Boston Globe Interview

Read the full article

Excerpts:

Q. You’re working with a wide variety of people on your debut from hip-hop producer-writer Salaam Remi to singer-songwriter Mat Kearney to Joe King of the pop-rock band the Fray. Should we intuit that the record will offer a lot of different styles?

A. I think we were experimenting with some things. The Salaam thing was definitely an experiment to see what would happen. And then [we hooked up] with people like Joe who are definitely along the same track. We’re doing some things that obviously make sense in people’s heads and we’re trying to do some things that didn’t make so much sense. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I’ve had a great time with everyone.

Q. Do you have any dream collaborators?

A. I’m a big a John Legend fan, I think he’s incredible so that would be really nice. Since I was a kid I’ve always liked Matchbox Twenty and I think Rob Thomas is a great writer.

Q. How do you think “Idol’’ will fare without Paula Abdul?

A. I think the show will definitely miss her, but it is “American Idol’’ and it’s huge and it will go on, I am sure of that. I am glad that I was part of a year Paula was there though, to be honest, I thought she was incredible.

Q. You were the first person to win an actual trophy. Where do you keep it?

A. The real truth is I have not seen that trophy since I held it on the show.

Q. You’re not likely to get a real break for about a year. Have you come to some sort of peace with that?

A. I’m a pretty calm guy, so I came to that very quickly. Someone told me that, I think it was David Cook. He was like, “You’re not going to have a day off for a long time.’’ And I was like, OK. For me, I would like to go home and hang out with my family and friends, but I do also get to do exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life, so that’s kind of cool.