Shayne
Half of Brayne
Number of posts: 5810
Age: 17
Location: WA
Came on: 2008-11-28
 |  Subject: Examiner Interview.  Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:56 pm | |
| | Quote: | Spotlight on American Idol's Blake Lewis exclusive interview
October 22, 12:59 AM LA Music Examiner Belinda Thomas
 | Blake Lewis is best known as the first runner up on Season 6 of American Idol. Lewis is currently on a promotional tour for his new album "Heartbreak Vinyl". A record release party for the CD was recently held in Los Angeles. Examiner.Com spoke with Lewis during his promotional tour. Here is what he had to say.
EXAMINER: First off, congratulations on all your success from American Idol, to your first solo album to this one. I was at your record release party at The Roxy and the show was fantastic.
LEWIS:Oh Thank You.You were there?
EXAMINER: Yes, I was there, I really enjoyed it and I was on the floor dancing right along with the crowd.
LEWIS:Thanks. Cool. Glad you enjoyed it.
EXAMINER: Where did the title of your new album "Heartbreak Vinyl" come from?
LEWIS:The title came from when I was walking through Union Square in New York and I saw that the Virgin Megastore closing down. It is sad that all my local indie stores are closing down. Now Virgin Megastore closing down too, it is like a end of a era. The record stores are done and are turning into Best Buys, Target, Walmart. Huge big retailers which are fine as that is where everyone shops, but for me as an audio guy and as collector I live for finding that one piece, an importer-exporter like being able to find these artists that are not from the USA, you know and not getting to initially, so I wrote that song in New York as a call out to my love and for the artists that I love and the records stores that made me fall in love with them.
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EXAMINER: What was your writing process for the new album?
LEWIS:It is different on every song. For this one, I got together with a few producers I knew that are good friends of mine, and a few that I did not know. You see if you vibe out and write a good song. Some came subconsciously, I woke up from a dream once and I wrote one song.
"Heartbreak" was very inspiring. I wrote it in New York while being there while experiencing that feeling. Every song is different. The song is a personal record about my break up with the woman I was in love with. That is why it is called "Heartbreak On Vinyl". A lot of the songs tell a story. "Heartbreak" tells the story of my heartbreak.
EXAMINER: Do you have any more touring plans in The States or Europe?
LEWIS: Yes, that is what we do. We make record and we tour them. I am not doing a full on tour. Right now I'm just getting gigs here, gigs there. I haven't
figured out what I want to do with for my show yet, so as soon as I figure out the technical things, then we will start talking tour.
EXAMINER: You have released the song "Sad Songs" as your first single. Do you know yet what your second single will be?
LEWIS:I have chosen it, but I am not at liberty to say yet. We are going to see if the record label is going to bite on it and get remixes out... hopefully soon.
I like to say it will be "Heartbreak On Vinyl" or "Binary Love"."
EXAMINER: My favorite is "Binary Love", "Heartbreak on Vinyl" and "Freak".
EXAMINER: Do you keep in touch with anyone from American Idol? It was good to see Brandon Rodgers at your show.
LEWIS:Yes, when I am in their town or on the phone. I try to talk to people and see how they are doing. But I live in Seattle, and I think I am the only one who lives in Seattle from American Idol. When I am in Los Angeles, I hang with Brandon Rodgers all the time and my friend, Chris Richardson, who comes in town occasionally to LA.
EXAMINER: What is the best advice that you ever gotten about your career?
LEWIS: My good friend (artist/producer) BT. I talk to him all the time. He is kinda like my mentor. I have been following his music for years and years and now we are really good friends. I talk to him every week. He always gives me the best advice.
Also Nick Hexum from 311, the lead singer. I talk to him about touring and merchandise and all. I pick every one's brain. I talked to Quincy Jones about producing. It helps. I sink in every thing.
EXAMINER: If you could do a duet with one person or group who would it be?
LEWIS:That's tough... Sting, Bono, Prince, Martin Gore and David Gahan from Depeche Mode, Simon Lebon of Duran Duran.
EXAMINER: If you weren't a singer, what would you be doing or want to be doing?
LEWIS:Photography. I want to get into that a little more. Photography for sure then...more of my kind of graphic design that I do. I don't have a lot of time ,for it now. Actually, a year ago, I had started working on a piece... and I haven't had a chance to work on it, to finish it.
Acting,on stage, I haven't done that in a while. For ten years I did a lot of musicals and performance arts kind of stuff when I was in high school. I would like to get back into that someday.
EXAMINER: Lastly, anything you would like to say to your fans?
LEWIS: I love them and thanks for sticking with me and listening to my music...and actually checking it out and coming to shows and [they] keep communicating.
EXAMINER: Thank you and wishing you the best of luck with this album and answering a few questions that the fans wanted to know.
LEWIS: Awesome. I am glad that you liked The Roxy Show. Thanks for coming out.
EXAMINER: Yes, I loved the show and the CD.I play it all the time. Hope to see you back playing in Los Angeles again soon. |
_________________   [12-4-07] "I want a hug!" [11-7-08] "You need a chatroom." [11-11-08] "I almost cried seeing this." [7-21-09] Shayne's Art;; ♫! |
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