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Sunday, August 29, 2010

Lee DeWyze pleased with post-American Idol recording plans

Written by Alan Sculley, toledofreepress.com

Lee DeWyze seems to be the kind of artist and musician who isn’t afraid to set lofty goals.

“In my mind you only live once, and if you’re not going to do it big, then don’t do it at all,” he remarked during a recent phone interview.

DeWyze has certainly followed that line of thinking during the past year or so, taking one of the quickest paths any musician can follow to make a big splash on the national music scene.

He auditioned for “American Idol,” and was crowned the champion this past season. Now he’s about to record an album on major label RCA/19 Records, and if all goes according to plan, it will be released during the high-profile Christmas shopping season.

And with the built-in fan base that comes with having your performances seen on “American Idol” by millions of viewers week in, week out, there’s little doubt that DeWyze will have a good chance to make a big first impression with his RCA/19 debut album and have the kind of immediate success that many past “Idol” winners have enjoyed with their first post-“Idol” CDs.

This is exactly the platform DeWyze wanted to reach in his music career. In interviews as the “American Idol” season was unfolding, he made no secret that he wanted to record for a major record label — not an independent.

“No one’s got the outreach like a major label does,” DeWyze said, explaining that preference. “I don’t care what anyone says. You can’t get the exposure that a major label can offer [on an independent record label].”

“For me, I want to get my CDs everywhere. I want it out all over the place. I want everyone to listen to my music. That’s just how I am. If I’m doing something and I’m proud of it, I want everyone to hear it.”

DeWyze, 24, knows what it’s like to be trying to build a career from a much more modest starting point. Prior to auditioning for “American Idol,” he had tried to build his career the way so many artists do, by playing countless gigs around his home base.

Starting out at age 17, he had spent six years playing shows in his hometown Chicago area.

“We played everything from your dive bar to the House of Blues … just a lot of different places, everything you could think of,” DeWyze said.

Along the way, DeWyze released two CDs on the Chicago-based independent label, WuLi Records: 2007’s “So I’m Told” and 2009’s “Slumberland.” Both albums found DeWyze working in primarily an acoustic folk-rock vein (with bass and drums often added to his guitar parts and vocals). It’s a sound that isn’t far afield from that of artists like Jason Mraz or Jack Johnson.

The fact that DeWyze had this experience in music wasn’t played up on “American Idol,” which instead focused on the fact that he had worked in a paint store before making it as an “Idol” finalist.

DeWyze said he wasn’t that bothered by how he was portrayed, although he admitted the “paint store guy” angle was a bit odd.

“I think their whole thing was he’s the paint store guy, the working class man,” he said. “And it was cool. I worked at a paint store. Everyone’s got jobs. Everyone’s got to pay the bills. So for me it was kind of just weird that was the main focus.

“I’m glad it wasn’t some kind of sob story,” he said. “I understand that people have things that go on in their lives, but for me, I didn’t want it to be about any of that stuff.”

Even for a musician with performing experience, getting onto “American Idol” can seem like a pipe dream. First, one has to audition against thousands of other hopefuls. And that’s just to get to the next round to try to become one of the 24 semi-finalists that will actually get the chance to compete on the show. To DeWyze, who sounds like he doesn’t lack for confidence, auditioning for “American Idol” was something he decided he just had to do.

“I just didn’t want five years to go by and be like, ‘what if I had done this? What would have happened’?” he said. “Now I can’t say that to myself. I know exactly what would have happened.”

What happened, of course, is that DeWyze kept doing well week after week on “American Idol.” On the way to claiming the title of this season’s champion, he never landed in the bottom three — something that no previous male finalist had ever achieved.

He admitted, though, that doing the “American Idol” show was different than what he had expected.

“I thought it would be a lot more relaxed than it was,” DeWyze said. “At times, it became very high tension, like it was very tense, the whole situation. And it was just very sometimes unnerving and just a little bit more than you would think.”

Now, DeWyze is getting to showcase his talents away from the set of the show on the “American Idols Live!” tour. He’ll do a set of five songs or so to close the shows, which also feature performances from the other nine finalists from this season. DeWyze said he’s ready for the tour, even though he’s accustomed to clubs and not arena stages.

“I’m used to playing in front of people, but nothing on this scale,” he said. “I’m definitely not worried about the performances. I’m more looking forward to them than anything. I’m not nervous about it or anything. It’s different than ‘Idol.’ It’s not like you’re being judged or you have a minute and a half to play a song. You get to play full songs in front of crowds. It’s going to be great.”

He’ll also get started recording his first album for RCA/19. DeWyze though, didn’t offer many details about the kind of sound he’ll pursue on the CD, or if it will be different from the acoustic-oriented sound of his two independent CDs or what producers or co-writers will be involved.

“I have a lot of new ideas and things I want to get down, different sounds and things,” DeWyze said. “Being in the studio and being able to do that is going to be awesome for me, because that’s exactly what I need right now.”

Friday, August 20, 2010

Lee DeWyze performs "Rocket Man" at Los Angeles show!

Lee DeWyze - winner of American Idol Season 9 - performs Elton John's "Rocket Man" at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA during an Idols LIVE concert stop .


Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Exclusive: Lee DeWyze Talks Ellen DeGeneres' American Idol Departure

Billboard.com Exclusive, by Monica Herrera, N.Y.

Lee DeWyze was the first "American Idol" winner to have been judged by Ellen DeGeneres, and now he's most certainly the last, after the talk show host and funnywoman announced her departure from the show last week. In a statement to Billboard.com, DeWyze says he was "privileged" to have been judged by DeGeneres during her lone season with the show.

"I feel very privileged to have been a part of 'American Idol' while Ellen was there," says DeWyze, who edged out Crystal Bowersox for the season nine "Idol" crown in May. "She represented the voice of the viewers and genuinely wanted to see each of us succeed. That's what I love about Ellen, she has a huge heart."

"I valued her opinion each and every week, and can not thank her enough for her support throughout last season," DeWyze adds. "I wish her the best."

Since DeGeneres announced her exit, everyone from Steven Tyler to Jennifer Lopez has been rumored as a replacement "Idol" judge. While Fox has remained tightlipped throughout the speculation, Tyler has confirmed that he was contacted by the network and that his deal is a "work in progress."

DeWyze is currently on the road with his fellow top 10 finalists for the American Idols Live! tour, which wraps at the end of the month, and recording his debut album.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Lee DeWyze ~ Interview with Phathead 94.3 WMJC

American Idol Lee DeWyze talks with Phathead at 94.3 WMJC radio, Long Island.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Lee DeWyze & Crystal Bowersox talk about their future plans with YoungHollywood

American Idol Lee DeWyze and runner-up Crystal Bowersox talk about their future and how this is just the beginning for them. Lee tells YH his secret on what he was feeling when he got crowned American Idol as Crystal tells us her musical influences and inspirations ~ like Micheal Franti and Spearhead, Aretha Franklin and Melissa Etheridge. Hosted by Tatiana Diana.



Tuesday, August 10, 2010

AMERICAN IDOL NEWS - Exclusive Interview with Lee DeWyze

American Idol Lee DeWyze has been touring the country with his fellow Top 10 Season 9 finalists. The reigning champ hopped on the phone with us before performing in Pittsburgh for an exclusive interview. He chatted about his upcoming album, advice for Season 10 hopefuls, and more.

Lee told us that “The best part of being on tour is getting to play live; really live! There are no judges and no cameras. It’s just me doing my thing and getting to play for the fans.” So does Lee get nervous performing in front of stadiums of people? Nope. “I got up in front of 40 million people while on American Idol and I learned so much from the show. It’s all about music for me. I stayed true to myself on the show, and being on the big stage on tour I’m interacting with the crowd and being myself.”

Every season seems to have a prankster, and it seems that Lee is the Season 9 tour prankster. MyIdol member Wahntchre wanted to know more about Lee’s leader role with the pranks and if he’s afraid of the pranks that may be pulled on him. “I only do very subtle pranks – nothing harmful. If anyone is going to try to prank me, it better be good, because there’s going to be retaliation!”

As the American Idol, Lee is the headliner of the Season 9 tour. Since he’s the last person to perform at each show, what does he do to pass the time while he’s waiting for his set? “I’m still trying to figure it out,” Lee remarked. “I have time to listen to a full album, so I’ll pick one and listen to it. I just try and chill, because if I just sit around and wait, I’ll get tired. During Casey's and Crystal’s sets, I’ll go watch them and listen to the crowd and get pumped up.”

Lee’s favorite part about being on tour is meeting the fans. “There have been a lot of cool moments meeting the fans. Seeing the people who supported me on the show has been great. They are fans of the show and are music fans too. It’s cool to see the people progress from being fans of mine to fans of my music. When I meet them I like to let the fans know how much I appreciate them. The time will come when I’m out on my own making music, and I look forward to making a name for myself and having them stick by me. I love them all so much.”

In just one month, the tour will hit up Lee’s hometown, Chicago! “I’m very excited for the Chicago show because my family and friends will be there,” Lee shared. “This will be the first show my family will be at. There are lots of fans in Chicago too. It will be like a really good homecoming.” Although the tour stop will be just 15 minutes away from Lee’s home, they don’t have any extra time to spend in Chicago. Once the tour ends, Lee said he’ll have a little time to see everyone back home.

As Lee travels the country on tour, he is also working on his album and first single. “My first single was U2's ‘Beautiful Day,’ and the fans responded to it well. It was cool to cover a song by one of the biggest bands of all time,” said Lee. “I am looking forward to releasing my album which will be more my style – more folk-rock. I’ve been writing everything so far and it represents me well.” My Idol members AngelxDeWyze and jojowinkie wanted to know more about the writing process, and Lee shared, “I’ve been writing since I was 16 years old. I’m inspired by different stages of my life, and Idol was a huge stage of my life and a big influence. I like to write about things I can relate to like finding myself, love, and emotional things people can feel. I’m emotionally connected to music. My mood affects my music and sometimes the melody comes first and other times it’s the story; it just depends on how I’m feeling. Sometimes a song will just come to me, but I never write about something I don’t experience myself or an experience someone else shares with me.”

To the Season 10 hopefuls who are currently going through the audition process, Lee offered up some great advice. “First, good luck to all of them,” Lee stated. “Don’t be fake and don’t try to be something you’re not. Stay true to yourself. If you do the best you can, good things will come.”

Before Lee hit the road with the Top 10, he talked about what he has to have with him on tour and what it’s like to have his dreams come true.

From AmericanIdol.com

Monday, August 9, 2010

LEE DEWYZE WINS TEEN CHOICE AWARD!!

2010 Teen Choice Awards Winners Announced

Yes Fans, American Idol Season 9 winner Lee DeWyze wins again! This time for "Choice TV: Male Reality/Variety Star"! Lee's loyal fans know how to get out the vote!

American Idol itself has proven to be a perennial favorite, winning the "Choice TV: Reality Competition Show" Award. America's favorite host, Ryan Seacrest took home the "Choice TV: Personality" Award. In the "Other' category, judge Ellen Degeneres took home two Awards - "Choice Comedian" and "Choice Twit." Rounding out American Idol's impressive six Awards was David Archuleta, who won the "Choice American Idol Alum" Award. One Award truly surprised me. The "Most Fanatic Fans" Award went to the Twilight Cast, not Lee DeWyze's Fans. But, we know the truth ~ Lee's fans are the BEST IN THE WORLD!


The winners for the 2010 Teen Choice Awards, which aired last night, Monday, August 8th at 8 p.m. on Fox with hosts Katy Perry and the male stars of Glee, were announced yesterday by the network, after the ceremony was taped at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles. In total, 105 award winners were announced, spanning five major categories from movies and television to music and fashion. Vampires dominated the awards, as the Twilight movies (both New Moon and Eclipse) racked up 12 surf-board shaped trophies, while TV drama The Vampire Dairies took home seven. Twilight‘s Robert Pattison, country music sensation Taylor Swift, and pint-sized pop star Justin Bieber each took home four awards. The winners were chosen through more than 85 million votes cast online.

Here ire some other winners:

Choice TV Show: Comedy
Glee

Choice Music: Female Artist
Lady Gaga

Choice American Idol Alum
David Archuleta

by Tanner Stransky/Entertainment Weekly

Friday, August 6, 2010

American Idol Lee DeWyze backstage interview!

American Idol Season 9 winner Lee DeWyze's interview with Broken Records's owner, Scott Vollweiler at Jones Beach. Watch the emotion near the end of the interview. Classic Lee.