From left: John Park, Jermaine Sellers and Lee DeWyze try out for "American Idol" Season 9.
The three Chicago-area contestants in "American Idol's" Top 24 have a couple of things in common: They're all guys and they're all in their 20s.
However the musical styles and influences of Lee DeWyze, John Park and Jermaine Sellers couldn't be more different. In recent phone interviews, the Chicago competitors talked about what to expect from their "Idol" performances (which continue 7 p.m. Central Wednesday; the Top 12 female contestants compete 7 p.m. Central Tuesday on the Fox talent show).
John ParkAge: 21
Hometown: He's from Northbrook and is a junior at Northwestern University in Evanston.
Influences: Stevie Wonder, Gavin DeGraw, John Legend, Jamie Cullum. "I think I would describe my sounds as new soul with a little bit of blues or R&B thrown in."
What to expect: "Because I have a low voice, I kind of want to take old soul songs or blues songs and make them my own, make them modern."
Musical background: He took singing lessons for two years in high school, and also performed in a high school a cappella group called Ow! He's also in an a cappella group at Northwestern called Purple Haze, which has a record coming out in the spring.
If he returns to Northwestern, will he study voice? No. He had been studying economics but is now "undecided" about his major. At Northwestern, vocal students focus on classical and operatic singing, and "I don't think I would want to do that," Park said. Psychology or communication studies are more likely options.
His competition philosophy: "Someone said, 'You don't compete with the other players, you play the course.' It's like golf."
The biggest musical challenge: "The challenging thing is picking the right song. Because I didn't grow up listening to a wide variety of music, I kind of have a limited repertoire. Picking the right song and making it my own -- that's the hardest part."
The biggest personal challenge: "They've blocked our social networking sites -- we have official 'Idol' ones we can update once a week. Communicating with people has been a little more difficult because Facebook and Twitter -- that was how I communicated with my friends."
The goal: "Ultimately my dream is to become a performer, a singer-songwriter."
Parting words: "I'm overwhelmed at the support people have been giving me. I'm just humbled. Thank you all so much."
Jermaine SellersAge: 27
Hometown: Joliet
Influences: Donny Hathaway, Phyllis Hyman, Beyonce. "I want to take it back in the day -- back when we had real singers. Everything is [the computer voice-fixing program] Auto-Tune these days. There aren't any real singers any more."
Musical background: From 7 to 14, Sellers performed with Walt Whitman's Soul Children of Chicago, a choir that performs at galas and events all over the country. Whitman "taught us all discipline," Sellers said.
A lifelong motivator: Sellers' father. If he learned a song by the time his dad got home from work, he'd get $10. "I wanted that $10!" Sellers said with a laugh.
A current mentor: When it comes to performing, Sellers said Debra Bird, the vocal coach for "Idol" contestants, has given him "the best advice" he's ever gotten.
His musical philosophy: "In every song there's going to be healing for myself, but somebody out there may be dealing with the same situation and maybe can get some healing from the song. The song can't just sound good, it has to have lyrical content with a message."
Parting words: "My grandma always says, 'The sky's the limit. No cross, no crown.' To other artists in Chicago, don't give up. It's just a test. Everything comes in its season."
Lee DeWyzeAge: 23
Hometown: Mount Prospect
Influences: Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel. "I'm into indie folk-rock, an alternative folk kind of thing," DeWyze said.
Musical background: DeWyze is a self-taught singer and guitarist who has played Chicago clubs such as House of Blues and Victory Liquors as well as Fitzgerald's in Berwyn.
Will he use his guitar, as he did in previous rounds? If it's appropriate for the song. "I'm definitely going to be using the guitar here and there but it is a singing competition. I don't want to overdo it."
Are there divas backstage? It doesn't sound that way. All three men said that the competition is so far free of behind-the-scenes drama. "I've become friends with most everyone here. We've all got each other's backs," DeWyze said.
The hard part: "For a lot of us, including myself, the singing is not the hard part, it's just mentally, thinking about [performing] and not getting nervous and not letting the pressure of it get to you."
His goal: "I want to be doing this for a long time, regardless of what happens here, which I hope is a lot. I want to be making music for a long time to come."
Parting words: "Thanks for all the support -- and vote for me!"
Check out photos of the top 24 contestants on "American Idol" season nine.