'Idol' thoughts from Crystal and Lee on their futures
In separate conference calls with the media on Friday, the "Idol" winner and runner-up expressed their gratitude to the show for making them household names, but they sounded ready to move on and shape their own music and images.
Winner Lee DeWyze of Mount Prospect cited Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews and Soundgarden as influences, but he also said his "dream" collaborator would be indie artist Sufjan Stevens.
"His lyrics are so good …. He's amazing," DeWyze said. Though one of Stevens' songs was briefly heard on the "Idol" finale, the show usually spotlights much more commercial fare, and singers aren't allowed to play original tunes.
"That's what 'American Idol' is -- it's go up there on the stage, play cover songs and do the best you can, your way," DeWyze said. "It was frustrating at times, I won't lie. It was, because there's some songs I would never sing in a million years. But, you know, I signed up for it."
"As far as the single they put out [a cover of U2's 'Beautiful Day'], I like that song a lot, it's a really good song. Is it something that is really in my genre? No, but ... there were songs on the table and I went with the one that would represent the moment the best," DeWyze said.
In any case, he said that he's convinced he'll get to "have a lot of say" over his new album.
"That was something I was worried about in the beginning -- was it going to be something like, 'Here's your songs, sing them'? It's not. I'm going to have a chance to write" songs and collaborate with other artists.
But traveling on the "Idol" tour and trying to record songs for his new album at the same time will probably keep him away from favorite Chicago haunts like the Pick Me Up Cafe on North Clark Street for the next few months.
DeWyze said that ideally, he'd like to have places in both Los Angeles and Chicago, though he added that it's "weird being out here and calling this home" for the moment. He credits fans who came to his recent pre-win concert in Mount Prospect for motivating him after several "stressful" months of "Idol" work.
"Going back home and being able to play for everybody was just the most amazing thing and I've been told by so many people… 'It just seems so different than when you're on "Idol,"'" said DeWyze. "For me, I play to a live audience. That's my thing. I really get into it when there's a live audience in front of me and when I can build up to a song and build a set and do all those things, which I'll be able to do now. But seeing all those people come out to support me was so huge."
What does he miss the most about the Windy City? "The food, man, the food!" he said.
Bowersox, who's from Ohio but spent five years in Chicago, may have learned a lot from the "Idol" process, but on Friday, she cited open-mike night at Chicago's Uncommon Ground and gigs at the Kingston Mines blues club as formative influences as well.
"It taught me a lot about life," she said, and added that ideal Chicago gigs would take her everywhere from Uncommon Ground to Metro to the Ravinia Festival. (Maybe there's a Metro double-bill with DeWyze, her "great friend," in her future? Both singers said the North Clark Street club is one of their favorites.)
She's certainly a long way from busking for change at the Lake Street El stop. Not only does she enjoy the music of people like Melissa Etheridge, indie singer Fiest and singer/songwriter Ray LaMontagne, she may get to work with artists like that in coming months.
"There's a lot of music that I personally love and enjoy, and the craziest thing is that it's possible now to work with these people," Bowersox said.