The Live Playoffs proceed on season 22 of The Voice because the Top 10 sing fan-selected songs in hopes of constructing it to the finale. One of the artists within the forefront is 29-year-old Bodie from Ladera Ranch, Calif., a member of Team Blake Shelton, who has an excellent shot at making all of it the best way contemplating his distinctive combo of singing capacity and charisma.
Bodie was a four-chair flip, so he had his alternative of all of the coaches—Blake, Gwen Stefani, John Legend or Camila Cabello, and regardless that he’s a local California and never a rustic boy, Bodie made the stunning alternative—even to himself—of selecting Blake as his coach.
“Going into it, I was sure I was going to pick Gwen or Camila,” Bodie informed Parade on this unique interview. “I’m very strategic in really everything I’ve been doing on the show including coach choice. And I’m a big fan of Gwen. I knew that she was going to understand my weird, unique style of music, but also how I want to dress, how I want to act, and all this. I just felt like she would get me the most.”
John was by no means a consideration for Bodie as a result of he was conscious that John all the time lands lots of powerhouse singers, however he additionally thought that he may relate to Camila, as a contemporary, younger, new coach on the scene, however in the long run, he went with the tried-and-true cowboy.
“The long and short of why Blake is what he said to me,” Bodie defined. “Some of it aired, some of it was edited out, but I could just tell he had vision for me. I knew that if I chose him and I worked with him and I worked hard, I could just sense that he was going to believe in me and continue to root me on. And I’m glad I picked him because time and time again he’s shown that he’s believed in me and picked me to be the winner.”
One of the ways in which Blake has displayed his perception in Bodie is the best way he coaches. According to Bodie, Blake doesn’t simply say issues to get him excited or “gas him up,” and he doesn’t over coach, i.e., simply give him notes as a result of he seems like he should. And it’s a lot appreciated.
Related: Watch The Voice Four-Chair Turn That Blake Shelton Was Desperate To Get on His Team
“He has given me very few notes over the past couple months of working with him and they’ve always been home-run notes,” Bodie mentioned. “Even something as simple as, ‘Hey, I think at this part you should belt it instead of sing it in your head voice.’ And then I’d try it and it would change the whole dynamic of that part of the song and it was a great idea. It wasn’t so much a life-changing thing that he said that changed my artistry forever, but it was more of me appreciating how intentional he is with the notes that he gives. He’s not really trying to prove anything, if he has an idea, awesome. If he doesn’t, you’re doing great, sounds good, keep doing what you’re doing.”
And that’s the recreation plan for the rest of the competitors, to maintain doing what he’s doing, which is to make music decisions that mirror who he’s as an artist, whether or not or not they’re in his lane, however that he may also craft into his personal distinctive fashion. An instance of this was his Knockout Round model of Post Malone’s “Better Now,” which, regardless that it’s in his wheelhouse, he nonetheless flipped it sufficient, so it had a contemporary method and wasn’t a duplicate of the Post Malone model.
“For my song choices, I want to make sure I enjoy the song, but outside of that I don’t really get too married to the song itself because I always like to change it up,” the singer/songwriter mentioned. “I like singing opposite gender songs. I like singing female songs but ironically, I’ve only been singing guy songs thus far. But that’s one thing I like to put on my song list and my song choices, is just songs that are different than me so that I can make them even more different.”
During our chat, Bodie additionally informed Parade how he got here to be on Season 22 of The Voice, his technique for the Live Playoffs, his trademark hats, and extra.
What led you to your resolution to audition for The Voice within the first place? Or was it a type of cases the place they discovered you?
I believe it was in 2016, perhaps 2017, years earlier than COVID after they nonetheless had been getting everybody collectively on the conference middle and also you’d wait in line for 5 hours and sing in a gaggle of 5 folks. They’d decide you and you then moved onto the following spherical, and the following spherical, and the following spherical.
So, I did that again then, I went via a few rounds, and I nearly made it to the Blinds. And after that I used to be simply so certain I used to be going to be on the present, so after I didn’t get the decision to return to L.A. for the Blinds I used to be actually bummed.
And so, I simply moved on from that and didn’t actually take into consideration ever coming again. But then, yeah, they reached out to me a pair instances between 2019 until now. And lastly, it was round this time final 12 months, I obtained an e-mail from somebody in casting they usually’re like, “It’s all virtual, you don’t have to go anywhere, just send us a video.” And I used to be like, “You know what? I’m going to do it. I was so sure I was going to be on the show back then, maybe that’s not the end of my story working with NBC and The Voice.”
So, I submitted my video and a 12 months later now we’re preparing for dwell exhibits.
Related: Read Blake Shelton’s Heartfelt Goodbye to The Voice
What’s your method to The Voice?
I might simply say I went in assured in my capacity however actually unaware of how the method was going to be. So, I’m so excited that I’m right here. Part of me is stunned, a part of me is just not, as a result of I do know what my strengths are. A little bit little bit of shock but additionally some confidence for certain.
Was the three-way Knockout Round tougher as a result of by you then had been pleasant along with your teammates, and also you needed to go up towards Kevin Hawkins and The Dryes?
Totally. And I’ll say too, Kevin and The Dryes, I informed them most likely week one in every of Blinds, I used to be like, “It’s us three going to the live shows together,” and we obtained shut. So then to seek out out that the three of us had been paired as much as go towards one another not solely made it arduous as a result of we had been acquainted, however we had been mates that had hoped to go collectively to the dwell exhibits. It was even tougher for us and fairly dang emotional for us to go up towards one another.
What’s the long-term dream? Whether you win this or not, what are you hoping The Voice does to your music profession?
On the present I’ve already grown a lot vocally however the plan is using the platform and the publicity to get me out on tour doing what I’ve been doing. Get me on the market working with larger artists, writing songs with larger artists. I might like to get on a tour with one other artist that I look as much as and simply proceed additional on this profession. The publicity alone has actually been such a blessing.
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Only one particular person can win The Voice, so do you suppose even simply making it to the finale is successful?
Heck, yeah. I’m right here as a result of I felt like God informed me to do that, and I wouldn’t have finished it if I didn’t really feel that means. And so, I’ve been requested this query so many instances, “Do you want to win?” “How do you feel?” “Do you think you’re going to win?” And I’m simply so totally submitted to God’s plan, so I already received to me.
I do know that sounds type of cliché, however this has simply been such a cool expertise. If I make it to the finale, superior. If I win the present, superior. If I’m out after this subsequent spherical, it was nonetheless such an superior expertise. So yeah, I might say irrespective of the place we’re at this level, I’ve been so affirmed by the coaches and by America that I’m simply able to roll.
Speaking of able to roll, you may have beforehand launched music, however do you may have a couple of issues that you just’re holding again to release for when The Voice is over?
Oh, yeah, I’ve much more stuff that’s going to showcase my vocal capacity. I’ve by no means actually proven my vocal capacity like I’ve on the present, so my new stuff goes to point out much more of what I can do and it’s going to be nice.
How a lot of your personal music do you write?
I’d say 85 to 99 %.
Are you a solo author?
My spouse writes with me quite a bit, and I work with one different producer generally. But it’s a fairly small group.
Related: The Voice’s Camila Cabello: ‘When I Hear an Incredible Voice, I Do Anything to Get Them on My Team’
Before you had been on The Voice, had been you making a residing with music or did you must have a day job?
Day job. I’m self-employed, however yeah, I’m positively not simply supporting myself off my music. I make movies and images. My spouse and I are photographers, videographers, so we shoot for manufacturers, we do weddings, and firms is our factor. I additionally educate at my college that I graduated from.
Which is?
Vanguard University in Orange County. I educate a songwriting course and, additionally, they name me a worship coach. I hate that time period however I assist with one of many music ensembles on campus, it’s a church music group.
Let’s speak about your trademark hats. You talked about the way you thought Gwen would perceive you as a result of perhaps she loves to decorate up and her music tastes are very eclectic. But your hats began out of necessity, you may have alopecia, however now they appear to be a part of your character. Would you say that’s true?
Oh, heck, yeah. I really like the hat and my white hair combo. That’s what I appear like now; it’s type of my factor the hat and the white hair. I might say that the hat is simply my look. The beanie, I’m venturing out as a result of I’m tremendous adventurous. I’m beginning to put on different kinds of hats now which is a giant deal for me. But I might say that the hat is my staple look. You’ve obtained to have a hat to decorate the outfit, so it really works nicely for me.
Photo by: Elizabeth Morris/NBC
Has anyone reached out to you because you’ve been on the present? A report producer, one other author, one other artist, one thing that has been particular and touched you?
I’ve had some artists attain out to me. I’m hoping for some cool folks reaching out, however to date it’s simply been lots of actually cool artists, lots of candy, artistic varieties which have both mentioned how a lot I’ve impressed them or they’d like to work with me. But nothing main but, nonetheless ready.
Well, perhaps you’ll sing any individual’s music, that’s normally what occurs. You do your personal model of it after which they textual content you.
That can be unbelievable. Waiting for Post Malone to shoot me a message.
You have three kids, what do they consider you being on TV? Do you allow them to watch?
Yeah, they’re so excited. My eldest is 5 and he was with me on my Blind Audition day and he was simply so excited. He wasn’t allowed to inform anybody who I selected and, after all, he was telling everybody in our church. I’m like, “You gotta stop telling everybody.” But he was telling everybody he’s well-known now. He simply says, “My dad’s famous,” or he says that he’s well-known. And then he’s signed a pair autographs, so it’s positively gone to his head slightly bit.
But then the opposite two, my spouse will ship me movies of them watching the episode. They love seeing me sing they usually love seeing little photos or movies of B-roll of them on the TV, too. They’re so excited. My youngest is 2 1/2, my eldest is 5, and my different one simply turned 4 [in early November], in order that they’re all very, very excited. It’s been so enjoyable to point out them what it appears prefer to chase the fervour and dream.
The Voice airs Monday and Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
Next, Here’s What We Know About The Voice Season 22, Including Who Made it to the Live Playoffs
