Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Robert Chambers, 38, Miami, Fla., performs during his blind audition on The Voice Season 18. (NBC Photo)

Then, in 2015, he headed to California for a career as a solo artist.

That has led him to a spot on Season 18 of The Voice following a blind audition performance of Brian McKnight’s “Back at One” that aired Monday night.

Nick Jonas was so impressed, he turned his chair within the first 20 seconds of the song. When no other coaches turned, he wound up becoming Roderick’s coach.

Here’s what Roderick told Voice Views about his blind audition and his journey to The Voice.

Voice Views: How did you wind up auditioning for The Voice Season 18 and what prompted you to do it? Had you ever tried a singing show in the past?

Roderick: I have auditioned twice in the past, and took that as a sign that “The Voice” was not for me. Singing has always been something I am passionate about and I know that I am good at, so not making it through the first couple of times was hard.

Last year, I got an email from production saying they saw one of my YouTube videos (“Versace on the Floor” by Bruno Mars) and wanted to see if I’d be interested in auditioning for “The Voice.” I thought it was fake and ignored at first, but that same night I had a dream and something told me this could be a great opportunity for me. How often does “The Voice” reach out to people? And for some reason they found me. I knew I had to at least respond and see where it would go. So the next morning I removed the email from the trash and responded and now here I am!

Voice Views: Why did you choose “Back at One” for your audition song? What’s your performance history with that song (for instance, is it one you’ve played often)?

Roderick: It takes me back to my high school days. I remember the song coming out, my friends and I really loved it, and I was a fan of Brian McKnight! It really reminds me of a time when R&B was bigger. I had never actually performed the song before “The Voice.”

Voice Views: Did you have a coaching preference heading into the blind audition? How did you feel about landing on Team Nick?

Roderick: I went into my audition wanting John Legend to be my coach because I know more of his songs and thought I would relate to him the most. Being on Team Nick, however, is really amazing! He has an energy that reminds me of my older brother Richard! He has a confidence about him and still comes off as very genuine and his feedback that I have received so far has been game changing for me!

Voice Views: You came off as incredibly composed for that blind audition performance. And earned Nick’s chair turn very early in the performance. What was that blind audition experience like?

Roderick: I was really nervous knowing I would be on live TV and how many eyes would be watching me, all while hoping I impress the coaches for some chair turns. My years of performing allowed me to seem so composed. The fact that I would be on live TV singing for some of the biggest names in music is an experience I’ll never forget.

Voice Views: Do you feel like you’ve accomplished what you were looking to accomplish when you headed off to California to pursue a solo career? And what are you hoping to gain from The Voice experience/exposure?

Roderick: I feel like I have accomplished a lot since moving to California, but I am not where I would like to be just yet. I am hoping to continue to grow my fan base and awareness through “The Voice” and learn as much as I can from this experience along the way.

For more on Roderick, his time with R-Styl and his background in music, head here.