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.
Showing posts with label Interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interview. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
'American Idol' Champ Jordin Sparks Puts Finishing Touches On Debut, Considers Acting
By Chris Harris, with reporting by Yasmine Richard
The debut album from America's latest "Idol," Jordin Sparks, will drop November 20. So why is the 17-year-old songstress — and youngest "American Idol" champ — still sitting in a Los Angeles recording studio? Well, she's not done with the self-titled LP yet, which has her feeling a bit nervous.
"It's all very exciting, but also kind of scary, because it doesn't give me a lot of time to finish it," she said. "I'm out here in L.A., finishing up the record, and then they're sending me back to New York to write some more songs, and then I'll be coming back to master it and set the order for the songs. ... I'm trying really, really hard to finish it."
Every since taking the "Idol" title back in late May, Sparks said her life's been the very definition of hectic: She's been back home a mere three days, having just wrapped up the Idols Live Tour, and whenever she has some free time on her hands, she's been working on her album.
"My life has pretty much been airplanes, buses and hotel rooms," Sparks said, adding that even during the tour, she was writing songs for her debut. "To me, when I think of people making records, it usually takes, depending on who they are, nine months or so, maybe a year. I have a couple of months, so let's just try to get it done. Now that the 'Idol' tour's over, I don't have to balance that with finishing the record. I can just concentrate on finishing the record, and I'm working really hard on it."
Sparks said her label has largely been hands-off when it comes to her debut disc, but that the process has been very collaborative and filled with compromise. Sparks has enlisted several producers for Jordin Sparks, including production team the Underdogs (Ne-Yo, Chris Brown); Robbie Nevil (who has worked on the "High School Musical" and "Hannah Montana" soundtracks); Norwegian duo Stargate (Nas, Rihanna); Sam Watters (Diana DeGarmo, Jessica Simpson); and Eman (Nick Lachey, Katharine McPhee).
"So far, I have a whole bunch of songs I love and can't wait to perform," she said. "All of the producers are really awesome, and being in the studio with them is cool, because we can communicate. When they tell me to do something, I will try to do it — if I can't, they tell me to try it again. It's cool to see how they all work. They know exactly what they want, what they need to hear, and it's cool to get that direction."
Sparks said the album is "not complete R&B or hip-hop" — it also includes pop and country elements. "It's hard to make everything fit together," she said — something she feels she achieved on "Tattoo," the album's first single, which she co-wrote with Amanda Ghost (who penned the Beyoncé and Shakira hit "Beautiful Liar"). "I fit all of that into one song, so I hope the songs I have on the album will resonate with that. There are some slow songs, a ballad called 'Permanent Monday.' I'm just so excited."
Sparks said she's still getting used to life after "Idol" and still can't believe she won the talent contest. "It's so weird to hear I'm the 'American Idol,' " she said. "It's so weird for me. Some days, I'll just be sitting, and it will hit me: 'What in the world is going on here?' I think of how thankful I am, and how super-blessed I am to be doing this. I don't know many 17-year-olds who get to tour all summer with their best friends and make a record."
In fact, reality really hit for Sparks during a recent shopping spree, she said. "I was in the dressing room at Express, and 'Tattoo' came on," she said. "I started flipping out and screaming, and a lady came by to see if I was all right."
Of course, when the album does drop, Sparks will be busy touring and promoting the disc. But ultimately, she'd like to branch out, like season-three "Idol" finalist — and Academy Award winner — Jennifer Hudson.
"I would love to do some acting," she explained. "I did musical theater back home, and I love being on the stage and acting out. It's so cool to become a different character for a little bit, so if the opportunity comes along, I'd love to do a movie or Broadway. If I ever actually have the time, I'd love to do it."
The debut album from America's latest "Idol," Jordin Sparks, will drop November 20. So why is the 17-year-old songstress — and youngest "American Idol" champ — still sitting in a Los Angeles recording studio? Well, she's not done with the self-titled LP yet, which has her feeling a bit nervous.
"It's all very exciting, but also kind of scary, because it doesn't give me a lot of time to finish it," she said. "I'm out here in L.A., finishing up the record, and then they're sending me back to New York to write some more songs, and then I'll be coming back to master it and set the order for the songs. ... I'm trying really, really hard to finish it."
Every since taking the "Idol" title back in late May, Sparks said her life's been the very definition of hectic: She's been back home a mere three days, having just wrapped up the Idols Live Tour, and whenever she has some free time on her hands, she's been working on her album.
"My life has pretty much been airplanes, buses and hotel rooms," Sparks said, adding that even during the tour, she was writing songs for her debut. "To me, when I think of people making records, it usually takes, depending on who they are, nine months or so, maybe a year. I have a couple of months, so let's just try to get it done. Now that the 'Idol' tour's over, I don't have to balance that with finishing the record. I can just concentrate on finishing the record, and I'm working really hard on it."
Sparks said her label has largely been hands-off when it comes to her debut disc, but that the process has been very collaborative and filled with compromise. Sparks has enlisted several producers for Jordin Sparks, including production team the Underdogs (Ne-Yo, Chris Brown); Robbie Nevil (who has worked on the "High School Musical" and "Hannah Montana" soundtracks); Norwegian duo Stargate (Nas, Rihanna); Sam Watters (Diana DeGarmo, Jessica Simpson); and Eman (Nick Lachey, Katharine McPhee).
"So far, I have a whole bunch of songs I love and can't wait to perform," she said. "All of the producers are really awesome, and being in the studio with them is cool, because we can communicate. When they tell me to do something, I will try to do it — if I can't, they tell me to try it again. It's cool to see how they all work. They know exactly what they want, what they need to hear, and it's cool to get that direction."
Sparks said the album is "not complete R&B or hip-hop" — it also includes pop and country elements. "It's hard to make everything fit together," she said — something she feels she achieved on "Tattoo," the album's first single, which she co-wrote with Amanda Ghost (who penned the Beyoncé and Shakira hit "Beautiful Liar"). "I fit all of that into one song, so I hope the songs I have on the album will resonate with that. There are some slow songs, a ballad called 'Permanent Monday.' I'm just so excited."
Sparks said she's still getting used to life after "Idol" and still can't believe she won the talent contest. "It's so weird to hear I'm the 'American Idol,' " she said. "It's so weird for me. Some days, I'll just be sitting, and it will hit me: 'What in the world is going on here?' I think of how thankful I am, and how super-blessed I am to be doing this. I don't know many 17-year-olds who get to tour all summer with their best friends and make a record."
In fact, reality really hit for Sparks during a recent shopping spree, she said. "I was in the dressing room at Express, and 'Tattoo' came on," she said. "I started flipping out and screaming, and a lady came by to see if I was all right."
Of course, when the album does drop, Sparks will be busy touring and promoting the disc. But ultimately, she'd like to branch out, like season-three "Idol" finalist — and Academy Award winner — Jennifer Hudson.
"I would love to do some acting," she explained. "I did musical theater back home, and I love being on the stage and acting out. It's so cool to become a different character for a little bit, so if the opportunity comes along, I'd love to do a movie or Broadway. If I ever actually have the time, I'd love to do it."
Monday, September 17, 2007
Jordin Sparks: Update On Jordin Sparks' Album
From: Murtz Jaffer Interviews Jordin Sparks and Melinda Doolittle
This is an excerpt of the interview and I only got the most interesting part regarding Jordin Sparks' progress on her 1st album.
Murtz Jaffer: And my last question is to please give me an album update. When are your records coming out?
Jordin Sparks: Oh, definitely. I have recorded four songs so far and I am very excited to get it out there. I just can't wait for everybody to hear it. The majority of the recording is going to happen after the tour and then it is supposed to drop before Thanksgiving so hopefully it will be out soon.
Melinda Doolittle: I have a little extra time so...
Jordin Sparks: Lucky!
Melinda Doolittle: Hahaha. I am just kidding. I am writing right now. Some people are sending in some amazing songs that I am very excited about. So after the tour, I'll start recording and then get the album out there.
This is an excerpt of the interview and I only got the most interesting part regarding Jordin Sparks' progress on her 1st album.
Murtz Jaffer: And my last question is to please give me an album update. When are your records coming out?
Jordin Sparks: Oh, definitely. I have recorded four songs so far and I am very excited to get it out there. I just can't wait for everybody to hear it. The majority of the recording is going to happen after the tour and then it is supposed to drop before Thanksgiving so hopefully it will be out soon.
Melinda Doolittle: I have a little extra time so...
Jordin Sparks: Lucky!
Melinda Doolittle: Hahaha. I am just kidding. I am writing right now. Some people are sending in some amazing songs that I am very excited about. So after the tour, I'll start recording and then get the album out there.
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