David Cook Idolatry Interview with Michael Slezak -- 2/8/10

Part I

Slezak: Those of us who follow you on twitter...

[David laughs]

Slezak: ...know that you've started the writing process.

David: Absolutely, yeah.

Slezak: And you've been throwin' a few names out there. The first post-Idol album is
always done in, like, record time.

David: Yeah, yeah

Slezak: It's kind of amazing that it even happened.

David: Sure.

Slezak: When you look back on that first album and, now as you're approaching
your second album, is there anything that...you would have done differently if you
had more time?

David: I look at this last record and, and...I don't know that I would have changed
anything.

Slezak: Mm-hmm

David: I mean obviously, ya know, we did something right.

Slezak: Right

David: We were able to garner some level of success with it. There's some chaos in
it, ya' know? And I think it was just because everything around that whole pro-- like
that particular record was just so, like, nuts, ya' know? Tryin' to like, write the
record, while recording the record, while being on the road...

Slezak: Mm-hmm

David: ...while promoting. I'm still kind of awed by the fact that everything fell into
place as easy as it did.

Slezak: I think you debunked the perception that anyone coming off that show and
being signed by 19 automatically becomes, like, a puppet and just produces...

[David laughs]
Slezak: ...whatever album they tell you to produce, because you had a hand in
writing...

David: Sure

Slezak: ...the majority of songs on that record.

David: I put a lot of myself into that last record...

Slezak: Mm-hmm

David: ...ya' know? And, and...I, I think that entire summer, ya' know, I took two
days off, I think.

[Slezak laughs]

David: And, and...to acclimate myself to that, to that level of work, and that level of
like, really just enveloping yourself in the process. Um...to have the end result be
what it has been uh...that's great.

Slezak: Is it nice to not have to combine the touring and writing process? Or did you
write while you were on tour?

David: I wrote a little while we were on the road this last year and, and uh, I, but I
really tried not to.

Slezak: Are they two different...mindsets, or...?

David: I, I think, I think the two can coexist. I don't think they're mutually exclusive.
But uh...it is tough, ya' know? To, and, and, and more just from um...from a
physical exertion standpoint. When I do a demo, like, I can't...I can't half-ass it.
Like, I ha-- I have to sing...

Slezak: Yeah

David: ...full-on on that. And it, it's hard to do that and then go on stage and do, ya'
know, what we have to do every night. And so...um...and plus with it just being the
first, like, big tour that I'd ever been on , I really wanted to uh, to take the time to
appreciate it and, and, ya' know, get out and experience things and...uh...what was
great about that was that it really allowed me to kinda stockpile ideas a little bit...

Slezak: Mm-hmm

David: ...and to go into this record uh, fresh and, and uh, ya' know, what we've
come up with so far I've, I've been really, uh, really excited about. Ya' know, the
things that I wanted to do with the second record, so far I've, I've...I've been able to
kinda scratch the surface of those kinda ideals a little bit. so I, I'm, I'm excited
about where this record's goin'.
Slezak: Let us see how much scoop I can get out of you about this record.

David: Ahhh, Ok.

Slezak: So...you've tweeted that you've worked with David Hodges...

David: Sure

Slezak: ...um...Brian Howes...

David: Mm-hmm

Slezak: So you've worked with them. Any, any other collaborators that you've got
lined-up?

David: There's talk about a lot of people. We've talked about uh...Max Martin.
We've talked about uh, Ryan Tedder. Um...I-- I've actually been really fortunate to
write with, with, ya' know, some people that I've had success with on the last
record. But also some new people. Claude Kelly...uh, I got to write with him. And
uh, Tommy Henrikson, and...yeah, the list goes on.

Part II

Slezak: I think you tweeted about David Hodges. You said: "Song in a day? Yes!"

David: Yeah yeah yeah

Slezak: ...or something like that.

David: Yeah yeah

Slezak: ...like, it can be done. Give us a little hint about what that song was, or
what the sound was, or theme. Or...

David: Um...w--

Slezak: ...you can even give us the title.

David: [laughs] Yeah, I, I could be able to give you the title. I remember uh, um...I
had a two-day session with, with David and, and we'd come up with uh...with this,
w-- great song. And I, I-- ya' know, we're all really excited about it. This song called
"You and I." And, we took like, a weekend, and then I came back. And we did
another two days. And that first day we didn't come up with anything.
And...um...I-- ya' know, we-- I, I, I can't speak for him but I know I walked out feelin'
like: Oh man. Like, did we , ya' know, is that well dry? Like, did we just...get that
one song and that's it?
Slezak: [nodding and chuckling] right

David: And then uh, the next day, went in, and... [long pause] everything happened
real quick. Ya' know, it's, it's uh...it's difficult to write a song in a day, period. But
to write a song in a day, and then get most of the production done on the demo in a
day, like...uh...that was, I mean we got a lot done in like, five, six hours. And, uh,
that song ended up...uh, I think the working title on that is "Tonight is On Our Side."
And, um...to be able to sit in a room with, with people that I have some repoire with,
like David and...and like, Raine and Chantal, and, and uh...ya' know, people like
that. Ya' know, I, I walk in and I'm... [long pause] I don't know if maybe they figured
it out or if I figured it out. But you walk in, and I just kinda feel immediately inspired
to get somethin' done. With the exception of the one day where we got nothin'
done, so...

Slezak: What's the process? Like, do you come in with an idea in your head of a
topic, or, or...

David: Sure

Sleazak: ...a few lines, or a melody, or how does it work?

David: Usually for me, music comes first. And so, I've really uh... [long pause] uh,
especially with this process, with this record in particular. I've, I've, I've tried to just
go in with gui-- like, riff ideas. And...

Slezak: Mm-hmm

David: ...maybe chord progressions that I think are interesting. Uh, and try to build
from that. And then it's just a matter of consciously sitting down and thinkin':
What's something that everybody can get into? I try to write in a way that makes
songs accessible for people, ya' know? I want somebody to be able to get whatever
they want out of that particular song.

Slezak: Yeah

David: Um...I always love when I'll write a song that means one thing to me, and
then somebody will come up to me and they'll say like: Aw, like, this song, ya' know,
helped me with this or got me through this. And it has nothin' to do with what I was
originally talkin' about. I think those are the greatest thing. 'cause that means that
the song has a universal quality to it.

Slezak: So when you're in the studio, you, you go in with, with these chord
progressions or riff ideas. You sit down, you play them, it's back and forth...

David: Yeah yeah. Yeah.

Slezak: ...melody comes out of that. And then lyrics...last?

David: Lyrics are usually last, yeah. And , and uh, I know...not everybody does it
that way. I, ya' know, for me...I, I just like...[long pause] I like having those
parameters. And I look back now on Idol and I think one of the things that really
worked for me was every week we had...parameters. Ya' know, we had...

Slezak: Mm-hmm

David: ...like, alright this is as far left as I can go...

Slezak: Right

David: ...this is as far right as I can go. And so with the writing process, ya' know, if
I just free write I can usually...I'll come up with like, a line or two out of that free
verse or whatever. But, it's really hard for me to wrap my head around writing
lyrics and then putting music to those lyrics. So, um...it's just how my brain's wired,
I guess.

Part III

Slezak: Any unexpected surprises thus far on the sophomore effort?

David: I've got lofty ideas, man. So it's just a matter of, of implementing them and
doing it in a way that's good enough. I would love to do a song all vocals. Like
just...I, I, I keep thinkin' of like, Imogen Heap. Ya' know, that ki--

Slezak: Mm-hmm

David: ...somethin' like that. But I don't know if I could--

Slezak: Where everything is, is...

David: Yeah yeah

Slezak: ...a vocal.

David: But it would have to-- it, it'd have to be...on par with that level of cool. So...

Slezak: [laughs] Right

David: I don't know if I have it in me. We'll see.

Slezak: Any other lofty, uh...lofty goals?

David: Um...really past that, I'm, I'm, I'm tryin' to incorporate more piano on this
record. Uh, that's something I've really kinda put out there in the past. Uh...uh, that
and, ya' know, with the last record -- and granted, I think the songs warranted it-- I
felt like a lot of the songs had this "wall of sound" guitar idea to 'em...

Slezak: Mm-hmm

David: ...and, and uh, I really wanna, I wanna get in to more riff-based stuff. Uh,
and, and really use the guitar less as... uh, a basis for the song and more as just
another instrument. Ya' know, I think there's, there's a lot of different ways to kinda
get a musical point across. And I'm interested in trying to find as many different
ones as possible.

Slezak: One more song title that you want to throw out that you're working on?

David: We're really early in the process. So I don't know if there's uh, even a song
that would, that I feel confident that'll really make the record. Um...but a song I'm
m-- I'm personally excited about is a song uh...uh, called "With Me Empty."
Um...very kinda moody. Uh...has some synth in it, a little bit. So it's, it's uh, it's
very, very different. But...

Slezak: And who'd you work on that with?

David: I actually worked on that with my band.

Slezak: Ok

David: So, uh...with uh, with my guitar players Neal and Andy. So...we'll see.

Slezak: You're writing session with Brian Howes. Did you-- was that when you were
in Vancouver?

David: Yeah, yeah. Uh...I loved Vancouver. That place is amazing. And uh...Brian is
a really, a really cool dude. And so uh, to uh, to get to write with him was great.
Uh, we came up with a couple of songs. Um, I'm actually still waiting to hear the
finished version of one. So, I, I can't name that 'cause I don't know what it sounds
like yet.

Slezak: Ok.

David: Um...but uh, this other song we worked on, um...song called "Boomerang,"
is...really up-tempo kinda rock song. So, I'm uh...I'm anxious to see where and if it
all fits-in to everything else. And, um, but yeah, I'm gonna have to visit Vancouver
again soon.

Slezak: You're a late-comer to the twitter...

David: I am. Yeah.

Slezak: ...thing. How do you feel about it? Were, were you reluctant?
David: I was. I was really reluctant. And it was really just...I, I was lookin' at it, I
think the wrong way. I was lookin' at it as like, this isn't-- I didn't look at it as a
promotional tool.

Slezak: Right

David: And I didn't look at it as a way to directly connect to fans. I looked at it as a

way to like...I, I, I guess feel important enough to put out, like, all the mundane
details of my life that nobody cares about.

Slezak: [laughs] Right

David: I love it now, 'cause it is a direct way to, like, immediately put somethin' out
there for my fans. And, um... I just try, I try to not to get too mundane with it. I
have a great relationship, wi-- ya' know, with, with my fans. And, and uh...the, the
fact that...ninety plus thousand people, like, feel, feel it necessary or feel it apt to,
like, follow me on twitter. That's, that's powerful. And that's rea-- that's a huge
compliment. Really cool.

END OF INTERVIEW