Keith Urban is back in the States after taping a number of episodes of Australia’s version of The Voice. Prior to beginning the show, he said he was looking forward to the blind auditions the most, because in picking his team, it will be about someone’s singing ability. Now that he’s taped some of those episodes, he says there were aspects of the blind audition process that threw him for a loop, as well. “I didn’t expect it to be as difficult when you’re not watching somebody sing, ‘cause even when you watch the television at home, you’re still watching people,” says Keith. “We have these little speakers in front of us on the floor that we’re hearing singers through with the band, and we can’t see them obviously, but we can see the audience, so we get really swayed by audience reaction or lack of, and it’s remarkable the difference. When you take the visuals out, it’s really remarkable the big difference.” Seal, Joel Madden and Deltra Goodrem join Keith on The Voice.

Keith has just come off a two-week No. 1 run with “You’re Gonna Fly,” and he says he has been writing up a storm for his next album. In addition to putting on the third annual All For the Hall event next month, the entertainer will be sprinting back-and-forth to Australia to continue his role as coach on The Voice.

Check out a new promo for The Voice below.

Keith Urban (blind auditions) OC: …shock to me. :40

“It’s a huge list of things I didn’t expect. [laughs] I didn’t expect it to be as difficult when you’re not watching somebody sing, ‘cause even when you watch the television at home, you’re still watching people. I think people at home would do well to close their eyes when the people walk out and start singing, so you’re in the exact same place as the four coaches. We have these little speakers in front of us on the floor that we’re hearing singers through with the band, and we can’t see them obviously, but we can see the audience, so we get really swayed by audience reaction or lack thereof. And it’s remarkable the difference. When you take the visuals out, it’s really remarkable the big difference. So, that was a big shock to me.”