by Gina Scarpa

 

It was quite the journey for Cody Belew on The Voice this season, who almost didn't make it past the blind auditions. Cee-Lo turned around at the last second to bring him onto his team, and he quickly became a fan favorite. Last week, he belted out Somebody To Love but it wasn't enough to keep him in the competition and he was sent home. We caught up with him today to talk more about his strategy, his thoughts on Cee-Lo, and the positive feedback he received from the other coaches.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: It's kind of crazy to think that you're the same guy that couldn't believe someone pushed their button for him during the blind auditions. Can you talk a little bit about how you think you changed and grew during the competition?

A. Cody: Well, strategically speaking, I intentionally layered it on week by week. I feel like, if I had come out of the game with something like Crazy In Love, it would've been too far to the left and people might not have gone there with me. As genuine as that blind audition response was, all of those other sides of me were in there ready to be showcased.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I feel like a very big moment for you was when you knocked Avery Wilson out of the competition.

A. Cody: Yeah, that was kind of the moment when everybody saw that I could hang with the big dogs because of the song being so vocally centered. That moment was just kind of a flash because we were still very vulnerable as far as anybody going at that point. I was really proud to get to do that song at that point.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Cee-Lo is such a tremendous coach. Not only did he save you after the first week of live shows, but he really seems to put out a lot of effort towards keeping his team members from past and present seasons connected. How do you feel about him?

A. Cody: Well, you know, he's the one coach that I was gunning for, even when I was watching seasons 1 and 2. I would think, "If I ever get on that show, that's the coach that I want." We share the same vision as far as what music can be and how it can change the mood of an atmosphere. As far as that goes, he and I are so much alike and I wanted to collaborate with him. And then speaking on his loyalty, he definitely practices what he preaches. He's collaborated with Vicci Martinez and there was a story he told our team when he and Nakia went to a tattoo parlor because Nakia wanted a tattoo that had something to do with The Voice. I can't wait for the future, I have big things planned, but just knowing that on a collaborative level, he is there and willing to work with me... I hope we have a bright, bright future together.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You got positive feedback from all of the other coaches. How did it feel to hear good things from them, even though they're technically competing against you?

A. Cody: I loved every week that I surprised them because I never did anything that was stagnant or expected. It was either because they were shocked or because they genuinely thought I did a good job but they never had anything negative to say to me. I took that as a huge win. Blake was definitely the funniest whenever he said, "Is Arkansas gonna know who you are?" What's interesting is that Arkansas has seen me do that for years and they do know and love that person. It was such a fun ride and to have all the coaches really on my side and rooting for me, it was a great experience.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I was really excited when you picked Somebody To Love to sing this week and yet, it got you eliminated. What do you think it was about the performance that people didn't connect with as much as you were hoping?

A. Cody: Well I think this was a rare moment in reality television where you really did have a top 10, I think, that any one of us could've taken the whole thing. You didn't have anybody in the mix that you thought, "Man, I wish they would get axed because they don't deserve it." I think we all made it far. I really think it just came down to a smaller demographic for me. I may not have a wide demographic like say, Cassadee Pope, who stays in the top every week. I really stand beside the song though, I think people enjoyed it, and I think people were shocked. What better way to go out than in an upset?

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What are you up to now and what are you hoping to do from here?

A. Cody: I am currently getting my team together, the ones that will help me pull this off. I'm not really reaching for any small stars. I think my time on the show proved I'm a go getter and I wanna do things big or not at all. I think that's going to be apparent in this music that I create. It's only been a few days but I've already been doing so much work, getting ideas together, thinking which songwriters to go after, and what kind of album I'm going to do, and find an iconic pop anthem. I really wanna get back to that heavy dance, that iconic dance beat. It's going to be all about the show itself and I'm going to pull influence from the people that I studied. I've said before, I studied all the greats because I wanna be great. I don't necessarily wanna do what they did but I also don't wanna fix it if it ain't broke. I'm hoping to get involved with the National Stuttering Foundation. I felt this influx of appreciation whenever I talked about that, and that struggle that I had growing up. For those who don't have a role model to look up to, I certainly didn't, that can be something I can do that reaches out and touches people. I'm well aware of the power that even a C-grade celebrity like myself has. There are things that we need to do.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans that supported you during your time on The Voice?

A. Cody: I just got one thing to say. Stay tuned because there is so much that I have left to do because now, the real work begins. The fans did so much for me to keep me in the competition and now it's my turn to prove to them that it was worth it. I hope to put out music and be that person that they all hoped I would become. I think they're hungry for that artist as well and I think it's going to be a beautiful marriage of music and fan base.

 

 

The Voice airs Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC.

 

(Image courtesy of NBC)

 

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa