Singing "against" someone on a stage where I feel like Mike Tyson should
be standing next to me brings a word to mind that is far from
comfortable. Singing alone, for one, has been the most difficult thing
about this competition. I've always sung with my band, "Meg and Dia,"
with my sister Meg, and my three best friends. (Two of whom came to
support in the reaction room: Carlo (guitar player) and Jonathan (Bass
player). It was really strange to know they were watching me, but also
really comforting. They've been nothing but supportive. It's been a
long ride with the band...we've been trying at it for over 6 years now
with ups and downs. Being dropped by our record label was no fun time.
Getting tours promised and then hearing that "something fell through.
Sorry, better luck next time." It's definitely been a roller coaster
the last couple years, releasing music independently, recording records
in tiny cabins where you can sometimes hear the hum of the dishwasher
when the acoustic guitar gets real quiet. All in all, we've stuck
together and haven't given up despite the weird things that come along
with being a "starving artist." I know I'm a little embarrassed about
still having to live with my parents, but at the same time, grateful
they haven't yet kicked me out!
When I first told them I'd have to sing against someone, they all responded with, "How in the heck ya gonna do that? You don't have much bite." Plus, the word "competition," or "battling" I associate more with basketball or any kind of sport for that matter.
When I first heard I was singing against Serabee I was terrified. A) Her voice is completely different than mine. B) Regardless of that, it's also amazing. She can sing up and down that piano. The song choice was also surprising. I, of course had heard of "Can't Hurry Love," but had never sung it before. It wasn't exactly my style.... but I got to work quickly, trying my best to learn it and get it engraved in my mind, so that no matter how nervous I got it would still be there for me, or at least a slight trace of it.
Blake (and Reba! Yay! So amazing to meet her) were really cool about me "staying true to myself." Going against someone like Serabee definitely made me want to pull vocal runs out of my back pockets but...that's really not MY style....and Blake made it clear to me to sing it how I would, and not try and compare myself or be something phony. And that's exactly what I did.
When I first heard I was singing against Serabee I was terrified. A) Her voice is completely different than mine. B) Regardless of that, it's also amazing. She can sing up and down that piano. The song choice was also surprising. I, of course had heard of "Can't Hurry Love," but had never sung it before. It wasn't exactly my style.... but I got to work quickly, trying my best to learn it and get it engraved in my mind, so that no matter how nervous I got it would still be there for me, or at least a slight trace of it.Blake (and Reba! Yay! So amazing to meet her) were really cool about me "staying true to myself." Going against someone like Serabee definitely made me want to pull vocal runs out of my back pockets but...that's really not MY style....and Blake made it clear to me to sing it how I would, and not try and compare myself or be something phony. And that's exactly what I did.
