An Interview With The Voice Season 12 Winner and Rising Star, CHRIS BLUE!

Chris Blue’s face should be familiar since he won Season 12 of The Voice!

He grew up in a family of seven in a tiny house. His mother decided to put the family in a band called the Blue Family, where they sang at local churches. It later became the Blue Brothers and they performed across the Midwest and later at the Bobby Jones Gospel Show on BET. After high school, Chris worked various jobs and even attempted to go back to school.

For the past six years, he has worked as a worship leader, where he met his now wife, Stephanie, who is from England. They have been involved in a long distance relationship ever since. She’s been battling bone marrow cancer for most of her life and flat-lined during surgery recently. It’s hard on Chris, who has been struggling with not being there through the hard times.

Learn more about Chris Blue in the following All Access interview here:

Thanks for your time today! Where does this interview find you today? Is there music playing in the background? If so, what is it? What music gets you instantly out of a bad mood? 

This interview finds me in grind season!! currently still working on music and prepping for some upcoming shows. 

Hillsong was just playing in the background but I turned it off to focus on the interview. there are a few go-to songs I use to brighten the mood. Typically anything Worship, Gospel Quartet or right now it’s Chronixx or Hillsong. 

Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your earliest musical memory?

I’ve always felt like my purpose was to serve people through music. My mom used to always say she could never fathom the boldness that was present in me as a child. 

I always like to ask artists about where they came from and how that city or town has influenced them as an artist now. So how do you think your hometown has affected who you are as a musician and the art that you create? 

I’m from two places. I was born in Florida and then later move to Knoxville Tennessee. In Florida, we grew up poor. It was always gut-wrenching to watch your peers around you so happy because of the things they had, so from there, I learned how to be hungry!! In Knoxville we had nothing. We left Florida and started completely over.  My first sign of the city would come from my godparents the Jordan’s and the Johnson’s. They took my family and welcomed us as if we were their family. Also, the countless number of people within the community who really believed in love and hospitality!! So from here I learned how to serve and grew a heart for people who were strangers. 

Congratulations on winning Season 12 of The Voice! What was it like winning? Has it really sunk in yet for you? I read that after it was over, you went out and bought a WWE Championship Belt to celebrate! Is that true?

Thank you so much. Winning the Voice has altered my life in so many amazing ways.  What I am most grateful for is concerning the win, but is finally completing something. I struggled with being a finisher. Used to start off well but then fall off. So winning The Voice help shape me into a finisher. To be honest it hasn’t quite sunk in yet. I still think it may not be sometimes. 

Were you completely surprised or did you have a feeling it was going to end up that way?

The truth is everyone in the top four worked so hard to be there and if anyone deserved to win then it would’ve been any of us. When it came down to the final two I knew then there was a 50-50 chance of me winning. Still wasn’t sure though however, I’m grateful so so grateful that I did. 

Can you sum up your experience on The Voice this year in just a few words? What do you think was the biggest lesson you learned from being a part of it? In particular, what was the best piece of advice you received from your coach Alicia Keys? What was your favorite performance of yours on the show?

Hmmm, I’m not sure if I have a few words to sum it all up. I could start with amazing, incredible, Awesome!!- intense, professional, A-class!! just to state a few..

The biggest lesson I learned was being organic is always best. That’s what people connect to because that’s how people connect!! 

Best piece of advice I received from my coach was when I’m  on stage, be present. be in the moment don’t try to make anything happen or do anything just BE it. Why? because we are human BEINGS not humanDOINGS. Live out your natural order!!

What has it been like working with her since the show ended? Has your dynamic with her changed and if so, how exactly? Can you talk about the music that you are currently working with her on now?

Working with Alicia every day. (I still call her coach from time to time) Lol I want to say has caused me to become progressive! I’m constantly growing, constantly moving forward, constantly expanding. The dynamic has changed a bit because we have more time now. On the show, which is quite reasonable, I had teammates I had to share that time with. So, yes now it’s a little different but in a good way. 

The music feels really good and the vibes are there!! my prayers are that people feel what we feel when we play it back and the joy that’s behind it all.  That ultimately you feel something because that’s exactly what we’re going for, that feeling!!

When do you hope to release some of the music you have been working on? Do you have plans to release something very soon?

Hope to release something soon, like very soon. wrapping up on a few other ideas that we have and then after that, we should be able to release it!!

Congratulations on also recently getting married! How was the Honeymoon? Were you able to just relax and enjoy each other and not think about the show or anything else?

Thank you, thank you. The honeymoon was amazing. My continued prayers for Antigua and Barbuda that was just recently hit by hurricane Irma. We had a great time however, I wasn’t able to keep my mind away from music because I had a show coming up shortly after and one a day after I got home. 

We are living in a crazy and at times rough world right now so I am curious how you think being a musician gives you the most joy in life today? Do you think that new music being created today is going to reflect these hard times?

Anytime you get to do what you love that IS the joy but one step more than that for me is, music is my service and my gift back to the giver that gave it to me. 

God blessed me to be a musician and it wasn’t  for me to keep, but rather to be creative in the office of servanthood for all the people who are in need!

Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? What musicians would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

Big fan of Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Pastor Marvin Winans, Bruno, Charlie Puth, Hillsong, Elevation, The Weeknd, just to name a few and I mean few lol. We can seriously keep going on. 

What message do you hope your voice and your music send to fans? 

The message of light and glue because that’s who I am and that’s what I’m about; spreading light into the world and bringing people back together.  I want them to know what real love feels like.  I want them to know what God-inspired love feels like. I want them to know that I LOVE THEM, each and every one of them. 

What advice would you give to someone thinking about auditioning for The Voice in the future? What tips do you have for them?

Try. You should do it!! I didn’t want the do it at first but I had to be obedient to God. He was telling me to go so I did! 

Tips are simple, be present and this one is key, keep God first and you’ll be just fine. 

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your forthcoming music?

Yes, I’m crazy enough to believe that we can change the world. We have been equipped and conditioned with everything we need to make that happen!! Serve those around you. Selfishness kills us. Selflessness heals us!! It’s always easier to be kind. Love God, Love your family, LOVE people. 

Music is coming soon and I’M EXCITED!!!! STAY tuned!!!!