What It’s Really Like Competing on NBC’s American Song Contest

E!: There are many singing competitions out there where people are singing other people’s songs. What’s it like singing an original song?
UG: It means a lot, because it’s our art. Everybody’s performing what they wrote, what they put together themselves. It’s coming from their heart, so it’s amazing to put your art into the world and show everybody your talent. The platform in itself is just amazing alone. It’s national TV; [there’s] nothing better than [getting] your original song on national TV in front of the world. You can’t beat that.

E!: These performances look more like something you’d see on the Billboard Music Awards or the Grammys.
UG: It’s amazing. It’s surreal to look at it and watch it because this is something you dream of as an artist, being able to create your own stage, have you tell your vision to somebody and then bring it to life. That’s what they did. Literally, everything I told them, everything I wanted, they made happen.

E!: So this was more than writing and performing the song, this is your creative vision of what you want to see?
UG: Yes. I told [executive producer Anders Lenhoff] what I envisioned and they put it together. So crazy with the lighting and the coloring and it’s exactly what I asked for, dancers, everything. Every little thing you saw, I asked for it and they provided.

E!: Now that you’ve seen your rehearsal, how excited are you for the show to debut?
UG: I’m so excited for it…We’re going all out. 

E!: How do you want to represent Indiana, your home state?
UG: Our good energy, our rhythm, our vibe. Indiana is a great place, it has good energy, great people. We love the people in the end and we want to represent them in the best way.