by Gina Scarpa

 

On the season premiere of The Voice, Javier Colon impressed both the panel and viewers at home with his take on Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time". The coaches fought over him and Adam Levine [of Maroon 5] eventually won. Fans flocked to iTunes, where his single cracked the Top 15 and it seems he's a surefire bet to make it far this season. Today, we spoke to Javier in an exclusive interview about life before The Voice, his hopes for the competition, and what winning would mean to him.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was your music career like before The Voice?
A. Javier: To give you a brief history, I was signed to Capital Records in 2002. I thought that I had made and that was going to be it. I thought I'd move into 50 Cent's house in Farmington [Connecticut] and unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. W e released two albums that didn't really do what the record company wanted them to do. I was dropped and for the last five years, I've been trying to get another deal. I was trying to basically, revive what I had going at one point. I never got to the level that I wanted or needed to be at. I found myself running out of time. I have a family. I have a beautiful wife and two beautiful girls that I have to support. If music is not going to do it, I had to figure out what else I could do.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How were you feeling about auditioning for The Voice?
A. Javier: I almost wasn't going to audition for it because I didn't think they were going to let me. After finding out that there were other people who had record deals before and some success but it didn't work out in their favor... here I am. So far, so good. I'm honored to have the opportunity.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Your cover of "Time After Time" was amazing! Did you come up with it for The Voice or is that something you've been working on for a while?
A. Javier: I have had that song for about a year. I have always loved that song and one day, I wanted to play around with it and learn it. It's such a great, classic, timeless song. I decided to go with it on the show because of that. I was trying to do it justice. There were a lot of people that bought it and it got to like, #14 on the iTunes singles chart. I hope that keeps going! We'll see where it goes.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Can you describe the feeling you had as each of the celebrities turned their chairs around to say that they wanted to work with you?
A. Javier: Before I even got out there, I prepared myself for this. I said, "Don't freak out if people aren't turning around." There were so many people performing, doing these high riffs and powerful songs. I thought maybe the high note in the chorus would get them. If they did turn around, I didn't wanna freak out because I had a song to sing. My goal was not to forget the words because once someone turns around, you're safe. My goal was to get everyone to turn around and unbelievably, they did.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You had the coaches fighting over you. What made you go with Adam?
A. Javier: I went with Adam because he was the most passionate about wanting to work with me. I wanted at least one person to turn around but if I had the choice, I wasn't necessarily picking a favorite. I wanted to hear what they had tosay. The way this show is formatted, the coaches are the ones to keep you in the competition or send you home until America starts voting. You really have to go with somebody who has your back and who understands what you're doing up there. I think he had an appreciation for my performance and said all the right things.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How are you handling the pressure of the competition?
A. Javier: I try not to think about it as my last chance at making it or at trying to feed my family. I understand that that's the case, potentially, but I don't look at it that way. I look at it like any show I've done in my life - it's just in front of a lot more people. I'm going to really have to give my 110% for every song, every single time I step out on that stage. It oculd be my last opportunity on such an amazing platform. I have to get everything out of every opportunity

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: If you win The Voice, what would that mean to you?
A. Javier: It would be a wonderful end to tumultuous times and a beginning to a great run. You enver know in this music business but you hope I'm setting myself up for some success. I want my family to not have to rely on the little shows here and there that I've been doing to make ends meet.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Is there anything you want to say to your fans or viewers of The Voice to keep you in the competition?
A. Javier: I appreciate the support. It's been amazing! I think I have 700 Facebook emails a night in my inbox that I have to go through. Everybody is just really supportive. Folks are buying the single on iTunes. I have an EP on iTunes that people are buying as well, which is really awesome. I appreciate all the support. Follow me on Twitter. Make sure you follow me so I can tell you what I'm doing. I'm so excited to be a part of this process! I hope to be standing there in the finals. That would be the goal.

 

 

The Voice airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

 

(Image courtesy of NBC)

 

Follow Javier @Javstwtr and Gina @ginascarpa