Will.i.am: ‘I’m terrified about upsetting the kids’
Will.i.am speaks about his young charges on The Voice Kids UK, why he’s gone vegan, and the special bond between mother and son…
When best has the pleasure of meeting Will.i.am, the longeststanding judge on The
Voice UK, the quirky musician is just as fascinating in person as he seems on TV. He’s here to talk about
The Voice Kids UK, the search for Britain’s best young singer, which kicked off last weekend on ITV and continues nightly until the big final this Saturday. It’s clear that singer and producer Will.i.am, 43 – a former member of US hitmakers Black Eyed Peas – is passionate about the show and his mini contestants. And he’s as eccentric – and excitable - as ever!
Hi, Will! Tell us about your budding singing stars!
My team are really good – pretty cool singers, amazing for their age. As human beings, they are awesome! It’s so cool to see these little kids who are, basically, fresh on earth, singing the way they do. Kids that are as old as The Voice – when you think about it from that perspective, it’s mad… They sound like pros.
Does it inspire you to see such young talent?
It shows you what’s possible when you really dedicate your life to something. Going from needing someone to change their diapers, to singing like one of the best singers on earth, is a pretty hefty growth period.
Is it good to have the old gang from The Voice Kids UK back together?
Yes! Pixie [Lott, pop singer] is awesome, and Danny [Jones, singer with band McFly] is great, too – he has a very fastworking brain. Pixie won last year, but I don’t really care which team wins. I just like to see the kids happy. If I’m like, ‘Team Will all the way!’, the kids in Pixie and Danny’s team are going to be sad. On this show, everyone is a winner.
Do you find it easier to work with adults or kids?
Mmm… I was terrified to do The Voice Kids. Like, ruining their lives because we told them no and didn’t send them through. Imagine you’re seven years old and you get told, ‘No.’ Think how hard that is.
Aside from the obvious, what are the differences
between this show and the grown-up version?
The kids are just pure in their love for music. There are no expectations – it’s not like they have to pay the bills or look after their four kids, or don’t like their current job and want to do music for a living instead. They just want to sing.
Are there many tears?
The kids who don’t go through always ask why, and they are pretty brave until they see their parents – that’s when the tears sometimes flow. We turn [the chairs] around to speak to the kids who don’t get through, but it’s so hard.
You’ve talked previously about your relationship with your mum, Debra. Do you love seeing that closeness between the kids and their parents on The Voice Kids?
Yeah, I really do. Having that protector, and usually it is the mum, is beautiful – to see a parent wanting to see their kid do something special.
Will you, Pixie and Danny be performing together during the final show?
Who knows what’s in store this year! I don’t dance now that I’m vegan, ha ha. Though my dancing is eggs- ellent. Get it? Eggs- traordinary. Sorry – my weird sense of humour!
If you could collaborate with another star, who would it be?
Beyoncé. She’s the best on earth. There are seven billion people on the planet, and out of all of them, she’s like… the best. Think about it. She sings and dances at the same time, and still manages to sound the way she does. That hard work and discipline are incredible. I’m so jealous of Ed Sheeran’s Perfect Duet with her!
You’re vegan these days – has it changed your life?
I am way more energetic now, and you can see it in my face. I’ve cut out refined sugars from my diet, too. I have new types of cravings. Right now, for instance, I’m craving a little gem salad…
The Voice Kids UK continues nightly on ITV at 8pm, until the live final this Saturday.