Liam St. John on Passion Perseverance and Risk-Taking
Manage episode 294514210 series 2825034
Liam St. John auditioned for The Voice seven times before finally being invited to the live blind audition, where both Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani gave Liam an opportunity to move on. The difference? Liam found his voice among his passion for making music.
In this episode, you’ll hear about Liam’s passion and perseverance for music and how he continued to Water the Bamboo even when it wasn’t visibly growing.
Don’t miss this incredible discussion with Liam St. John, a blues-rock singer, songwriter, and performer.
Episode Highlights:
- 00:30 - Where Liam’s singing talent comes from
- 02:45 - How Liam fell in love with the Blues music even though he grew up in Spokane, Washington
- 6:54 - How Liam went from competing in Track and Field at the collegiate level to getting on the show The Voice
- 12:39 - Liam on risk-taking
- 16:18 - How Liam responds to accolades and compliments from fans.
- 18:41 - What it was like working with Gwen Stefani on The Voice
- 21:03 - Music routine during COVID
- 23:30 - Tips for people who want to go for it
- 27:17 - What kind of pandas show up for Liam
- 30:22 - Proudest moment for Liam
- 32:42 - Advice to Liam’s 14-year-old self
Order the Water the Bamboo Book at https://amzn.to/3mPxcZu
Order the What's Going Well? Book at https://amzn.to/3rBePLy
Guest at a Glance
Liam St. John is a blues-rock singer, songwriter, and performer currently located in Los Angeles, California.
Liam wowed Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton on season 19 of NBC’s The Voice with his bluesy rendition of “Sex and Candy”. Shelton was impressed by Liam’s versatility in the pocket, his falsetto, and his uninhibited soulful screams. The country star said Liam deserved an opportunity to advance in the competition. Ultimately, St. John chose the decorated icon, Gwen Stafani, who described his voice as “incredible” and “rich.”
Before his big break on The Voice, Liam St. John hustled in the trenches of the music industry for years, playing at open mics, empty dive bars, and making nothing except the occasional well-whiskey or slice of pizza. St. John and his band finally broke through with an opportunity to open for the British soul-rock sensation, Jacob Banks. They have since toured up and down the west coast, and across the southern states of America from Los Angeles, CA to Miami, FL.
Links Mentioned in the Podcast
Notable Quotes
- “I feel like music and athletics kind of changed the trajectory of my life.”
- “Finally, like felt true to myself. And that's when, like I felt my true voice came out. Like there was no judgment towards myself anymore.”
- “You're watering for so long, And then when you start to honor yourself, things just start to happen.”
- “Artists have stories that need to be said so that others can get through their own journeys and be on their way to becoming their true self.”
- “We just have to adapt until things get better or things changed into a different norm.”
- “Push forward with all your strength, with no judgment towards yourself.”
- “Being our true selves is the most important thing.”
Learn more about Greg Bell
More than just a motivational speaker, Greg Bell is a Portland, Oregon-based thought leader, business consultant, and leadership coach. His popular books, What’s Going Well? and Water The Bamboo: Unleashing The Potential Of Teams And Individuals, have inspired an array of organizations, from Fortune 500 companies like Nike, Disney, and Comcast, to the Portland Trail Blazers and Division I NCAA athletic teams like the Oregon Ducks Football and the Gonzaga Bulldogs Basketball.
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