Ryley Tate Wilson on ‘The Voice’: ‘The most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me’

Ryley Tate Wilson isn’t the type to brag, but others are happy to do it for him.

Superlatives have been flying ever since the Alabama singer made his first appearance on “The Voice,” covering Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” during the blind auditions. Wilson, 15, has been a standout throughout Season 23 of the NBC reality series, prompting the celebrity coaches to call him “amazing,” “incredible,” “crazy good,” “insanely talented” and more.

Wilson — a Montgomery resident and the son of Kelley and Todd Wilson — came up through the ranks very quickly as a member of Niall Horan’s team. Now the teen will compete in the live semifinals of “The Voice,” as one of the top eight singers on the show. Viewer votes, cast during a five-minute window on Monday’s 7 p.m. episode, will determine whether Wilson becomes one of the top five singers and nabs a spot in the finals.

(NOTE: Wilson isn’t the only singer from Alabama who made the semifinals on Season 23 of “The Voice.” D. Smooth, a Birmingham native, is in the top eight as a member of Kelly Clarkson’s team. He’ll sing on Monday’s episode, as well.)

Wilson is in California today, preparing for his next big moment on national television. Before he left his home state, however, AL.com caught up with the teen via a phone interview. Here’s what Wilson had to say about “The Voice,” his time on Team Niall, his song choices and his future.

(The interview below has been edited for length and clarity.)

Ryley Tate, you’ve performed with local theater troupes, and with the choir at your church in Montgomery. Did that help to prepare you for “The Voice”?

Ryley Tate Wilson: I don’t know if I would say it completely prepared me for what “The Voice” was going to be like, but I definitely was comfortable on stage and was comfortable performing in front of people. “The Voice” is definitely a whole ‘nother ballpark. Normally, you’re performing in front of people who won’t be able to tell if you’re making a mistake, because they don’t sing, and they’re not musicians. That’s comforting to know, that if I make a little mistake, they don’t know. But performing in front of these celebrities ... they will know every mistake that I make, so it’s definitely a lot more nerve-wracking. But I definitely have the advantage of being comfortable performing on a stage.

Why did you want to be on “The Voice?”

I’ve always loved singing competition shows. (My family’s) not super fans of any singing shows, but we’ve here and there watched shows like “The Voice” and “America’s Got Talent” and “American Idol.” And I’ve always loved to sing. When I was younger, I did a little audition for “America’s Got Talent,” and did not get through at all. About two years ago now, I did a virtual audition for “The Voice” and I didn’t get a callback and didn’t get through at all, they just said, “Thank you for auditioning,” and “We hope to see you try again next year.” I tried again the next year, which was last year, and I got a callback, and it started the whole audition process. It was a lot more than I had expected, but it was really fun. I never thought I would be here, let alone where I am now on the show.

What’s it been like working with Niall Horan as a coach?

He’s great. I love Niall. He’s always very, very down-to-earth. He’s never pretentious or rude or, I don’t know, he doesn’t seem like a celebrity when you’re with him. And I know he was in one of the biggest boy bands ever. But he doesn’t feel like a celebrity when you’re with him. He seems like a vocal coach or someone helping you that is just super-knowledgeable and cares about you. I love working with Niall. It’s been an amazing experience.

Early episodes of “The Voice” are filmed in advance, and the semifinals are the first live show this season. Has Niall stayed in touch with you when you’re not filming?

Me and Niall have been keeping in touch and talking about songs and whatnot. He’s done that with everyone on his team. He’s very, very connected. We were not expecting this, but even after the blind auditions, when there were 10 people on his team, he did a Zoom call individually, one-on-one with all of us, and talked to us. Just talked to us in general. He talked some about the show, but got to know us better. We chatted for about 30-45 minutes. And we’ve kept in touch over email.

What’s been the most exciting moment for you in the competition?

I think the most exciting point was definitely getting chosen by Niall to go into the semifinals. The live rounds of the show have always been the dream when I auditioned. I always thought I would love to make it to the live rounds. I would love to be in the finale, but if I end up going home after the semifinals, I would definitely feel accomplished. I would have felt accomplished the whole time, but mainly now, this is what I’ve wanted, and I’m super thrilled to have accomplished this.

You skipped the knockouts round because your coach gave you a pass to move directly to the playoffs. Were you disappointed you didn’t get to work with Reba McEntire in the knockouts?

Oh, my goodness, yes. I definitely was. I mean, I’m super appreciative of the playoff pass. I’m thrilled that Niall gave it to me. I’m honored that he thought that I was his favorite on his team, or enough to give me the playoff pass. But I would have loved to work with Reba. I know from people on the show, she had amazing tips and (told them) things about the industry, so much more than they aired on the show. That would have been super valuable if I’d gotten to work with her. And she just seems like a super-cool person. But I can’t be mad. I like that I got the playoff pass.

How have you been making song choices along the way? What goes into that?

It was a lot of me and Niall talking back and forth. Ultimately, it’s a split between my decision and Niall’s decision and the show’s decision. It’s not one person’s decision for anything, but I definitely have a say in what song, and Niall has a say. I think it’s great that me and Niall have worked together on all my songs, to agree. Other coaches might have been more distant and made it more difficult for their team to be happy with their song selections. But I’m really, really happy with the song, “When the Party’s Over,” that I performed in the playoffs. I love that song and I love Billie Eilish. I think it’s one of my favorite performances I’ve done in the show.

Have you been pointing to your music heroes with your song choices on “The Voice”?

Oh, yeah. I love Billie Eilish. I think the fact that she came from being a little indie artist and is now one of the top artists in the world, is really inspiring to me. I mean, she produced her first album — I think, even her last album — just sitting on her brother’s bed. I mean, recording it, all produced in her bedroom, which is crazy, and she’s had so much success from that. I really look up to that.

She’s definitely not a cookie-cutter artist. It sounds like you can relate to that.

I don’t want to be pushed into, like, cookie-cutter pop, like teenybopper singers on the show. I’m really trying to avoid that, especially after the show, because there’s a ton of teenage pop singers.

You’re a songwriter, correct? Tell us about that.

I am working on my first project. It’s very vague right now, but I’m loving all of the songs that I’m writing for this project. I’m super, super excited to start releasing it after the show. I would describe it as very genre-less. There’s a lot of acoustic pop influences, but there’s also more experimental things in it. It’s eclectic.

Can you give us any song titles? You know, “Hey, look for this one.”

My song “A Girl” is one that people should look for, and “Take It or Leave It,” look for that one, I love that song. Also, I have one song out right now, “Anna Magdalena,” and a lot of people really seem to enjoy that song.

Are you hoping for a career in music?

Music has always been what I’ve wanted to do for my career, specifically musical theater. I’ve wanted to do something in that realm of Broadway or acting, even film acting. Music or acting is what I really want to do. I have a big passion for both of those, for cinematography and film and music. So I think musical theater would be a cool mesh, and there are musical movies as well. I would be thrilled to have anything in music, but specifically anything that involves acting and singing.

What about producing? You have a techie side, right?

I really enjoy producing my own music. I don’t know if I’d do well producing other people’s music. I feel like I could physically do well, but I don’t know how much I would enjoy it, because I’m so picky about how it sounds. I feel like I would be a pain to work with, as a producer.

Have you been watching yourself on “The Voice,” as the episodes have aired?

We’ve had a few watch parties at my church, and they’ve been super fun, to have all my friends come and support me in that.

What’s it like seeing yourself on TV?

It feels weird. It doesn’t feel like I’m watching myself, honestly. It feels like I’m just watching somebody on TV that looks like me. It’s a weird experience to see yourself on TV. It’s definitely very odd. But I’m getting more used to it, the more that it happens. It’s definitely fun. I feel accomplished when I do it, like all my hard work for the show has paid off, being able to watch it. It’s a different experience for sure.

Do you feel famous? Are people yelling out car windows at you, and asking for selfies and old-school autographs?

Yeah, I’ve definitely had a good bit of that. I’ve had a lot of people walking up to me — “Are you Ryley Tate Wilson?” — getting photos, taking pictures. I’m not saying I feel famous, like the caliber of other celebrities, but I definitely feel well-known, specifically in hometown. ... I’m super appreciative of everyone that’s walked up to me and congratulated me and encouraged me. It really does mean a lot, every single person that comes up to me and supports me. And I’m just thankful for that.

Are you feeling any extra pressure, now that viewers will be voting in the semifinals? It’s not just your coach’s decision anymore.

I don’t know; I haven’t felt like I have been more stressed thinking about that. And I think that’s only because of the internet success that my audition and other videos have had, from people that will be voting. I’m not saying that I’m surely going to go to the finale, but I’m just saying that having all of these people support me, at least from what I’ve seen, versus trying to impress one person, and have this one person choose you over other people, feels to me like there’s a lot more pressure on that. To have this one person I need to convince, which is different from having millions of different people. I feel like there’s a lot higher chance of you getting voted in with them.

(Rehearsals for “The Voice” semifinals are showcased in the video below. The segment on Horan’s team starts at the 2:40 mark, and reveals that Wilson will cover Billy Joel’s “Vienna” in the semifinals.)

Going into the show, did you think you’d make it this far?

Absolutely not. I was just hoping to get a chair turn. I was super skeptical that I’d even get a chair turn. And then I got four chairs and the battle, and I was just, I really really want to make it through. Then I got the playoff pass, which was crazy, and I was like, there is no way I’m making it to the top two on Team Niall. That’s insane. And then I made it. So I was definitely not expecting to make it this far. But I’m super glad that I did, and I think every round makes me more confident, and more eager to go farther.

Would you recommend that other singers, especially teenagers, audition for “The Voice?”

I think if you’re willing to work really hard. It’s not easy. It looks easier, I think, (on TV). You’re seeing the finished product of months and months and months and months of work, and lots and lots of people working on something that are all relying on you. So if you’re willing to work hard, then it’s definitely been a life-changing experience, and of my favorite experiences. It’s definitely the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me.

If you watch: “The Voice” semifinals for Season 23 will air on Monday, May 15, at 7 p.m. CT on NBC. The finals are set for May 22-23. Early episodes of the show were filmed in advance. The semifinals and finals will be broadcast live.

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