invaluable new-old Kris interview in which we learn that "the self-taught musician taught himself"
The self-taught musician taught himself to play guitar one summer and quickly fell in love with a dream to pursue a musical career. It began as a road trip with Kris and his brother who both looked to audition for the talent competition. Gaining momentum on the Idol stage, Allen was critiqued for not displaying enough confidence but that all changed when he took on Kanye West’s “Heatless."
As the laid back performer began to demonstrate confidence and take chances with each performance his dream of becoming a recording artist quickly started to become a reality. His dreams took him to the American Idol stage were he won the title and was crowned victor of season eight. Next up for Allen, this November he plans on releasing his debut album. But before the album release, Allen is touring with his fellow Idols on the American Idol summer tour. Each city they visit, Allen picks up great reviews and builds the anticipation for his upcoming untitled album.
Kris Allen was born to perform and this summer the American Idol winner is pulling out all the stops across the multi-city American Idol tour. Allen has the last set of the night and when the curtain rises and he stands in the spotlight with his plaid shirt and guitar, he shines. From the first strum of Heartless to the last note of the ensemble’s “Don’t Stop Believing," Allen captivates audiences and invites them along for a musical journey. PopStar spoke with the American Idol winner about how his style is showcased on tour, his opinions on adding a fourth judge, and a special message to all his adoring fans.
PopStar: How is your style showcased on the American Idol tour?
Kris Allen: I am doing "Heartless" from the show and "Ain’t No Sunshine" from the show. So I thought I would throw in some cool songs like like "Hey Jude," "Bright Lights" from Matchbox 20 and "All These Things That I’ve Done" from The Killers. I think that they are great songs that are fun to play and people can get into. Musicwise that is the thing I wanted to do; be an artist and I think that it will show.
PopStar: We are all very excited about your upcoming album; can you tell us about it?
Kris Allen: It's going well. We are writing with some really cool people from LA and New York. We are getting some good songs in and I think it is going really well.
PopStar: Are you writing any songs yourself?
Kris Allen: Yeah, absolutely. Doing a lot of co-writing stuff as well.
PopStar: When can we expect a release of the album?
Kris Allen: We are trying to do sometime in the middle of November, close to Thanksgiving.
PopStar: When you are not on stage performing or driving from one city to the next, what do you like to do in your off time?
Kris Allen: There is not a whole lot. I have had two days off throughout the whole tour. One day was when we were in Florida so I went to the beach and did nothing all day. The other day I was in Atlanta and I went and watched The Hangover by myself in the movie theater.
PopStar: Do you find it hard to go out in public without being swarmed?
Kris Allen: People are going to notice you obviously especially when you are hanging out with the other Idols. We get noticed but for the most part we can put on a hat to help disguise us and blend in.
PopStar: Season eight was the first year they added a fourth judge; how do you think that went?
Kris Allen: I feel like it went well, I really do. I liked what Kara brought as a musician. In the music industry right now she is a big writer, she has written a lot of songs and she is a great singer. Timing wise I think it was new for the show and they had a hard time dealing with that. Other than that I think it went incredibly.
PopStar: You and Idol star Adam Lambert did fun backstage interviews of each other that ended up on YouTube. You guys talked a lot about each other's music style; on tour what is your favorite Adam Lambert performance?
Kris Allen: On the tour, the one that I get to hear the most is the Bowie one because I go on after him. So I hear that one a lot; I think it is really good and the crowd gets along with it. He is in his element when he is doing that Bowie stuff. It is very cool.
PopStar: Looking back on American Idol, do you have any regrets?
Kris Allen: The only thing I would not do is, I performed in that little pit, I would not do that again, I would do it on the stage. Other than that, I am a man of no regrets.
PopStar: Message to the fans.
Kris Allen: American Idol fans are the best seriously. I try to say every night because of you we are able to play music hopefully for the rest of our lives which is the thing we love the most. As people that come out of American Idol we owe everything to you. I love the fans and I think it is very flattering that they care so much.
Nothing really new here except for Kris' favourite Adam performance on tour.
source: http://news.popstar.com/Article/1129
As the laid back performer began to demonstrate confidence and take chances with each performance his dream of becoming a recording artist quickly started to become a reality. His dreams took him to the American Idol stage were he won the title and was crowned victor of season eight. Next up for Allen, this November he plans on releasing his debut album. But before the album release, Allen is touring with his fellow Idols on the American Idol summer tour. Each city they visit, Allen picks up great reviews and builds the anticipation for his upcoming untitled album.
Kris Allen was born to perform and this summer the American Idol winner is pulling out all the stops across the multi-city American Idol tour. Allen has the last set of the night and when the curtain rises and he stands in the spotlight with his plaid shirt and guitar, he shines. From the first strum of Heartless to the last note of the ensemble’s “Don’t Stop Believing," Allen captivates audiences and invites them along for a musical journey. PopStar spoke with the American Idol winner about how his style is showcased on tour, his opinions on adding a fourth judge, and a special message to all his adoring fans.
PopStar: How is your style showcased on the American Idol tour?
Kris Allen: I am doing "Heartless" from the show and "Ain’t No Sunshine" from the show. So I thought I would throw in some cool songs like like "Hey Jude," "Bright Lights" from Matchbox 20 and "All These Things That I’ve Done" from The Killers. I think that they are great songs that are fun to play and people can get into. Musicwise that is the thing I wanted to do; be an artist and I think that it will show.
PopStar: We are all very excited about your upcoming album; can you tell us about it?
Kris Allen: It's going well. We are writing with some really cool people from LA and New York. We are getting some good songs in and I think it is going really well.
PopStar: Are you writing any songs yourself?
Kris Allen: Yeah, absolutely. Doing a lot of co-writing stuff as well.
PopStar: When can we expect a release of the album?
Kris Allen: We are trying to do sometime in the middle of November, close to Thanksgiving.
PopStar: When you are not on stage performing or driving from one city to the next, what do you like to do in your off time?
Kris Allen: There is not a whole lot. I have had two days off throughout the whole tour. One day was when we were in Florida so I went to the beach and did nothing all day. The other day I was in Atlanta and I went and watched The Hangover by myself in the movie theater.
PopStar: Do you find it hard to go out in public without being swarmed?
Kris Allen: People are going to notice you obviously especially when you are hanging out with the other Idols. We get noticed but for the most part we can put on a hat to help disguise us and blend in.
PopStar: Season eight was the first year they added a fourth judge; how do you think that went?
Kris Allen: I feel like it went well, I really do. I liked what Kara brought as a musician. In the music industry right now she is a big writer, she has written a lot of songs and she is a great singer. Timing wise I think it was new for the show and they had a hard time dealing with that. Other than that I think it went incredibly.
PopStar: You and Idol star Adam Lambert did fun backstage interviews of each other that ended up on YouTube. You guys talked a lot about each other's music style; on tour what is your favorite Adam Lambert performance?
Kris Allen: On the tour, the one that I get to hear the most is the Bowie one because I go on after him. So I hear that one a lot; I think it is really good and the crowd gets along with it. He is in his element when he is doing that Bowie stuff. It is very cool.
PopStar: Looking back on American Idol, do you have any regrets?
Kris Allen: The only thing I would not do is, I performed in that little pit, I would not do that again, I would do it on the stage. Other than that, I am a man of no regrets.
PopStar: Message to the fans.
Kris Allen: American Idol fans are the best seriously. I try to say every night because of you we are able to play music hopefully for the rest of our lives which is the thing we love the most. As people that come out of American Idol we owe everything to you. I love the fans and I think it is very flattering that they care so much.
Nothing really new here except for Kris' favourite Adam performance on tour.
source: http://news.popstar.com/Article/1129