Alexia Jayy’s journey on The Voice came to an emotional and celebratory close during the Season 29 finale.
After weeks of standout performances — capped by a soaring rendition of Adele’s “One and Only” that left rival coach Kelly Clarkson in tears — Alexia beat fellow finalists Liv Ciara, Mikenley Brown, and Lucas West to win NBC’s “Battle of Champions” season, giving Adam Levine his fourth victory following his long-awaited return.
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But for Alexia, the moment that changed everything came months earlier during her Blind Audition, when Levine made a simple pitch that stuck with her: “Let’s do something different.”
“That got me,” she told Gold Derby the morning after her win. “And then my son, he loves Maroon 5, so that was the only choice. That was the only right choice.”
In an interview with Gold Derby, Alexia reflected on honoring music legends throughout the competition, keeping her win secret for months, and why she’s determined to keep chasing “these big old stages.”
Read our full Q&A below.
Gold Derby: You had your pick of any coach after the Blind Auditions, so what made Adam Levine feel like the right coach for you?
Alexia Jayy: For me, it was between Kelly and Adam. Those were my two choices from the beginning. And Adam, he got up there and he said something that kind of changed my perspective. He was like, “Let’s do something different.” And that got me. And then my son, he loves Maroon 5, so that was the only choice. That was the only right choice.
“One and Only” felt like the perfect finale closer for you. Why did that song mean so much?
I’ve been singing that song since I was 16. When I first heard it, I loved it, and it really meant so much to me. To be able to get on a big stage and sing my rendition of it from when I was 16 years old is pretty amazing.
You made Kelly cry and John Legend always had kind words for you. What did it mean to get that kind of support from all three coaches this season?
Yes, they were all so supportive, and I really appreciate them. All of their kind words were amazing. Just to hear that from people who are already legendary, and to know they love your voice and what you do, is amazing.
Did you have a performance this season that stands out as your favorite?
I’m still in between “One and Only” and “Never Loved a Man” by Aretha Franklin. I was so excited to sing Aretha because it’s my mom’s favorite song, and she’s been trying to get me to sing it for years. She’s the one who started all of this. With “One and Only,” she’s heard me sing that so many times, so it was special for her to see her kid on that stage doing what I love.
This was the first season without viewers voting at home each week. What was it like going through the show in this new format?
I actually loved this process because I love live music. The experience is so much different when you’re right there at the stage versus watching it on TV. I loved that the studio audience got to vote because they actually got to experience what we were doing on that stage. They got to see all the nerves and everything, so I really enjoyed the new system.
A lot of those voters were former Voice contestants. Did that add pressure?
Yeah, it added a lot of pressure because the majority of those people can sing and they know what singing is fully — that’s what they do every day. So it was a catch-22. It was nerve-wracking, but it was also pretty dope because you know a singer is going to vote the right way if they hear what they love.
You had to keep this win secret for months. How hard was that?
It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. It was very hard for my mom too. I had to fuss at her so many times, but thank God she did what she had to do. It was definitely really hard to hold that news in because it’s so exciting.
What was it like getting to actually watch the season back at home?
My family was at my house every Monday. I’m in New York right now, and they’re having a big block party. They’ve been having it for two days straight in my town. Super supportive family, definitely a lot of watch parties, and there’s going to be a party when I get home.
Adam said the headline through all of your performances was always you, even while singing legends. How did you make those songs your own?
My mom had me listening to all the greats when I was younger, and what she told me was to always listen to the song and ask yourself, what do you want to do in that song? Those people already made those songs legendary, so it was nerve-wracking to sing them. But I just told myself, I’m going to get out there and do my best. I had so much fun, and I’m glad everybody loved it.
If you could choose your next dream duet, who would it be?
That’s a good question. I’d probably go with Stevie Wonder. I love all the legends. I would love to do something with Stevie. I’d love to do something with Lauryn Hill. I feel like our voices would sound really, really good together, so that would be really dope.
Who were some of your biggest musical inspirations growing up?
Donny Hathaway. I love Donny Hathaway. He put feeling into every piece of his music — you could feel what he was going through when he was singing. And then Ray Charles, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight. I could keep going.
What kind of artist do you want to be now that this chapter is over?
I want to keep getting on these big stages and keep putting out music. My newest single, “Rent Free,” came out last night after the show, and I’m just going to keep going.
What’s one thing you hope never changes, no matter what comes next?
I hope me being grounded never changes. I love who I am right now. I love the mom that I am. I love the person that I am, so I just hope that I get to stay the same.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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