Elliott Yamin AIM Interview

BrendanInMusic Hey Elliott, what's goin' on?
AsongForElliott: just chillin @ my crib
BrendanInMusic nice, thanks for taking the time to chat with us today...
BrendanInMusic where is your crib??
AsongForElliott: I'd tell u...but then I'd have to make u sleep w the fishies!
BrendanInMusic hahaha, we don't want that ;)
AsongForElliott: jk...in LA
BrendanInMusic nice
BrendanInMusic so you've been pretty busy latey, congrats on the release of your CD
BrendanInMusic what types of things are you doing for the release??
AsongForElliott: uh...let's see...well i was in the big apple on release day w my band...we did Regis and Kelly, TRL, a Virgin in-store in Times Sqr...and an FYE in-store in upstate NY
AsongForElliott: and it's pretty much been go, go, go ever since...
AsongForElliott: just got back home after a month long radio promo tour, as my single 'wait for you' is starting to blow up
BrendanInMusic that's a whole lot of stuff! was anything particularly surreal about it?
AsongForElliott: are you kidding?...this whole shebang is still surreal!...but i actually feel like I've finally found my niche!...this is where i belong, and i'm doing what god made me to do!
AsongForElliott: the only surprising thing is i never realized how hard of a schedule i would have to juggle!...but i think I'm starting to finally get the hang of it
BrendanInMusic awesome
BrendanInMusic well people seem to be really liking the music too, which I'm sure is the best part
AsongForElliott: hands down the best part!
AsongForElliott: actually the most surreal/gratifying thing about this is to actually put all the work into writing and recording a song...
AsongForElliott: then go out and perform it on stage....and people actually know the words and are singing along to what I created
BrendanInMusic what is the best crowd you've had so far?
AsongForElliott: well, post-Idol?...probably when i did my first solo gig @ the Virginia state fair back in October after the tour
AsongForElliott: hometown crowds are the best!
BrendanInMusic awesome
BrendanInMusic so how long did it take you to put this album together?
AsongForElliott: probably about 3-4 months...but that was only bc i was in and out of LA where i did the bulk of my recording...
AsongForElliott: had a lots of different things on my plate @ the time, so it was hard to get a good solid 2 wks in a row in the studio
BrendanInMusic i bet!
BrendanInMusic Did you take into account anything you heard from 'Idol' when recording?
AsongForElliott: oh definitely!...i learned how to eternalize a song, make it my own, and really perform the hell out of it!
AsongForElliott: so i always carry that w/ me walking into the recording booth...u have 2 b a storyteller, and be able 2 evoke as much emotion out of the listener as possible
BrendanInMusic what story do you think this album tells?
AsongForElliott: well...we haven't even sctratched the surface yet!...haha!...im trying to hone my skills everyday...
AsongForElliott: i want to become a much better writer...get a lil deeper, u know?...but the album, is a lot like yours truly...it's honest, genuine, loving, and fun!
BrendanInMusic very cool
BrendanInMusic you released a "teaser" song 'movin on' which had a great response, what made you release 'wait for you' as your first official single?
AsongForElliott: i think initially we weren't necessarily going to rely on radio to help drive the record...but then when i went to NY to 'wait for you'...
AsongForElliott: i think we knew we had dope, radio friendly producers...delivering a smash hit!...i think it was sort of unanimous
BrendanInMusic so who were all of the heavy hitters in the studio with you?
AsongForElliott: lets see...DJ Lethal, Tony Reyes, Ollie and Erin Goldstein, Ely Rise, Derek Bramble, Mike Mangini, Marshall Altman, Taj Jackson, Stargate, Josh Freeze, my cousin Josh Abraham
BrendanInMusic no Timbaland? lol
AsongForElliott: haha!...i'm hoping...maybe next album??...we gotta hook up our VA connection
BrendanInMusic definitely!
BrendanInMusic so what are fans who don't have the record yet in store for?
AsongForElliott: i'd say a good butt whoopin once i find out which fans don't have it yet...hahaha!
BrendanInMusic uh oh, anyone reading this who doesn't have it best run out now...
AsongForElliott: jk...i'd just say a whole lotta soul...not too much over-singing or over-production...just honest, good music!
BrendanInMusic Did you feel like you had something to prove with this album?
AsongForElliott: well, i def have to prove my true artistry....and i love that feeling...there's always potential to reach, and room for improvement...the fact is, i'm hungry for it!
AsongForElliott: i totally understand that coming out the gate, there's a certain stigma attatched to being a cast-off from american idol...i get it
AsongForElliott: but w/o that experience, i wouldn't have been prepared for everything i'm doing now...i feel blessed to have made it as far as i did on the show and gain the exposure...now, we're just onto the next chapter
BrendanInMusic very cool, do you watch the current season of idol right now?
AsongForElliott: i don't man!...i wish i had time to...i saw the 1st couple top 24 episodes...that's about it
BrendanInMusic do you miss it or are you kinda glad it's behind you?
AsongForElliott: i dont miss IT perse....what i really miss are the people!...i miss the comraderie we shared among the contestants...and i miss all the people behind the scenes there too
AsongForElliott: i made friends w/ everybody from security, to our stage mgrs, coordinators, music directors and stage coach...just everybody...i miss those guys!
BrendanInMusic that's awesome :)
BrendanInMusic i know we look forward to seeing much more of you in the future
AsongForElliott: thanx man...i look forward to being real busy in the future!
BrendanInMusic so what IS next for you?
AsongForElliott: well let's see...my tour tour kicks off in ATL @ The Loft on May 15th...i'll be on tour for over a month doing clubs and small theatres...then i'm going on vacation for about a week...
AsongForElliott: then we'll probably hit the dust bowl circuit over the summer and plan for a bigger tour...check out all of my dates on myspace and etrainstation.com
BrendanInMusic well, good luck!
BrendanInMusic thanks again for chatting with us
AsongForElliott: thanx for your time...and good luck to u as well my friend!
BrendanInMusic thanks :) have a good one!

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