As the latest season of American Idol has trimmed down to the Top 10, Keith Urban checks in with us and chats about the synergy between him and the two other judges, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick, Jr., as well as how some of the contestants are progressing.

“I think there’s a good synergy between the three of us, certainly for me there is, and that was right there from the beginning. Really from even before we hit the desk on the first show, I just felt like the three of us clicked personality-wise,” says Keith. “I think this far into the show, what I really love is we are very different in how we respond to things and how we articulate what we liked and didn’t like, what needs work and what doesn’t, and I think it’s all valid.”

As far as the contestants go, he finds it very interesting how they’re progressing with the stage presence, artistic expression and vocal abilities. “I love how everyone’s starting to hone their look and the way they move, the way they perform. It’s really getting interesting.”

You can catch Keith on the radio with his latest hit, “Cop Car,” and on the small screen with American Idol, which airs Wednesday nights at 8pm ET and Thursday nights at 9pm ET.

Keith Urban (AI judges 2014) OC: …that we bring. :56
“I think there’s a good synergy between the three of us, certainly for me there is, and that was right there from the beginning. Really from even before we hit the desk on the first show, I just felt like the three of us clicked personality-wise. And I think this far into the show, what I really love is we are very different in how we respond to things and how we articulate what we liked and didn’t like, what needs work and what doesn’t, and I think it’s all valid. You know, ‘cause Harry grew up, and he’ll be the first to talk about this, he grew up in that jazz environment where when people give their comments on what they think of you, it’s not sugar-coated in any way. It’s quite forthright, and that’s how Harry got better and better and better at what he does. So, he delivers his comments the way he would receive them, and I do the same, and Jen does the same, and they’re all very different. So, I love the balance that we bring.”

Keith Urban (AI contestants) OC: …interesting. :27
“I think the large majority of them have improved exponentially. The way they perform and the confidence level. But the confidence level is tricky, ‘cause you can be overconfident too, and that can have its own detrimental result. I love how everyone’s starting to hone their look and the way they move, the way they perform. It’s really getting interesting.”