Tye Tribbett Audition Coverage: Round Three! Tye says “I Need You” To Energetic Hopefuls

Well, there you have it! What is stopping YOU from allowing your gifts to make room for you in this event?? Let’s see what others are doing!

*Disclaimer: Gospelworshipleader.com is in no way “officially” responsible for the contestant’s selection, (or lack thereof), in this contest. That’s completely up to Tye and his team. We simply recognize the awesome significance of this event and want to keep as much coverage on it as possible. All views expressed are the author’s and are meant to provide POSITIVE and CONSTRUCTIVE feedback only!

Now….let’s get to the latest round! We really can’t cover everyone, but here are some of the most notable recent entries:

Round 3 roundup:

Jerome, “Brother J”, Shreveport LA

GWL THOUGHTS: +Look at ya neighbor and say, “Full PACKAGE”! Jerome comes in hard by giving us a short but unique video intro, a custom background track complete with reverb and vocal effects, a worship inspiring backdrop, (not that we’re hating on the contestant that filmed at the Waffle House), and get this: end credits. It was so complete, I was almost waiting to see if there would any deleted or hidden scenes at the end . Brother J also showed his humor by cutting his own intro short about 2-3 seconds BEFORE it would’ve been considered “too long”! And the vocals were solid. I would surely like to visit his church, just because I know the worship must be polished! Improvement suggestion - Although his use of an accompaniment track was the best since, um, Blacklucy., I couldn’t help but wonder if Tye is going to think; “I wonder what Brother J sounds like without the reverb”. He can obviously hold a note skillfully, there’s no question. And chances are Tye’s next group wont be doing very many A Capella, unmiked, acoustic renditions, so he should be safe. Perhaps when he posts his dance video he can give us about a 1/2 lb of “untouched vocal”….with a side of the “gospel dance” training he mentions in the video. To quote track #14 on the Stand Out Cd…”Well Done”.

Jasmine Westin, 23 from OH

GWL THOUGHTS: +Say what you will, but there’s no denying that Jasmine has what we’ll call the G-factor! Vocals were in tune. Testimony was heartfelt. But the ENERGY? In a word, this young lady is “engaging”. I’ve seen some singers take more impressive risks with their vocals in this competition, and she was certainly a few backflips short of being the most impressive dancer…yet there was something unique that captivated and kept my attention throughout the video! She definitely has a ministry that will reach people. Don’t think so? Well, there’s about 748 subscribers to her YouTube channel that would tend to agree with me! (And as soon as I finish this report it’s going to be 749). Whatever your opinion is, don’t even THINK about looking away until you see the air guitar starting at 3:29. Improvement suggestion - Truthfully, although she didn’t go out of tune, there are some phenomenal singers in this competition to contend with. Joyful Joyful was very heartfelt, but also very familiar. A lot of people will be able to sing right along with you because many of the riffs are extremely similar to the original performance from Sister Act. Dont be afraid to transfer some of that captivating uniqueness into your song style! To quote the American Idol judges:”make the song even better by making it your own”! In spite of all that, remember one important thing. In Tye’s former group, Greater Anointing there were some members that I still have yet to see come NEAR a mic, nevertheless their stage presence and energy made me wear out the rewind button on my DVR! You HAVE the “presence”, (of the Lord, no doubt). Now go forth and continue to tap into that gift and watch God move!

LaKeisha Pierson, CA

GWL THOUGHTS: + She can sing worship, without a doubt. Lakeisha brings a determined worship vibe to her vocals and you can tell where her comfort zone is. She also shows a level of confidence that does not cross over into cockiness. Her style is solidly traditional, but that’s not a bad thing at all. Improvement suggestion - Although I love the song she selected, I’m not sure it was the very best song she could have chosen for this competition. At the very least since it is a slow paced selection, I would not sing two verses of something so similarly. It’s awesome how she builds in intensity on the second verse, but given the limited time I’d rather see her start out intense and use the extra time to show some more versatility in the form of an uptempo song. Or a back flip. (What? They impress me)!! Also, the song transitioned to a lower key right at 2:12. If this was intentional, bravo! If not, the recovery was quick enough that only trained ears will notice.

Ariel Kirber, 22 from PA

GWL THOUGHTS: + Say WHAT now?? If you payed attention to Tye’s latest video, you’ll see this is EXACTLY what he’s looking for…vocal skills, energy, AND diverse nationalities! Being another nationality by itself is not all that shocking, but this young lady has the pipes to match. She has a unique tone that is not only “different” but “mastered”. Her range is very respectable and her tone goes between “sweet” and “raspy” with no degradation. Kind of reminds me of a cross between Kari Jobe and Kim Walker! Graduated with a degree in vocal performance? That’s somebody’s money that was well spent. Improvement suggestion - Hmm….it’s NOT TOO LATE….post a dance video! And um, the books behind you on the bookshelf are not in alphabetical order……(???) Can you tell I’m reaching? Great Job!

John Samuel D. Victa, “Sam” 22 Filipino

GWL THOUGHTS: + Sam?? Any Relation to Israel Houghton?? LOL. He’s got the look down, that’s for sure. What’s also certain is that he CAN sing, (and quite well). His pitch is not completely perfect, but in this song it’s pretty close! The great thing about Tye seeking a diverse background of singers is that the distinctive characteristics of each person’s native language will make for a rich and varied sound that could not otherwise be achieved! Sam may not be a vocal front-man, but the uniqueness of his voice coupled with his impressive control should make him a nice contributor to the group as a whole. . Improvement suggestion - He seems a little…stiff, if only he could loosen up just a bit. Wait a minute….what’s this????????

John Samuel D. Victa, “Sam” 22 Filipino, AGAIN… (or possibly, his more relaxed twin)???

GWL THOUGHTS: + Sam, is that you???? Well now, that’s versatile! He went from delightfully stiff, (but cool to watch), to a founding member of Taylor Hick’s Soul Patrol! Vocals are on the same level as before but he shows adaptability and more than a few dance moves. Look for a Quagmire style neck movement at 2:57. Giggety. Improvement suggestion - pitch was not perfect, but a few of his vocal choices made me believe that he could correct them easily in a group setting. Dancing was cool….for being in a CHAIR… (???) Feel free to stand OUT and stand UP!! I’m sure he’ll place well.

Shanique “Shanzi” Watts, 20 from Jamaica

GWL THOUGHTS: + Ladies and Gentlemen, Jamaica has made a statement and everyone is listening! In 4 short minutes this young lady takes us on a complete journey comprised of 3 main acts. Verse 1 is s spirited rendition of Bless the Lord by Jon Owens, (featured on the Stand Out CD). Initially she doesn’t stray too far from the original rendition, but she injects enough of her bright personal flavor into it that we know she’s going somewhere unique with the song. Act 2 begins with the chorus as more of her unique vocal characteristics are brought to the forefront. Her tone is light and easy on the ears, yet not thin. There’s some great substance here, and the well placed vibrato seals the deal. (This is the part where most of you will really start to perk up)! Her finale starts in the bridge of the song as she lets loose with a full island style interpretation that is reminiscent of Mr. Mali Music himself! You can just feel the words as she delivers them uniquely and with consistency. I wouldn’t call her the vocal beast that Angie White has proven to be, but she brings a bubbly, quirky flavor that is strong enough to stand out from the competition. Oh….and great job with the accompaniment. Improvement suggestion - This audition was very tastefully done, and not too much I can say that’s negative. Although she didn’t dance, there was certainly enough energy conveyed to make most people believe she could hang with the likes of Tye. We dont have to see a dance video from her, but I don’t think anyone would complain if she put one out! At least if there was something showing her presence while standing Tye could get a better picture of how she’d handle herself on stage. Nevertheless, what she did was very strong indeed.

Brandon Edwards, 20 from OH

GWL THOUGHTS: + Although you may be tempted DO NOT SKIP this video!!! Imagine Marvin Sapp singing through a cheap payphone from halfway around the world on a bad connection. With Marvin being Marvin he’d STILL blow the majority of us away with his pipes! That’s what I think of when I see this video. Brandon’s vocals are so unique and refreshing that they cut through the Fischer Price recording equipment like a hot knife through butter! It’s kind of like when I play video games with my 6 year old cousin. Most new games have a “handicap” feature that allow you to even the odds between players of different levels. If Brandon sounds this good at 3 frames per second and AM radio recording quality, I cant help but wonder what he can do with the proper setup! Improvement suggestion - Not to be picky, but the camera phone quality of the video almost lost me in the beginning, but I’m so glad I stayed! I’d love for him to showcase something that displays more of his energy. Once again, if the vocals sound that good at low quality, we may be on the floor if they were presented with the proper setup. That’s something to think about!

Charles Keenan , ATL

GWL THOUGHTS: + Charles is repping the ATL and the ATL wont complain at all. His vocal style is different and at least one riff reminded me of Jodeci, (at 1:56). I think his strongest asset is the fact that he’s not “typical”. I believe Tye is all about uniqueness and this brother has that. The DANCE VIDEO?? Real smooth! Kind of like an Usher feel to his movements, and we have to give him props for the setup…he got his silhouette praise on! Improvement suggestion - His vocals are strong, yet like others not amazingly mind blowing. He was wise to showcase his versatility and creativeness, which are surely his main strengths. He maintained a solid pitch for 99 % of the song, (and that one note could have gone either way). In my opinion he has the potential to do quite well in Tye’s ministry.

Terrance Wilson, 18 from OH

GWL THOUGHTS: + Terrance starts out by apologizing in advance for his lack of runs. No Sir, I will NOT accept that apology because it is not needed! Any experienced worship leader will realize that the anointing and the passion behind a performance far outweighs vocal acrobatics that are devoid of substance. His testimony is very deep, (don’t miss it), and his passion is sincere. He has a very rich tone and although he doesn’t come close to the vocal prowess of someone like Tonex , (remember when he yodeled???), he more than makes up for it by engaging the audience. You can tell this brother believes what he sings. You can tell his worship is real, and that in turn makes one want to worship right along with him. Something in his experiences has shaped him to bless God in song, with ALL of his heart…and the sincerity is so evident you can almost reach out and touch it! Improvement suggestion - Dancing? Those robot-like maneuvers have potential…but I’m not sure the space was that small that he couldn’t show us something?? Ah well…time will tell, but he is one of our current top picks for the moment!

GWL FINAL TIPS: DO YOU REALLY WANT TO “STAND OUT”?

• Pay attention to Tye…he said he’s “assuming” you know you’ll need energy! Don’t let him have to assume, make it clear in your first video post!!

• The call has been made to all ethnicity and nationalities….if you are even 2 % Yugoslavian…try to bring that out!!!

• As people try to stand out, a lot of different things are going on in the same video. If you can play the ukulele, give Tye what he wants FIRST and then show him some of your other skills.

• Keep things in perspective. This may be an “audition” for you to move forward with a great opportunity with Tye Tribbett, but remember the One that gave you the gifts you’re using doesn’t need you to audition for Him! Whatever happens use your gifts to touch the lives of those around you and in your own ministry. Be inspired and take lessons from the others that may reveal to you a different way of doing certain things. Above all, remember your purpose and walk in it…WHEREVER you can!

TYE LIT THE MATCH, AND YOUTUBE IS ON FIRE….STAY TUNED FOR ROUND 4 COVERAGE RIGHT HERE IN THE COMING DAYS!

And Coming Soon: Our very own Predictions and Top Picks…WILL YOU BE ONE???

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