If you watch network television, no doubt you've been bombarded with advertisements for NBC's new singing competition, The Voice. Unlike other, more tired singing shows, The Voice puts a paramount on, appropriately enough, the voice. Four judges (or coaches, as The Voice calls them) sit in chairs facing away from the stage while people come up and audition. All they have to go on is singing ability, not looks or stage presence. If a coach likes what he or she hears, they hit a button and turn around to face the performer, which signals that they want to recruit the singer to their team. If more than one coach turns around, the performer gets to choose whose team he or she wants to join.

The judges are accomplished performers in various realms of popular music: Adam Levine, from Maroon 5; Cee-Lo Green, from the Goodie Mob, Gnarls Barkeley, and the recent smash hit, "Fuck You"; country singer Blake Shelton; and pop singer Christina Aguilera.

On the premier episode, Tacoma got a damn good reason to care about this show when local favorite Vicci Martinez took the stage and absolutely nailed Adele's "Rolling in the Deep." Both Cee-Lo and Aguilera turned around to bid for her, with Martinez ultimately picking Cee-lo.

After each team has eight members, the coaches will narrow their teams down to four. After that, the audience will be put in the position of voting for their favorite performers.

I caught up with Martinez via phone the day after the premier to get her thoughts on The Voice and to find out what happens next.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: How did it come to be that you ended up on the show?

VICCI MARTINEZ: They had a public audition for everyone in Seattle and Chicago and New York, L.A., stuff like that. But one thing that was cool about this was that they actually went online and looked for people who were singing around the area, doing shows, just performing professionally around the areas where they were going to audition. One of the guys [who was casting for] Seattle knew that I hadn't done American Idol, because I just didn't like the way they do it over there. [So he said to my manager], "Can't you just talk her into auditioning? It's a different kind of a show, and I think she'll really like it. Nobody wants to change her. She's got a good voice and we'd like for her to try out." So I did it a little reluctantly. I was a little nervous about it, just thinking that this wasn't where I wanted to go. But I tried out, I met the casting crew and they were amazing. It was so cool. They let me sing my own songs when I auditioned, they let me play my guitar, and it was all really cool. I'm trying to learn to be open to all opportunities that come my way. So I went for it.

VOLCANO: I know that you can't say too much about it, but have you been working with Cee-Lo?

MARTINEZ: Yeah. You'll see, if you keep up with the show, that we definitely spend time with our coaches. And it's really nice. It's kind of crazy to just be hanging out with somebody who's at the top of their game. I'm just like, "Teach me! Tell me what top do!" It's pretty awesome.

VOLCANO: Going in, were you always leaning toward Cee-Lo?

MARTINEZ: Yeah, I was. Out of all four of them, he was my top pick. And then, when Christina turned around, it kind of threw me off guard. She just has such an amazing presence that I felt like, "God, maybe I should go with her." Because she's got a crazy-great voice.

VOLCANO: It had to be kind of intimidating to have the choice in your hands like that.

MARTINEZ: Yeah, exactly! But I felt that, stylistically, I just vibe more with Cee-Lo, and I think I made the right choice.

VOLCANO: So, as the weeks go on, presuming that you end up in the next rounds, will you be allowed to sing your own songs and bring out a guitar?

MARTINEZ: I don't know. They gave me the option to play my guitar. I chose not to, because I didn't know the song well enough. And it's based on my voice, so I just didn't want to have anything to distract me.

VOLCANO: What are your hopes for when you're through with this? What do you hope will come out of it?

MARTINEZ: I feel like I've been playing around in the Northwest for so long, and everybody here's just so wonderful and supportive of me just being myself and staying true to who I am. I just hope that America feels the same way. I hope that they're supportive and like what I do.

VOLCANO: So, I assume you watched yourself on TV last night? What was that experience like?

MARTINEZ: Crazy. It was really intense. Obviously there's a lot of editing, and with shows like this you just wonder if they're really gonna show who you really are, or if they're going to try and twist things. But this show is just totally the opposite. It's just people telling their story and being honest. That's important, because if it's going to be called The Voice, I feel like whoever wins or gets further in the competition needs to be a good person, a good role model. And I think everyone there is really great.

VOLCANO: So you haven't been corrupted by your new-found fame, yet?

MARTINEZ: Oh, yeah right! I have family and friends who keep me grounded and not let any of that stuff get to my head. I did Star Search when I was, like, 18, and that was pretty cool, and I got a lot of press around here. And, you know, that stuff comes and goes and you just gotta continue to be a good person, because that's what's going to keep the good people around you. That's what matters.

As long as Vicci Martinez remains on The Voice, I'll be keeping you updated with weekly recaps. In the meantime, enjoy Ms. Martinez's rendition of "Rolling in the Deep."