It's a useful talking point to note that Jordin Sparks is the youngest winner in the history of "American Idol." Just 17!
Unfortunately, her first CD proves she's also the most unformed.
Sparks comes to her maiden recording as perhaps the only top idol winner unarmed by a signature style. Past winners - or near winners - have each had a particular forte, or at least an allegiance to a style, that gave them something akin to character. See: Kelly Clarkson's faux rock, Taylor Hicks' pseudo-soul, Bo Bice's Hollywood Southern rock, Fantasia's backwoods R&B, Carrie Underwood's big-voiced country and Clay Aiken's Broadway schmaltz.
No matter how compromised - or dubious - those styles may have been, each helped listeners know who exactly the singer is. Or at least who they wanted to be.
But who, exactly, is Jordin Sparks?
From all evidence of her self-titled debut, she's a girl with a voice as flawless as it is flavorless. It's a big and pretty voice, but, like the talents of a workaday model, its beauty allows no distinction in the features.
It's hard, at first, to understand how this could happen. Sparks seemed so winning on the show. When you watch her perform, she brims with charm, aided by a broad-faced smile and a total lack of guile. But none of that shows in the studio. Her demeanor, it seems, had more character than her voice.
The material on the album doesn't do her many favors. It's competent, but nothing more.Almost every track is a ballad, which cuts down on Sparks' youth appeal. Kids should know there's nothing to dance to here, though the result does effectively sell her as a naif.
"Shy Boy" has her ignoring a thug in favor of a wallflower. "Young and in Love" makes her youth crassly obvious, while in "God Loves Ugly" she plays the earnestly homely girl.
There's no evidence of that in real life - at least when we see Sparks. But in a medium where we can't, it's amazing how much of her fades away.
Article from: Jim Farber http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2007/11/25/2007-11-25_american_idol_winner_jordin_sparks_has_f.html
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
'Idol' Jordin Sparks Makes CD Debut
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY
NEW YORK (AP) — When teen music stars approach the age of consent, they often test the boundaries of what's appropriate by taking on projects with adult content. "American Idol" champ Jordin Sparks took the opposite approach as she sought out material for her CD debut.
"I wasn't really sure what I wanted to sing about," Sparks said, "but I knew what I didn't want to sing about."
"I wanted to stay away from 'Oh, put your hands all over me'-type thing, because I haven't experienced that yet so the fact that I would sing it would be really dumb — plus I don't feel comfortable singing stuff like that," Sparks, who turns 18 in December, said with a giggle.
It's that kind of wholesome charm, along with her powerhouse voice and striking good looks, that endeared her to "American Idol" audiences this year, making her the youngest winner in the TV phenomenon's six-season history after defeating semifinalist Blake Lewis. And on her Jive Records self-titled debut, record executives — and Sparks herself — wanted to make sure she retained that sweet-as-pie image.
"She's one of the most beautiful people I've ever met on this planet ... You immediately get a sense of who she is and her values," says Jive A&R executive Jeff Fenster, who helped Sparks and her management team select songs for the album.
"You have to make a record that is representative of who the artist is. We tried to keep that in mind from the beginning of the process," he says. "I said to her from the beginning, a big part of my goal was to help her make a record that she was proud of and represented who she is, and I think she felt that way at the end of the day."
To that end, the "Jordin Sparks" CD is decidedly family friendly — much like the talent competition that launched her career. Thanks to her "American Idol" success, and her age, Sparks' fan base has a large kid contingent, but also includes the parents and grandparents who, along with their children, watched as the Arizona teen went from a potential also-ran to the odds-on favorite to win it all.
Sparks wanted to make sure that she didn't alienate any age group with the material she chose.
"I never really thought of targeting a specific audience. I just want to make music and whoever likes it likes it," says Sparks, speaking via phone a few days prior to the CD's release.
"I do love the little girls who come up to me and they are just so excited, and I like meeting the older women who are like, 'Oh my gosh we love you ...' It's really cool," she says. "I'm kind of just making good music, so hopefully there's sort of a balance there to where adults will like it but it's not so adult that little kids won't be able to listen to it."
It looks as if she has found that balance on "Jordin Sparks," a thoroughly pop CD with a mix of romantic ballads, dance grooves and inspirational anthems. The album's first single, the guitar-infused "Tattoo," got a slow start on radio but has been steadily rising on the Billboard pop chart and is now a top 20 hit.
The CD was crafted with the help of pop's top producers, including Stargate, the team behind Beyonce's ubiquitous "Irreplaceable." But Sparks makes clear that her contribution was more than vocals, including a co-writing credit on one of the CD's 13 tracks.
"I feel very very lucky because I had a lot of say in what the album was like," she says. "There's a lot of stuff on the album I could relate to in some aspect."
That's especially true of one the more personal songs on the album, "God Loves Ugly," about overcoming insecurity about appearance. It may seem like an odd choice for the young beauty, but the song resonated with Sparks, especially after she endured some criticism from an overzealous weight watcher for her full figure after she won the "Idol" crown.
"There are days when I'm like, 'I want to put a bag over my head.' But most days I'm fine and I'm content and I like the way I look and I like my curves," she says. "It was just kind of weird, but I kind of let things roll off my back."
It's that same kind of levelheadedness that Sparks seems to apply to the whirlwind that has become her life since her "Idol" run this year. She credits her close-knit family with keeping her grounded: Sparks (the daughter of former NFL player Phillippi Sparks) always has one of her parents or family members by her side, and relies on their guidance when things start to get unwieldy: "I have my mom or my nana come with me anywhere I go ... It's cool because I have them there if something is thrown at me."
The next few months will be particularly grueling for Sparks as she promotes her new CD. It will also represent the biggest test of her young career: Will she follow the multiplatinum path of "Idol" winners Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, or suffer a Taylor Hicks fate and fade from the pop spotlight?
Even Sparks admits that the whole thing "is a little bit scary." But she thinks her youth has given her an advantage.
"That's the point of this career for me. I'm excited because of my age — I can grow."
- http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hX_S4XKKMAW5NN0eKRkMjDymx2KgD8T29CF81
NEW YORK (AP) — When teen music stars approach the age of consent, they often test the boundaries of what's appropriate by taking on projects with adult content. "American Idol" champ Jordin Sparks took the opposite approach as she sought out material for her CD debut.
"I wasn't really sure what I wanted to sing about," Sparks said, "but I knew what I didn't want to sing about."
"I wanted to stay away from 'Oh, put your hands all over me'-type thing, because I haven't experienced that yet so the fact that I would sing it would be really dumb — plus I don't feel comfortable singing stuff like that," Sparks, who turns 18 in December, said with a giggle.
It's that kind of wholesome charm, along with her powerhouse voice and striking good looks, that endeared her to "American Idol" audiences this year, making her the youngest winner in the TV phenomenon's six-season history after defeating semifinalist Blake Lewis. And on her Jive Records self-titled debut, record executives — and Sparks herself — wanted to make sure she retained that sweet-as-pie image.
"She's one of the most beautiful people I've ever met on this planet ... You immediately get a sense of who she is and her values," says Jive A&R executive Jeff Fenster, who helped Sparks and her management team select songs for the album.
"You have to make a record that is representative of who the artist is. We tried to keep that in mind from the beginning of the process," he says. "I said to her from the beginning, a big part of my goal was to help her make a record that she was proud of and represented who she is, and I think she felt that way at the end of the day."
To that end, the "Jordin Sparks" CD is decidedly family friendly — much like the talent competition that launched her career. Thanks to her "American Idol" success, and her age, Sparks' fan base has a large kid contingent, but also includes the parents and grandparents who, along with their children, watched as the Arizona teen went from a potential also-ran to the odds-on favorite to win it all.
Sparks wanted to make sure that she didn't alienate any age group with the material she chose.
"I never really thought of targeting a specific audience. I just want to make music and whoever likes it likes it," says Sparks, speaking via phone a few days prior to the CD's release.
"I do love the little girls who come up to me and they are just so excited, and I like meeting the older women who are like, 'Oh my gosh we love you ...' It's really cool," she says. "I'm kind of just making good music, so hopefully there's sort of a balance there to where adults will like it but it's not so adult that little kids won't be able to listen to it."
It looks as if she has found that balance on "Jordin Sparks," a thoroughly pop CD with a mix of romantic ballads, dance grooves and inspirational anthems. The album's first single, the guitar-infused "Tattoo," got a slow start on radio but has been steadily rising on the Billboard pop chart and is now a top 20 hit.
The CD was crafted with the help of pop's top producers, including Stargate, the team behind Beyonce's ubiquitous "Irreplaceable." But Sparks makes clear that her contribution was more than vocals, including a co-writing credit on one of the CD's 13 tracks.
"I feel very very lucky because I had a lot of say in what the album was like," she says. "There's a lot of stuff on the album I could relate to in some aspect."
That's especially true of one the more personal songs on the album, "God Loves Ugly," about overcoming insecurity about appearance. It may seem like an odd choice for the young beauty, but the song resonated with Sparks, especially after she endured some criticism from an overzealous weight watcher for her full figure after she won the "Idol" crown.
"There are days when I'm like, 'I want to put a bag over my head.' But most days I'm fine and I'm content and I like the way I look and I like my curves," she says. "It was just kind of weird, but I kind of let things roll off my back."
It's that same kind of levelheadedness that Sparks seems to apply to the whirlwind that has become her life since her "Idol" run this year. She credits her close-knit family with keeping her grounded: Sparks (the daughter of former NFL player Phillippi Sparks) always has one of her parents or family members by her side, and relies on their guidance when things start to get unwieldy: "I have my mom or my nana come with me anywhere I go ... It's cool because I have them there if something is thrown at me."
The next few months will be particularly grueling for Sparks as she promotes her new CD. It will also represent the biggest test of her young career: Will she follow the multiplatinum path of "Idol" winners Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, or suffer a Taylor Hicks fate and fade from the pop spotlight?
Even Sparks admits that the whole thing "is a little bit scary." But she thinks her youth has given her an advantage.
"That's the point of this career for me. I'm excited because of my age — I can grow."
- http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hX_S4XKKMAW5NN0eKRkMjDymx2KgD8T29CF81
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Jordin Sparks to play Cooper's show
Larry Rodgers
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 8, 2007 03:34 PM
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/music/articles/1108pudding1109.html?&wired
Glendale's own American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks, will appear at this year's installment of Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding on Dec. 15 at Phoenix's Dodge Theatre.
Joining Sparks and Cooper onstage will be country's Whiskey Falls, Flo & Eddie of the Turtles, comic
Mike "Blackjack" Wilson and the Destiny Dancers, a troupe founded by Cooper's wife, Sheryl.
More performers are expected to be announced in coming weeks.
Tickets, priced at $33 to $63, go on sale on Nov. 9 at ticketmaster.com or (480) 784-4444.
Sparks, crowned the sixth American Idol this year, won Cooper's "Proof Is in the Pudding" contest in 2004. That contest, which will have its finals this year on Nov. 26 at Alice Cooper'stown in Phoenix, selects a solo artist and band to play at the benefit.
Christmas Pudding, now in its seventh year, raises money for the Solid Rock Foundation, which plans to build a $7 million teen center in central Phoenix.
Last year's concert raised $155,000.
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 8, 2007 03:34 PM
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/music/articles/1108pudding1109.html?&wired
Glendale's own American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks, will appear at this year's installment of Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding on Dec. 15 at Phoenix's Dodge Theatre.
Joining Sparks and Cooper onstage will be country's Whiskey Falls, Flo & Eddie of the Turtles, comic
Mike "Blackjack" Wilson and the Destiny Dancers, a troupe founded by Cooper's wife, Sheryl.
More performers are expected to be announced in coming weeks.
Tickets, priced at $33 to $63, go on sale on Nov. 9 at ticketmaster.com or (480) 784-4444.
Sparks, crowned the sixth American Idol this year, won Cooper's "Proof Is in the Pudding" contest in 2004. That contest, which will have its finals this year on Nov. 26 at Alice Cooper'stown in Phoenix, selects a solo artist and band to play at the benefit.
Christmas Pudding, now in its seventh year, raises money for the Solid Rock Foundation, which plans to build a $7 million teen center in central Phoenix.
Last year's concert raised $155,000.
Jordin Sparks' debut shows promise
t's hard to imagine any artists having more pressure to come out of the gate impressively than the winners of American Idol.
An average weekly audience of 30 million watched Glendale's Jordin Sparks win the sixth season of the Fox TV series this year. The recording arm of Idol, 19 Recordings, now has taken Sparks under its wing for her highly anticipated debut.
Working with 19 Recordings (and Jive Records) has its good side and bad.
The company, part of British entertainment wizard Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment, has the marketing power to get Idol alumni Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken on the radio. But if an artist doesn't have a clear artistic vision, his or her identity can get lost in the Idol machinery.
At 17, Sparks has been wisely steered toward a style that samples pop and R&B sounds for this CD, in stores Nov. 20.
Sparks shows she can muster up a soulful edge that sounds mature beyond her years on the CD's debut single, Tattoo. An appealing song with an anthemlike chorus, Tattoo is the CD's first single for a reason: It is hands-down the strongest of the album's 13 tracks, which include a new "bonus" version of This Is My Now, performed on the Idol finale in May.
Although no other track really rivals Tattoo, there are several songs that show the promise that Sparks' career holds.
The pop-edged One Step at a Time finds her energetically spouting a philosophy that could apply to several areas of life: "There's no need to rush / It's like learning to fly or falling in love." She dials in a dash of soul near the end, with the producers mixing in layers of her vocals. She nails some very high notes as the song fades, reminding listeners of her range.
Sparks sings with a deeper, fuller voice on the verses of the rock-flavored power ballad Permanent Monday but goes higher in the chorus. As the song crashes to an end, Sparks throws in the type of vocal gymnastics favored by young singers who later outgrow those tricks.
Her duet with another strong young singer, Chris Brown, on No Air, is decidedly pop, complete with synthesizer and drum machines. The two complement each other well in the hummable song until the producers overload things with strings and vocals going in five directions.
Freeze, one of a handful of songs co-written by Sparks, is an ethereal mix of pop and R&B showcasing some of her most mature, soaring singing. The piano-fueled ballad Next to You leans more toward teenybopper pop with a lighter vocal treatment.
When the album moves into full ear-candy mode, on Just for the Record, Sparks shows plenty of confidence in treading the line between blatant pop and R&B.
She shows off her softer side on a mellow track with an awkward title, God Loves Ugly. Her early point on the road to maturation shows when she allows herself to be pushed into diva territory that's best left to older singers.
The 19 Recordings machine takes over and makes the unfortunate decision to have Sparks do a Britney Spears imitation on the dance track Young and in Love, complete with annoying, pinging synthesizer. Sparks accomplishes little more by staying in a similar sound for Shy Boy.
Sparks and her backing band sound a little too much like Coldplay in Now You Tell Me, while deep blasts of synthesizer reminiscent of Mannheim Steamroller (of all acts) detract from fragile singing on See My Side.
Those four weaker songs make this less than a stellar debut, but the CD's many stronger spots show Sparks has the vocal skills to make her mark over the long run.
- Larry Rodgers
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/ae/articles/1111cdspin1111sparks.html?&wired
An average weekly audience of 30 million watched Glendale's Jordin Sparks win the sixth season of the Fox TV series this year. The recording arm of Idol, 19 Recordings, now has taken Sparks under its wing for her highly anticipated debut.
Working with 19 Recordings (and Jive Records) has its good side and bad.
The company, part of British entertainment wizard Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment, has the marketing power to get Idol alumni Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken on the radio. But if an artist doesn't have a clear artistic vision, his or her identity can get lost in the Idol machinery.
At 17, Sparks has been wisely steered toward a style that samples pop and R&B sounds for this CD, in stores Nov. 20.
Sparks shows she can muster up a soulful edge that sounds mature beyond her years on the CD's debut single, Tattoo. An appealing song with an anthemlike chorus, Tattoo is the CD's first single for a reason: It is hands-down the strongest of the album's 13 tracks, which include a new "bonus" version of This Is My Now, performed on the Idol finale in May.
Although no other track really rivals Tattoo, there are several songs that show the promise that Sparks' career holds.
The pop-edged One Step at a Time finds her energetically spouting a philosophy that could apply to several areas of life: "There's no need to rush / It's like learning to fly or falling in love." She dials in a dash of soul near the end, with the producers mixing in layers of her vocals. She nails some very high notes as the song fades, reminding listeners of her range.
Sparks sings with a deeper, fuller voice on the verses of the rock-flavored power ballad Permanent Monday but goes higher in the chorus. As the song crashes to an end, Sparks throws in the type of vocal gymnastics favored by young singers who later outgrow those tricks.
Her duet with another strong young singer, Chris Brown, on No Air, is decidedly pop, complete with synthesizer and drum machines. The two complement each other well in the hummable song until the producers overload things with strings and vocals going in five directions.
Freeze, one of a handful of songs co-written by Sparks, is an ethereal mix of pop and R&B showcasing some of her most mature, soaring singing. The piano-fueled ballad Next to You leans more toward teenybopper pop with a lighter vocal treatment.
When the album moves into full ear-candy mode, on Just for the Record, Sparks shows plenty of confidence in treading the line between blatant pop and R&B.
She shows off her softer side on a mellow track with an awkward title, God Loves Ugly. Her early point on the road to maturation shows when she allows herself to be pushed into diva territory that's best left to older singers.
The 19 Recordings machine takes over and makes the unfortunate decision to have Sparks do a Britney Spears imitation on the dance track Young and in Love, complete with annoying, pinging synthesizer. Sparks accomplishes little more by staying in a similar sound for Shy Boy.
Sparks and her backing band sound a little too much like Coldplay in Now You Tell Me, while deep blasts of synthesizer reminiscent of Mannheim Steamroller (of all acts) detract from fragile singing on See My Side.
Those four weaker songs make this less than a stellar debut, but the CD's many stronger spots show Sparks has the vocal skills to make her mark over the long run.
- Larry Rodgers
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/ae/articles/1111cdspin1111sparks.html?&wired
Jordin Sparks will light up Glendale Glitters opening
Carrie Watters
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 13, 2007 11:03 PM
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1113B1-talker1114.html?&wired
Jordin Sparks will return home for a special appearance Nov. 23 at the Glendale Glitters Spectacular.
The American Idol winner will help switch on more than 1.5million Christmas lights at 5:30 p.m. in downtown Glendale. She will also read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, but singing isn't scheduled.
The appearance is three days after the release of her debut CD. advertisement
Sparks will also be commemorated on a U.S. postmark, and free Sparks postcards with the postmark will be distributed at the event.
The postmark will be available for the cost of first-class postage for 30 days after the event at Glendale's main post office on Peoria Avenue.
Fans can also send a self-addressed, stamped envelope inside a larger envelope to Jordin Glitters Postmark, in care of the Postmaster, 5955 W. Peoria Ave, Glendale, AZ 85302 by Dec. 22.
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 13, 2007 11:03 PM
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1113B1-talker1114.html?&wired
Jordin Sparks will return home for a special appearance Nov. 23 at the Glendale Glitters Spectacular.
The American Idol winner will help switch on more than 1.5million Christmas lights at 5:30 p.m. in downtown Glendale. She will also read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, but singing isn't scheduled.
The appearance is three days after the release of her debut CD. advertisement
Sparks will also be commemorated on a U.S. postmark, and free Sparks postcards with the postmark will be distributed at the event.
The postmark will be available for the cost of first-class postage for 30 days after the event at Glendale's main post office on Peoria Avenue.
Fans can also send a self-addressed, stamped envelope inside a larger envelope to Jordin Glitters Postmark, in care of the Postmaster, 5955 W. Peoria Ave, Glendale, AZ 85302 by Dec. 22.
Jordin Sparks Q&A: 'Hopefully I'll make some good decisions.'
Larry Rodgers
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 12, 2007 12:00 AM
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/music/articles/1112sparks.html?&wired
With the release of her self-titled debut album Nov. 20, Glendale's Jordin Sparks takes her first step away from the cocoon of American Idol.
Sparks, 17, who came out on top this year in the sixth season of the Fox TV series, toured with other "Idol" contestants for much of the summer and early fall.
Now, she turns her focus to promoting the album and its first single, Tattoo, and looking toward touring as a solo artist.
QUESTION: With the American Idol tour wrapping up, how did it feel to be looking at this next phase of your career?
ANSWER: It's very bittersweet because everyone is excited to go on to their own careers and move on. But at the same time, we've been all we've known for the past year. So it's going to be kind of weird. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself!
Q: You've signed with Jive Records, which has been home to Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and the Backstreet Boys. Does it feel like a good fit?
A: I'm really excited. I'm the first Idol to go to that record label, so hopefully I can do them proud. It's really cool because I've listened to all the artists that have come off this label - Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Pink, Chris Brown and T-Pain. It's cool to be part of that family.
Q: How big of a role has 19 Entertainment chief Simon Fuller (who launched American Idol) had in this album?
A: He is so sweet and he definitely knows what's he's doing. Everybody (whose work) he has had a hand in has been so successful, so I'm definitely listening to him. He listens to the songs and says whether or not he likes them, and then we all decide. It's cool because it's not like I don't have any say at all in choosing the songs.
Q: It sounds like you immediately fell in love with Tattoo when you first heard it.
A: I did. It was one of the first songs that I was pitched for my album. They played it and I started freaking out (saying), "I have to have this on my album. I want it." A few weeks later, we recorded it in one day, and it went really well.
Q: Do you have any tattoos?
A: (Laughs) No I don't have any. Actually I did ask my mom if I could get one to commemorate having the single, but it didn't go over so well.
Q: Do you have a favorite track or two on the album?
A: I have this ballad called Permanent Monday, and it's so pretty. I love it. It's kind of the same thing as with Tattoo - as soon as I heard it, I was like, "This is a beautiful song. We recorded it in Omaha while I was on tour.
Q: Are you happy with the mix of songs you came up with?
A: I think I have a pretty good mix, but they also fit together at the same time.
Q: Would you like to do a solo tour to support the album?
A: Oh my goodness gracious, are you kidding? I would love to go on the road but I'm not sure if I could be the main act. I'm still getting used to it. I would love to open up for somebody. But I don't think I'm ready to put on a full two-hour show yet.
Q: Did it take a while to relax when playing for the large arena crowds on the Idol tour? Did the TV show get you ready for that?
A: I actually love performing in front of huge crowds. I love the energy that it exudes. Just standing there, gets me more excited and gets me more into the songs. It's the smaller crowds that I'm still getting used to because it's so intimate and they are so focused on you.
Q: What was it like to play for a huge hometown crowd in Arizona with the Idol tour?
A: Oh my gosh, I was so excited. A few days before, I was doing a countdown: "Two days before I go home, one day," and then we were there. We got home and had a couple hours, so we went over to my house, and all the Idols came over. My mom cooked dinner and we went swimming. We went and did the show and I just couldn't believe all the support that was there. When I got offstage, I started crying because I couldn't believe that I had come full circle.
Q: You'll be 18 on Dec. 22. How will that affect your outlook on things and how you run your career?
A: I'm actually kind of scared for my birthday to come up because everyone's saying, "You'll be making all the decisions when you're 18," and I'm like "Oh my goodness. OK, all right." I'll still be asking my mom and grandma for advice and I'm definitely going to be listening to the people around me because I don't know what I'm doing still. I'm new to this. I'll just keep asking for help and hopefully I'll make some good decisions.
Q: Beyond this CD, have you thought about doing more TV or perhaps acting in movies?
A: I would like to do some acting, maybe even Broadway. But maybe not this year because I'll be so busy with the album.
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 12, 2007 12:00 AM
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/music/articles/1112sparks.html?&wired
With the release of her self-titled debut album Nov. 20, Glendale's Jordin Sparks takes her first step away from the cocoon of American Idol.
Sparks, 17, who came out on top this year in the sixth season of the Fox TV series, toured with other "Idol" contestants for much of the summer and early fall.
Now, she turns her focus to promoting the album and its first single, Tattoo, and looking toward touring as a solo artist.
QUESTION: With the American Idol tour wrapping up, how did it feel to be looking at this next phase of your career?
ANSWER: It's very bittersweet because everyone is excited to go on to their own careers and move on. But at the same time, we've been all we've known for the past year. So it's going to be kind of weird. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself!
Q: You've signed with Jive Records, which has been home to Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and the Backstreet Boys. Does it feel like a good fit?
A: I'm really excited. I'm the first Idol to go to that record label, so hopefully I can do them proud. It's really cool because I've listened to all the artists that have come off this label - Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Pink, Chris Brown and T-Pain. It's cool to be part of that family.
Q: How big of a role has 19 Entertainment chief Simon Fuller (who launched American Idol) had in this album?
A: He is so sweet and he definitely knows what's he's doing. Everybody (whose work) he has had a hand in has been so successful, so I'm definitely listening to him. He listens to the songs and says whether or not he likes them, and then we all decide. It's cool because it's not like I don't have any say at all in choosing the songs.
Q: It sounds like you immediately fell in love with Tattoo when you first heard it.
A: I did. It was one of the first songs that I was pitched for my album. They played it and I started freaking out (saying), "I have to have this on my album. I want it." A few weeks later, we recorded it in one day, and it went really well.
Q: Do you have any tattoos?
A: (Laughs) No I don't have any. Actually I did ask my mom if I could get one to commemorate having the single, but it didn't go over so well.
Q: Do you have a favorite track or two on the album?
A: I have this ballad called Permanent Monday, and it's so pretty. I love it. It's kind of the same thing as with Tattoo - as soon as I heard it, I was like, "This is a beautiful song. We recorded it in Omaha while I was on tour.
Q: Are you happy with the mix of songs you came up with?
A: I think I have a pretty good mix, but they also fit together at the same time.
Q: Would you like to do a solo tour to support the album?
A: Oh my goodness gracious, are you kidding? I would love to go on the road but I'm not sure if I could be the main act. I'm still getting used to it. I would love to open up for somebody. But I don't think I'm ready to put on a full two-hour show yet.
Q: Did it take a while to relax when playing for the large arena crowds on the Idol tour? Did the TV show get you ready for that?
A: I actually love performing in front of huge crowds. I love the energy that it exudes. Just standing there, gets me more excited and gets me more into the songs. It's the smaller crowds that I'm still getting used to because it's so intimate and they are so focused on you.
Q: What was it like to play for a huge hometown crowd in Arizona with the Idol tour?
A: Oh my gosh, I was so excited. A few days before, I was doing a countdown: "Two days before I go home, one day," and then we were there. We got home and had a couple hours, so we went over to my house, and all the Idols came over. My mom cooked dinner and we went swimming. We went and did the show and I just couldn't believe all the support that was there. When I got offstage, I started crying because I couldn't believe that I had come full circle.
Q: You'll be 18 on Dec. 22. How will that affect your outlook on things and how you run your career?
A: I'm actually kind of scared for my birthday to come up because everyone's saying, "You'll be making all the decisions when you're 18," and I'm like "Oh my goodness. OK, all right." I'll still be asking my mom and grandma for advice and I'm definitely going to be listening to the people around me because I don't know what I'm doing still. I'm new to this. I'll just keep asking for help and hopefully I'll make some good decisions.
Q: Beyond this CD, have you thought about doing more TV or perhaps acting in movies?
A: I would like to do some acting, maybe even Broadway. But maybe not this year because I'll be so busy with the album.
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