Entry tags:

finalist: carly smithson, finalist: david cook, interviews, pictures

Interview and pictures.
I had the opportunity to interview five out of ten finalists (Michael Johns, Kristy Lee Cook, Chikezie, Archuleta, and Carly Smithson) this season in San Diego, and I put up Carly's interview and a few pictures.

Click here to read Part 1!

Have you ever dreamt of sitting down and interviewing one of your favorite American Idol contestants? Well, for this college newspaper in the Coachella Valley, that happened! The Chaparral gained exclusive coverage on July 2 to interview contestants Michael Johns, Kristy Lee Cook, David Archuleta, Carly Smithson, and Chikezie before they hit the stage in San Diego. Over the next few days, we will be posting several interviews and accompanying pictures to whet your Idol appetite. So watch this space!

To start, here’s Carly Smithson. Smithson, 24, was born in Dublin, Ireland, but moved to the United States to pursue a music career. She auditioned for the fifth season of American Idol but was disqualified because of her work visa. However, she got a second chance this time around and made it to the sixth place in the competition. Here’s what the San Diego native had to say.

CARLY SMITHSON

The Chaparral: So you’re home in San Diego. What’s it like to perform in your home city?

Carly Smithson: I have no idea! I will be finding out later. It’s going to be different from the bar that I performed at for like two years. It’s kind of hard when no one wants to listen to you. But if anything, going by last night, it’s incredible! Just coming up in the elevator, my heart was pounding and then you get outside and they announce your name, and the crowd goes wild. I don’t know, I can’t even describe it. I called my husband afterward and was just like, [speechless noises]. And he was like, “What are you trying to say?” and I was like, “I-uh-I don’t know! It’s amazing!” I had no idea even what to say or how to describe it afterward, it was just amazing.

TC: Who’s out here tonight to support you?
CS: My husband is here, I believe some friends from my bar are here. It’s funny, I’ve met a few of my friends just randomly outside.

TC: So how psyched are you for tonight?

CS: I try to not psyche myself out too much. It was funny, yesterday in the elevator going up to the stage, it all started going through my head, because I was so nervous and so excited and I didn’t want to ruin my song. While I was coming up in the elevator, I was just like, it’s just a job, pretend you’re in your living room, you’re in your bedroom. I had my eyes closed the first part of the song, and then I was fine. I think if I psyche myself up too much, I’ll totally screw up my performance.

TC: Well, I just want to say, I really wanted you to win. My co-editor Kayla and I were doing an American Idol story and then the day before print, you were eliminated, and we were so sad. But it had to be sad for you.

CS: Aww, thank you. But it’s okay. I think I kind of had an idea, but it’s okay. I think going out in a shock elimination is a good thing for me and Michael [Johns]. We seem to be the shock eliminations of the season, and I guess it keeps you in peoples’ minds. And sixth place, I don’t think it’s anything to be upset about. It’s definitely secured me somewhat of a career in the future.

TC: Speaking of which, what’s going on with that? Are you working on an album?

CS: We’re not allowed to say. But there are good things happening for me so I’m very excited.

TC: Okay, I can’t wait.

CS: Oh, I am going to work very, very hard. I hope to make the best record that I possibly can, just basically to make everybody proud. That’s kind of what I’m all about. And I know it’s definitely something that I’m going to have to play for a long time. You know, you get to play those songs over and over, like Johnny Cash and “Ring of Fire.” How many times did he have to play that? I want to make something that I love and that I’m very into.

TC: Is there anybody you’d dream of collaborating with?

CS: Probably Annie Lennox. Actually, Axl Rose, which will never happen because he’s not even into it anymore, but that would be amazing. Probably Axl Rose or Slash or Sebastian Bach or one of those big 80s acts. Yeah, that’d be pretty awesome.

TC: As far as writing goes, are you hoping to do all the writing yourself?
CS: I will try to do much as I possibly can, definitely. I wrote a lot of music during the show and that was a really stressful environment. I’m not even sure of how I was capable of writing anything because my brain was like fried at the time. Definitely now that we’re on the bus, I’ve been writing and traveling across the country is going to be really cool. I think we’ll all collaborate on songs together as well. Everybody here is very creative and there will be a lot of down time on the bus. I know Brooke [White] and I have talked about possibly writing something together, which would be cool.

TC: How are you killing time on the bus?

CS: Skype, for talking to my husband. But we’ve only traveled to-and-from Phoenix and both times were at night so we were asleep. But I would say Skype. We have our make up artist on the bus so I’m sure there will be a lot of makeovers. [Laughs] She’s showing us how to keep our skin nice and stuff like that. It’s a real girly bus.

TC: Sounds fun!

CS: There’s like candles and room spray and towels…

TC: Cosmopolitan over there…

CS: Oh yeah! And the boys’ bus is all bland. I like the girls’ bus, it’s very nice.

TC: Is there anybody on this team that you just think you’ll be best friends with and that you’ll keep in contact with?

CS: Probably all of them, but I would say it would probably be Michael [Johns] and David Cook and Miss Cowgirl over there [Kristy Lee Cook]. I’ll probably keep friends with them forever. I know myself and Michael became friends at the first audition, he actually auditioned second and I auditioned first on the producer round before Simon, Randy, and Paula. And I remember the two of us on the outside trying to learn “Great Escape” by Gwen Stefani because of the way they do the American Idol montages. We were trying to learn it outside and there were so many words. But yeah, I think we’ll be friends for a long time, and I get along really well with his wife as well. She’s so funny, it’s unbelievable.

TC: That’s great. Is there anything about you that your fans wouldn’t expect?

CS: I can tell you one of my pet hates. Cracking knuckles. I can’t stand it, and Chikezie does it like all the time. And I’ve started to swear a lot, which I’m sure my fans know, but I’m Irish. But Kristy Lee hates it, she had a swear jar for me and now she’s done away with it and she just cracks her knuckles in my face.

TC: Ugh, those people who can just crack their knuckles all over their body.

CS: I can’t do it, and I don’t like it. It makes me feel sick.

TC: Is there anything you’d like to say to your fans?

CS: Thank you. I think it’s as simple as that. I think those two words are quite powerful. I wouldn’t be here without them; I would still be in a bar. This is as much their career as mine. They put me here and I will cherish and be grateful for the rest of my life, I really will.

TC: Well, I wish you the best of success because I think you’re so talented.

CS: Thank you! Wait until you see the show.

I will be posting links to all five parts over the next few days, if that's quite all right.

Here are also a few pictures behind the cut that I took during the concert in the press pit. More to come!