Interview with BBC The Voice's Vangelis Polydorou

If you've been tuning in to this year's The Voice you may have come across the delightful Vangelis Polydorou, who bagged 3 chair turns on his Blind Audition and is now sitting pretty in Boy George's team. He's also a previous member of the Lucky Voice staff, so we invited him back to HQ to catch up on the whirlwind of the show and how it all began!

1. First things first, how did you get the (super awesome) job at Lucky Voice?

I saw the posting on The Hustle and I saw that it was a singing-sale role, which I thought would be really cool to help my confidence with singing in front of strangers. I had a singing audition at Lucky Voice HQ and then got placed at Brent Cross. I sang Home by Michael Buble and luckily it got me the job!

2. How do you feel about karaoke?

Karaoke is a great way to experiment with singing different songs.  I was surprised at the great quality of the Lucky Voice Karaoke Kit considering they're only £50. I use it to practice singing and to try other songs at home that I wouldn't usually sing. 

3. What's your best karaoke tips?

Just don't try copy anyone, not even the original artist, sing it how you want to sing it and how it suits your voice. I try and make every song I sing my own, which is how I think I've made it through on The Voice. I often get told that I have a unique voice and The Voice team have helped me to showcase that, which is what you want to stand out amongst so many great singers in the world. 

4. Yes, let's talk about The Voice. How did that all start for you, did you apply?

I thought it might be the last series so I figured, why not go for it. I had only been back from holiday for two days and I was quite casual about it. I have previously auditioned for Britain's Got Talent and it's actually so hard to get through to even the first stages on these kind of shows. 

5. So how many stages are there before you even get to the Blind Auditions that the viewers see?

First step is a line of 10 people who sing in front of a vocal coach and producer, whoever is good is then put through to the second room. In the second room, it's just you and a vocal coach and producer and this time you sing and it's filmed. If you're then picked, you are given a letter and go downstairs to talk to another producer about yourself - this is when you need to show your personality. This is all in the same day, so it's quite a big day! 

Then you wait to receive an email to say if you're on their shortlist, then you get a call back to sing songs picked from a list, and then after the call back is when you find out if you've made it to the Blind Auditions with only 120 singers picked.

6. Wow, that's heavy stuff! So that must really hype up the Blind Auditions and put pressure on you?

I was just so excited! I knew that was my opportunity to show people what I can do. I was nervous, it doesn't show on the footage but I was really nervous. 

7. How did you decide on singing Boy George's Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?

First of all they offered me Birdy's Wings (song picked from my selected call back songs) and I just wasn't sure.  It's a good song but I wasn't sure it would get me a turn. So then we had another call and after they confirmed who the judges were, they asked me how I'd feel about singing a judge's song. We had some ideas and Do You Really Want To Hurt Me was a key one for everyone. The band sent me some ideas and I threw my vocals on top. We had a rehearsal with the band and they work around you - they really tailor it to make sure you're happy. So the high note was something I wanted to do and they agreed to work up to it. 

8. So what's the day of the Blind Auditions like for a contestant?

You're up really early - I was up at 7am and doing a lot of interviews, family footage and filming etc. I didn't go on until 10pm so it's a really long day. You have vocal coaching throughout the day, which is amazing. There's a live audience there and when you walk out, it's deadly silent. I was so nervous (even though I didn't look like it) but as soon as I got a turn, I was so relieved. 

9. Is it hard to stay vocally focused after you've got a turn? 

I actually felt more relaxed. After Boy George turned I thought, okay I'm in now. All my worries were instantly gone. So I sang better if anything.  You don't hear the buzzer when it's live so that doesn't put you off. 

10. Were you not worried beforehand, that singing a judge's song will put the other 3 off from turning and give you just one option of a chair?

Well I really didn't think I'd get any turns. I was just determined to get a turn, I didn't think Paloma or anyone would actually turn so I did assume anyway it would rest in Boy George's hands. 

11. How did you choose your judge?

When you go in, you do have the person you want in your mind. I did always want Boy George but if he didn't turn, I'd have picked Paloma as I think she's more stylistically like myself than the other two. With Will for example, I don't know what he could do for me, and I understand that. I did always have Boy George in my mind so I'm so happy he turned for me. 

12. What's it like on team Boy George?

It's amazing, I love it. He's so honest. We all had a team bonding day and Boy George cam to give us all advice. He said that when he has watched the shows before, in The Battle rounds the contestants try over-sing and shout over each other.  He told us that if we did that to each other, he'd send us home. Just sing from your heart and don't worry about out-doing each other all the time. It's about the duet and sounding good together which I am really pleased about. 

13. And finally, are you through to the next rounds?

You'll just have to stay tuned and wait and see!

Watch Vangelis' Blind Audition below and stay tuned every Saturday for his journey on BBC's The Voice! To follow him on social media, click to head over to Twitter or Instagram.