Nov. 09--St. Charles native Jeffery Austin said he's spent the past few weeks working on connecting with the songs he sings on "The Voice."
"Being able to emotionally connect and really put that through to the song is what (mentor) Gwen (Stefani) focused on with me and she really wouldn't let anything slide," Austin told reporters last week in a conference call. "So if she didn't believe me when I was singing, she told me and she was like, 'Sing it again until I believe you.'"
Austin, who attended St. Charles North High School, and Chicago rock singer Keith Semple, who is on Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine's team, are expected to compete in the "The Voice"'s live playoff round Monday night. South Side native Mark Hood, who is coached by Pharrell Williams, is slated to perform during Tuesday's slate. Winners are expected to be announced Wednesday.
Viewers vote on their favorite performances to send 12 of the remaining 20 singers to the next round. Each of the four coaches -- Stefani, Williams, Levine and Blake Shelton -- also will get to bring an eliminated contestant back to compete to join the top 12. Hanna Ashbrook, who grew up in Mount Prospect and attended Columbia College, was eliminated from Stefani's team last month.
The winner of "The Voice" receives $100,000 and a record deal.
Austin, who said he had not performed in public between high school and "The Voice" auditions, said last week he's found the response to his music to be exciting and odd.
"It's very weird. I kind of put music on hold and completely focused on a professional career other than, you know, going into music. So, you know, being able to have the response that I have now is incredible because it's something I've always wanted," said Austin, who recently worked in public relations in New York.
"The Voice," which is in its ninth season, airs on NBC Monday-Wednesday this week at 7 p.m.
