leading you musically? As someone who’s still in high school, what are your musical goals / aspirations now? Do you plan to make any changes in schooling (etc.) in your quest to pursue music?

Reagan: My goal is to put out my first EP by fall. I think The Voice was an important step in my future because I really learned what America wants to hear from me and the way they respond best to my voice. I think building on that in the studio will help me put out an EP that will really be successful.

My aspirations haven’t changed a single bit. I still want to sing and sing some more. This show provided a launching pad, especially the level of exposure that I had by making it to the semi-finals. I’m going to spend next semester in one of our local schools while I work on a community service project and my first EP.

I’m looking forward to spending some intense time in the studio this summer. It’s important that my first EP is exactly what I want it to be so I need to patient in the process. I will remain very active so my fan base knows that something is coming. I’ll always keep the covers coming — there’s just so much good music out there! 🙂

Voice Views: As a musician and artist, do you feel you grew/benefited as a result of the show and in what ways?

Reagan: Yes. Like 1,000%. First, I checked a mark off my “dreams” list when I first stepped out on the stage. I have now met and worked with some of the world’s greatest musicians. Paul Mirkovich and the guys in the band are so insanely talented. Kara, Nayanna and Nelson (background vocalists) should have their own albums out they are so good. Trelawny was my set vocal coach, and she’s simply amazing! Of course, my coach Adam Levine. The list is so long.

Second, being a part of this show confirmed what I want to do with my future. Some of the best things that came from my supporters, aside from them saying I can sing :), was that I was a good role model for their kids. Another thing was that families were coming together and watching TV as a family, just to see me sing. I mean WOW.

Finally, I learned some life lessons out the experience. I am young. A large handful of us contestants were young this season. This business is not for the faint of heart. Some would say we are too young, and I would beg to differ. I don’t think it’s for every kid under 18, but there are more factors than age that determine whether or not you are ready. The life lessons I learned here, I will take home and actually use them to pour into others and encourage people to be the best you that you can be.

Voice Views: Do you envision releasing new music soon? If so, can you tell me about that? Either what you have planned or what you’d like to do? And what sound fans can expect?

Reagan: I absolutely will release music soon. I have some originals that have been recorded already. I think I will head back into the studio pretty quickly to tweak the songs based on a few things I have learned on The Voice. They are great songs that are relevant to where I am in life.

I think fans can expect to see a couple of original singles out this spring. I plan on working towards an EP by this fall sometime. My fans can expect some variety in the music I release this spring. You guys know I love pop ballads. I think I may even chase down Calum Scott for a collab. His music is so great.

Voice Views: You participated at a very young age. Do you think that made the experience more challenging and, if so, how did you deal with that? Is there anything else you’d like to add about The Voice experience?

Reagan: Age absolutely brings different challenges on a show like this. I missed my friends, my siblings, and home a lot. You don’t have a ton of freedom when you are out here working, so it definitely takes you out of “kid” mode and puts you into more of an adult path.

But kids do this all the time, all over the world, in all areas of competition. You have to have really thick skin to be a kid on a show, because at the end of the day, it’s all about what makes the show the best. You have to understand at a certain point that things don’t reflect your level of talent.

Voice Views: Which was your favorite Voice performance and why?

Reagan: UGH! That’s so hard. I can pick the one that isn’t. lol. I would have to say “You Are the Reason” (in the semifinals) has to be my favorite. I was coming off such a hard week, especially emotionally. That night was my night to really pour into my fans and support base.

The song was intended to thank those who have been by my side through this journey on the Voice. I’m just a girl from Tennessee, but I had people loving and lifting me up from all over the world. It was such a meaningful and purposeful song. Those always end out being the best performances.

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Flanked by Carson Daly, Reagan Strange listens to feedback on one of her Voice performances. (NBC Photo)