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The Voice’s “Battle Rounds” start on Monday, with big-name mentors joining each coach to help prepare their teams for the head-to-head sing-offs. John Legend is Adam Levine‘s team mentor, and Adam says he couldn’t believe his luck when he found out he’d be working with his longtime friend.
“He was literally the first person they recommended,” says Adam. But initially he thought the producers wanted John to be the artist who works with all the teams simultaneously after the Battle Rounds.
“‘I’m like, ‘Oh, for the “super mentor?’ and they were like, ‘No, just you.’ And I was like, ‘What? You want to get John for the “just me” part of it? Oh my God!'”
John says he’s happy to get to work with his pal Adam, too.
“We’ve been fans of each other for a long time,” he says. “We both had the chance to collaborate over the years and play on the same shows. Now it’s cool to finally do this together.”
Adam agrees, “It does feel like it should have happened a long time ago, so it feels very right.”
John says the best advice he can give the contestants is that raw talent’s not all you need to make it in the music biz.
“In this setting, when you’re trying to compete….you have to figure out what is going to distinguish you,” he says. “And part of it is your natural gift, but the other part is how hard you are willing to work.”
He adds, “Usually the ones who succeed for a long period of time are the ones who spent enough time focusing on getting better at their craft and staying at the top of their craft.”
See how John’s advice pans out Monday night on The Voice, starting at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
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