By Jae-Ha Kim
Tribune Content Agency
January 30, 2018
Born in Louisiana and raised in Florida, Paxton Ingram won over viewers with his magnetic personality and gorgeous vocals during his stint on “The Voice.” He says everyone expected him to pick Pharrell to be his on-air coach. Instead, he selected country superstar Blake Shelton. Ingram, 21, recently released the single “Bad Luck.” He will be performing a showcase at this year’s SXSW.
Fans may follow the Miami resident on Twitter and Instagram.
Q. How does Miami compare to other cities?
A. It is right up there at the top. Miami has to be one of my favorite cities, not just ’cause I’m from there. The older I get, the more I appreciate it. When I was a kid, I was like, “Eh, I want to get out of here and experience life. But now that I’ve had the opportunity to travel and see other things, I love coming back home. Miami is just another world. There are so many different cultures and languages here. You’re getting a melting pot when you visit Miami. If I had to compare it to any other city, I’d liken it to London more than another U.S. city like New York or Los Angeles.
Q. True or false: Miami is a party city.
A. True! It’s a well-deserved reputation! (Laughs) We are a party city. When people visit, it’s exciting for them, because there is a party and vacation vibe. Everywhere you go there is some kind of party happening. Every day is a new, fun adventure.
Q. Since you live in a sunny spot, do you seek out cold-weather destinations during your off time?
A. No! I’m a sun kid. I’m a Florida boy. I’ve always been attracted to warmth. When I go on vacation, I want to go to Hawaii, or to a beach in Croatia or southern Italy or Portugal. I’m super attracted to water. I’ve always been that kind of person.
Q. Is traveling still fun for you?
A. It never grows old. I love it! I get butterflies every time I’m about to board a plane. It’s that nervous excitement. I love to travel. I’ve kind of grown into traveling by myself, too, and take trips by myself. It can be kind of therapeutic for me.
Q. What was your first trip as a child?
A. It had to have been when I was probably about seven or eight. We took a road trip from Miami all the way to Tyler, Texas. It was long. I’m still working through that. (Laughs) But we had a CD player and I had all my CDs, so I was in my own little world. I think that was my first real vacation.
Q. You’ll be performing at this year’s SXSW in Texas. Will you be driving?
A. (Laughs) No! We’re flying! Actually, after that road trip to Tyler, we started flying.
Q. What are some of your favorite destinations?
A. Two great places really stick out — New Orleans and London. They each have their own vibe. New Orleans is one of the most interesting places on this continent. There’s so much history there and so many things to reference, from art, to music, to cooking, to language, to culture. It’s really special. And then London is just so cool. It’s an epicenter of Europe. I remember the first time I was there, comparing it to New York, but it seemed to have even a bit more of culture and aesthetic.
Q. In what cities have you heard some great live music?
A. I really like cities where the music scene is thriving, like New York, New Orleans, London and Chicago. You can go out just about any time and hear great music. A lot of times you’ll go to an open mic night and it sounds like a middle-school show. But I’ve been to a few in London where the musicians were so talented. I was thinking, “Is everyone here signed (to a label)”?
Q. What is on your travel bucket list?
A. The Maldives. It looks so good in the pictures. I also would have to throw in Algarve, Portugal, which has some of the most beautiful caves and beaches you’ve ever seen. And I’d love to go to Tokyo.
© 2018 JAE-HA KIM
DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
One thought on “Go Away With … Paxton Ingram”