Q+A: What’s Next for Chris Jamison?
The Ross Township native is weighing his options after his third-place finish on NBC’s “The Voice.”
Photo by Tyler Golden/nbc
Many far-flung Pittsburghers made the trip home for the holidays last week. But there may have been no more dramatic change of pace than that experienced by Chris Jamison, the 20-year-old Ross Township native who finished in third place on the seventh season of NBC’s “The Voice.”
On Tuesday the 16th, he was broadcast into more than 12 million homes before spending the night partying with the likes of Adam Levine, Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton and Pharrell Williams; the next day, he was on his couch in the North Hills, getting ready for the holidays.
Jamison took some time away from holiday shopping (and fielding calls from record labels) to talk to The 412 about the finale, the journey home and when Pittsburgh can come to see him sing again.
photo by ryan tuttle/nbc
Take me through everything after the show ends. What happens in the hours following an event like the finale of “The Voice?”
As soon as the show was over, we kind of hung out on stage for a little bit. Adam came up on stage and we were all just talking to each other. Then certain producers and executive producers came up on stage as well; we all just congratulated everyone on a great season. It was a big pow-wow type of thing we had with other past contestants and the top 20 that was there performing that night with us. And the confetti was all over the ground — it was just a very cool atmosphere and an awesome moment to be a part of.
After the show ended, there was an afterparty, a big wrap party for the whole season. All of these producers, all the coaches, everyone involved in the show goes to a big closure type of event. We all just hang out and relax. There’s no stress from preparing for the next day. It’s just a cool atmosphere to be a part of, and then we actually got to go on stage and Adam played drums and I went up and did a couple of songs with him. It was a lot of fun. It was just a nice way to end the whole experience.
And then the next day I flew home with my mom and my sisters. It’s just been relaxing. I’ve been away for so long, it’s nice to just sit back and relax and spend time with my family.
In the moment before the winner is named — what’s that moment like for you? Are you able to think through it, or are you all nerves?
During the previous results nights, I was usually very nervous. You never know how it’s going to pan out. But on the final night, I felt more calm than I [had] ever felt during a results night. Because I knew that regardless of what happened, we were all going to go home. At that point, I was lucky enough to see the competition literally from start to finish. I knew that regardless of what happens, [my career would] rely on what I decided to do next and how hard I pushed myself next . . . Plus, I was looking forward to coming home and seeing Pittsburgh and seeing the people that I knew were voting for me week after week.
Photo by tyler golden/nbc
Were you feeling any disappointment in the few days after the finale?
When they were calling our names, saying who was in fourth, third — I had a feeling that I was going to be in third place, and that was OK with me. I went further in the competition than I ever expected and [further than] I think my family or friends even expected. I didn’t expect that much growth out of [myself], and I did grow a lot. It was cool to see myself — especially now watching back all the different episodes — it’s cool to see the growth that I had in such a short period of time.
It was cool to see Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson performed “Uptown Funk” on the finale, when that was one of the songs that got you to the finale. Did you get a chance to talk to either of those guys? Did they say anything to you about your rendition of the song?
I really didn’t get a chance to speak with them — but when Nick Jonas came on the show and I actually performed with him, I got a chance to speak with him about me covering his song [“Jealous”] on the show and ask him what he thought of my rendition. He was very down-to-earth and only said positive things; he was really happy that I had covered the song, and he thought I did a great job.
photo by trae patton/nbc
It’s only been a couple of weeks, but what’s different for you now? Are you getting calls and offers everyday?
I got to sing the National Anthem at the Steelers game, and that was pretty incredible. I had never done anything like that before, so that was amazing. As far as offers are concerned . . . I have talked with different people from different record labels in Los Angeles; the goal is to go out there in January and meet with different people and see what options I have. The goal is to continue moving forward. I don’t want to wait a couple of months and then show up and lose all that momentum I gained from the show. The goal is to go back out to L.A. and make something happen. I’m excited. I’m eager to start the New Year and start this new chapter of my life.
Do you know what’s next in Pittsburgh? When can people here come out and see you next?
I want to do something that gives back to Pittsburgh, because they’ve given me so much during this whole process. They voted for me week after week, and I’ll see billboards [supporting me] in different places. The goal — right now, I’m trying to plan a [concert] similar to what I did at Stage AE. I want this one to be a more intimate concert; kind of do original stuff, but also do stuff from the show . . .and have all the proceeds benefit a local charity. I want to get things ready to do that in the first couple weeks of January . . . I’m hoping that all pans out — just so I can take time to thank Pittsburgh for all they gave me.
