LOS ANGELES — Goldsboro native Tae Lewis already considered being a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice” to be an opportunity of a lifetime.
Now Lewis is hoping to make the most of his second chance.
Lewis advanced to the playoffs on Monday night’s episode of “The Voice,” despite not winning his knockout competition against fellow Team Reba competitor Asher HaVon.
Lewis turned in a moving performance of Cody Johnson’s “Nothing on You,” and he drew praise from coaches John Legend, Dan + Shay, and Chance the Rapper.
Legend went as far as to say, “Whoever Reba (McEntire) does not choose there’s a place for you here at Team Legend.”
McEntire chose HaVon to continue as a member of her team and to advance to the playoffs, meaning Lewis was dependent on another coaching pressing their button to ensure he would continue on “The Voice.”
“It was a whirlwind, I’m not going to lie to you,” Lewis said. “At that moment I totally knew I was going to be staying because John (Legend) said, “Whoever (Reba) doesn’t decide to take, I’m going to take you. So, I knew I wasn’t going home. But, I knew I had to like fight even more if I made it to the next round. I think in that moment I just knew I was getting another chance and I’m just going to fight this next go around.”
Legend immediately pressed his button and began his pitch to persuade Lewis to join his team. Lewis, who has been outspoken about his desire to pursue his dreams as a country artist, ultimately chose to join Team Dan + Shay, and to be mentored by the country duo.
“With John and Chance, they don’t really listen to a lot of country music, but they’ve had country artists on their teams as well,” Lewis said. “I knew in that moment John and Chance weren’t going to be (my) coaches because they were going to give me songs that were not going to be country at all, but it was going to be very much soul or R&B. I grew up on that, but that wasn’t the brand that I’m displaying on the show. I knew if I chose Dan + Shay, Dan + Shay does similar music that I do, which is pop country. So, I knew that they both could be able to magnify what I’ve already been doing.”
While Lewis has put his talents on full display in his performances from the blind auditions, the battle round, and the knockout round, the 32-year-old knows he’ll need to elevate his efforts when the playoffs begin. Wayne County residents can see Lewis back on “The Voice” on Apr. 22.
“I feel like in the knockout round I gave just a glimpse of what I can possibly do when we get to the playoffs,” Lewis said. “Now, in going to the playoffs it’s all fair game. I have to pull all the tricks, all the things that I have to be able to stay on to get to the live shows.”
Regardless of how his journey on “The Voice,” ultimately ends, Lewis is grateful for the platform the show has given him, and he’s eager to begin working with well-known writers, and returning to sharing his music with the world.
“I’m so excited to start releasing music again,” Lewis said. “Obviously, being on the show we have to put a halt on releasing any type of music, but I’m so excited about releasing music. I’m so excited about working with Dan + Shay after the show, as well as working with some writers, heavy writers who have been working with people like Cody Johnson, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw or Kenny Chesney, and so many artists that I’ve looked up to. I’m also excited to be able to start pitching to labels and publishing companies as well because this has created a platform for me to be looked at on a national level. I’m excited about the opportunities that are going to happen for me.”
