20-year-old on NBC’s ‘The Voice’
Photo Courtesy Gean Garcia
Adalia Garza | THE RIDER
Gean Garcia, a native of New York and current resident of Pharr, is representing the Rio Grande Valley on NBC’s “The Voice” with his performances on season 20 of the beloved show.
“The Voice” made its first appearance in 2011 and is primarily known for its unique approach in terms of auditions. Unlike other shows for aspiring singers, “The Voice” hosts blind auditions.
“Auditions–I wasn’t nervous, but I wasn’t not nervous,” said the 20-year-old business major, who is taking a semester off from the University of Texas at Dallas during the competition. “It was so bittersweet just getting up on that [stage]. … It was like the first time where I got to see the chairs turned around, so I was like, ‘OK, at least they’re not looking at me.’”
During Garcia’s performance of Kodaline’s “All I Want,” coaches Blake Shelton, Nick Jonas and Kelly Clarkson turned their chairs. Specific to “The Voice,” the show also offers four “blocks” on this season, allowing coaches to block another coach from having the chance to work with the singer.
He was grateful for having coaches turn around for him and even having a block used on him when Shelton blocked Jonas.
“It was crazy because I got three chairs and a block, and that’s memorable because there are only four blocks this season,” Garcia said. “So, the fact that a block was used on me, I was just like, ‘Hold up, wait a minute, this is cool.’”
With the option of Shelton or Clarkson, he decided to choose Team Kelly.
“There is such a presence with your voice,” Clarkson said about Garcia’s performance during episode two of “The Voice.” “It just sounds so beautifully broken, even your approach to it is so sad. It’s so melancholy, and I love that. You moved me, That’s the whole point. I think you’re going to go far no matter what team you end up on.”
He had the opportunity to work with Clarkson and Luis Fonsi, a Puerto Rican singer and Team Kelly’s vocal adviser. Both Clarkson and Fonsi guided Garcia and his opponent, Ryleigh Modig, during the Battle Rounds.
His time on Team Kelly came to an end when he lost to Ryleigh Modig, but he earned another opportunity to remain on the show when coaches John Legend and Jonas pressed their buttons to “steal” Garcia onto their teams. During the show, Legend and Jonas fought for the chance to work with him.
“Gean, I made a mistake in not turning for you in the blinds,” Legend said during episode seven of “The Voice.” “You have a home on Team Legend, and I would love to work with you.”
Garcia is working with Team Legend to prepare for the Knockout Rounds that will air in three weeks. He said he will apply what he has learned toward his artistic pursuit.
“I’m learning that individuality really does matter,” he said. “It’s very easy to get caught up with someone else’s talent and try to be more like someone else just because it sounds amazing. Sometimes, you may forget how amazing you are. So, yeah, I just learned to stay true to myself.”
Photo Courtesy Gean Garcia
Garcia intends to make his own mark, not only on “The Voice,” but in his musical endeavors. He described that he wants to constantly add more “Gean” in everything he does.
“Of course, my goal is to win the competition, but an even bigger goal that I have is to make my mark– to stay myself,” he said. “I want, in this competition, to leave a message saying ‘You don’t have to be better than anyone else. You have to be better than yourself. You have to top every performance that you do–in your own way. Make it better, spice it up, add more Gean in it.’”
Garcia said he is honored to represent the Valley and his home state with the current platform he holds on “The Voice.”
“Coming partly from the Valley, I know that it’s a small place–there’s not many things that go on, so, to be able to represent them on a platform big enough like ‘The Voice’ … I feel honored,” he said. “I’m very appreciative of all the support from the Valley. I’ve been reached out [to] by hundreds, if not thousands of people. I’m just excited to keep representing the Valley, as well as New York.”
Garcia said music has always been a part of his life, and he will continue to pursue it.
“It’s all I’ve ever known,” he said. “It’s something that I want to do and something that I will strive for. I’ve always been inspired to take on music.”
