Sitting in those iconic red spinny chairs isn't all rainbows and butterflies, according to the newest coach of The Voice, Niall Horan. The former One Direction star revealed in a recent interview with Audacy Check In that while he loves being able to mentor up-and-coming talent and play a role in their journey, there's something he doesn't quite like about the experience.
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"The only thing I don't like about it is the power that I have," Horan told Audacy host Josh "Bru" Brubaker, adding that pretty much every contestant is a "sick singer." So when there's so much talent to wade through, it can be difficult to whittle down the choices and tell a fellow artist that they won't make the cut.
"We see like nearly 100 people, and you just have to pick your moments while trying to accumulate a team," he said. "But I really enjoyed it. I had so much fun."
So what else did Horan reveal about his first-ever experience on The Voice? Read on to find out.
He has a type
As Horan said, the talent on The Voice is pretty fierce. So during the Blind Auditions, he's not just listening for a great voice. He's also listening for an artist whose sound resonates with him.
"You basically go for someone you feel you can actually help," he said. "And it's not just for the TV show. So my favorite type of music is, like, a singer-songwriter, someone with a unique tone that actually gives you chills. And that's what I was waiting for."
This makes sense, considering that Horan himself is a singer-songwriter. He's been credited with helping write One Direction hits such as "Story of My Life," "Back for You," "Change Your Ticket" and "Everything About You." The Irish-born singer also has written many of his own songs, including the ones on his upcoming album The Show, which debuts June 9.
"I've been the writer that kind of really writes a specific story and picks a scenario — a night, a moment — and really delves into the whole picture of it," he told Brubaker on Audacy Check In. "The colors, the way that person was walking, talking, whatever it may be."
So it sounds as if Horan not only can offer vocal advice as a coach on The Voice, but he can also give aspiring singers a few pointers when it comes to songwriting.
He feels for the contestants
Horan may be a superstar with a household name now, but his rise to fame has roots in humble beginnings that aren't far off from those of contestants on The Voice. After auditioning for The X Factor as a solo artist back in 2010 when he was just 16 years old (and ultimately becoming a part of One Direction), he understands the struggles of being on the other side of the mic.
"People have to go home," Horan said, commenting on the reality of the competition. "Having been on a show like that and watching their little faces when you're like, 'Okay, you have to go home now,' it's so terrible."
But he does say that his experience as a former singing competition contestant — a history he shares with fellow Voice coach Kelly Clarkson of American Idol fame — helps him support the artists and guide them through the show. Horan told Clarkson during an interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show that having his bandmates to help him through the process was huge.
"On the show, we were so lucky," he said, recalling his X Factor days. "'Cause, you would see all the other artists melting all the time over everything. We were just 16, 17, 18, 19, whatever we were. ... It was so fun. I'd do it again. That's why I'm doing The Voice."
He's gotten zero advice from Blake Shelton
While he may have lots in common with Clarkson, Horan hasn't gotten the same kind of advice from fellow Voice coach Blake Shelton.
"He just goes, 'I'm not telling you anything,'" Horan joked with Brubaker, adding that while the competition with Shelton is fierce — especially considering that it's the country singer's last season — he's been nothing but supportive.
"He's an absolute legend," Horan said. "I've never met the guy and from day one, he couldn't make me feel any more welcome. And we're pretty much the same person. We just have such a laugh down there. He's like my dad. He goes around telling everyone I'm his son."
It's clear that the camaraderie on The Voice is strong, and Horan couldn't be more excited to be part of the team. From offering pointers on songwriting to bonding with his fellow coaches, he's sure to bring a special energy and expertise to this season, which premieres March 6 at 8 p.m. EST on NBC.
READ MORE: 'The Voice': A Look at Every Coach That Has Appeared on the Show
