'Idol' winner Lee DeWyze: 'I'm free to do what I want now'
5/30/2010 12:50:00 AM
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The paint-store clerk from Mount Prospect, Ill., was at a loss for words when he learned that he'd won the ninth American Idol title. But in a conference call on Friday, Lee DeWyze had plenty to say.
Q: What do you feel America saw in you and kept viewers voting?
A: In the beginning, I was more reserved. But I'm a real guy, off the camera and on. I wanted the show to be about me and about my music. And I think that people saw that I can connect with an audience. I know what it's like to be starting out and having a goal and trying to reach it. I connected with every song the best I could and the audience.
Q: Were you aware that one of your pre-Idol songs is on Billboard's Heatseekers chart? How thrilled are you to find that out?
A: As far as anything I did before the show, that was a stage I'm proud of. And it's cool to hear things like that. But I'm looking forward to the album I'm going to be making. I'm happy that fans have reached out and want to hear my old stuff. But this is the first time I get a platform to perform on such a major scale and I'm really looking forward to this opportunity. I like to build a song, to build a set. And on the show, each week, you only get a minute and a half. So I'm looking forward to taking my time with my new album.
Q: Tell us about your experience meeting the ex-winners. Did you get good advice?
A: It was intimidating, because you see what they've accomplished and you want that. You want advice to know how they got through this. In the beginning, it's different because there were a lot of us. But as time went on, I got to spend more time with them. Adam (Lambert) was awesome. He's just a genuine guy. He's original. He's got a good attitude and he's real. David Cook is one of the nicest guys I ever met. All of them are real people. I talked to Kris Allen, Ruben (Studdard), I got to talk to Carrie (Underwood) for a little bit. She's so supportive — she said, anything you need, let me know. She's been awesome. …Chris Daughtry. He's so cool and down to earth.
Q: Did you get to have a drink with Simon (Cowell) at the afterparty?
A: We toasted and congratulated. And he said he was excited for me. We got to spend a little time together and talk. That was a big moment for me.
Q: A lot of your appeal to viewers was as the average American, a paint-store clerk. If you were a color swatch, what color would it be, and what would you call it?
A: I like blue a lot, and greens. Earthy blues and greens. As far as what I'd name it? I don't know. I guess I'd name it my name. Yeah, the paint store was made into a whole thing. But, that's what Idol is, it gives people an opportunity who would have never had that opportunity. That keeps me grounded.
Q: There was a time when things weren't going so well for you. You went to an alternative high school. Can you talk a little more about that?
A: I made decisions that I wouldn't have made when I was older. That alternative high school gave me a different outlook. I realized that things aren't as bad as they seem. You do the best you can. There's more out there than what's going on in my life. And I learned not to be so narrow-minded. If it wasn't for all of that, I wouldn't be here. It taught me about taking risks. When I was younger, I was afraid to be myself. And it was cool to be able to open up. I wouldn't have tried out (for Idol) if it wasn't for that school.
Q: Other than the (Idols Live) tour, where would you like to visit in Chicago?
A: I'm excited about the tour, but I'd also like to go to some places that I've played before. I played at House of Blues earlier this year. The Metro was fun. There are so many good venues in Chicago. I'd like to play anywhere that would have me, really. It's such a good music city. There are so many venues with stories behind them.
Q: What else do you miss about Chicago?
A: Oh, the food, man! It's the best. But you know what else I love about Chicago, is that everyone here is trying to do something, there's so much going on. I'm not really into the club scene, but there are so many things to do. You can go see a show, a game, the art district is amazing.
Q: You've said it's important to be true to yourself, but the show forces you into these genres. Is that frustrating?
A: A big part of Idol that scares people, and I'm sure it's stopped people from trying out, is the fact that you have to perform songs that aren't in your genre. You're given a song, and you do have some say in it, but you take that song and make it your own. If you can't make it your own, then just buy the original — I wanted to make the songs, songs that Lee would sing. We have free rein on the arrangement. Shania Twain Week was rough for me, but I did what I could. It's all part of the Idol game.
Q: Your first single is a cover (of U2's Beautiful Day). How did you choose it?
A: I like that song a lot. It's a good song. It's not really my genre, no, but there were songs on the table, and I went with the one I thought represented me the best. I don't know the reasoning behind which songs you get to pick. I don't know all the ups and downs of the behind-the-scenes stuff. A big part of the game is to play by the rules. If it was up to me, I would have had longer songs and really get into the songs, rather than just "Ready! Go!" But accepting is the hard part.
Q: There are moms walking around in Mount Prospect wearing T-shirts that say, "Lee DeWyze shook my hand." How did it feel after you played at your hometown to go back to Hollywood and win Idol?
A: I'll tell you straight up, by the time you get to the last three weeks, you're exhausted, there's so much mental stress. Not in a bad way, there's a lot to think about. You want to win. And get as far as you can. And going back home and playing in front of everybody, that's the most amazing thing. There were so many people coming up to me and saying that I was so different live than on the show. But that's what I'm about, I play to live audiences. That's my thing. I didn't want to let my fans down, so I was supposed to play three or four songs and ended up singing nine or 10. I didn't want to leave them empty-handed, I wanted to do everything I could, but eventually the plug had to be pulled. … I'm so much more comfortable now and I think I can show people what I can do without that dome over me. I mean, Idol is amazing and gave me this opportunity. But now I can do my own thing.
Q: Will you put some of the original songs that you performed at Mount Prospect on your new album?
A: I'm getting a chance to write and put those on the album and use music I already have. I don't know if it would bother me to put my old songs on the new album, but I'm looking forward to the next step. We'll see.
Q: What are the albums you've been listening to and that you find inspiring?
A: I love Sufjan Stevens, Ben Harper, Kings of Leon, Simon & Garfunkel, Rage Against the Machine. And I heard Kris (Allen's) album for the first time. I liked it, it was really cool and inspiring. He got to do a lot of things he wanted to do. For me, I'm not really one way in music, not just rock, or just folk.
Q: Which band would you want to emulate the most on your new album?
A: I know it's been out awhile, but I just got Kings of Leon's new album. I like that sound. I really like their older stuff, but I really like their new album. That's the sound I go for a lot of the time. It's gritty with great hooks and great lyrics. But then they break it down and be chill. I love the Dave Matthews album, too.
Q: Who would you like to co-write with?
A: I'd love to work with Sufjan Stevens. He so gets it. He's amazing. Anyone who wants to work with me, really. They've been there and done that. I don't have the experience they do as far as putting out an album. There's a good list of people that I get to work with. I'm stoked. I can't wait to make an album that represents me.
Q: So it was such an interesting night since it was Simon's last night. Do you feel that stole the spotlight, or did it take the pressure off you?
A: He shared the spotlight, but that's OK. The pressure was already off, because it was about us performing. He said he was proud of me and saw something in me. He's a nice dude. He didn't steal the spotlight. He made the night really big.
Q: What kind of album do you want to make?
A: I want it to be something I'm happy with. I'd like to have a folk/rock kind of alternative vibe to it. I want it to be earthy but still reach out to a lot of different people. I've expressed that to the people in charge. They're for it. It's a good relationship, working with 19 (Entertainment) and those guys, they're a great group of people. They want you to do what you're best at and proud and confident of. We have a lot more things to talk about. But I want to make it new.
Q: Are you going to have to move to L.A. to work on all these things you're talking about?
A: For a while, I'll be touring and recording, which will be intense but fun. But I'd like to have a place in Chicago and a place out in L.A. for now. I'll probably be out there a lot in Mount Prospect. I want to remain close to home as best I can. It's weird being out here and calling this home. I won't be stationary, though, I'll be all over the place.
Q: Closing remarks?
A: I'm very appreciative of American Idol. I want to thank my fans that voted. Thanks to the show and to my friends and my family. The production staff at Idol and 19. I want to thank all the people that I've met. And I want to thank Crystal (Bowersox, the runner-up), it could have been either of us. She's an amazing person and an amazing mom. I want to thank all the other contestants on the show, I'm friends with all of them. I hope the best for all of them. And I want to thank you for calling in.
Q: What do you feel America saw in you and kept viewers voting?
A: In the beginning, I was more reserved. But I'm a real guy, off the camera and on. I wanted the show to be about me and about my music. And I think that people saw that I can connect with an audience. I know what it's like to be starting out and having a goal and trying to reach it. I connected with every song the best I could and the audience.
Q: Were you aware that one of your pre-Idol songs is on Billboard's Heatseekers chart? How thrilled are you to find that out?
A: As far as anything I did before the show, that was a stage I'm proud of. And it's cool to hear things like that. But I'm looking forward to the album I'm going to be making. I'm happy that fans have reached out and want to hear my old stuff. But this is the first time I get a platform to perform on such a major scale and I'm really looking forward to this opportunity. I like to build a song, to build a set. And on the show, each week, you only get a minute and a half. So I'm looking forward to taking my time with my new album.
Q: Tell us about your experience meeting the ex-winners. Did you get good advice?
A: It was intimidating, because you see what they've accomplished and you want that. You want advice to know how they got through this. In the beginning, it's different because there were a lot of us. But as time went on, I got to spend more time with them. Adam (Lambert) was awesome. He's just a genuine guy. He's original. He's got a good attitude and he's real. David Cook is one of the nicest guys I ever met. All of them are real people. I talked to Kris Allen, Ruben (Studdard), I got to talk to Carrie (Underwood) for a little bit. She's so supportive — she said, anything you need, let me know. She's been awesome. …Chris Daughtry. He's so cool and down to earth.
Q: Did you get to have a drink with Simon (Cowell) at the afterparty?
A: We toasted and congratulated. And he said he was excited for me. We got to spend a little time together and talk. That was a big moment for me.
Q: A lot of your appeal to viewers was as the average American, a paint-store clerk. If you were a color swatch, what color would it be, and what would you call it?
A: I like blue a lot, and greens. Earthy blues and greens. As far as what I'd name it? I don't know. I guess I'd name it my name. Yeah, the paint store was made into a whole thing. But, that's what Idol is, it gives people an opportunity who would have never had that opportunity. That keeps me grounded.
Q: There was a time when things weren't going so well for you. You went to an alternative high school. Can you talk a little more about that?
A: I made decisions that I wouldn't have made when I was older. That alternative high school gave me a different outlook. I realized that things aren't as bad as they seem. You do the best you can. There's more out there than what's going on in my life. And I learned not to be so narrow-minded. If it wasn't for all of that, I wouldn't be here. It taught me about taking risks. When I was younger, I was afraid to be myself. And it was cool to be able to open up. I wouldn't have tried out (for Idol) if it wasn't for that school.
Q: Other than the (Idols Live) tour, where would you like to visit in Chicago?
A: I'm excited about the tour, but I'd also like to go to some places that I've played before. I played at House of Blues earlier this year. The Metro was fun. There are so many good venues in Chicago. I'd like to play anywhere that would have me, really. It's such a good music city. There are so many venues with stories behind them.
Q: What else do you miss about Chicago?
A: Oh, the food, man! It's the best. But you know what else I love about Chicago, is that everyone here is trying to do something, there's so much going on. I'm not really into the club scene, but there are so many things to do. You can go see a show, a game, the art district is amazing.
Q: You've said it's important to be true to yourself, but the show forces you into these genres. Is that frustrating?
A: A big part of Idol that scares people, and I'm sure it's stopped people from trying out, is the fact that you have to perform songs that aren't in your genre. You're given a song, and you do have some say in it, but you take that song and make it your own. If you can't make it your own, then just buy the original — I wanted to make the songs, songs that Lee would sing. We have free rein on the arrangement. Shania Twain Week was rough for me, but I did what I could. It's all part of the Idol game.
Q: Your first single is a cover (of U2's Beautiful Day). How did you choose it?
A: I like that song a lot. It's a good song. It's not really my genre, no, but there were songs on the table, and I went with the one I thought represented me the best. I don't know the reasoning behind which songs you get to pick. I don't know all the ups and downs of the behind-the-scenes stuff. A big part of the game is to play by the rules. If it was up to me, I would have had longer songs and really get into the songs, rather than just "Ready! Go!" But accepting is the hard part.
Q: There are moms walking around in Mount Prospect wearing T-shirts that say, "Lee DeWyze shook my hand." How did it feel after you played at your hometown to go back to Hollywood and win Idol?
A: I'll tell you straight up, by the time you get to the last three weeks, you're exhausted, there's so much mental stress. Not in a bad way, there's a lot to think about. You want to win. And get as far as you can. And going back home and playing in front of everybody, that's the most amazing thing. There were so many people coming up to me and saying that I was so different live than on the show. But that's what I'm about, I play to live audiences. That's my thing. I didn't want to let my fans down, so I was supposed to play three or four songs and ended up singing nine or 10. I didn't want to leave them empty-handed, I wanted to do everything I could, but eventually the plug had to be pulled. … I'm so much more comfortable now and I think I can show people what I can do without that dome over me. I mean, Idol is amazing and gave me this opportunity. But now I can do my own thing.
Q: Will you put some of the original songs that you performed at Mount Prospect on your new album?
A: I'm getting a chance to write and put those on the album and use music I already have. I don't know if it would bother me to put my old songs on the new album, but I'm looking forward to the next step. We'll see.
Q: What are the albums you've been listening to and that you find inspiring?
A: I love Sufjan Stevens, Ben Harper, Kings of Leon, Simon & Garfunkel, Rage Against the Machine. And I heard Kris (Allen's) album for the first time. I liked it, it was really cool and inspiring. He got to do a lot of things he wanted to do. For me, I'm not really one way in music, not just rock, or just folk.
Q: Which band would you want to emulate the most on your new album?
A: I know it's been out awhile, but I just got Kings of Leon's new album. I like that sound. I really like their older stuff, but I really like their new album. That's the sound I go for a lot of the time. It's gritty with great hooks and great lyrics. But then they break it down and be chill. I love the Dave Matthews album, too.
Q: Who would you like to co-write with?
A: I'd love to work with Sufjan Stevens. He so gets it. He's amazing. Anyone who wants to work with me, really. They've been there and done that. I don't have the experience they do as far as putting out an album. There's a good list of people that I get to work with. I'm stoked. I can't wait to make an album that represents me.
Q: So it was such an interesting night since it was Simon's last night. Do you feel that stole the spotlight, or did it take the pressure off you?
A: He shared the spotlight, but that's OK. The pressure was already off, because it was about us performing. He said he was proud of me and saw something in me. He's a nice dude. He didn't steal the spotlight. He made the night really big.
Q: What kind of album do you want to make?
A: I want it to be something I'm happy with. I'd like to have a folk/rock kind of alternative vibe to it. I want it to be earthy but still reach out to a lot of different people. I've expressed that to the people in charge. They're for it. It's a good relationship, working with 19 (Entertainment) and those guys, they're a great group of people. They want you to do what you're best at and proud and confident of. We have a lot more things to talk about. But I want to make it new.
Q: Are you going to have to move to L.A. to work on all these things you're talking about?
A: For a while, I'll be touring and recording, which will be intense but fun. But I'd like to have a place in Chicago and a place out in L.A. for now. I'll probably be out there a lot in Mount Prospect. I want to remain close to home as best I can. It's weird being out here and calling this home. I won't be stationary, though, I'll be all over the place.
Q: Closing remarks?
A: I'm very appreciative of American Idol. I want to thank my fans that voted. Thanks to the show and to my friends and my family. The production staff at Idol and 19. I want to thank all the people that I've met. And I want to thank Crystal (Bowersox, the runner-up), it could have been either of us. She's an amazing person and an amazing mom. I want to thank all the other contestants on the show, I'm friends with all of them. I hope the best for all of them. And I want to thank you for calling in.
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