Listening to the soothing sounds of Enya while relaxing in a nice, warm bath. That's what Nicholas David Mrozinski is looking forward to doing once he gets back home. After months in Los Angeles competing on "The Voice," the St. Paul musician who grew up in Eagan came in third on the Tuesday, Dec. 18, finale.

He's anything but disappointed with the results.

"It was the experience of a lifetime. I was at the best music school ever," he said Wednesday, Dec. 19, while waiting to catch a flight back to the Twin Cities. "There were so many layers and levels to the whole experience. We (the contestants) grew so close; you can't help but fall in love with each other. We were a family."

Here's more of what Mrozinski -- dubbed St.

The three finalists waited with host Carson Daly on Tuesday night. (NBC)
Nick by his coach Cee Lo Green -- had to say about his "Voice" journey.

Q: Congratulations on your impressive run on the show. How are you feeling today?

A: I'm a little tired, but I feel free. I feel like a new breath. I'm thankful, blessed and glad to close that chapter of my life, and I'm excited to open a new book and see what comes of it. A lot of new doors have opened because of this experience and propelled our life to a new level of living so I'm excited to see which direction it takes.

It's bittersweet, to be honest with you. In the middle of the grind and doing it, it's like, "Oh my gosh, this is so much." Then, last night saying goodbye to everybody at the wrap party ...


now that it's done and you look at it from that perspective, like I don't really want it to be done. But that's just a human condition.

Q: What was going through your head on the finale as host Carson Daly announced you came in third?

A: I never looked at it as a competition. I looked at it as the opportunity of a lifetime. An experience of experiences. I had a feeling that's how it would pan out. I was just so excited to make it that far. First, second or third, I could care less. I feel like I came there to win in a way of being a vehicle of love and a messenger of hope and healing, and I know that's what I did. To bring music with depth and content back into the public eye. Meeting Bill Withers, Cee Lo, Jennifer Hudson, Rob Thomas; meeting, playing and singing with Smokey Robinson -- it was a true treat.

Q: It looked like you were having the time of your life on Monday's finale. The piano you were playing on the "Great Balls of Fire"/"Fire" mashup had flames shooting out of it and then you performed "Play That Funky Music" with Cee Lo and a "mini-Cee Lo." How crazy was that?

A: That was a true trip. After a stripped-down, emotionally raw performance of "You Are So Beautiful" where else could I really go on the heart path from there? I wanted to bring that passion and that fire and literally see if we can set the place on fire.

Q: It seemed like you and Cee Lo Green were very close. Do you think you'll work with him in the future?

A: I truly hope so. We talked about doing it and talked about making it happen. I'm excited to see what the future will bring because there's a lot of doors open right now.

Q: Can you tell us anything about what those doors might be? Or people who have reached out to you?

A: Not really, because I don't know what I can do with that. I have to wait to see what I can do and which doors to go through.

Nicholas David and Smokey Robinson perform &quot;Cruisin&#8217; &quot; on &quot;The Voice.&quot; (NBC)
Nicholas David and Smokey Robinson perform "Cruisin' " on "The Voice." (NBC)
It's so exciting. It's really fitting that it is Christmas because I feel like I'm opening all these packages. I was talking to my gal and told her I feel like this whole trip was like we were in labor. This was an amazing thing, but it was really like birthing us into a new life.

Q: Last week Cee Lo alluded to the two of you having a disagreement over a song, what was that all about?

A: I had a more joyful approach to "You Are So Beautiful" that we worked up with the band and Cee Lo thought we should strip it down because I really haven't had a moment like that.

Q: Did you like the way it turned out following his advice?

A: I thought it was wonderful to strip it down and be so emotionally raw, so emotionally naked. It really conveyed the message. I still get a little choked up when I watch the video of that.

Q: Are you under contract with "The Voice"?

A: I have no idea. I have to speak with the lawyer and see what's up with all that stuff.

Q: Are you going to be playing in the Twin Cities again soon?

A: Again, I have to see what I can do. That's basically it.

Q: Have you done any Christmas shopping yet?

A: No (he laughs). I've got a couple days to do that when I get home. Even when we did the home visit on the show, that was the first time I was in my new house ever. Now I've got to unpack boxes. I want to give my gal a break because she's been busting her tail running around doing all this stuff. I would also like to just sleep. My big plan is to draw a bath, put some bath salts in there, put some Enya on and take a relaxing, super-long bath and shut my phone off.
