Music legend James Taylor joins NBC’s Emmy Award-winning music competition series “The Voice” tonight as the mega-mentor as the program enters the knockoff rounds for all the artists who made it through the battle rounds.
One of this season’s four-chair turns is among them. Thunderstorm Artis, part of Team Legend and already a huge fan favorite, has a lot of wind at his sails.
The Haleiwa, Hawaii native, who grew up as one of 11 siblings singing with a family band has something else to celebrate.
Over the weekend, he and his girlfriend, Faith McMaster, got married. “I am super stoked to call this amazing Woman my Wife. We are still planning a huge celebration in Australia later this year with our friends and family but we figured with all of This Craziness going on in this world right now, that nothing is going to stand in between our love,” Artis wrote on his Instagram, where he posted several photos of the joyous couple.
He spoke with us by phone from Oregon just prior to the surprise ceremony and talked about his unique journey on “The Voice.”
Show producers had heard about him after he performed at the wedding of “Crazy Rich Asians” director Jon M. Chu, whom had originally seen him busking on the street in Hawaii and became enthralled with Thunderstorm’s talent.
Artis went in to audition– and then went back out on tour, where he was playing festivals and concerts. Several months later, he got the word that he’d made it to the blinds.
His song choice was the Beatles classic “Blackbird,” and very quickly into the performance, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson and Nick Jonas all swiveled their chairs for him with Blake Shelton soon following.
“The lights go down and I start the song and after about 15 seconds I open my eyes and three of them had turned around,” Artis recalled. ”Then all four chairs turned and I saw the looks on their faces. When the time has come you’re thrown for a loop in making a decision. They had all these amazing things to say. And I love all of them equally, but from the beginning I wanted John. He’s such a good-hearted man but every word he says is for a reason. He shoots really straight and knows what he’s aiming for.”
It’s been a great collaboration, not only with Legend and mentor Ella Mai, but with everyone on “The Voice.”
“I know every contestant,” Artis said. “I know their stories and we get together and talk about festivals and concert halls we’ve played across the United States, what we’ve encountered and what’s brought us to here. These are guys I’ll probably tour with.”
One of them may very well be Cedrice, with whom Legend paired him for the battle round in what became an incredible performance of Rihanna’s “Stay.” Afterward, Legend chose Thunderstorm and Shelton quickly moved in with his last steal to appropriate the San Diego-born and bred singer, who during the blind auditions had won the last spot on Legend’s team.
Cedrice had already auditioned twice for “The Voice,” the first time shortly after the show premiered in September 2011, and then six years ago. This time, she went to the auditions in Burbank and finally made the cut.
“It took me awhile to figure out what kind of artist I wanted to be,” she said during our phone call. “This time I got through because I had a sense of self and who I wanted to be as an artist: It’s a huge box of many different things. I like to represent someone who is open-minded, soulful, sensual and sultry– kind of like with a peaceful spirt that translates in the way I move and in the song choices I perform. Spiritual is another explanation of how I move through life in every aspect. When I was 18 I had no idea what peace or love felt like. I was unable to be vulnerable but now when I perform people can hear and see how vulnerable I’m being. That’s really important as an artist because everyone wants to connect in that way and let go.”
As she was performing Peggy Lee’s “Fever” for her blind audition, Cedrice had no idea that Legend was the only coach who had a space left on his team – and she was perfect for it.
“My only goals were to perform a badass audition and to be on John Legend’s team,” she said. “Had each one had a spot left, I would have been thrilled to work with any of them. Honestly after watching the show, I would be more than thrilled to work with Nick. He’s proven to be such a good coach, invested in harmonies, melodies and arrangements.”
She said it’s pretty cool switching over to Team Blake and that she’s always trusted Shelton as a coach–but never thought he’d pick her.
“What’s funny is each genre has a different personality. Everyone was so similar and familiar on John’s team,” Cedrice said. “Moving on to Blake’s, I was going in with no expectations, but my experience hanging out with them is that they were so nurturing and welcoming. They pray together, and check in on a daily basis. Nobody talked too much about the show as a competition. It felt very family-oriented. A lot of them have that Midwest feel. Team Legend felt West Coast.”
Her biggest highlight to date is working with Blake together with James Taylor. “It was the best day of my life, and I can’t think of another day that was so amazing. It was a day I’ll never forget,” she said of the experience. “Blake and James were so invested, and I felt they cared about the direction and I felt it when I looked into their eyes. Blake has this charm, and I have a small crush on him.”
(“The Voice” airs Monday nights on NBC at 8/7c.)
