By Karen Moul


The Voice battle rounds continued this week with twelve more contestants on the chopping block. Overall the performances were better than last week, although the coaches continued to pit similar singers against each other. This didn’t always result in a memorable duet. It does, however, set us up for some difficult decisions down the road.

In addition, some of the song choices seemed designed to favor certain artists, but this stage of the competition is no longer simply about vocal talent. Style and stage presence are becoming more important and to win this thing you’ve got to step out of your comfort zone and make a song your own.

Highlights of the episode included a fascinating performance by Lindsey and Lee singing Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box.” Each struggled in rehearsal, but they both have such unusual voices that you either loved this matchup or hated it. Kim and Whitney were portrayed as the battle of the divas, but there was never much doubt that Kim’s age and experience would give her the edge.

Jamar and Jamie brought the episode to a climax with and an emotional segment that had both artists sobbing. Jamar is a strong competitor, both in terms of vocal talent and his inspiring personal story, and he has a real shoot at winning the recording contract.

After the episode, the six advancing artists spoke with us about their experiences in the battle round.

The Voice airs Mondays at 8 pm on NBC.

NBC Conference Call
The Voice
Battle round winners Kim Yarbrough, Charlotte Sometimes, Juliet Simms, Jamar Rogers, Sera Hill, and Lindsey Parvao

March 13, 2012

QUESTION: Does competing against other talented singers in this competition make you nervous or does the competition aspect enhance your performance?

JULIET SIMMS: I would say that everybody in this competition is so unique and so different and it's kind of like you have to just stick to who you are as an artist and as an individual. And hold on to that to not make you nervous and stay true to who you are. Because everybody is so talented and it's easy to get nervous and it's easy to be like, "Well, that person is better than me because they can do this?" But as long as you remain who you are and stay true to who you are, I think that makes it a little bit easier to not get nervous.

QUESTION: Charlotte, the group that you saw perform last night seemed to have been a lot better than the group we saw last week. I think there's probably several front runners in this group, yourself included. Do you guys have any semblance of that? Do you have any idea of who’s up, who's down or how isolated are you guys from the outside media right now?

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES: I think we're all pretty isolated. We were just talking about this before. We try not to lean on the negative comments. So it's more to see, at least for me, who is the frontrunner. Music and voices are so subjective, as well as personality. So I think ultimately I have no idea what's going to happen.

QUESTION: And Jamar, your enthusiasm, your energy, it just constantly impressed me. Where does that come from? From what do you draw that?

JAMAR ROGERS: Thank you so much for that. You have to understand, I decided a long time ago that I just wasn't going to be a miserable person. And living in New York, if you're not careful some abrasiveness can rub off on you, you know? So every morning I wake up I take a good 20 to 30 minutes and I just spend some alone time with God.
If I don't spend that alone time with God, I'm a jerk. I just want to put that out there, I'm not a nice guy. I'm very self-serving and I'm very human. I'm just a human being. However, I find that if I spend that alone time it puts everything into perspective. Not just this competition but why I'm living and what it is I'm supposed to accomplish for that day.

So please understand that I am not naturally joyful. I've got to work at that.

QUESTION: I was wondering if you guys could talk a little bit about what your guest advisors taught you that you'll take with you. Maybe we'll start with Sera?

SERA HILL: Okay. I definitely took from Jewel that when you sing and you're performing you definitely have to remember the emotion. And it's not about who can power sing and out sing. It's just about the emotion and being authentic. And Jewel definitely told me to remember that.

KIM YARBROUGH: Yes, the same thing with me. Robin Thicke, who I really admire and I am a fan, said to me, “You have to get into the brokenness of the lyrics of the song.” And for the first time that sent me on a path to discovering how that song related to me. And in the end I realized, “Oh my God, this song is about me or what I've lived through in my life.” And I think that made it that much more poignant for me. So that was a perfect comment coming from Robin. And I think it helped me a great deal.

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES: I'm such a big fan of Kelly Clarkson. I think she's so awesome, so she really taught me, when we had our moment together, when it wasn't shown on TV, we had this moment where we both crying and talking about people's opinions about us and our bodies…

I was anorexic all growing up and when my first record came out everyone was trashing me and calling me fat and all these things. And it was really tough on me and she really made me feel comfortable in my skin. And just gave me confidence and made me feel like it was okay to be myself and that was good enough. And I'm just so thankful that I got to have that conversation with her.

LINDSEY PARVAO: What Lionel Richie taught me is that I'm either really straight-faced and quiet or I'm probably crying, those are my two phases. And so when I got on stage I was a pretty underwhelming performer. So I think with Lionel Richie and Christina it was about finding some sort of medium. But I'm not completely broken down and totally upset on the stage but I'm also not super guarded and closed off. So for me I think it was about learning how to emote and express to people and connect with them and make them feel something. So, yes that's what I did.

KIM YARBROUGH: I just want to add one other thing. One very important thing that sticks out in my mind that Robin Thicke said to me is don't worry about anything else but tapping into the love and the joy of the music and whoever brings the magic at the end of the night, it's who wins. And that was so important to me that those few words, whoever brings the magic at the end of the night had a down in my heart. I'm like, “That's really true, that's really true.”

When you're able to connect and be in the moment, that's when magic happens, that's when music happens. So that was helpful for me as well.

JULIET SIMMS: Ne-Yo basically just told me to not -- he said that getting to know me in the short time he got to, he saw that I put out who I am and laid all my cards down on the table, pretty much right when you meet me or when you talk to me or whenever I'm on stage, and he saw that I draw from my emotions when I sing. And he taught me a good lesson in holding back, holding it all back and not giving away everything all at the beginning. Because then it doesn't leave anything for people to look forward to…he really taught me about leaving something for people to learn about you or look forward to. So that's what he pretty much told me.

He also called me a unicorn so I learned that I'm a mystical creature that was pretty interesting. And yes, it was pretty rad.

JAMAR ROGERS: I just want to say really briefly that Charlotte, I really admire you. I think that more people should hear your story, there's nothing with you, you are nowhere near remotely fat, that's ridiculous.

JULIET SIMMS: Yes, you're so hot.

JAMAR ROGERS: I really think it's so cool that you just told your story. All right, I just wanted to say that.

That's what I love about this show, no one's on here lying about their age. My name is Jamar Rogers which, you know, is not a very star-sounding name. Sounds like I should be a point guard for a basketball team somewhere. I love this show because we get to be ourselves. We're all human beings that just get to do what we were born to do, which was sing.

And Ne-Yo -- meeting Ne-Yo, you know, he's one of the most prolific songwriters of my generation. And to have him say that I could possibly be unstoppable, there's just no greater accolade in that. He told me to make sure I guide and will emotions in a positive way and not be so technical because I do have a tendency to think about every note and dissect it. And last night wasn't technically, it was not, you know, I could have done better. However, I really feel like I...

WOMAN: Oh my god, you were so good, you were awesome.

JAMAR ROGERS: This is what I was trying to say, that was a compliment-fishing statement. What I'm trying to say is that I got the emotion across and that, to me, is the most important part. So I really appreciate Ne Yo for even taking the time to deal with us minions.

QUESTION: Obviously, you guys have overcome much, you're living your dream. What advice do you have for other people who are struggling with either giving up or they're facing their own adversities or even opposition from family and friends who try to discourage that? What advice can they take home from you?

JAMAR ROGERS: Oh, can I please jump in there? I'm sorry, that's my cup of tea right there. I just want to say that you never know, you just never know what's right around the corner. And I just don't believe in the word “can't.” I've been told “no” so many times from so many -- you know, I've met with labels. I've had the door slammed in my face so many times.

And I remember going into The Voice saying, “I'm just going to do this. If this isn't it, then screw it. I should really do something practical.” And I'm just so happy I didn't quit. I'm not trying to be a saint when I say my number one priority is not to win this show. Don't get me wrong , I'm very competitive and I would love to win. But I've already won because I've gotten to tell people my heart. And I've changed my goal and it's not just to make the name of Jamar Rogers great; who gives a flip about Jamar Rogers? But some of the people...

WOMAN: I like him.

JAMAR ROGERS: Oh, why thank you. But there's so many people that are hurting out there, whether it's the economy or just bad relationships, eating disorders. There's people that have real life issues out there that goes beyond Keeping up with the Kardashians. There's people that really need someone to identify with and if I get to be that guy for people, then oh my God, I've won. I just want to let people know do not give up. You never know when your moment's going to happen. You never know when your time's going to come and if you give up, you might miss out on the best opportunity of your life. That's it, I'm done. I'm done.

JULIET SIMMS: I would just like to add to that. I will tell you something, if giving up ever entered my vocabulary or mind -- I mean this industry is so hard and you have family and friends and whoever can have their opinions. Family should just be supportive because that's what family should do. And I feel like I've gone through so many record labels, so many records, like hundreds of tours and struggling so much in this industry.

You got to keep in mind what your end goal is and you just have to look at it and keep going. There's so many times where you're going to want to give up or put your head down or quit. I'm not going to lie, I've had so many of those moments like maybe I should go get a desk job. "No, what the heck what are you thinking that for?" It's the most awful thought for me, don't do that. So if you love it so much, if it's the only thing that's going to make you happy, then you got to do it and just keep going

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES: Yes, I agree with you Juliet. Not to kick a dead horse, because we're pretty much all saying the same thing. But you just can't give up, it's not an option. You're definitely in the wrong business if you just give up, because it's not really about the definition of success, [it] can be defined and then redefined.

And it's not about necessarily winning the competition but about burning your heart to people and making a difference in some way or another. Maybe it's making someone laugh or be inspired and if we can all do that, I think we are going to be just fine.

KIM YARBROUGH: I want to add something to that too. I believe it was Patti LaBelle's father that told her, "Patti, if you sing long enough and loud enough, somebody is going to pay attention." For those people in this industry that want to make it big, that want to fulfill their dreams, I believe there are two types of entertainers in this business. Whatever type of entertainment you do, there are types. There's the type that need to do it and there are the types that like to do it.

I think all of us are the types that need to do it. It's in our blood, we wake up thinking about it. We go to sleep thinking about it and if that's the case, you just got to keep going because there's something in you every day driving you to get up and do it, no matter what your mind says, “Quit” or whatever. But for those two groups I think you have to decide which type of performer you are. Do you need to do it? If you do, just don't believe the hype and keep going. If you can take it or leave it, and you're going to be happy no matter what, go do something else.

JULIET SIMMS: I’d just like to add to what Kim said. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we all need to do it because pretty much -- I don't know if you guys are the same but I don't know how to do anything else.

((Crosstalk))

WOMAN: I wish I didn't know how to do anything else.

WOMAN: Yes, I made it through a hot semester of college so I don't think it's going to work out.

WOMAN: I think there is one thing that I would like to add to that whole conversation. People who want to do this kind of stuff but don't see themselves moving toward that, they can't be a victim of their circumstance or their situation or feel sorry for themselves and de-motivate themselves. Because I think that I've known a lot of musicians that do that and they feel like their situation or circumstances are what people expect of them or holding them back. And you can only be a victim so long and then you need to empower yourself. If artist is what empowers you then you have to do that.
QUESTION: Charlotte, you were one of the few that had all four judges turning around for you. What made you decide to go with Team Blake?

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES: Blake just seems so genuine and sincere and he has this little twinkle in eye, and I just thought I didn't [know] if I was going to get too much further in this competition. And I thought Blake is going to make me have fun and ultimately isn't that what's its all about?

QUESTION: Do you ever think that other judges might help in a certain area that Blake couldn't?

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES: I don't think you can allow yourself to think that way, because I need the decision I made and try to stick with that and that's who I chose and I’m just going to be thankful that anybody picked me and be thankful that Blake wants to help me.

QUESTION: Juliet, you said [there were] times where you didn't know if you'd have enough to eat the next day or a place to sleep that day. If you could reflect on two things, first of all what was the hardest point? Was there some point where you really didn't have money to eat or a place to sleep? And also could you tell us roughly where you were just before the contest started? Where were you in life before then?

JULIET SIMMS: Well, [there were] times on the road literally where the band wasn't making enough money to feed ourselves. Yes, thank God for fans, I have this loyal loving fan base on the planet because I grew up with them. I started touring so young and yes, we would sleep at fans’ houses, they would feed us, we would play shows where people would bring food to the shows to feed us. Because it's our time on the road and the tank for gas alone is a hard enough job.

First moving out to L.A. there was -- I never told my parents this because it was kind of a pride thing. I didn't want to worry them but I was crashing on friends’ couches, sleeping in my car a few times. Actually struggling but I finally started making money and being able to afford food. And at the time of the show I found a wonderful, wonderful boyfriend. And I live with him and he does a great job taking care of me and I like to eat.

QUESTION: How old were you when you first started touring? And does your boyfriend have a regular day job so you don't have to be stuck with music things that he'll do?

JULIET SIMMS: No, my boyfriend is a musician as well but it's a successful band so he doesn't have a problem feeding me. I started touring when I was about 16, 15, 16.

QUESTION: Oh boy, and when you had a whole band, how big a band were you touring with?

JULIET SIMMS: Well, I did tours for and sort of Charlotte the Band's warp tour.

((Crosstalk))

QUESTION: I was just wondering how many people, because you have to feed a whole band when you're on the road. How big was your band?

JULIET SIMMS: Five. Five members.

SCIFI VISION: Charlotte, Blake made some comments that he felt that you had a lot greater control at the performance but that you maybe didn't take the risks that Lex did. And I'm wondering how do you take that advice going forward? How do you weigh control versus risk?

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES: I think that this song didn't really call for a lot of risks because it's a very - it's a stable song. So I just sang it the way that I felt it needed to be sung.

And then going forward I don't think I should ever attack a song in a way of thinking that I need to take vocal risk. I want to sing for the song. I work as a songwriter, so I want to sing for the emotion of the song and not to sound like the best singer. And not to sing like, yes, I can hit a high E in a ballad and I can do runs, I can do all that stuff, but I don't necessarily think that's always what people want to hear and ultimately I want to serve the song and not myself.

SCIFI VISION: So you don't really think that means that judges are looking for risks going forward?

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES: I mean, ultimately maybe they are but I think I can only be true to myself and if it's against who I am in my nature I don't - I just want to serve the song and sing it the way I want to interpret it. And as Blake thinks I should have carried it differently obviously I'm going to listen to that and try to make him happy. I don't think that singing should necessarily be about show, like who can do the best runs. I think it's about putting your heart and your soul in it and if that means making more vocal risks, then that's what I'll do. And if not, I won't.

QUESTION: This is question goes to everyone and I'll start with Jamar first. Since the next round is going to be the live where you all will be needing the votes of the viewers, in what ways would you or would you hope that viewers will be able to connect with you?

JAMAR ROGERS: I think that viewers like someone that's real. I think that they want someone that they can relate to and maybe - I want to say the vast majority of people can’t relate to my story. But, you know, who can’t relate to just making bad decisions? We’ve all made bad decisions. They come in all shapes, colors and sizes.

And I think that I have an advantage in that way. I guess it’s a gift, a talent, but I have this thing where I can just connect with anyone. I don’t know where it came from. I can have a conversation with anyone. So I think that that’s going to work in my favor. I don’t want this to turn into a popularity contest because at the end of the day it is called The Voice, nobody’s running for homecoming king or queen here. So I’m hoping that I’ll continue to sing my ass off but I think that personality does go a long way.

SARAH GOLDEN: Oh, well definitely piggybacking off of Jamar, I think it is good to be relatable and have a relatable back story, if you will, and to just be real like Jamar said. Also I feel like it’s important to be on your social networking thing, Twitters, your Facebook and whatever you have, whatever tools you have to reach people, to reach the masses then you should definitely use those. But my thing is just to be real and just stay my regular self and hopefully the people will see that I’m just like them and they like that.

LINDSEY PAVAO: I kind of have to agree with everybody else about the whole not wanting this to be a pageant show and all that. I don’t know. I’m sorry.

I agree with everyone. I’m in such awe of my fellow artists that I’m working with on the show because everyone has such wonderful overcoming stories. I am in the midst of such greatness because of the victories that have been had in my teammates’ lives, in my fellow artists’ lives. And if they can…be themselves and be on top of the world and reach for their dreams like everybody’s doing on this show, I find it very inspiring.

So all we can do is go forward and be ourselves. I agree. Everybody is unique. There are so many different types of personalities, different types of musicality style on this show and we are all there for that reason. Everybody has their own thing and I think if we continue to do our own thing and be true to ourselves it’ll all fall in place.

QUESTION: Jamar, after the performance Adam basically flagellated himself for not having responded to you during the blind audition round. How did it feel to have this praise coming now? Was it too little too late or was it affirming?

JAMAR ROGERS: It’s never too little too late. Let me just say that. It’s never too little too late to get some affirmation. I’m so appreciative of him saying that. And I remember standing up there and saying to myself, “Wow, I can’t believe this is happening right now.”

But you have to understand when I went home after the blind audition I got the coach that I wanted. I didn’t go home and cry, “Oh, why didn’t I get four chairs?” No. If I had gotten all four chairs I would still be with the coach that I’m with today. And so no, I felt like it was a very good, hearty pat on the back but I made an allegiance to Team Red Zone. I told Cee Lo that if he would keep me that I would take him all the way. And I love all of my other beautiful contestants. But, you know, this is Cee Lo’s turn to win this year. So it is what it is.

QUESTION: Some of viewers felt that maybe the pairings may have been one-sided in the battle round last night, in particular with the song selection. Some of you said that you [did] have an advantage with [the] song but I’m still going to do a job, etc. So how do you feel about that? Do you guys think you were given an advantage by the show?
WOMAN: Wait. Can I say something really fast? I want to start a drinking game over the word underdog because it is used so much on this show.

WOMAN: Is this Lindsey?

WOMAN: Don’t they understand that to be a human being you have a struggle? And I think it’s so funny how it tries so hard to make it an uphill climb for one person and not the other.

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES: I think that there isn’t an unfair advantage. At the end of the day this is a competition and we all love each other but we all want to win. And there really isn’t such a thing as an underdog. We’re both given the same opportunities. We both are given moments to shine. And sometimes somebody has a better day than somebody else. I think we all work really, really hard and there really isn’t - I don’t think they’re in the business of trying to make somebody look at or to give someone an unfair advantage. That would make a really uninteresting show.

JULIET SIMMS: I have to agree with Charlotte. And actually, Charlotte, I think everybody can relate to this. This is all I’ve ever done for years and years and years and years and years, and I’ve seen so many people succeed and so many of my friends’ bands blow up. So many girls get huge record deals and seeing them blow up is just like when they started calling Sarah the underdog, I was like, “Are you kidding me? My career is based around being the underdog.” I couldn’t believe it, you know? So I agree with exactly what everybody else is saying.

WOMAN: It’s just that everyone is different, and that’s okay. It’s just that case and it’s subjective and that’s just what it is. It is what it is.

KIM YARBROUGH: I don’t envy the coaches during this part of the show from choosing and agonizing who they want to put together on their teams to having to choose between one or the other in the battle round and keep one and send one home. I believe it’s hard all the way around, all the way down the line for the coaches. And at the end of the day I think it’s who brings it.

QUESTION: Lindsey, I just wanted to congratulate you for selling the most on iTunes so far this year on The Voice. I hope everybody can sell a lot. Are you thinking about the live shows? Are you rehearsing already? Are you preparing? What do we expect?

LINDSEY PAVAO: Yes. I already have a couple of songs. You know, it’s eight permits that I get to play. And after watching the battles I’m just motivated to sing much better, but I’m not going to change what I do. Unfortunately, I did read some reviews on how things went last night. Sorry guys. But I think that I’ve kind of decided how I want to go into this competition and I want to keep working with the songs and trying to not change them but make them honest to myself. So that’s what I’m going to go with.

And thank you. I think that the iTunes thing is awesome. Whoever thought of us doing iTunes songs for the show, I didn’t even realize that they did that and that is so cool. But yes, it’s going to be really, really fun and I think that I’ve gotten to a place where I’m trying to accept where I am on my journey. I’m new to this whole singing situation, especially on this scale. And I’m just going to embrace it and I’m so excited. Oh, my gosh.

QUESTION: This question is for Kim. At the end of the show they showed you telling your family members that it’s now your time. And then today Carson had blogged that you really had an uphill battle for this week since you had been fighting laryngitis. Sister, you rock if you can back up laryngitis like this. What was going through your head, knowing how much was at stake?

KIM YARBROUGH: Oh my god. You know, this happens a lot with me and I don’t - maybe it’s something about my throat chakra that’s clogged up. I don’t know. And I have to clear it out every once in a while. But I will get laryngitis right before a big performance and that happens a lot. And hopefully this is the last time. But yes, I was pretty much in agony. I did not talk for five days before the performance. And I still was only maybe 95% recovered during the battle. And I was trying not to push too much because I knew if I did I would crack or I would go off key or get pitchy.

So it was really hard. I had to just shut down and be silent. I’ve realized or I’ve learned from my doctors when this happened before. The only thing to cure it is to just shut up. And that’s really hard because I wanted to practice. I wanted to practice the days before the competition. And all of my practice was mental. But my - I’m a violinist. I was a violin major in college and my sisters always told me practice is 90% mental. And I never really got the full meaning of that until this battle round.

QUESTION: Team Cee Lo, have you ever met his cat? His cat is very active with Twitter. Is the cat friendly?

JULIET SIMMS: I personally haven’t met the cat yet, but I’m obsessed. I’m trying to really understand if it’s a robot. It feels like it’s a robot cat. It’s so cute and unreal that it feels like it’s not real. Like it’s not really true that the cat exists and it’s this little evil - I feel like Cee Lo is an evil genius and [so] is his cat. He just holds his cat and pets it, puts his finger in his mouth and is like “I’m going to take over the world with me and my cat.” I don’t understand what’s going on but I’m so down and I’m so into it.

JAMAR ROGERS: You know, that damn cat has 40,000 followers on Twitter. We can get on television and shed blood, sweat and tears and that cat sits there and purrs and gets 40,000 Twitter followers. I just - I don’t get it.

I do tell the story of one time, it was right before the battle round and I was walking back to do some interviews of some sort and the cat, Purrfect, was having a photo shoot with champagne and there were about ten handlers around it. And I was just like “Really?” I live in the South Bronx. I would love to have that cat come kill the mice that keep attacking my kitchen and this cat lives better than I do. I just want to say I’m a little jealous of the cat. That’s all I want to say.

WOMAN: Yes, Jamar, we’ve got to get that cat on stage with us.

JAMAR ROGERS: I think that Purrfect should get a Fancy Feast deal, you know? I mean that’s where the money’s at. Endorsements.

QUESTION: Kim, it was hinted I think from (Robin) or Cee Lo that your experience gave you an edge when singing “No More Drama.” Have you thought all along that your age has worked in your favor performance-wise or are you a little nervous competing with people that are a little younger?

KIM YARBROUGH: No. I don’t get nervous about that because I don’t feel 50, I don’t think I look 50. I don’t think it matters.

JAMAR ROGERS: You sure don’t, Mama.

KIM YARBROUGH: Thank you. It’s not something I think about when I go out on stage. “Oh my god, I’m 50.” I just don’t think that.

What I’m thinking about when I go out on stage is how can I best serve this song? How can I tap into the audience’s souls? How can I tap into their minds with this song? And when the song selection was made I was very happy about it because it was a song I was very familiar with. It’s not something I had sung before but I’d heard it on the radio a million times. And I thought great, this is something that I’m familiar with. So I did have to learn the song but I was glad he chose that. And I love R&B so much. It was just a perfect choice. And I realized going along that the song really was about me and my life. I did live through that.

QUESTION: Juliet, you mentioned the relationship you have with your fans. I’m wondering what is the feedback about your performances on The Voice? And also what do your bandmates think about how you’ve done on TV so far?

JULIET SIMMS: My fans have been nothing but so supportive and so involved in a way where they’ve started their own little Juliet Simms Army. And I swear to God there’s a captain and a general. I’m not kidding. It’s crazy. It’s amazing.

My band members - I had always been the songwriter for the band and it was always kind of my band and my thing. And I would have band members come and go and I would say that the few that did stick around in the band are nothing but supportive. And they have their own things going on as well. My brother, for instance, was my guitar player for a long time. And he was over at my house last night totally watching the show and rooting for me and he’s been nothing - I’ve gotten nothing but support. And I feel so fortunate with that.

QUESTION: This question is mostly for Lindsey but it’s also for everyone involved. I’ve noticed on Twitter and YouTube that you and Whitney Myer seem to be pretty close and perform together regularly. Did you guys know each other before the show and if so, how did you know each other? And then anyone else on the show who may have had a close relationship with someone on the show before it aired?

LINDSEY PAVAO: No. I did not know anyone, but Whitney and I got off the plane together and we have been an unstoppable bromance ever since. It’s crazy how kindred of spirits we are and how close we live regionally. It’s a crazy coincidence. But it’s been so cool.

We both have major anxiety about the whole situation with being on the TV, so we would have these freakout sessions. We’d be like, “You’re going to be okay. If you’re okay, I’m okay. Okay, we’re going to be okay.” And it was beautiful. And it’s super heartbreaking because part of this experience is Whitney and I. And not having Whitney with me is just stupid.

But it’s what the competition is. If you move forward then you’re going to lose friends. And that’s the sucky thing, you have to enjoy every moment you have with these people because eventually either you’re going to be gone or they’re going to be gone. It’s like “Gladiator,” but nobody dies. But it’s still the same feeling.

JULIET SIMMS: Charlotte and I actually go way back.

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES: Oh, here we go.

JULIET SIMMS: Charlotte and I dated the same guy.

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES: Yes, we did.

JULIET SIMMS: Yes, we did. But we also toured together in 2008?

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES: Yes.

JULIET SIMMS: Something like that? Yes, so Charlotte and I have known each other for quite a period of time. It was amazing when I saw her the first week or whatever when this whole process started. And I was like, “Oh, my God. This is awesome. I have friend here.” It was so great. It was like someone to eat dinner and lunch with and hang out with.

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES: Yes.

JULIET SIMMS: And it was definitely like a little piece of home was there at the show with you, you know? It was cool.

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES: I think it really helps the both of us because initially during our executive auditions that we had, we were scared. Of course we were scared. So it was nice to be able to spend time together and boost each other’s confidence. And luckily, we’re not on the same team so we’re like, “Yay, you go!” We were really lucky.

JULIET SIMMS: Yes, I know. I know. I think that was the first question I asked you when you got back from the blinds is who’d you pick? What team are you on? And then as soon as you were Blake I was like, “Oh, thank God. Awesome.”

QUESTION: So there are no hard feelings about dating the same guy?

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES: No, actually it was really funny because we saw each other in the room, and we’re both friends with him now, but we were like let’s just be like awesome friends and who knows? I feel like Juliet and I [are] not similar artists but we are at the same time. And I definitely could see us playing shows together and our fans would - we have similar - a lot of my fans are her fans and vice versa. So who knows what will happen in the future?

JULIET SIMMS: Yes. Agreed.

CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES: Plus she’s a hot bitch.

SCIFI VISION: Jamar, at the end of your performance with Jamie last night there was such an outpouring of emotion. I think it was really the most emotional moment we’ve seen on the show to date. And I’m wondering if you can tell me a little bit about how you guys felt, about your friendship and where all that emotion was coming from.

JAMAR ROGERS: The cool thing is Jamie flew into New York yesterday and I’ve been kicking it with him. I just want to say there has been no love lost. Jamie and I became friends and we actually stayed in touch after the blind, going into the battle.

And the win was super bittersweet. I believe I started crying on stage which I do not advocate, which I would have never planned that in a million years. I started crying on stage and what they actually edited out was about 15 more minutes of me crying backstage. It was just so many emotions all at once.

One, I was really proud of Jamie. You don’t understand. Jamie has an incredible story a lot of people don’t know about. I’ll let him touch on that. But he has a great story himself. And this was the first time he had been away from hom?e and the first time he had sung on such a big stage. I was overcome with pride for him. I felt like a proud dad.

So I was crying because of that. I was crying because Cee Lo said the most amazing words to me. You know, when you’re listening to someone, you’re buying their albums, you’re cyber stalking them on YouTube and stuff, you never think in a million years that they will actually be the ones that affirm you. He didn’t just affirm my artistry. He affirmed my character. So that’s another reason I started crying.

And then, I really felt like I’ve made so many bad decisions and there have been so many bad outcomes from those decisions that I actually made one good decision. And I was actually able to just enjoy the consequence of a good decision. It was just too much. I couldn’t even word it all last night because I know I remember saying something like, “This kind of stuff just doesn’t happen to guys like me.” I should be the dredge of society, you know? I just feel so honored. I’m so blessed.

And I was crying watching it last night. You should know that I’m the most crying-ass man you will ever meet. I cry. So that was it. I didn’t go into it thinking it was going to be uber-emotional. It just kind of happened that way. I love Jamie Lono. I will support everything he does. He is all right in my book. I just want to say that.

SCIFI VISION: Well, thanks so much. I think you’re just such a great example of what it means to live positively. And good luck to you.

JAMAR ROGERS: Thank you. Thank you. That’s the best compliment you can give me. Thank you very much.