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Mia Pfirrman kicked off her Live Playoffs run on The Voice with her rendition of the Lana Del Rey track “Young and Beautiful.” I interviewed Pfirrman last week as she talked about being the last remaining girl on Team Adam. She also explained why being a perfectionist can be a detrimental quality, especially if one’s a performer.
During our two chats, Pfirrman was candid about her own vulnerabilities (stage fright, perfection) while also remaining humble about her success on The Voice. I know I’m posting this story past the Live Playoffs midnight hour, but hopefully these questions below give you further insight into this talented and ambitious artist.
With the Live Playoffs before us, this is an entirely new chapter for you.
This is definitely going to be a huge, different chapter. It’s going to be a lot more intense. I’m going to need to bring even more to the table if I want to continue on. At this point, it’s up to America.
What else can you bring to the table? You have a great command of your voice and a solid stage presence . . .
Thank you!
No worries. What aspects do you think you can improve upon?
Something I’ve been really trying to work on is “less is more.” It’s such a huge deal right now to listen to your coach and take in everything they say and (take) full responsibility. Less is more is definitely something I need to work on because I’m always trying to push it for “more, more, more” when (sometimes) I really don’t have to. That’s something I really need to work on for the Live Playoffs.
What’s the key for you in delivering a great performance and shaking off your nerves?
This is really funny – are you ready?
Yeah.
My way of not being nervous – it’s a cliche. My way of not being nervous is just to literally think that – this isn’t real, this is just me in my room, imagining the people in front of me. Imagining these cameras going around me, and it’s not real (laughs).
And once it’s over, I then remind myself that this is real. So that’s my only way . . .
When did you learn how to do that?
I actually have been the worst person (in dealing with) stage fright. Every performance I’ve ever given before The Voice, even if it was in a small coffee shop, I was just a basket of nerves. I don’t know why. It never went away and I was always just so scared to get up in front of people because I’m a perfectionist.
Being on this show, knowing that nobody is perfect and nothing can be perfect, it really helped me. Just singing in front of the coaches alone is the biggest confidence booster.
http://youtu.be/LEddL44o-5I
Do you see this experience on The Voice as a form of education moving forward?
This is my career plan. I do feel school and work is important, but right now I really want to focus on this being my job and my life. Sometimes it doesn’t work out. Sometimes people don’t really go further with their plans for different reasons and I think it’s really up to the person to keep fighting for what they really want. And that’s the only thing I’ve got to do.
Are you okay with being a perfectionist, or does it have its drawbacks.
It’s not okay to think of yourself as a perfectionist when you’re working in this industry. It’s probably the worst thing you can do. If I have any advice for anybody – Adam has taught me that the most imperfect performance could be the best one. Here I am really focusing on every note that’s coming out and making sure it’s perfect. That can ruin a performance. It can just turn everything into a really crappy job.
Being on the show, it’s taught me so much and I’m straying away from that slowly but surely. With the help of Adam, I think I can get there a lot quicker.
Dumb question – what’s it like being on a Team Adam, which is now basically a sea of dudes?
(laughs) Yeah. I was really nervous about the fact that I was the last girl standing on Team Adam. But these guys are amazing, they are like my big brothers. I’ve grown so close with them already and I couldn’t be happier that I have them just to help me and guide me. They look at me as their little sister now and we’re just fighters.
We’re really excited to be working with each other and a lot of people say that I have an advantage being the only girl, but Adam loves his boys so (laughs) I don’t know how it’s going to turn out. All I know is that I’m really, really blessed.
Thanks again for your time Mia and good luck with the Live Playoffs.
Thank you so much!
