Jet setting, fancy hotels, palm trees and 80 degrees of pure happiness – now this was something I could get used to! I left the snowy gloom of Rochester behind me and entered into a strange new land where the sun actually shined every day. Upon arriving at the hotel, a commercial was being shot in the lobby. Yup, I’m in LA alright!
Into The Wild West
With every new level of The Voice journey, there were new rules and directions. The next round was the “Executive Audition.” Everyone was given a giant list of songs in which we were to rank our top 25 in the order we’d like to sing them in. Out of our ranking, the music department would pick a song which we had to sing. Here was the deal for the Executive Audition:
- Aside from music department’s song pick, we had to prepare two other songs of our own choice. Again, they preferred modern, moderate to up-beat songs. No originals.
- This time no one was allowed to accompany you. Backing tracks were required for all songs, but you could accompany yourself for one song only, and it couldn’t be for the song the music department picked for you.
- They really encouraged originality, but humorously pointed out that just slowing down a song doesn’t get you any points. Switch it up and make it your own!
- Guess what song they picked for me? Yup you got it – ZZ Ward’s Put The Gun Down. I couldn’t have been happier! It was my #1 pick, as I was a huge fan of ZZ Ward already and was already performing that song at my shows. Here were my picks for the Executive Audition:
1. Put The Gun Down by ZZ Ward (music department pick)
2. Rehab by Amy Winehouse
3. Sweater Weather by The Neighborhood
I’m pretty computer and audio savvy, so I edited my own arrangements of the tracks and sent them in to the music department. I love playing guitar, but I wanted my audition to be all about my voice and performance – no distractions. I was so ready for this! I packed my bags and headed out west!
Sing Into Spring!
We had an itinerary to follow, mostly just meetings and of course the impending Executive Audition. The rest of time we were free to roam the hotel and walk across the street with supervision. Single files, chaperones and meeting new classmates. It felt like elementary school all over again!
Everything we did had to be top secret. I started to feel like I was a part some secret society. We were no longer there for The Voice. To anyone who asked, we were there for a “Sing Into Spring” Singing Camp. The importance of confidentiality was pounded into our brains at every glance – which is understandable since everything happens before the show airs on TV.
I kept to myself for the most part, occasionally chatting with my fellow “campers.” The singing circles though? Forget it. They just weren’t my thing. In this type of situation, they just wear out your voice and your psyche. The staff even warned against them, but that didn’t slow them down.
Singing Circles: An instance where two or more singers get together to show off their pipes in a public place. Veiled as a happy bonding ritual of fellow musicians, it’s secretly a passive aggressive way of scoping out the competition. It usually turns into a contest of who can sing the loudest and best. They seem to grow in numbers and sometimes branch off into multiple locations. Almost always started by a guitar slinger.
Guitar Slinger: A guy or gal who carries around an acoustic guitar wherever they go, looking for an opportunity to sing a song and/or get asked to start a singing circle.
The Executive Audition
The time had come. I had my appointment for the Executive Audition, and I was feeling good! I walked into the room, but something caught me off guard. It was dimly lit, candles and all, and there were about 25+ people sitting in chairs. “Did I take a wrong turn?” It looked like a scene from VH1’s Storytellers. I wasn’t expecting this. It was like a real industry showcase! Not that I’ve ever been to one, but if I had I’m pretty sure this is what it would look like. There were record label reps, producers, and other important industry heads seated, and I was the main attraction.
My nerves kicked in a bit, but I did my best. Michelle McNulty (the one from my Philly audition) was in the back jamming to my performance, which helped me loosen up. I got through Put The Gun Down and Rehab, and that’s all they needed to hear. As I was on my way out the door, I got a “Great job!” from a lady in the audience, which boosted my confidence. I was then told to report to a specific room in the hotel – most likely to either hear I made it or I didn’t.
When I got there, there were others seated waiting to go in. Everything was very mysterious, and no one really knew what was going on. I went in but once again got no answer, just more paperwork. Turns out I’d be going home again to wait for a “call.” Arghhhhhh! Not this again!
To Be Continued…
AMANDA LEE PEERS 